Rune Factory: A Fantasy Harvest Moon

Rune Factory: A Fantasy Harvest Moon
Rune Factory: A Fantasy Harvest Moon
	The Japanese box art.
Developer(s)	Neverland Co., Ltd.
Publisher(s)	Marvelous Interactive; Natsume
Designer(s)	Yoshifumi Hashimoto
Platform(s)	Nintendo DS
Release	August 24, 2006; July 2, 2007;
Genre(s)	Simulation/RPG
Mode(s)	Single player

Rune Factory: A Fantasy Harvest Moon (Rune Factory: Shin Bokujou Monogatari lit. New Farm Story in Japanese) is a simulation/role-playing video game developed by Neverland Co., Ltd. and published by Marvelous Interactive Inc. for the Nintendo DS video game console.

Rune Factory is a fantasy farm simulation game and part of the Harvest Moon video game series, celebrating the 10th anniversary of the franchise. Described by Yoshifumi Hashimoto (longtime producer of the Harvest Moon series) as "Harvest Moon where you wield a sword."

Story

Cardia is a city on the eastern tip of the Adonia continent. The place is surrounded by fertile green land and has small streets where cheerful people live.

A lone traveler drifts into Cardia. He is the hero.

He has lost his memory and came to this city at the end of his wanderings. A girl named Mist helps him, and he begins to live on and cultivate a piece of farmland near the city.

The story begins as you wander into the outskirts of Kardia Village, a small town on the eastern border of Adonea Continent in Norad Country. You can't go on anymore and pass out in front of a house.

When the woman who lives there checks on the body laying in front of her door, you regain conciousness and tell her you haven't eaten or had a drink in days. She goes inside her house and returns with a Hoe and Watering Can! The lady explains that the Hoe and Watering Can seem to suit you, and eventually gets the hint that you want some bread and water.

After you've eaten and realize you don't know how you got there or what your name is, the two of you pick Ragna to be your name for now. Since you don't seem to have any memory for the time being, Mist loans you the house and land that she's not using. Now that you have a farmland to live on you can start your adventure.

Characters

Hero

The main character who suffers from amnesia. His default name is Ragna, but the player has the option to name the main character as s/he chooses.

Heroine Candidates

Mist

Birthday: Fall 1 Wife Gift: Tempura Noodles, Tomato Seeds, Flour Favorite Gift: Kongou Flower Liked Gifts: Turnip, Baked Apple, 4 Leaf Clover, Baked Noodles, Cake Disliked Gifts: Not Available.

She seems a little spontaneous, but she actually has a very diligent personality. Her carefree pace makes her seem undependable, but she's a reliable girl at heart. She always believes in Ragna.

Daily Schedule: Usually is in her house all morning. You can't enter her home before 9am. At 12pm, she'll hang out on your farm. If it's raining, she'll be inside your house. She returns to her house at 6pm.

Love Points: Increase the more you farm.

Rosetta

Brithday: Fall 21 Wife Gift: Baked Sweet Potato Favorite Gift: Baked Sweet Potato Liked Gifts: Strawberry, Corn, Hot Milk, Omelette, Baked Corn, Hot Chocolate Disliked Gifts: Not available.

She seems harsh, but she just speaks her mind. It seems there's also a side of her she only shows to certain people. She regards Mist as her rival in everything.

Daily Schedule: Usually at her father's store. On non-Holidays and non-Festival days, at 5pm, she'll come to your farm to pick up your shipped items. She'll stay until 6pm, and then she'll return home. On Holidays, she goes to church in the mornings; in the afternoon and evening, she'll be on the third street in front of the entrance to the town square. If it's raining or snowing on the Holiday, after church, she'll be in the library.

Love Points: Increase the more you use the shipping container.

Felicity

Birthday: Fall 5 Wife Gift: Chocolate Cookies Favorite Gifts: Happy Eggplant Liked Gifts: Toast, Pizza, Jam Bun, Butter Roll, Cheesecake Disliked Gifts: Not Available.

The mayor's daughter, who is burdened with a silent sense of responsibility. She has a weak body and must often stay indoors, so she takes maid help at the poultry farm to change herself.

Daily Schedule: Usually in Neuman's store. On Holidays, she can be found in the town square; however, if it's raining or snowing on a Holiday, she'll be inside her father's house all morning and afternoon, and after 6pm, she'll be in her room.

Japanese name - Fia

Sharon

Birthday: Winter 19 Wife Gift: Doughnuts/Donuts Favorite Gift: Relaxtea Leaves Liked Gift: Fire Crystal, Wind Crystal, Water Crystal Disliked Gift: Not Available.

She has a mysterious atmosphere that keeps others from associating with this beauty. Everyone else is afraid and stays away, but only the main character doesn't worry about it and is willing to approach her. She has a strange power to hear predictions of the world. She knows the world for the first time because the main character invites her.

