On the occasion of the release of Rune Factory 5, scheduled for this weekend in our western countries, we were able to ask a few questions to Shiro Maekawa, director of the game. The creator thus shared his passion for the license and is income on the development of this sequel so awaited by the fans. Discover our questions/answers in this exclusive interview.
Development and novelties
- Why did you opt for a fully 3D rendering for this new episode?
Originally, Rune Factory was created with the aim of allowing players to experience a fantasy universe. So, I think it was natural for the game to take on a 3D feel so that players could experience this universe more intimately. Another obvious reason is the fact that machines have recently become more powerful.
- Did this change anything in the development process?
There have been a few changes. Most of the things that only required 2D imagery in the past (food, plantations…) had to be recreated in 3D. There are also some discrepancies with reality (like riding a monster into a house, or the size of buildings and towns) that worked in 2D but had to be corrected for 3D.
- What was the biggest challenge during the development of Rune Factory 5?
Absolutely everything (laughter). In truth, the aforementioned 3D was a challenge, but there were many others. We spent a lot of time improving systems that we had never used in the past, such as transparent transitions between zones, tandem riding, etc.
- In this Rune Factory, the fights are very dynamic. What was your first inspiration for this new system?
Thank you ! I’m very happy to hear you say that! I don’t know where to start, but we worked hard to make the game a good Action-RPG. It was a real challenge to create moves reminiscent of the anime, like the new combo attacks.
What future for the series?
- Do you have a favorite Rune Factory?
Personally, I enjoy Rune Factory 3. My wife’s favorite character was Persia.
- Are you already working on a Rune Factory 6, or maybe a spin-off? How do you imagine the future of the series?
It depends on what our fans want, but we hope the series will continue, and in my opinion, the license has made a comeback. I hope to have your support.
- Let’s dream a little! Imagine that you are allocated an unlimited budget and that there are no technical restrictions! What would be your Dream Rune Factory?
Yes, I would like to continue the series. One day I would like to play a Rune Factory which would have a very large open-world. I wish I could marry all the characters in the same game. I’m a bit reluctant to do this myself, so could someone develop it for me? (laughter)
- Rune Factory 4 Special has been released on all current platforms. Can we expect as much from Rune Factory 5?
We are always listening to the wishes of our fans, but at this time we have no announcements to make on this subject.
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- On ActuGaming we like to end our interviews with the same question: Do you have a surprising or funny anecdote about the development of the game?
Well, that was when the idea for the farm on a dragon’s back was born. I asked the development team to find me a system that we could implement in the game, and one day I saw the image of a simple rope falling from the sky next to the character’s house main, so I asked: “What is this rope? “. I was answered: “You have to climb this rope to access the field on the dragon’s back”, and my mind went into a spin! I couldn’t understand what was being said to me, I was confused! (laughter)
I think I have another defining moment for myself; when we defined that the main character would be part of a peacekeeping organization, much like a sheriff in essence. Rune Factory has always been set in a kind of fantasy Western universe, and I was surprised that we suddenly found ourselves with this modern setting. When we started, my mind was once again filled with questions. Still, over time, I’ve come to think it’s a good idea that allows players to both participate in the daily events of the city, as well as go out for great adventures and fight ( or capture) fantastic monsters. It’s a way to blend the everyday with the extraordinary, which is typical of Rune Factory.
We thank Maekawa for his time and for this interview. Rune Factory 5 is coming out on March 25 exclusively for Nintendo Switch in Europe, and if you want to know more, our test is already online.