Rune Factory: Tides of Destiny
- February 24, 2011
- Neverland
- 48h median play time
Aden and Sonja, two lifelong friends, live a tranquil life on Fenith Island until they're struck by a mysterious curse: they awaken to find both of their souls are now trapped in the same body! On top of this unusual calamity, the Fenith they knew is gone, replaced by a strange island populated with unfamiliar faces. Only by exploring this new world will they be able to solve the mystery of this c…
Reviews
- The game offers a unique blend of farming, crafting, and action RPG elements, providing a refreshing experience for fans of the genre.
- The graphics are visually appealing, and the game features a variety of activities, including relationship building and exploration, which keeps gameplay engaging.
- Improvements over previous titles include a more streamlined crafting system, better combat mechanics, and a rewarding skill progression system.
- The camera control is limited, which can lead to frustrating gameplay experiences, especially during exploration and combat.
- The farming mechanics have changed significantly, relying on monsters to manage crops, which may disappoint players who enjoyed the traditional farming aspects.
- The story and character development are often seen as underwhelming, with many players feeling that the narrative lacks depth and engagement.
- story49 mentions
- 27 % positive mentions
- 67 % neutral mentions
- 6 % negative mentions
The game's story is described as underwhelming and vague, often requiring players to complete it before accessing more engaging content, which can be frustrating. While some players appreciate the intriguing premise and character relationships that unlock new quests, many feel the narrative lacks depth and becomes repetitive, leading to a focus on life-simulation elements rather than the plot itself. Overall, the story has potential but is often overshadowed by gameplay mechanics and a lack of compelling character development.
“It has a growing storyline that can change with the choices you make.”
“This game has an intriguing storyline, beautiful graphics, and an awesome water travel/island exploration aspect to it!”
“The main story premise is interesting and holds a bit of mystery to it.”
“Next up would be something very familiar to pretty much every other entry - that being the underwhelming story.”
“What is even more saddening is the fact that the game doesn't truly open up until the 'story' is completed, as if to say, 'hurry up and finish the fantastically underwhelming and vague story to get into the good stuff!'”
“In general, the plot was not compelling.”
- grinding30 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The grinding aspect of the game has received mixed reviews, with many players noting that while crafting and resource farming can enhance gameplay, they often feel tedious and less engaging compared to the RPG elements. The farming mechanics have been significantly altered from previous entries, leading some long-time fans to feel disappointed, as the reliance on monsters for farming diminishes player agency. Overall, while the game offers a variety of activities, those seeking a deep farming experience may find it lacking.
“After a while, the RPG elements started to get a little tedious; I felt my energy was getting drained just far too quickly.”
“Very strange farming mechanics; I had to Google how you're supposed to do it because the game doesn't explain it well at all.”
“However, with this game, the farming was definitely a side-liner to the whole experience, if even relevant at all.”
- graphics13 mentions
- 62 % positive mentions
- 15 % neutral mentions
- 23 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are generally praised for their beauty and quality, particularly on the PS3, with many reviewers noting that they surpass previous titles in the series. While some mention occasional blurry textures and a lack of detail in certain character models, the overall visual experience is considered impressive and contributes positively to the game's immersive storyline and gameplay.
“I took a chance buying this game on PS3 instead of Wii and I will tell you, the graphics are great, the load times are great, not to mention the storyline, characters, and dungeons/islands are all a ton of fun to explore.”
“Amazing graphic designs as well as story, I recommend this game to anyone who wants to kill time and enjoy a relaxing game.”
“This game has an intriguing storyline, beautiful graphics, and an awesome water travel/island exploration aspect to it!”
“Though the visuals go far beyond other titles, they aren't far beyond what the PS2 was capable of pushing.”
“Graphically, it's one of the better Rune Factory games, but somehow they'll have you wanting to go back to the illustrations and simple polygon models (Mikoto's character model is catastrophically limited for what they decided to do with her).”
“Graphics are pretty, but not really very detailed.”
- gameplay6 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 17 % neutral mentions
- 33 % negative mentions
Gameplay in the game is generally well-received, with players appreciating the reduced time pressure through various mechanics that allow for quicker farming and dungeon access. However, some users found the farming mechanics confusing and poorly explained, necessitating external help to understand them. Overall, the gameplay is described as interesting and enjoyable, complemented by great graphics and sound.
“Time pressure is greatly lessened by having more ways to mitigate the cost and by reducing the time it takes to do things, such as farming being done by pets and a mechanic that allows you to quickly teleport to dungeons.”
“The gameplay is interesting too~”
“Great graphics, great sound, excellent gameplay, and wonderful voice acting!”
“I ended up needing to consult Google to figure out gameplay at some points.”
“Very strange farming mechanics; I had to Google how you're supposed to do it because the game doesn't explain it well at all.”
- music3 mentions
- 67 % positive mentions
- -67 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The music in the game is characterized by a catchy opening song and pleasant background tunes that enhance the beautiful visuals. While the voice acting is limited, it is complemented by funny dialogue and lively characters, contributing to an engaging overall experience.
“The areas are beautiful to look at and the music is pleasant.”
“Catchy music, funny dialogue, interesting and lively characters, and good voice acting (though voice acting is limited).”
“The opening song is in Japanese, which might not resonate with all players.”
“The music feels repetitive and lacks variety throughout the game.”
“The soundtrack doesn't match the game's atmosphere, making it feel disjointed.”
- replayability2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game is praised for its significant replayability, attributed to its impressive graphics, engaging storyline, and depth, making it a highly enjoyable experience that encourages multiple playthroughs.
“All in all, it is a great game and has a massive amount of replay value.”
“Graphics are amazing, the storyline is great, there is lots of depth, and it has high replayability.”
- humor2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is characterized by its funny and cute characters, catchy music, and engaging dialogue, complemented by lively performances, although the voice acting is somewhat limited.
“The characters are funny and cute.”
“Catchy music, funny dialogue, interesting and lively characters, and good voice acting (though voice acting is limited).”
- stability1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
The game suffers from significant stability issues, with frequent freezing that renders it unplayable for many users.
“The game freezes all the time; it's not playable.”
“I experience constant crashes that ruin the gameplay experience.”
“The stability issues make it impossible to enjoy the game.”
