Rune Factory 5: A Fantasy Farming Adventure
Rune Factory 5 is the latest entry in the popular Rune Factory series, a spin-off of the Harvest Moon/Story of Seasons franchise. It combines farming simulation, action RPG, and romance elements in a fantasy world full of magic and monsters. The game was released for Nintendo Switch on May 20, 2021 in Japan, and will be released on March 22, 2022 in North America and March 25, 2022 in Europe. It will also be available on PC via Steam in July 2022.
If you are looking for a game that offers a rich and varied gameplay experience, a charming and diverse cast of characters, and a captivating story with a touch of mystery, then Rune Factory 5 might be the game for you. In this article, we will explore the main features, characters, and reviews of Rune Factory 5, and answer some frequently asked questions about the game.
Main Features
Rune Factory 5 offers a lot of features that will keep you entertained for hours. Here are some of the main ones:
- Farming: As a new member of a peacekeeping organization called SEED, you will be given a farm to tend to. You can grow various crops, raise animals, and even tame monsters to help you with your farm work. You can also use your farm products to cook delicious dishes, craft useful items, or sell them for profit.
- Combat: When you are not busy with your farm, you can explore the vast wilderness around your town and fight against wild monsters using your weapons, tools, magic, and skills. You can also team up with your town friends or your tamed monsters to unleash powerful combo attacks and special moves.
- Romance: Rune Factory 5 features 12 marriage candidates, six bachelors and six bachelorettes, each with their own personality, backstory, and events. You can increase your friendship with them by talking, giving gifts, going on dates, or inviting them to join your adventures. Once you reach a certain level of affection, you can confess your love and eventually get married and have a child.
- Town Development: As a SEED ranger, you will also be involved in various town development projects that will improve the facilities and services in your town. You can also participate in festivals, requests, directives, and other activities that will increase your reputation and relationship with the townspeople.
- Mystery: Rune Factory 5 has an intriguing story that revolves around the runes, mysterious forces that govern the balance between nature and humanity. As you progress through the game, you will encounter strange events, powerful creatures, ancient secrets, and hidden dangers that will test your courage and determination.
Characters
Rune Factory 5 has a colorful and lively cast of characters that will make your life in Rigbarth more fun and memorable. Here are some of the main characters:
| Name | Role | Likes | Dislikes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ares/Alice | The protagonist. A young amnesiac who joins SEED after being saved by a girl in the forest. | Depends on player’s choice. | Depends on player’s choice. |
| Cecil | A cheerful and energetic boy who loves fishing and exploring. He is Martin’s younger brother. | Pink Melon, Relax Tea, Fruit Sandwich | Hot Milk, Milk, Porridge |
| Lucas | A calm and kind boy who likes crystals and udon. He also suffers from amnesia. | Tempura U don Udon, Crystal, Crystal Flower | Curry Udon, Curry Rice, Curry Bread |
| Reinhard | A cool and confident boy who is good at swordsmanship and cooking. He is the son of the town mayor. | Curry Rice, Curry Bread, Curry Udon | Tempura Udon, Tempura Bowl, Tempura |
| Fuuka | A cheerful and energetic girl who loves animals and sweets. She is the daughter of the town doctor. | Cake, Chocolate Cake, Cheesecake | Carrot, Carrot Juice, Pickled Turnip |
| Ludmilla | A calm and gentle girl who likes flowers and books. She is the granddaughter of the town librarian. | Flower Bouquet, Flower Perfume, Flower Tea | Seafood Pizza, Seafood Doria, Seafood Risotto |
| Murakumo | A mysterious and aloof girl who has a connection to the runes. She is often seen in the forest. | Rune Crystal, Rune Stone, Rune Pendant | Tomato Juice, Tomato Salad, Tomato Soup |
| Martin | The leader of SEED and a skilled ranger. He is Cecil’s older brother. | Coffee, Coffee Beans, Coffee Milk | Orange Juice, Orange, Orange Jam |
| Livia | The vice leader of SEED and a talented researcher. She is Reinhard’s childhood friend. | Strawberry Milk, Strawberry Jam, Strawberry Cake | Grape Juice, Grape Jam, Grape Cake |
| Beatrice | The secretary of SEED and a friendly and helpful person. She is Ludmilla’s best friend. | Pumpkin Pie, Pumpkin Pudding, Pumpkin Tart | Pickles, Pickled Cucumber, Pickled Radish |
| Randolph | The mayor of Rigbarth and Reinhard’s father. He is a strict but caring leader. | Wine, Grape Wine, Apple Wine | Salad, Vegetable Salad, Fruit Salad |
| Simone | The doctor of Rigbarth and Fuuka’s father. He is a kind and reliable person. | Medicine, Recovery Potion, Antidote | Poison, Poison Powder, Poison Mushroom |
| Julian | The librarian of Rigbarth and Ludmilla’s grandfather. He is a wise and knowledgeable person. | Book, Encyclopedia, Dictionary | Trash, Scrap Metal, Scrap Paper |
| Rosetta | The owner of the general store in Rigbarth. She is a cheerful and friendly person. | Bread, Toast, Sandwich | Curry, Curry Powder, Curry Rice |
Review
Rune Factory 5 has received mostly positive reviews from critics and players alike. The game has a score of 80/100 on Metacritic, based on 12 reviews from Japanese media outlets. The game has also sold over 300,000 copies in Japan as of June 2021, making it the best-selling Rune Factory game in the series.
