Rune Factory: Tides of Destiny

 PlayStation 3
  • Publisher: Natsume
  • Release Date: Oct 7, 2011
Metascore
55

Mixed or average reviews - based on 12 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 1 out of 12
  2. Mixed: 8 out of 12
  3. Negative: 3 out of 12
Buy On
  1. 4Players.de
    Jul 6, 2012
    76
    The story is not noteworthy and visually the Wii heritage shines through. But nonetheless the mix of conquering uncharted territory, collecting rare materials, finding treasure, recruiting monster comrades and taking care of your property is motivating.
  2. Cheat Code Central
    Oct 17, 2011
    74
    Rune Factory: Tides of Destiny has some great gameplay innovations and refinements, and can be quite fun and addictive to play. Unfortunately, the step backwards in terms of localization and character development combined with some issues with production value keep the game from being great.
  3. JeuxActu
    May 30, 2012
    65
    Rune Factory surely has some qualities with its long game experience and its colorful and aquatic universe that players will enjoy crossing thanks to the introduction of the Golem. However, the ones that usely play the IP to satisfy their farmer spirit, will be disappointed to see that all the hard work has been given to the mobs, the players' role consisting in checking if they have enough cookies to eat. Hopefully, fight sequences remain entertaining, yet repetitive.
  5. GameSpot
    Oct 28, 2011
    65
    Tides of Destiny makes several good changes to the Rune Factory formula, making for a fun adventure in fantasy farming.
  6. Push Square
    Dec 19, 2011
    60
    While the motion and camera controls leave much to be desired, there is a huge amount of gameplay in this title for anyone looking to discover all areas and level up all their skills.
  7. Official PlayStation Magazine Benelux
    Jul 3, 2012
    59
    After thirty hours you're still discovering new islands in the enormous ocean surrounding Fenith Island. You're still trying to manage your plantations more efficiently or be a better cook. There are no tutorials, which means that you'll spend a lot of time wondering what you're supposed to do. [July 2012, p.88]
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  8. Play UK
    Jul 10, 2012
    51
    Showing its age both mechanically and visually, there's still fun to be had here if you've got the patience and the right mindset. It'll send everyone else to sleep, however. [Issue#220, p.79]
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  9. Playstation Official Magazine UK
    Jul 17, 2012
    50
    Best left on the bargain bin's seabed. [Aug 2012, p.113]
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  10. Playstation: The Official Magazine (US)
    Nov 26, 2011
    50
    As it stands, this one needed more time before harvesting. [Holiday 2011, p.75]
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  11. Metro GameCentral
    May 20, 2012
    40
    A disappointing misstep for Harvest Moon's sister series, where neither monster fighting nor crop planting offers any real entertainment or variety.
  12. RPGamer
    Nov 11, 2011
    40
    Rune Factory: Tides of Destiny took me over eighty hours to complete and only twenty of those hours actually felt fun and exciting. The game has way too many unpolished elements that keep it from being a fantastic successor to Rune Factory 3, and in the end falters from its problems described above.
  13. GamesRadar+
    Oct 19, 2011
    40
    It's when you get into the tedium of every activity that you realize a game that only does a few things well holds more value than a game that does a dozen things poorly. Variety is supposed to be the spice of life, but let's be honest, everything has its limits.

