A change of scenery can be a miraculous affair . At least that seems to be the case inRune Factory : Guardians of Azuma , the upcoming spinoff title in the long runningfarming simmeets RPG series from Marvelous . Taking place in the titulary new mise en scene of Azuma , the biz seek to give a fresh perspective on the franchise ’s core pillars of farming , fighting , and love story . While at first glance this might seem like just a cosmetic alteration of pace , my time of day foresightful preview with the title showed that the Modern setting is just the start of how Marvelous is rethink what player should expect in a Rune Factory game .
This is n’t to say thatRune manufactory : Guardians of Azumareinvents the bicycle ; it just wants to give it a cautiously consider tune up . Much of the changes , from a better grasp on 3D movement to more streamlined gameplay in both farming and combat , read as well - considered responses to unfavorable judgment ofRune mill 5 . Taken as a whole , it means thatGuardians of Azumais influence up to be an exciting entry for returning rooter as well as anybody looking to dip their toe into Rune Factory for the first time .
A whole new world
The most obvious departure forGuardians of Azumais that change of scene . Until now , Rune Factory games have all take away place on the continent of Adonea . The continent riffs on traditional western phantasy , intend past titles have all worked within that familiar aesthetic . Azuma , by direct contrast , is a Modern eastern continent influenced by Japanese culture . Just on a ocular degree , Guardians of Azumadelivers on this with beautiful visuals , from gorgeous outfit worn by the protagonists ( you could pick out between the male Subaru and the distaff Kaguya ) and Romance language candidate to the four seasonally themed village you ’ll explore .
My preview began with a short exploration of the Autumn Village , which was defined by wave mound sprinkle with orange , reddish , and yellow tree blow in the perpetual wind . Later , I was capable to betray around the cherry blossom filled Spring Village with the bright grim sky hanging above me . The unique colour palette of each village is the defining broker that sets the mood when vibing in these locations , but there is also a structural coherence in buildings that make each believably exist in the same continent . I could n’t help but think before with eager anticipation at what colors might delimitate the Winter and Summer village . And whileGuardians of Azumamakes it easy to gawk at the scenery , there is work to be done in the villages .
Rune Factory began as a Story of Seasons spinoff , and to this Clarence Shepard Day Jr. agriculture remains one of the most important look of the series . Guardians of Azumakeeps the familiar core of farming ( till the soil , plant seeds , water , then harvest ) but add up a twosome central feature that take a breather new life into the organisation . The first is Sacred Treasures , special token you ’ll pick up over the course of playthrough that each have unique abilities . In the context of use of agriculture , these act as speedy solution to the often tiring physical process . The Sacred Parasol , for example , can be used to irrigate a large sphere rather than receive to go square by foursquare . likewise the Sacred Drum instantly rise crop which I can use to make money or heal in a hint .
More challenging , and impressive , is the Development Zones feature ofGuardians of Azuma . These are turgid exposed spaces in each village in which I ’m give way the power to construct buildings and play with the layout . I started by retrace a carpenter building , which then unlock the choice to construct more complex buildings . Though first I needed to assign a villager to execute the place , something that mean think the forcefulness and weaknesses of candidates and picking who was in reality primed for the task .
While player will demand to have the requisite resource and currency to progress everything once a carpenter is on site , my preview flooded me with both so I was capable to go wild in an Autumn Village Development Zone . Within minutes , I had a bathhouse and an izakaya also construct and was position out a neat path between them all , complete with autumnal flora on the side to brighten up the berth . This is made much easier by an overhead mode which prompt the building natural process from the traditional , and often fiddly , third person camera to a top - down CRT screen . Navigating a top - down version of the Development Zone complete with a storage-battery grid hit direct every construction or path roofing tile a more precise action . If I really wanted I could do this all in the normal over the shoulder perspective , but overhead mode is so pleasant that I ca n’t guess I ’d ever require to .
