Rune Factory: Tides of Destiny

Review

Common Sense Media says

Solid role-playing game is creative and fun.
greenON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age.
yellowPAUSE: Know your child; some content
may not be right for some kids.
redOFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age.
not for kidsNOT FOR KIDS: Not appropriate for kids any age.

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Quality
 
Sometimes media can be age appropriate but a real waste of time. Our star rating assesses the media's overall quality.

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What parents need to know

Parents need to know that Rune Factory: Tides of Destiny is a role-playing game in which players explore all sorts of new and interesting islands while battling enemy creatures and ultimately figuring out how to cure a mysterious curse. The battles depict characters and creatures attacking one another in close combat, but there is no blood and creatures simply disappear when defeated. It is possible for players to purchase and consume alcohol, but it is treated as a basic healing item and acts exactly the same as other non-alcoholic healing items.

  • Positive messages3
    The villagers in this game are generally kind and friendly, giving this game a good-natured spirit. Although there are battles in this game, players only engage in combat against nefarious creatures, not humans. The battles are productive in nature because they help rid the land of these creatures, and also increase the player's skill and attributes.
  • Positive role models3
    The villagers are mostly very friendly and are clear role models for players. This game is in line with the Rune Factory franchise, which historically has little human conflict and focuses more on players working with others to make everyone's life better.
  • Ease of play4
    With intuitive controls, simplistic menu systems, and a basic set of goals, this game is easily accessible for most players. The battles are generally not that difficult, though they do get progressively more challenging as players continue to increase their characters' attributes and take on stronger creatures.
  • Violence2
    Players need to engage in combat against creatures to earn new items and increase their characters' skill levels. These battles involve hand-to-hand combat as well as magic spells and result in screaming sounds and colorful bursts. The enemies simply disappear when defeated.
  • Sex0
    Not applicable.
  • Language0
    Not applicable.
  • Consumerism0
    Not applicable.
  • Drinking, drugs, & smoking1
    Among the many items players can purchase is "wine." The interaction with this item works the same as any other -- players can give it to their character to restore their health; but there is nothing that distinguishes the act of drinking wine from drinking any other non-alcoholic item. There is also a line of dialogue when a character mentions drinking "booze."
  • Privacy & safety0
    Not applicable.
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What's it about?

In RUNE FACTORY: TIDES OF DESTINY, players must figure out the mystery behind a curse that has plagued two villagers. Along the way, they travel to all sorts of unique and interesting islands while battling enemy creatures that block the path. In addition to battling, players can explore the various lands and villages to discover secret treasures and gifts. The straightforward story leads players to a final boss creature that must be defeated to solve the mystery.

Is it any good?

 

Rune Factory: Tides of Destiny is a standard, cookie cutter role-playing game. With a cute, cartoony aesthetic, a story about solving a fantastical mystery, and a battle system that involves customizing weapons and strategy, this is a competent RPG that fans of the Rune Factory series will have no trouble enjoying. It does little to stand out and differentiate itself from other titles, but anyone who wants a solid RPG should be able to appreciate this game.

What families can talk about

  • Families can talk about the combat in this game. How does this violence differ from other games?

  • When have you been faced with tough situations?

  • How easy is it to make new friends in this game and does it mirror your experience in real life?

This review was written by Mark Raby
Parent
October 26, 2011
AGE
4
 
Freyashawk's View of Rune Factory
Tides of Destiny is the latest in the Rune Factory series of games, produced both for DS handheld systems as well as the Wii and now PS3. Rune Factory is a spin-off of the popular and highly educational Harvest Moon series. In all of these games, friendship and honour are worth more than money or financial success. As these games are based on an agrarian model, players are encouraged to do the maths to decide which items are most cost-effective while making certain to grow those that appeal most to other Characters.as Gifts. You can find guides for all these games on my Harvest Moon Forever site as well as IGN.
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This review was written by Mark Raby
Topics:magic and fantasy
Platforms:Nintendo Wii, PlayStation 3
Available online?Not available online
Genre:Role Playing
Developer:Natsume
Release date:October 11, 2011
Price:$39.99 (Wii), $49.99 (PS3)
ESRB rating:E10+ for Fantasy Violence, Mild Suggestive Themes, Use of Alcohol
This review was written by Mark Raby
 

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About our rating system
ON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age.
PAUSE: Know your child; some content may not be right for some kids.
OFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age.
Learning ratings
BEST: Really engaging, great learning approach.
GOOD: Pretty engaging, good learning approach.
FAIR: Somewhat engaging, OK learning approach.
NOT FOR LEARNING: Not recommended for learning.
Our child development rating guidelines

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