If you'll spare me a moment of indulgence, I want to delve into the intricacies of progression systems within RPGs. This topic is particularly relevant when discussing Rune Factory: Guardians of Azuma. For those seeking a quick overview, it’s a decent farming RPG that features a charming village, interesting characters, but suffers from subpar combat, uninspired dungeon design, and a story that is merely acceptable.
Throughout Rune Factory: Guardians of Azuma, players encounter various progression systems that hint at great potential. You are introduced to a vast sky for exploration, a gear system that allows for modular customization, and home decorations that grant passive bonuses to stats. However, when you scratch the surface, these features feel underwhelming. The game embodies the idea of "potential" without delivering a rewarding experience. It’s reminiscent of RPGs where the feeling of progression can elevate the overall experience, much like Final Fantasy VIII.
Though the narrative in Final Fantasy VIII may not resonate as strongly as its counterparts, the mechanics of drawing and junctioning provide a satisfying sense of progression. In contrast, Final Fantasy XVI suffers from overly simple mechanics that detract from the overall enjoyment, leading to frustration. This brings us back to Rune Factory: Guardians of Azuma, which, despite its promise, never fully realizes its potential.
As my first experience with the Rune Factory series, I was hopeful for a modern take that would rival Genshin Impact, but instead found it lacking. While it shares similar controls—dodging, running, and jumping—the combat mechanics are disappointingly basic. Players gain access to elemental spells that perform three primary functions: a standard attack, a stronger attack requiring a meter, and an ultimate attack that plays a cutscene. Unfortunately, these abilities primarily serve to inflict damage without any engaging interactions.
The combat feels stagnant, especially given the game's resemblance to Genshin Impact. Instead of adopting the elemental interaction mechanics that make Genshin enjoyable, Rune Factory: Guardians of Azuma opts for a more straightforward approach that lacks depth.
When it comes to gear customization, players can socket gems to enhance their equipment with minor bonuses. However, this system pales in comparison to the crafting depth found in previous titles like Rune Factory 4, where items could inherit traits and provide more meaningful upgrades. Sadly, in Guardians of Azuma, players are left with a simplistic upgrade system that fails to inspire creativity or strategic planning.
Moreover, the lack of clarity regarding character stats is frustrating. While some stats are easy to understand, others, like "Mind," remain ambiguous, leaving players in the dark about their significance. The absence of a comprehensive menu to explain item categories and their benefits further compounds this issue, resulting in a frustrating gameplay experience.
Upon completing the game, I found several unexplored warp slots, hinting at significant post-game content. However, the game provides little direction on how to unlock this content. Players are left unsure whether they need to max out bonds with characters, which can be a tedious process given the number of party members. The overworld travel, despite the appealing idea of flying on a dragon, becomes a monotonous chore due to repetitive cutscenes and lackluster exploration.
Even after attempting to engage with the game’s mechanics and story, the post-game content felt directionless and uninviting. Completing side tasks and raising village levels lacked the excitement needed to keep players motivated.
One aspect that stands out in Rune Factory: Guardians of Azuma is its cast of characters. Each character embodies various anime tropes, from the hyperactive younger sister to the wise nerd. While interactions with these characters are enjoyable, they become a tedious daily requirement that detracts from the overall experience.
The game’s aesthetic is commendable, with village designs inspired by real Japanese shrines. Yet, this raises questions about the uninspired dungeon designs that players must navigate. The dungeons, while initially intriguing, ultimately deliver a repetitive experience devoid of creativity.
The final dungeon of the main story, which involves stopping a resurrected god, promised an exciting climax. However, it fell flat due to simplistic design and repetitive enemy encounters. The lack of engaging mechanics made the penultimate scenario feel tedious, leading to moments of boredom that are unacceptable in a climactic setting.
In conclusion, while Rune Factory: Guardians of Azuma offers a charming cast of characters, decent voice acting, and some enjoyable village editing tools, it ultimately fails to deliver on the gameplay front. Boring dungeons, lackluster combat, and an uninspired progression system leave much to be desired. If your primary interest lies in character interactions and romance, you may find some enjoyment, but those seeking engaging gameplay mechanics should look elsewhere. As for me, I plan to explore Rune Factory 4 and hope to find the depth and excitement that Guardians of Azuma failed to provide.
Versions tested: PC. Rune Factory: Guardians of Azuma is also available for Nintendo Switch and Nintendo Switch 2. Disclaimer: A copy of this game was provided to RPG Site by the publisher.