Before I cognise it , a fellow member of the trailer team had to urge me to move on from the Development Zone so I could see the residuum of the game because I had get under one’s skin so into designing the complete niggling hamlet in overhead mode . Even now I ca n’t stop remember about all the minuscule additions I could have made with more time .
Combat refined
While combat does n’t get any overtly dazzling new features like farming ’s Development Zones , little tweak help it feel sweet . Like preceding debut , I ’m put in a familiar loop of explore the wilderness and entering dungeon . This is done with the help of three party members to patronise me during combat , with every NPC loosely filling into a support , DPS , or tank car original . Further customization come in the form of the Bow and Talismans , both new toGuardians of Azuma . The bow is what you expect , giving me a way to take on enemy from long range . This come in handy when an enemy was a small too dangerous for my liking and I require to keep some distance between us .
Talismans are justGuardians of Azuma ’s name for your standard weapon , and I ’m give the option to equip at a time that I can flip between on the fly . After try out a few options , such as a basic steel and a hulking hammer , I settled on the agile short daggers and a bowknot . The daggers let me unleash a ready flurry of consecutive blow on enemies and made me feel like I was rip up enemies with repose . Each player will want to find the compounding of Talismans that compliments their play elan and company construction .
Combat also reveals a three-fold intention for Sacred Treasures . Those tools that I used early in my preview to speed up farming are also helpful in fighting as consecrated weapon . Wielding the sanctified Parasol in struggle permit me to impose water attack on enemies in widely slashing movement as well as coast like Marry Poppins from great high when activated mid air . The drum I sped up plant growth with now doubles as an country of effect weapon and a shaft for healing allies . Everything works in tandem and has more than one purpose . There is a wondrous symmetry in the Sacred Drum healing both the earth through its fast - growing benefits and healing my company . It verbalise to a large ethos inGuardians of Azuma , in which each pillar of the secret plan bring together to declare oneself a more hearty experience .
There is always time for love
The last section of my preview was reserved for matters of the heart . Guardians of Azuma , like preceding entry , has stack of romance for players to dig into . This time around there are sixteen romanceable characters to choose from . Just as inRune Factory 5 , there are no restrictions on who players can romance establish on sexuality . Both Subaru and Kaguya can fall in love with all of the eligible bachelors and bachelorettes … even each other . Whatever protagonist the musician does n’t choose inGuardians of Azumawill pose around in the secret plan ’s story as well as being a romance option , a fun first for Rune Factory .
I got a taste of the Latinian language with two characters , Iroha ( a tea leaf household possessor ) and Murasame ( a gruff samurai ) . The love affair scenes were from a later save single file so I ’m miss some much needed setting but I can already see why player will fall down in sexual love with these fibre . I was particularly charmed by the fairly standoffish nature of Iroha ( whatever that say about my discernment ) . Though what stood out during the preview was my chance to try outGuardians of Azuma ’s new haunt system .
In past entries , Rune Factory has largely dilute love affair to the familiar loop of give giving to the physical object of your philia and talking to them as often as the in - game calendar allow . While there can still be meaningful story told in this scheme it can leave love story feeling especially gamified . repair seek to address this concern by giving participant more opportunity to spend fourth dimension with and get to know the characters throughout courtship . you could still give gifts , but there is also the pick to confabulate about a all-inclusive diversity of topics that might interest your hope lover . In talk with Iroha , I gambled that negging her a slight would actually endear me to her , which happened to be right ! This boosted our bond , but it is possible to say the wrong thing . While there can still be an element of trying to game the system here , it does add a welcome sense of depth that stress each love affair option ’s individual charms .
Looking back on my preview , it feels like a draw pass off in the span of one hour . That ’s a good thing in my Holy Scripture , as it talk to just how much there is to see and do inGuardians of Azuma ’s intimate but ameliorate take on Rune Factory . While in the past tense the serial has often been a jack of all trades but master of none when it come to the agriculture sim meetsRPGmash up , Guardians of Azumaseems like it might in fact do it all .
Rune Factory : Guardians of Azumalaunches for Nintendo Switch and PC on May 30 .
