The core farming loop only takes a small portion of the day, given that players have fast animation speeds on their tools and can hold down a button to have a larger area of effect.
#RUNE FACTORY 4 REDDIT SIMULATOR#
In order to balance these two systems, the Rune Factory series streamlines the farming simulator aspects in order to allow players more time to explore the world around them. While other farming simulators like Stardew Valley feature RPG elements such as fighting monsters or exploring dungeons, they don't integrate the two systems as well as Rune Factory does. Players can also find crafting materials from monsters in the wild which can be turned into valuable weapons or equipment. Once tamed, these monsters can help out the farm in a variety of ways from tending to crops, producing goods or joining the player in battle. For example, instead of purchasing animals like in most Harvest Moon games, players must defeat and befriend monsters in dungeons in order to tame them. As they level these skills up, the players gain bonuses which can help them grow stronger or more efficient in their daily activities.Īn interesting aspect of the Rune Factory series is how the RPG systems are directly linked with the farming simulation systems. Similar to other RPGs, Rune Factory games have a levelling system for everything a player does, from combat to farming, to even sleeping. Moreover, the combat system has a surprising amount of depth, as players can use a variety of weapons, spells, and items to clear dungeons.
Beyond just growing crops, tending to a farm, and developing relationships with NPCs, players have the ability to explore dungeons, fight bosses, and craft items like a standard RPG. The biggest appeal of the Rune Factory series lies in its action RPG elements balanced with the farming simulator aspects.
Though the more recent Harvest Moon games have been criticized for clunky mechanics, Rune Factory improves upon the farming elements by streamlining the process and linking it together with RPG mechanics. As a result, despite the rise of other Harvest Moon spin-offs, Rune Factory remains the only one to truly offer an in-depth RPG experience along with the farming aspects. While the Harvest Moon series has been divisive among fans, the Rune Factory franchise has only grown more popular thanks to its in-depth farming and RPG elements. The Rune Factory series is one spin-off that manages to push the envelope of the Harvest Moon franchise by introducing a surprisingly complex battle system alongside farming simulator elements.
As the farming simulator genre grew in popularity, more Harvest Moon spin-offs saw massive success due to their ability to introduce unique mechanics and gameplay elements. With outdated graphics and awkward mechanics, many players have instead looked to Harvest Moon's spin-off games for alternatives. It's no secret that the Harvest Moon series has suffered from criticism from veteran fans since its split with the Story of Seasons franchise.