Rune Factory 4 Special Reviews
It may be a good case for fans of the series who didn't play it in the past, but its style is now outdated.
Review in Greek | Read full review
While no particular element of Rune Factory 4 Special stands out, the game sums to a better experience than its component parts.
You can still clearly see the 3DS roots in Rune Factory 4 Special's PC port, but it's still a fantastic game worth enjoying if you haven't already played it. It does have some keyboard input issues, particularly with name entry, and some aspects were clearly not intended to be viewed at a high resolution, however it does put forward enough effort to work on PC that makes it a decent platform to play on.
Rune Factory 4 Special was my first introduction to this series, which combines the farming simulation elements of Harvest Moon with a traditional action RPG, and suffice it to say, I greatly like it, despite its flaws.
Rune Factory 4 Special delivers all the life sim, farming, and RPG action of the original 3DS release-it's perfect for fans of the Story of Seasons series or Stardew Valley.
I have a strange attraction to farming video games, well, the good ones anyway. Stardew Valley, Harvest Moon and all that Jazz. It seems strange to a lot of people that someone who adores Monster Hunter, Dark Souls and Battlefield, can appreciate a finely grown turnip, but there you go
Rune Factory 4 Special is an addictive game that mixes simulation and action RPG elements just right. Although the new version can't fully update the game, keeping it feeling like a 3DS title with a simple filter, it's still a pretty exciting title for its gameplay.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review
Despite some flaws, Rune Factory 4 Special is still a ton of fun for players wanting that mix of combat and farming. After nearly a decade, though, I hope this is the last we see of it being ported around, at least for now. Time has moved a bit past it, and other games in the genre offer smoother experiences. With Rune Factory 5 set to finally hit US shores early next year, hopefully, we’ll soon be enjoying the evolution of Rune Factory 4 we’ve needed for some time.
Rune Factory 4 Special is fascinating in that it has numerous systems that on their own are pleasant if not terribly deep. Where the title shines however is in how these various systems interact with one another. They create a cumulative experience above and beyond its individual parts, and there is a ton of content to be enjoyed overall.
Rune Factory 4 Special brings something special to lots of players, being an easy recommendation to fans of farming games, action RPGs or even romance titles.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review
Rune Factory 4 Special offers up a different take on the beloved farm/life sim genre, focusing more on RPG elements. This makes Rune Factory 4 a good entry point for newcomers to the genre due to its ease of entry. At the same time, Rune Factory 4 simplifies a great deal of what makes this genre special. The catch-22 is accessibility versus gameplay depth here. While still a good game in its own right, it limits its own potential by diversifying so vastly.
Running an agricultural kingdom is no easy task, but Rune Factory 4 Special knows how it claims the importance of agriculture as a fundamental asset for the life of the planet. It teaches us, through training and informative missions, that having a powerful and solid food producing sector, capable of resisting moments with changes and guaranteeing an adequate supply is fundamental. In this sense, Neverland's work uses with ease the role of farmer at the same time that it sows a seed loaded with fantasy adventures, thus cultivating relationships with the inhabitants and the hobby of role-playing.
Review in Spanish | Read full review
Rune Factory 4: Special packs a whole lot of decent content into a singel package. The game is only let down by some poor decision in the porting department.
Still one of the best of its kind nearly a decade after its initial release, Rune Factory 4 Special is still thoroughly engrossing when it comes to most of what it attempts.
Rune Factory 4 Special is an easy recommendation to any RPGamer who enjoys farming and life sim games, as well as for those casual Stardew Valley fans that wished for more variety in the combat aspects. It’s been long enough since the 3DS release that this game can be enjoyed fresh again, and for those who missed it the first time around, now’s the perfect time to give it a try.
Rune Factory 4 Special is a good introduction to those new to the franchise. This is especially true since as of now it’s the only title available on the Nintendo Switch. The characters are charismatic and enjoyable, the combat is fun albeit a bit shallow, but the crafting and farming are deep enough to compensate.
All in all I really love Rune Factory 4 Special. I had a blast playing it, and would highly recommend it to just about anyone. I’ve been playing this game for about 70 hours now, and I don’t feel like a single minute of that was wasted. It’s only about $39.99 on the Nintendo Switch, and since this is the re-release, it’s got a ton of new content, including a post-marriage scenario and a new difficulty. Definitely pick this up, it’s a must have.
Rune Factory 4 Special on the Nintendo Switch deserves its title. With an addictive, gratifying gameplay, content for many hours and enjoyable characters, this is a gem that while more attractive for new players than for veterans, deserves an investment of time and energy, even if its visual world could use some improvement.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review
Rune Factory 4 Special is a delightful game with a ton of content to keep you busy, despite feeling a little overwhelming in the beginning. Good localisation and post-game content around character episodes and a Newly-wed mode will please returning fans.