Is this a suitable place to start?

[Orcvader]

If I have never played a Rune Factory game, can I use this as an entry point or is there a highly recommended need to "know" anything from the previous games (especially from a story perspective)?

Thanks!

[kwil]

The stories are pretty much separate, except for some references and cameo characters which I don't think will appear if you don't have RF4 save data. But I wouldn't worry about it.

[GrimoireA]

Originally posted by Orcvader:

If I have never played a Rune Factory game, can I use this as an entry point or is there a highly recommended need to "know" anything from the previous games (especially from a story perspective)?

Thanks!

Its not a bad place to start at all, one thing to note is that RF5 is a third person perspective game whereas the rest of the numbered series are top-down perspective (like old school zelda)

Honestly I would play this game first, then go back to RF4. The former title was the 'swan song' of the series until it was magically revived. Because of that it is jam packed with content that will keep you busy for weeks, possibly months. Its very addicting.

RF5 is much shorter, but still has a charm of its own. It doesn't have as much content and the jump to 3D had some growing pains but they definitely managed to make a somewhat decent farming and combat system.

[Orcvader]

Thanks. I will get it now and leave RF4 in the wishlist for when I am in the mood for a more old school top down view then. Thanks!

[Heatnixx]

Personally I would've recommended you to have started with Rune Factory 3. It's really the best in the series when it comes to characters and setting.

[GrimoireA]

Originally posted by Heatnixx:

Personally I would've recommended you to have started with Rune Factory 3. It's really the best in the series when it comes to characters and setting.

Disagree massively. That statement alone nearly killed the entire series.

RF1 and 2's combat isn't that impressive, especially compared to 3-4 and even 5 and the farming has a lot of bad decisions *dropping an item makes it disappear* but ultimately it was the mistakes of those two games that allowed the rest to flourish.

RF2 has a better setting than 3 and I stand by this statement. Living inside a tree in a game about appreciating nature is arguably the most cliche thing you could do. Furthermore, both RF2 and 3 have four dungeons+a final dungeon but 3's lightning fast game play makes you clear them so fast you forget what they even look like. The main draw from 3 is the post-game maze, but even RF4 does that better as 3 excludes a couple of bosses.

As for characters that is subjective, but knowing your statement you most likely have the mindset of "hurr, 3 had best gurl"

[Stargazer KG]

Each story is largely self-contained, so you don't need to be concerned with screwing up the narrative by going out of order.

[Heatnixx]

Originally posted by GrimoireA:

Originally posted by Heatnixx:

Personally I would've recommended you to have started with Rune Factory 3. It's really the best in the series when it comes to characters and setting.

Disagree massively. That statement alone nearly killed the entire series.

RF1 and 2's combat isn't that impressive, especially compared to 3-4 and even 5 and the farming has a lot of bad decisions *dropping an item makes it disappear* but ultimately it was the mistakes of those two games that allowed the rest to flourish.

RF2 has a better setting than 3 and I stand by this statement. Living inside a tree in a game about appreciating nature is arguably the most cliche thing you could do. Furthermore, both RF2 and 3 have four dungeons+a final dungeon but 3's lightning fast game play makes you clear them so fast you forget what they even look like. The main draw from 3 is the post-game maze, but even RF4 does that better as 3 excludes a couple of bosses.

As for characters that is subjective, but knowing your statement you most likely have the mindset of "hurr, 3 had best gurl"

I didn't know it was possible to project this much off a 2 sentence post, but anyways;

Rune Factory 3 has better setting and lore than Rune Factory 4.
The quest system was more personal and better handled than 4.
Rune Factory 3's bachelorettes are the best in the series. That's a general consensus. Every character in RF3 is quirky and original, standing out from one another, with the main 'canon' bachelorette being the most boring of the bunch and still better than RF4's bachelorettes.

Gameplay wise, RF4 is an upgrade to 3 in almost every sense, but that's not surprising as RF3 was the game that completely revamped everything and 4 merely built on what RF3 established. Characters and setting wise, it's a flat downgrade.