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.
--BUT--
My barn has 7 Monsters in it. One gathering Stone, One gathering Wood, One gathering Wild Vegetables; There are two that regularly accompany me into the dungeons, and two more that I haven't gotten to trust me enough yet to do much of anything!
I have upgraded my Farm Equipment (myself) to Water 3 Plants at once, using only one Unit of Water; Sickle 3 Fodder at once, Chop Wood, Smash Small Rocks and Hoe 3 spots at once...
I am currently trying to gather enough Wood to build a better Forge in my home. I can only Forge two items at once right now, so I have only produced an Earth Sword, Scimitar, Fire Rod, Fire Sword and Wind Sword, weapon-wise, so far... I have a Seed Maker and Lab, as well as my Barn and Forge.
I haven't gotten quite close to anyone women yet... I guess if they let two guys hook up in the game, the whole child rearing portion of the game would be lost... Oh well...
Still, an AMAZING GAME ! ! !
I refuse to believe it!
I've gone off Deadly creatures, not for any particular reason, but like Okami I'm having an indefinite break.
Loving Madworld and single player HOTD is fun everytime.
Sounds good. Tell me about farming, can you keep animals? What are your upgrades like? Barns? Churners? Bigger house? Kids?
Ummm... To answer your questions: Yes.
All of the above, plus a butt-load more!
What about breeding cows and selling milk. Harvest moon type stuff. Is there grass to cut with a scytche?
Is there any kind of story in this game? What is the point of that boat? There is fishing? Are there islands? How do you mine? Is there a cave? Is it laborious?
(Well, any of them can accompany you... and you do find all of them in the dungeons and then befriend them there --BUT-- who would your rather accompany you: a monster sized Mushroom creature that stuns his enemies and has HP and Defense higher than yours, or a cute, little horned squirrel?)
You can pretty much upgrade everything: Your farm equipment, your weapons, your home, your rooms, your facilities, your furniture, your relationships, your town, your job, your individual stats... You can marry, you can have a kid. Unlike Rune Factory 2 though, your child does NOT grow and start adventuring on his own. A cool feature of that game, but not a huge loss. There's STILL a lot to do!
Farming is seasonal. There are 30 days in each season. Different crops take different times to grow, so crop management is there IF you want to focus on Farming. You can grow the quick route and grow Turnips to turn a quick profit, but they are a one shot deal. Plant some Strawberries and you can continue to harvest them after you pick them. They grow back after 2 or 3 days, I believe. The turnips earn you faster money and take little maintenance; the strawberries require a bit more time and attention, but they yield more money over time. There are specialty plants that take months of planning in advance to grow, but yield MUCH higher value. There are plants that take 100 days to grow for example; you have to plant them 3 seasons ahead, if you want to grow then. If you do it wrong, they bloom in the wrong season and wither! Again, if this is too complicated, do a different job. Focus on producing potions and accessories and sell them for a profit, if you want. You HAVE TO start with farming to earn your first bit of income, but you don't have to do that indefinitely.
I have a cow-creature; I don't know if I can produce milk with her though. I have not come across any milking equipment yet. Yes, you cut fodder with a sickle. Your monsters aren't going to work for you very long if you don't feed them! By the way, when's the last time you fed Iga?
Other questions: Yes. Don't know. Yes. Yes. With a giant hammer. Yes. No.
The fixed camera is fine. It works as well as that crappy, Nintendo-made City game they put out last year with all the animals in it... What was that called again?
...but seriously, as you upgrade your equipment to be able to do your chores more quickly with super moves, the camera actually pans automatically to give you a better view of what you are doing. There was never a time when I could not see my character or where it was an issue. The ONLY time you have an obstructed view is when you stand behind a closed door... and that lasts for a tenth of a second.