This thread? Haven't heard much but a couple gaffers have said they liked it alot (Japanese version). This is the DS game Twin Villages localized and up ported to 3DS. The actual 3DS Harvest Moon is currently unannounced I think.
Weird, looks like I'd even posted in that thread. I'd forgotten completely. Yeah, the latter pages of the thread are looking more positive, that one guy who played the Japanese version seemed to like it.
I can't wait to get my Lite fixed so I can get back into this. I have a soft spot for some of the missing features from the first two games, and I think 3 has the weakest soundtrack of the three so far as I've played it (1 and 2 are tied for me in that category), but 3 easily has the best overall gameplay experience.
I'm hoping that the next Wii RF isn't as bad as I fear it will be (a decreased emphasis on farming? FUCK THAT SHIT) and that it will get localized. Frontier is a fantastic game.
A few months ago, someone here on GAF recommended this game to me, and I finally got around to picking it up. I "finished" it this past week. This was the first Rune Factory I've ever played, and the first Harvest Moon I've played in over a decade. The last Harvest Moons for me were Harvest Moon GB and Harvest Moon 64.
I don't know what it was about the world that Neverland Co. created here, but it totally sucked me in. The characters, the town, even the cheesy story of reuniting the monsters and humans, it was all really engrossing. Helping the characters through their problems and watching them grow and change behaviors was really engaging.
Shara's sister Monica is a good example. It was really rewarding to see Monica's behavior shift in a permanent way after I completed her quests.
I would do a plus/minus list but ronito's post above pretty much covers it all. However, many of his minuses didn't bother me at all, though this was probably due to the fact that I haven't played any of the other Rune Factories (quest lengths felt fine to me, game length was good, recipe bread was fine, etc.).
Overall, I was completely blown away. However, I can understand why this game is "underrated" because the Harvest Moon formula is definitely not for everyone; but for whatever reason this game really grabbed me and I found myself not wanting to put it down.
So my next question is: are Rune Factory 1 and 2 just as good? I wish I would have played those first because I'm afraid now that they'll be lacking in features since they're earlier iterations, and that will make them difficult to enjoy (sort of like going back to a Pokemon game with no Running Shoes). I don't have time these days for another console game, so Frontier is out of the question (unless someone can really convince me that it's that much better than RF3). So should I pick up Rune Factory 1 or 2 on the DS, or just wait two years for RF4 to release and get localized?
I dunno. I say its underrated because so few actually play it. Yeah I don't expect it to get CoD or Final Fantasy kinds of following. But it does deserve a bigger following.
Yeah, RF1 and 2 are not as good as 3. I would say that Frontier can be loads of fun, so long as you don't let the Runeys get in your way of enjoying it.
I'm hoping that the next Wii RF isn't as bad as I fear it will be (a decreased emphasis on farming? FUCK THAT SHIT) and that it will get localized. Frontier is a fantastic game.
"Fall 2011" is what Natsume has said so far. I can hardly wait! Foaming at the mouth! Here's a link to Natsume's PDF file which includes a page about RF:ToD (it's on page 4):
DQ X ? I didn't know there was one out :O I still have to play IX, I am not far into it at all.
I would pick up a battery as they are dirt cheap.
I ordered Rune Factory 3, should have it tomorrow. I haven't played the other two, but have been a long time Harvest Moon fan, although I know the Rune series is supposed to be a lot different.
The game is great though