Rune Factory Series

[mobiusclimber]

I got both the first Rune Factory for the DS and Frontier for the Wii in a trade. Both games I'd only really listed as filler since they're not worth much and while I like the Harvest Moon series, it's one of those games that I'll play and enjoy for a little while, then just put up and never finish. I was actually trying to sell both of them for awhile, but I don't have a whole lot of Wii games so I thought I'd try out Frontier. It's actually a lot of fun (but I usually think that when I start a new Harvest Moon game) even tho there seems to be way too much to do and my character gets tired way too quickly.

Anyway, my question is really whether I should keep the DS game or not. Is it as good? The DS isn't as hurting for good games as the Wii is, so I'm not really sure I'll even ever get around to it. What do you guys think of the series? Are there any others that are as good or better than Frontier?

[Opa Opa]

I love the first few HM games (especially the first game) but I never could play any of the Rune games for long. I just couldn't get into it. I felt that the Rune series offers too much content for a HM game. I think that it should have just been either a farming series or an action-rpg series without farming.

[mobiusclimber]

Yeah, the big problem is running out of RP too quickly and not having a good way to replenish it. You can choose not to farm on your own plot of land tho and only concentrate on farming in the dungeons. It seems like you really have to choose what you want to do in the game and just stick to that. It definitely feels overcrowded, and I only just started it. There's even more stuff to do once I meet a few more characters. XD

[MrPopo]

In terms of managing your RP it seems like the best method is to use the plots in the dungeons for the express purpose of generating the orbs to keep you going. I've also reached the point in the game where I have enough helper monsters that all I have to do is lay down seeds and manage my cows and sheep; the watering and gathering is completely taken care of for me.

So far the biggest issue I've had with the game is that the boss fights feel overly difficult. Mostly I feel like the attacks are very difficult to dodge and bosses take too many hits (and attacking them is unsafe).

[mobiusclimber]

I've heard another good way to replenish RP is to fish. I haven't even gotten a way to cook anything yet tho. I haven't tried befriending monsters yet, and I don't have a barn yet (do you need one to start with?), but I'll be trying soon I'm sure. I just started farming in the dungeons. Another problem I'm having is that I spend so much time farming and screwing around with people I've already met that I'm worried I'm going to miss something. I just finally went to the forest/lake but there wasn't anything there. LOL

[MrPopo]

So as I understand it unlike the first Harvest Moon (the one I'm most familiar with) there isn't a year limit to the game, so I don't think you need to worry about missing anything; it'll all be available next time around. In order to befriend monsters first you build a barn, then you can get the glove that lets you befriend. Then you go into the dungeon and molest the monster you want until he joins.

[Opa Opa]

I have not tried it but can you play the Rune games without fighting monsters for a while? I think I would like the games better if I could just focus on the farming aspect at first.

[MrPopo]

If I recall right you can do the basic farming without fighting monsters. However, all the livestock are monsters, so you'll need to start doing the caves if you want to expand into that.

[mobiusclimber]

And also the real story is what's up w/ Whale Island and ... that problem... and the only way to get to the bottom of that is to go into caves and fight monsters.