Picked up Rune Factory Frontier last night. Had to sell a couple old games (something I swore I wouldn't do this gen), but it was a good decision. The game is excellent. It's everything that was good in the DS version plus a little more, with better combat (though still not great). So far I think the most interesting thing I've noticed is the more and more I play the less like Harvest Moon it feels. The farming aspect is still there (not quite to a true Harvest Moon level of depth), but they've stacked so much more onto this. There's combat, smithing, crafting, cooking, socializing, and monster training. And while most of those things have existed in the series they've been given an extra level of depth so that they feel genuinally important instead of just side projects.
In the previous Rune Factories farming still felt llike the main job. In fact in the first one, all you could do in the first weeks of the game was farm (everything else was introduced later). Now it just feels like one more part of the game. It's still important mind you, but it's getting pushed further and further from the center. In fact, the game is really starting to feel more like Legend of Mana now minus the world creation feature with all the directions you're able to take the character.
For the next month(s) this is likely all I'll be playing with a few minutes over We Ski and Snowboard to break things up. I shall reach GamingGeek/HotD: Overkill proportions of annoyance with the updates as well so please prepare yourselves.
Is that unlocked if you beat the Watermelon Pinata challenge on the First day of Summer?
Or, was it just a seasonal thing?
I bought it from the shop immediately upon seeing it, but have no idea how I got it to be there...
The Pumpkin Head is added when you beat the Green Dungeon I believe. When you complete a dungeon merchants will add more to their shops. That's series worked previously and I noticed it the day after I completed it. In this case Ganasha started to carry high quality crystals and a few more weapons, Rosetta had a few more accessories, and Selphie offered about twice as many books as before.
I'm now 40 hours into the game which puts me in mid-fall of the first year. In the original Harvest Moon, 40 hours was about the length of time required to beat the entire game. At the moment I'm at best half-way in. Rune Factory is a little harder to estimate on time than other games though because there comes a point where your character's stats have all reached a certain point and everything suddenly becomes a complete breeze. You can literally spend a half your play time on the first 20% of the game.
Overall I'm still real happy with the game. It is reptitious because at it's core it's still built on the Harvest Moon farming formula, but it does an excellent job of bringing in a new element right around the time when things start to get a little slow. A new neighbor moves in, a new season arrives, a festival takes place, etc. Very well balanced in that regard.
Looks good and I need some holidays
I thought that you had nothing but holidays in France (and 30 hour work weeks).
And no holidays before June, previous ones were in December for Christmas. So.. sorry to disappoint the only people who have lots of holidays here are kids and they are not even able to enjoy them! Stupid kids >_<
More money, more games /o/
...
Ok maybe I'm kinda workaholic too :/
Just threaten to cook them a tomato cake.
That will get you a raise.