Rune Factory Tides of Destiny

Rune Factory: Tides of Destiny is a formless blend of genres that goes well beyond the norm of adding in new elements to traditional games. Not only is there farming, mining, fishing, and other gathering behaviors but also combat and fetch quests.

There’s so much to do in this game it can sometimes get overwhelming. Do you go check on your harvest or fight monsters in the dungeon? Mine for materials to get that new sword or hope your sword will last through the next fetch quest? Whatever the case may be, you’ll have to make a decision.

Although this is a really cool part of Rune Factory: Tides of Destiny, the genre blending comes at a price. The game has so much to do in it that there’s nothing in particular that stands out. No matter what genre you love, chances are it has been blurred in here somewhere, but may not be as good as you hope.

Great graphics

Although the game is a mishmash of a dozen different genres, the graphics were clearly worked on with singular purpose. The graphics are crisp, bright and beautiful. The initial cutscene is nothing short of amazing, and throughout the game it continues to be consistently beautiful graphics.

Clunky combat mechanics

As one might expect from a game that covers a bit too much, the combat mechanics appear to be rushed through in their development. The fighting mechanics boil down to little more than a button masher, and although there’s some cool perks like fighting in a giant robot on occasion, there’s not enough of these moments.

Story needs a bit of a boost

The developer self describes itself as “Harvest Moon with swords.” If you’ve ever played past Harvest Moon in the past, you will probably have no difficulty seeing the connection. This is essentially a farming and gathering simulator, like Harvest Moon, but with combat as an addition.

Harvest Moon games often also have a storyline along with them, and Rune Factory: Tides of Destiny has one also—but it lacks urgency. The story seems really casual, and lacks explanation for some of the deeper mystery. Your character appears to be two people inhabiting one body, but no one else seems to notice or care why these strange occurrences came to be.

If you’re just looking for a casual game to wander aimlessly around and fill the time, Rune Factory: Tides of Destiny fits the bill. The game is packed with things to do, places to go, and quests to finish. Unfortunately, the story lacks any real urgency and has the same casual feel as the gardening.

Pros:

• Beautiful graphics
• Lots to keep you busy

Cons:

• Story and combat are dull