The greatest games - A Personal list of Neocracker~

[Skyblade]

I really think Wolf or someone should just split all these posts off into a whole new Xenogears vs. Xenosaga thread.

There are so many other areas to compare and contrast and debate about.
I also want to see Bolivar's and others' thoughts on this matter as well. (Bolivar has played Saga right?)

Yeah, I agree, this discussion really needs its own thread.

23. Rune Factory 3 (DS)
This is a game whose focus is farming and getting married, as well as finding out who you are and why you are here because of your amnesia. And there’s some pretty solid dungeon crawling gameplay! And if you are not already fascinated by the concept, I can’t say I’m surprised cause it sounds smurfing awful. Really, Rune Factory and Harvest Moon on a whole are almost impossible to make sound enjoyable.

What I could start with is saying there is a big variety of crops to grow! Though that really does nothing to help sell this game to people who don’t already enjoy the series. The combat is really good though! But in the end when compared with games with a combat focus it doesn’t amount to much more then functional and a bit quirky, but there really isn’t a game out there it beats out, so you can’t really use this as a major selling point either.

Rune Factory just has this bizarre nature to it that you get in to your role as this farmer/Monster Fighter/Family man. Where this game shines more then any other in the series, however, is the quality of the writing. Every relationship you build in this game feels genuine and is fun. You play as a guy who is actually, personality wise, a very normal guy. He is pretty much the only normal person though, and he’s dropped in this world of these strange and bizzare people.

As your relationships build, he begins accepting the bizarre nature however, and while he retains his own normality, fit’s in very well in this land of weirdo’s and crazies. And better yet none of them are just weird, they have a lot of personality to them. Some of their stories can even be down right sad and depressing. This is likely the only game I have ever played in which I can honestly say I don’t dislike a single character, and considering the massive cast that’s impressive. And I believe it was twelve of which of them are marry-able!

The story is actually pretty good too. There is an actually over-arching plot going on that, while nothing amazing, does a good job at keeping you interested in progressing the story, and adding to the over all feel and flavor of the world.

Ah, Rune Factory 3. In my opinion, probably the DS's most underrated title.

I can gush about this game for hours, but I'd like to take a moment to highlight a few things you missed.

First, the characterization. Very few people, even among those who played it, realize the depth of characterization this game has. Each character has their own traits and personalities, yes, but it's the development of those that deserves special mention. There are a dozen different marriage candidates, as you mentioned. Each has their own story and quest line leading up to the marriage. But few people realize that each has their own individual story after you marry them.

As an example, I chose to marry Raven ('cause, c'mon, Raven's totally frelling awesome). After doing her questline, exploring her secrets and insecurities, and winning her heart, we live together. And then starts the adventures of her store. And, oh my gosh, is this not absolutely adorable. While it doesn't have quests, you get an entire substory played out when you talk to her every day. Raven is, as discovered almost immediately in the game, extremely introspective and anti-social. She doesn't like to talk to strangers or smile at them. Yet she runs the town's weapon shop. After you marry her, she starts talking to you about business, how it's going, and her plans to make it more profitable. And everything she can think of to make the place better without having to smile at strangers. For months this dialogue goes on, and covers everything from her changing her inventory to he staging a mock battle with monsters to display the effectiveness of the shop's weapons(Character SpoilerWith her suggesting first you and then herself playing the monster, since both of you can transform to monster forms.).

Now realize that they did similar things for all twelve marriage candidates, running at least a year's dialogue for each after you marry them. And you can only marry one per game, and you only get two save files. How many developers put that much detail into "optional" dialogue like that?

This dedication, this depth of characterization, is repeated everywhere, and it's one of the things that makes this game shine. How many RPGs have we played where characters say the same thing, over and over? Each day, each NPC has something new to add. There are further extra conversations when groups of friends get together while going about their daily business. The discussions change as the plot changes and their relation to your character shifts.

In short, this is one of the few games that actually makes a town life feel alive. These characters all have their own quirks and foibles, but you get to know them slowly, over the course of a year or two, and they always have something new to bring up. As you complete quests, give gifts, or just talk to them every day, they warm to you and bring up different topics. Each feels like far more than just your standard townsfolk NPC. I can't recall ever having a game with a cast this strong and this deep.



Second, let's discuss the gameplay. This is the other thing I love about this game. The farming is basic Harvest Moon fare, for the most part. There are some quirks thrown in (having to rest fields, ), but on the whole, it's what you're used to. Combat isn't too different from the early Rune Factory games either. A bit refined, more weapon/spell variety, and more options, sure, but the basics remain the same. Customization and the stat system, though. Ah, there we find another gem.

Anyone who has played Skyrim is familiar with its skill system. Do something, increase your skill in that activity. But let me say that Skyrim's system feels like nothing more than a cheap knock-off of RF3's. 33 different skills to work on, with one of the best rate-of-acquisition curves I've seen. When you first start out, skill levels come fast and furious. Which is good, because each is tied to its own stats, and those increases give you fast boosts to your ability to work longer in the day or take on enemies in dungeons. However, as you increase your skill levels, the rate at which you acquire them begins to drop off. Getting to 99 in any one skill is a feat that will be no small time in coming, and maxing them all, well, I still haven't done it (though I only have one left!), and I've been playing quite a long time.

But with so many skills, your progression never stops. You get skill ups regularly. Walking around, Eating, Finding items, Farming, Poison Resistance (raised by getting poisoned or poisoning enemies), Sleeping... While you play through and work your favorite weapon or magic, you'll constantly be improving in so many other ways as well, just by playing naturally. There's no real grind to it, it's just a system that facilitates how you want to play the game, and works from that. It really adds to the whole feel that the game builds up of your character living his life. You're not grinding away or taking on huge adventures to become some avatar of destruction. You're just someone living with the troubles of life, and getting stronger as you grow, endure the hardships around you, and experience the world.

Eventually the game does start to hit you hard with the slow rate of progression. Getting Alchemy, Blacksmithing, or Decorating (accessory crafting) to max level, or high enough to learn the last recipes, is incredibly challenging. But even then, the game throws you a bone. See, your farm, as in most Rune Factory/Harvest Moon games, is central to the game, and it helps with your overall progression as well. Any crop you harvest has a chance to create a Rune Crystal, which boosts a random skill by 1 level (and any partially earned skill Exp is saved for the next level as well). So even when you're wanting to gain just one more skill level for that next weapon recipe... The game doesn't force you to grind it out. There's an alternative way to work it.

I really can't do justice to how well this system works in this description. So I'll simply say that if you've ever liked a Harvest Moon game, give this game a try. It is really something else.