Daily schedule: During the day you can find her at the Kajimill ruins, and at night she stays in the far right room of the inn.

Bianca

Birthday: Summer 08 Wife Gift: Cake Favorite Gift: None Liked Gift: None Disliked Gift: Not Available.

She's cute, but incredibly self-centered. In an especially outrageous display of selfishness, she wants her father to buy the city for her.

Daily Schedule: Usually found inside the mansion. On Holidays, she'll be in the town square from the morning until the 6pm; at 6pm, she'll return to her home. If it's raining/snowing on the Holiday, she'll stay inside her house.

Love Points: Increase the more you just talk to her.

Tori

Birthday: Winter 26 Wife Gift: Baked Apple Favorite Gift: Pumpkin Pudding Liked Gift: Strawberry, Grape, Vegetable Juice, Vegetable Latte, Pinkcat Flower, Pudding, Cheese (L) Disliked Gift: Not Available.

A girl with totally different dreams than her elder brother Sacher. She loves adventure books and always stays up at night reading. A girl of marriageable age who wants a prince to appear for her.

Daily Schedule: Usually inside the library. On Thursday evenings, she can be found in the bathhouse. On Holidays, she'll be at church. If it's raining or snowing on a Holiday, she'll stay inside her room (on the second floor of the inn) all day.

Japanese name - Torte

Tabatha

Birthday: Fall 12

Having come from a foreign country in pursuit of knowledge, she currently works as a housemaid in the Jacolinus (Bianca's) Mansion. She works quickly and flawlessly. A sweet person.

Japanese name - Tabitha

Melody

Birthday: Spring 11

Similar to Ragna in that she's lost her memory and has no family. She's always energetic and optimistic. She composes and sings strange songs which can always be heard coming from her house. She runs the Hot Springs.

Lara

Birthday: Winter 01

A kind young nurse who simply cannot ignore an injured person. She's everyone's idol.

Daily Schedule: Usually in the clinic. On Holiday afternoons after work, if it's not raining, she stands outside the library until 6pm. If it's raining on a Holiday, she'll be at church in the morning; in the afternoon, she'll be in her room on the second floor of the church.

Love Points: Decrease when you pass out.

Japanese Name - Lapis

Other Characters

Zavier

He's a skillful speaker, but somewhat of a blabbermouth. But he's a nice guy with no malice, so it's all right. He says many things that are totally off the mark. He's in dispute against his parents and may like Mist.

Howit (Priest)

The lamb who serves God. He's popular and kind and is a good advisor to people who have lost their way.

Camus

He has doubts about his father's way of life and dreams of leaving the rural area to become successful... but he has nothing to get started with and works on the farm for now.

Sarah

She has a commercial spirit and does trade from her house on the beach. She is Nicol's mother. She basically lets Nicol do whatever he wants, but she raises him in a good direction. She's a beautiful marine woman. And a heavy drinker.

Nicol

A boy who lives at the beach house. He loves pulling practical jokes and is always making people worry. He hunts and plays in the town.

Sebastian

The manager of the bar. He has supported various people through youth.

Russel

The chief librarian. He's like a gentle older brother to everyone, especially Cecilia, of whom he adopted.

Cecilia

A girl who is always boasting of things she's gathered in town. Rumor has it that her collection consists of things the main character has dropped around town. Russel took charge of her as a foster parent.

Edo (Doctor)

He has a lot in his past, but as the town's doctor, he now knows what's important. He's found purpose in living by examining patients.

Lady Anne (Inkeeper)

The inn once prosered under the couple's management, but since the death of her partner, Anne has been managing it alone. There was a reason they came to this city, but they got too comfortable and settled down here. She loves her child dearly and is thus very strict.

Jeff (Shopkeeper)

Rosetta's father. Unlike Rosetta, he's very calm.

Rude (Minstril)

He looks young but is always greeting the women in town especially Rossetta. He is both a minstril and a magic user, which causes him to be a bit spoiled.

Leo (Blacksmith)

Blacksmith. An old man, he is apparently Camus's father. He's the person to upgrade tools.

Godwin (Mayor)

Town mayor and Fia's father. Godwin gives out the cave certificates.

Ivan (Traveling Merchant)

Ivan is a traveling salesperson, much like Won or Van from previous versions of Harvest Moon. He will arrive every weekend and stand at the benches next to the Plaza. Each week he'll have a different set of items for sale, and they rotate back around every 5 weeks.

Jyacolines

Owner of the mansion; Bianca's father. He's a fat man with a huge mouth.

Neuman

Store owner. He has unresolved feelings for Sara.

Reviews

The game received the score 33/40 (9/8/7/9) from Famitsu. Gamebrink gave it 91/100.