A spin-off of Story of Seasons, the Rune Factory series combines action/RPG combat with the farming and social elements of its siblings. Now, almost a decade after Rune Factory 4 debuted on 3DS, a new Rune Factory game is upon March 22nd exclusively for Switch. We sat down with director Shiro Maekawa to give you an idea of what to expect from the fun festival to power up Link Attacks with other townsfolk.
It’s been a long road to Rune Factory 5. Many fans have been concerned about the future of the series, especially with the cancellation of Neverland. Can you discuss the journey to get this long-awaited entry off the ground?
Maekawa: After finishing Rune Factory 4, we made many plans for Rune Factory 5 that we couldn’t realize, but several factors came together to finally release this title. When we released Rune Factory 4 Special we were very motivated by how many fans still wanted new Rune Factory games.
What did the team learn from Rune Factory 4 Special applied to Rune Factory 5?
I would say the fans’ love for his characters. We’ve learned that spotlighting all of the city’s charming residents is crucial.
How did the team plan to further develop the Rune Factory formula for this entry?
Rune Factory Frontier and Rune Factory Oceans were in 3D, but this is our first game made entirely in real 3D. Players can switch seamlessly between their life in Rigbarth and their adventures in the surrounding lands. More than ever, we wanted to make players feel part of the game world.
Which new features do you think fans will particularly like?
You can do so many different things with the townsfolk: cook, fish, forge, ride monsters, use Link attacks in battle… These new features allow you to spend more time with your favorite characters.
What are certain elements that you feel are essential to the identity of the series, and how do you ensure these remain entertaining for fans while remaining familiar?
The three elements we’ve incorporated since the very first Rune Factory game are love, farming and adventure. At first glance, these elements appear to exist independently, but the crafting system ties them all together to create a whole new level of fun.
What types of festivals can we expect in this entry? Any new ones?
You can expect to see traditional ones like the harvest festivals and fishing competitions, as well as the monster fighting competition known as the Buddy Battle, but there are some new ones too!
How do you keep the fundamental element of amnesia exciting and an interesting mystery to uncover in each game?
You’d think our fans would exclaim, “Amnesia again?!”, but this important feature lets the player experience a brand new world alongside the protagonist. As in previous titles, Rune Factory 5 explains what caused the protagonist’s amnesia and how it relates to the major mysteries of the game.
How do you ensure there is enough dungeon variety? Can you give some examples of the types of dungeons we’ll see?
In addition to the well-known fire and ice dungeons, you have the opportunity to visit many locations, including vast prairies, a bandit lair and an abandoned city swallowed by darkness.
Can you discuss Link Attacks and how they differ by character?
A character’s preferred weapon affects Link Attacks, rather than the characters themselves. These attacks also increase in power based on how strong a character’s relationship with the player is.
This is the first game in the franchise to feature same-sex marriage. How important was it for the show to finally take that step and be more inclusive?
In a way (i.e. by swapping the protagonist’s outward appearance), same-sex marriage was possible in Rune Factory 4, but not really implemented. Back then, this choice was meant to give players the freedom to play the game the way they wanted. But Rune Factory 5 marks its official induction and lets us welcome more fans to the series. I think we should continue to add this feature to future Rune Factory titles.
Do you have any tips or advice for fans to consider as they begin their Rune Factory 5 journey?
What you do in this game is entirely up to you. You can fish from dawn to dusk, invite someone on an adventure or a date – play it however you like. You don’t have to do anything. So I hope you settle down in Rigbarth and live your ideal relaxed life there!
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