Awards & Rankings

31
#31 Most Shared PS3 Game of 2011

User Reviews

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User Score
8.0

Generally favorable reviews- based on 47 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 36 out of 47
  2. Mixed: 6 out of 47
  3. Negative: 5 out of 47
  1. MWesthoff
    Dec 12, 2011
    10
    After playing Dark Souls and Skyrim, this game was a nice change of pace. The critics mostly had beefs with the changes that have been madeAfter playing Dark Souls and Skyrim, this game was a nice change of pace. The critics mostly had beefs with the changes that have been made to this series. I have never played the series before and think the game is great. The characters are awesome! A homosexual priest with two adopted kids, a tough old sailor that sports a floaty and snorkel at all times, an overweight baroness that is spending her family fortune on an obsession with treasure hunting while her daughter works three jobs. All lovable and comical character that are very intricately woven together. Combat is good, golem combat is fun and strategic while character combat is a little repetitive and involves some button mashing. Crafting, fishing, and farming all have a fun mini-game element. The game loads up and plays without a glitch or patch, load times going through doors are a mere 1-3 seconds. The game is smooth, functional, fun, and addicting and for that I give it a 10. Don't overlook this game it's very different and has no genre.… Full Review »
  2. StephBurdo
    Aug 5, 2013
    10
    This review contains spoilers, click full review link to view. When it comes to games such as Rune Factory Tides of Destiny, many things must be taken into consideration. Are you a grinding gamer who likes to divulge endless hours into quaint, anime-like environments while shopping for gear, upgrading your house and building relationships? Than perhaps this game is just right for you. Rune Factory Tides of Destiny dubbed as the "Fantasy Harvest Moon" is one of the most successful of it's predecessors, a strong branch in the tree of Natsume's successes.

    In Rune Factory Tides of Destiny you play as Aden, a charming young adult accompanied by a supporting protagonist named Sonja. The two of you are best friends living in a sweet spring time town very reminiscent of previous Harvest Moon titles. Gazing into a pond, both you and Sonja are sucked into another dimension forcing Sonja to dissapear and live within Aden's body. When you travel to this new island dimension, people are still able to hear Sonja when Aden is present, yet no one can see her. Funky right? Exploring the ocean atop your giant Gollum you explore across the oceans picking up sunken islands, raiding them for supplies so that you may progress through the story, return home and reunite Sonja with her body.

    While traveling to recovered islands you will meet a series of different types of monsters that you must battle and collect for later use on your farms. Different monsters harbor different possibilites in expanding your garden, supplies and eventually your overall wealth. You begin with such monsters as "Wooly" who resembles a sheep that will produce fleece for you. The further you get in the game the bigger the monsters you will encounter, which will in turn bare more fruitful supplies once captured. Take the Gold Dragon for example once captured he will produce vast amounts of gold for you once placed on a farm to work. The monsters who produce dairy or other food products will allow you to also cook food, which you may then use for giving gifts, which will allow you to romance a towns person.

    Further on in the game, you find yourself strangly attached to your new hometown in which you were sent to. Not only do you fall in love with the nostalgic Hayao Myazaki themes riddled with sweet undertones of cherry blossoms and wonderous childlike imagination but you truly fall in love with the cast of characters. Take the witch Pandora for example, you find her trapped in a chest on a sunken island turned to stone. Once you have freed her you know you shouldn't trust her but her sweet and sassy personallity forces you to regardless. Or characters like Odette for example, a beautiful tomboy with purple hair and fantastic cooking ability, she can actually communicate with the dragon spirits which are the entire essence of the sweet island in which you were sent to. They worship these beautiful dragons and when you take a trip to their native dragon shrine, you can watch her sing to them. I personally fell in love with Odette because she reminded me so much of Saria from The Legend of Zelda Ocarina of Time. Whether it be the blacksmith with her robot slave the beautiful tavern lute player or the overly friendly priest, you cannot help but fall in love with the villagers of Fenith Island in your own way.

    When playing this game you have to expect to not find a typical story you would find in a triple A title, but a tale that will make you smile and give you one of those wonderful memories you remember as a kid. As a gamer with a wide range of games to play I find gems such as Rune Factory Tides of Destiny very seldomly in life. It will definitely be one of those games that will keep you up at night, make you forget your homework and have you wishing that every game had some of it's elements. This game is truly an amazing buy and a rare gem to come across. For all hesitant gamers, play it and give it a chance. I doubt you will regret it.

    Thank you.    … Full Review »
  3. BeanToss
    Nov 12, 2013
    10
    This game does not get enough hype, it is amazing, characterd are great, gameplay is awesome, controls are good but nobody seems to see it! IThis game does not get enough hype, it is amazing, characterd are great, gameplay is awesome, controls are good but nobody seems to see it! I really enjoyed it am I hope everyone who tries it does!… Full Review »
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