It alternates between tongue-in-cheek humor, slapstick, and laugh-out-loud quirkiness, yet it seamlessly switches to sincere and touching when appropriate.

XSeed’s characteristically witty and snappy localization shines through once again as well, bringing a natural vibrancy to the script that breathes life into Selphia. No, they never get too deep, but like the Atelier series, deep characterization isn’t really meant to be at the forefront here. But there’s also the compassionate and hilariously flamboyant chef Porcoline who eats most of the dishes his restaurant patrons order, the mysterious girl Amber who likes to eat flowers, the bath-house owner’s daughter Xiao Pai who lives in a special world of her own - and that’s just the beginning.ĭig beneath the seemingly predictable surface, and you’ll find an endearing cast of characters to bond with. There’s the usual tough girl with a soft spot for sweets and the hotshot with a dark past.

And it helps that they’re mixed alongside some genuinely stand-out personalities as well. Some are easy to categorize as just archetypes, yet they still manage to charm and engage with ease. Selphia is full of fun and colorful characters. The cast is also why you likely won’t find it difficult to make it through the very slow first two weeks or so of Spring, when quests are limited and story isn't really there yet. It’s easily the best Rune Factory story and a strong RPG tale in its own right, thanks in large part to the fantastic cast of characters and how certain ones are integrated into the narrative. In between, Rune Factory 4 ’s story still has plenty of unexpected twists to keep things interesting, even if you think you know what’s coming. It’s still a bit easy to guess some of the major points, but I think that’s actually by design because it has an interesting effect on how you view events while they unfold. Though I won’t spoil it for you here, I can say it develops into something reminiscent of an SNES-era RPG classic, mixing standard fare like saving the world with more compelling, emotional motivations and story arcs. However, things start to quickly change after your third dungeon. It borrows a lot not just from a pool of RPG storytelling in general, but even from other Rune Factory games. What’s more, you’ve even lost your memory - gasp and surprise! After selecting your avatar, you embark on a mission, only to be stormed by bandits, chucked off your airship, and mistaken for royalty in the town of Selphia. Rune Factory 4 Special Review: The Prize Cropĭeceptively, Rune Factory 4 Specialstarts out predictably and trope-y.

How does RF4 stack up after all these years, and is it really that 'special' this time around? Absolutely.

Rune factory 4 characters