QCF: Rune Factory 4

ou may think it impossible. You may think it absurd. You might think that you're dreaming. But I have, in fact, recently traded in my intergalactic space fighter (an ' 86 vintage Hyperion Sentoki Beta, if you must know) for a farm--Oh, and a sword (Well okay, maybe loaned out for the week.) Regardless, what I'm trying to get at here, in what can only be described as an ultimate oxymoron, is that I've been losing sleep by relaxing hardcore to a farm-sim--with dungeons.

I've never played a Harvest Moon game before, but I've watched literally dozens of them across various series, systems - and even generations--being played by Daeruna and of them all, the Rune Factory series is one that I felt most closely resonated with me. Recently, Rune Factory 4 was released to the 3DS and at the urging of a friend, I decided to check it out. At first, it was no big deal. “Oh cool, I got a hammer. Not I can bust up these rocks. Oh neat, a cheap axe to take away these tree stumps. OK, that woolly-sheepy thing dropped some fur worth seven gold” but, after investing an hour into Rune Factory 4? Oh boy, get ready.

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