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Rune Factory: Guardians of Azuma invites you to rebuild devastated villages, forge new alliances, and rid the land of the spreading Blight! Read on to learn about the game's plot, gameplay, and other information.
Rune Factory: Guardians of Azuma News
⚫︎ Nintendo Direct August 2024: Everything Announced
⚫︎ Two New Rune Factory Games in Development
Everything We Know About Rune Factory: Guardians of Azuma
Rune Factory: Guardians of Azuma Story Plot
The narrative unfolds in Azuma, a land devastated by the Celestial Collapse, a cataclysmic event caused by a colossal object's impact. The collision shattered the earth, halting the flow of runes and causing the gods of nature to disappear. With the lands in ruins and hope fading, you awaken, haunted by a dream of dueling dragons.
Like previous Rune Factory games, the protagonist suffers from amnesia. However, a mysterious voice echoes within you, urging you to embrace the power of an Earth Dancer and save Azuma. You'll choose between Subaru or Kaguya, two characters intertwined by destiny. Whoever you don't choose will become an NPC.
Unlike Earthmates in past games, you're an Earth Dancer, harnessing the power of dance to combat enemies and revitalize Azuma. By utilizing sacred treasures and the power of dance, you'll strive to rebuild the land and revive nature's six gods.
Rune Factory: Guardians of Azuma Gameplay
Farming and Building
Guardians of Azuma promises a more action-packed experience compared to previous Rune Factory titles, leaning heavily towards combat mechanics similar to Rune Factory: Tides of Destiny. However, the series' signature farming aspect remains a core component of the gameplay.
One of the most intriguing new features is the ability to rebuild four distinct seasonal villages. Players will revitalize these villages, each representing a different season: spring, summer, autumn, and winter. As the villages flourish, players can customize houses, shops, and decor items using a grid-based system for precise placement. This is a significant improvement over the less satisfying decorating system in Rune Factory 5.
Farming continues to be a vital part of Guardians of Azuma. Players can cultivate crops in all four villages, taking advantage of each season's unique benefits. To streamline the process, villagers can be assigned farming tasks, allowing players to focus on other aspects of the game.
New Weapons and Sacred Treasures
Guardians of Azuma is poised to refine the combat system introduced in Rune Factory 5. Based on existing trailers, the combat appears smoother and more fluid, especially with the addition of two new weapon types: the talisman and bow. These ranged weapons offer players new strategic options.
Beyond traditional weapons, sacred treasures play a significant role in both combat and farming. For instance, the umbrella can summon lightning to strike enemies, while also serving as a farming tool for watering crops and a means of transportation for gliding down from heights. Similarly, the drums can revitalize crops. So far, three sacred treasures have been revealed: the fan, the drum, and the umbrella.
Given the fragmented nature of the world, Guardians of Azuma may feature an island-hopping style of gameplay, reminiscent of Tides of Destiny. Players can expect to explore individual islands for each season, as well as smaller islands containing dungeons or resources.
Rune Factory: Guardians of Azuma Bachelors and Bachelorettes
Guardians of Azuma's trailers have revealed a diverse cast of characters, some of whom are likely to be potential marriage candidates.
One potential candidate is Subaru or Kaguya, depending on which character you chose to play as, similar to the dynamic in Tides of Destiny. Another confirmed bachelorette is Iroha, a maiden who players will meet very early in the game. Hina, a character from Rune Factory 5, could also be a potential marriage candidate. Murasame, a samurai who can join your adventures, is also a possibility.
The six gods associated with the seasons are another group of speculated marriage candidates. While four of these gods are linked to the four seasons, the roles of the remaining two remain unclear. Ulalaka, the Spring god, and Kai are the only gods whose names have been revealed thus far.
Rune Factory: Guardians of Azuma Trailer
Announcement Trailer
Previously codenamed Project Dragon, Rune Factory: Guardians of Azuma was officially unveiled during the August 2024 Nintendo Direct. The announcement included a glimpse into the game's lore and new gameplay mechanics. Additionally, the trailer confirmed that the game is slated for release in 2025.
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Rune Factory: Guardians of Azuma Product Information
 | |
| Title | RUNE FACTORY: GUARDIANS OF AZUMA |
|---|---|
| Release Date | Spring 2025 |
| Developer | Marvelous Entertainment |
| Publisher | XSEED Games, Marvelous USA, Inc., Marvelous |
| Supported Platforms | PC(Steam), Nintendo Switch |
| Genre | RPG, Action, Adventure, Farming Simulator |
| Number of Players | 1 |
| ESRB Rating | RP |
| Official Website | Rune Factory: Guardians of Azuma Official Website |