Some of the praises for the game include its beautiful graphics, smooth gameplay, engaging combat, charming characters, and immersive story. Some of the criticisms for the game include its long loading times, occasional bugs, repetitive quests, and lack of voice acting.
Here are some excerpts from some of the reviews:
“Rune Factory 5 is a game that will make you fall in love with its world and characters. It is a game that will make you feel happy and relaxed as you enjoy your life as a farmer, adventurer, and lover. It is a game that will make you want to play it again and again.” – Famitsu
“Rune Factory 5 is a game that offers a lot of content and variety for fans of simulation RPGs. It is a game that will challenge you with its action-packed combat, reward you with its farming and crafting systems, and charm you with its romance and town development aspects. It is a game that will keep you entertained for hours.” – Dengeki Online
“Rune Factory 5 is a game that has a lot of potential but also some flaws. It is a game that has a captivating story and a colorful cast of characters, but also some technical issues and repetitive tasks. It is a game that has a lot of fun and excitement, but also some frustration and boredom.” – IGN Japan
Conclusion
Rune Factory 5 is a game that will appeal to fans of farming simulation, action RPG, and romance games. It is a game that will let you experience a fantasy farming adventure in a world full of magic and monsters. It is a game that will let you create your own story and relationships with the characters you meet.
If you are looking for a game that has a lot of features, characters, and reviews to explore, then Rune Factory 5 might be the game for you. You can download the latest update for the game from the official website or from the Nintendo eShop. You can also watch the trailer for the game here.
FAQs
- Q: How long is Rune Factory 5?
- A: The length of Rune Factory 5 depends on how you play the game and what you want to achieve. The main story can take anywhere from 40 to 60 hours to complete, depending on your pace and difficulty level. The post-game content can add another 20 to 40 hours of gameplay, depending on how much you want to explore and complete. The total playtime can vary from 60 to 100 hours or more, depending on how much you want to farm, craft, fight, romance, and develop your town.
- Q: How many endings are there in Rune Factory 5?
- A: There are two main endings in Rune Factory 5: the normal ending and the true ending. The normal ending is achieved by completing the main story missions up to chapter 10. The true ending is achieved by completing an additional story mission after chapter 10, which requires having at least one marriage candidate at max affection level. There are also individual character endings for each marriage candidate, which are achieved by marrying them and completing their personal events.
- Q: How do I get married in Rune Factory 5?
- A: To get married in Rune Factory 5, you need to meet the following requirements:
- Have at least one marriage candidate at max affection level (10 hearts).
- Have a double bed in your house.
- Have seen all of their personal events, including the confession event and the proposal event.
- Have completed the main story up to chapter 10.
- Have obtained the engagement ring from the blacksmith.
- Once you have met these requirements, you can propose to your chosen marriage candidate by giving them the engagement ring. If they accept, you can then talk to the mayor to set a date for the wedding. The wedding will take place a week later, and you will be able to invite up to four guests. After the wedding, you will be able to live with your spouse and have a child with them.
- Q: How do I update Rune Factory 5?
- A: To update Rune Factory 5, you need to have an internet connection and enough free space on your Nintendo Switch or PC. You can update the game automatically by launching it while connected to the internet, or manually by selecting the game icon on the home menu and pressing the + button. The latest update for Rune Factory 5 is version 1.0.8, which was released on June 17, 2021. This update fixed some bugs and improved some features of the game. You can check the official website or the Nintendo eShop for more details on the update.
- Q: How do I download Rune Factory 5?
- A: To download Rune Factory 5, you need to have a Nintendo Switch or a PC that meets the minimum system requirements. You also need to have a Nintendo account or a Steam account, and enough funds to purchase the game. You can download the game digitally from the Nintendo eShop or Steam, or buy a physical copy from a retailer. The game costs $59.99 USD on both platforms, and requires about 6 GB of storage space on Nintendo Switch and 10 GB of storage space on PC.
I hope this article has helped you learn more about Rune Factory 5 and how to enjoy it. If you have any questions or feedback, please feel free to leave a comment below. Thank you for reading!
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