Rune Factory 3: A Fantasy Harvest Moon Reviewed



At last year’s Electronic Entertainment Expo, one of Natsume’s representatives repeatedly indicated that Rune Factory 3: A Fantasy Harvest Moon was quite different from previous entries in the franchise. For even casual admirers of the series, the rep’s motives were obvious:  the Harvest Moon/Rune Factory games are often chided for offering a nominal amount of changes with each new iteration. Although Neverland’s naysayers will probably dismiss Rune Factory 3 as just another entry in the farming franchise, both series veterans and  discerning DS gamers will likely find themselves alarmingly absorbed by the game’s fanciful simulation of rural life.

Admittedly, some of the series’ criticism hails from the oft-recycled  plotline, where a mysterious but industrious amnesic, forges his own agrarian empire. While Rune Factory 3 uses the trope as a launching point, players will soon discover their ambitions aren’t constrained  to mere agricultural and marital matters- they  are also compelled to unite two opposing factions. While I expected the game’s quest for a harmonious, strife-free union to be heavy handed, the storyline has moments which are refreshingly tender. Sadly, not all of the game’s conversations are as notable. Early on, players will encounter a family that speaks in opposites, a lethargic shopkeeper, as well as the archetypal assortment of tsundere.  As trying as some of the title’s personalities are, each individual is bestowed with an impressive amount of conversational dialog, adding to the richness of the landscape.


Whereas Rune Factory 3‘s banter can be occasionally uneven, its gameplay mechanics are remarkably polished. Players familiar with the 2008 DS predecessor while find a number of significant changes to the game’s control scheme. Farming now forgoes the held button press to till or water a larger patch or land, allowing gamers to rhythmically tend to territories. Also abandoned is the constraint of carrying a single item at a time, now multiples of the same fruit, vegetable or flower may be stacked sky high. Combat feels much more responsive due to the game’s increased speed and increase repertoire of strikes. Even, buying and selling commodities at the town depot has been cleverly streamlined. Although with the modifications, a host of small changes really changes the way the third iteration feels. From seed bags which randomly sprout when harvest flora, a speedier time clock, variable weather cycles, and an eased accumulation of wealth, the sum of each modification makes Rune Factory 3 feel like a new game. Yet one of the most skillful (and subtle) modifications was to increase the open-endedness  of the title. While an unmistakable story trajectory is available, players are also free to follow with own variable interests. From cooking, fishing, spell casting, mining, instructing monsters how to be capable farm hands, to making friends (and potential spouses) there’s always another objective when the current duty grows tedious.  Herein lies the beauty of Rune Factory– as each day ends, there’s always an array of exigent errands awaiting players. For task-oriented games, the title can be astonishingly addictive, making the cartridge an ideal campaign for both everyday commutes and long-distance travels.

Although serious slowdown plagued past iterations when more than a few characters were on-screen, Rune Factory largely rectifies this problem, only losing frames when fighting multiple enemies. Otherwise, the title’s visuals continually delight with trimmings which range from lush cherry blossom-lined courtyard, immaculately drawn icy tundra, and hand drawn 2D character portraits. Sonically, the cartridges selection of songs are delightfully melodic, and are subtle enough to avoid instigating fatigue in players.


With the capacity to absorb gamers within its myriad of tasks, Rune Factory 3: A Fantasy Harvest Moon is an undeniably captivating title. Despite having recently played through its predecessor, I found the third iteration in the franchise made enough alterations to cultivate a distinct experience. Despite a few minor blemishes, Rune Factory is a near-necessary purchase for players who find virtue in intricate, but never impenetrable simulations.

About Robert Allen

Since being a toddler, Robert Allen has been immersed in video games, anime, and tokusatsu. Currently, his days are spent teaching at two southern California colleges. But his evenings and weekends are filled with STGs, RPGs, and action titles and well at writing for Tech-Gaming since 2007.

28 comments

  1. Isn’t there supposed to be a PS3 version of Harvest Moon/RF coming?

    Never played any of the games since the days of the Gamecube.

  2. Of course Deagle would give this a B. He loves these type of girly games.

  3. Are you forced to be a guy in this one or can you be a girl too?

  4. How much is it?

    This and the Etrian Odyssey games have somehow escaped by purchase.

  5. Soon as I finish Golden Sun: Dark Dawn, I may pick it up.

  6. Doesn’t be so fast to pass judgment. These games are a lot like Animal Crossing which isn’t really girly or guyish at all. Both sexes can play them.

  7. Good review. I remember played HM on my SNES back in the day. Man, I bet the game has really aged.

  8. Looks at the screenshots, I’m not getting too excited.

  9. I bet you can be a guy who looks like a girl.

  10. I’m playing this right now. I’m about 5 hours in but I haven’t really done anything beside grow crops for money. Not that that’s not fun.

    I can only go in one dungeon (right below where they sell goods) because the other are high level.

    I want to know when the story of the second city starts.

  11. Ahh, if there’s anyone who should/can review the franchise it’s Deagle.

    BTW- How many HM/RF games have you played?

  12. Better than the IGN review which said, “its the same old RF game” and then 8.0ed it.

    WTF is going on with IGN these days. They have writers who seem like they never played a game in the series, or even read freaking Wikipedia.

  13. I own the RF2 (Gamestop for $10!) and have been debating on buying this one. Consider me sold.

  14. Good review- just not my type of game. I’ve never finished a Harvest Moon game. Each one I just stop playing after a while.

  15. Right now it’s $30. Does these games go on sale after a few months, or do you have to wait longer?

  16. Is it still $10? I’d rather play the old game for $10 than the latest one for $30!

  17. I really wish this game with a strategy guide. I’d never know the recipes and how to tame monsters without some kind of help.

  18. Sounds like the other games to me!

  19. Now why would people want to get married in a game? Whats the advantage to the player? Should you be a lifelong bachelor/farmer and soil your wild oats till you die?

  20. That’s what Gamefaqs is for.

  21. I’ve always like the RF games better than HM. I might have to scope this one out.

  22. That sheep looks scary. Sounds like I might like the game, but is it more relaxing or more intense? Are you always trying to beat the clock?

  23. Thanks for reviewing this Desert. I trust your opinion much more than the sites who always trash HM/RF every chance they get.

  24. I’ll get this eventually.

  25. Princess Skittles

    Thanks for your review, Desert! This is the one game I asked for, but didn’t get for Christmas.

  26. Pretty crazy game, but I’ll never play it.

  27. I’m think of writing Deagle’s law- We need an online database of the grown ass men who play the game to – you know- protect the children. 🙂

  28. Isn’t this thread the working equivalent of “Deagle’s Law”? HAHAHA!