Topic: Rune Factory 4

Eh, it depends on the game...I went with physical because I've never played the series before, and if you get it digitally, you're stuck with it. I only get it digitally if I know its a great game or a game that'll last me for a long time. (Smash Bros. for example)

You can trade it in if you don't like it, you won't just lose it if your 3DS gets stolen, and you'll have a physical manual, game cartridge, and case.

While many of the responses may seem redundant, and to some of us they are since if I lost my 3DS I'd also lose all the cartridges with it anyway, there is one important reason why: The box art and manual.

Though the manual is usually useless now, they do the digital guides now which is actually annoying, it does improve the personal value of the game. Personal value is what the collector's value is based on, to get an idea of what it means. It makes the game feel more valuable to you, the gamer, than a digital copy. A digital copy you just "meh" at, because it's just a game on the system, but the cartridge makes the game it's own entity, which increases the personal value, and the box art and manual increase that entity feel to it, thus increasing the personal value, and by default increasing the collector's value. Nintendo is actually devaluing it's games by not making as many physical copies (fun fact I discovered today) and banking on the digital copies by essentially forcing most gamers to get the download versions while letting us think we actually have a choice. Now, I love Nintendo, because of the games it has for the portable systems, but I don't like this change. Microsoft attempted a full digital only system, and look what happened there, they were essentially forced produce the physical versions again because it alienated too many fans.

So here's how we solve this problem, this one bad decision, for games that are big, full featured titles like Rune Factory 4, you don't buy it unless you can buy a new physical copy. Eventually Nintendo will get the hint, just like Microsoft and Sony did. Right now it sucks, I want box art and manuals for posterity and most of the games that have this option at all, and interest me, are always sold out. I asked the clerk about it, he's one of the two Nintendo fans who works there, and he explained the reason why the store itself has a difficult time getting any physical copies in stock. So please, get the physical copy for games like this one, and don't download the copy unless you have no other option and really, really, want to play it. I actually bought a lesser game for that very reason, today. Of course Tales of the Abyss 3D is not a bad game, it's just less expensive and not as new.

I always go with physical copies usually. I like having the box/manual and any extras (if any), and later on I can trade the games in and get credit towards new games. Plus, you save lots of space on your SD/memory card. I only buy digitally if the game is digital-only, or if it's really cheap on PC. That's the awesome thing about PC games. Digital PC games are always going on sale for peanuts.

I always get the physical because the downloads are always slow. Also, having to get a bigger SD card.

Considering that the maximum SD card is also only 32 gig, that is a good reason.

You know a game like this is awesome when the "Yes" option is "Bow before me, peasants!" :3

Actually, the 3DS reportedly supports larger card sizes if the card is formatted as FAT32, first. I don't know whether or not that's true... I haven't even filled the 2GB card that came with my system, yet.

Yeah I've heard that's true as I'm going to need to upgrade around this time next year! About 100k left on a 32 gig!

I have a 16 GB card with several retail games downloaded and I'm fine, so...yeah. a lot of the 3DS games aren't that large.

Anyways...what is it with me and liking cute anime girls with green hair? xD (aka, Amber)

Just my 2₵... I've both heard and read in threads similar to this one that users have reported issues with their systems after formatting (FAT32) an SDXC card bigger than 32GB for use with their 3DS. One particular issue that a forum member mentioned was the overall performance of his/her 3DS being severely degraded with extremely lengthy load times, system boot-up, and intermittent freezing. All the same while, there are apparently users who do this and purportedly have no problems. My takeaway: Nintendo officially states that 32GB SD cards work, no question. Anything other than that, your mileage may/will vary.

I really like green hair but I just can't seem to like Amber for some reason. ^^;

By the way, New Game+ lets you sprite swap with other characters. I am quite literally in lesbians with this game.

Looked around and couldn't find anything, how do you make a mixed smoothie?

@Cyb3Rnite Are you saying this game has endings like the old Harvest Moon games?!

I don't want the experience to be cut short... ;_;

Speaking of the experience, this game is awesome. You gotta love the translation team that worked on this; so much sass in the description and dialogues. :3

Yes, but after the ending, it becomes a Harvest Moon-type game. It doesn't get "cut off" like the old ones. You DO get new random dungeons, (that was the case in 3), but you also get the New Game+ features if you choose to start a new playthrough. Don't cry.

@Cyb3Rnite So I can either choose a new game OR continue with the old one? Basically, this game's "end" is like the ending to a Pokemon game? (where it leaves off after the League)

@GuardianKing Exactly. If you've never played Rune Factory before, I recommend starting at 3. It's short and one of the best ARPGs on the original DS. It might be hard to snag a copy, though... It's quite rare now, I think. Oh well. Just make sure to get RF4. You won't regret it. It's much longer than 3. You can easily log 100 hours on it.

@Cyb3Rnite Funny you should mention, as I actually do own Rune Factory 3.

Well, I own Rune Factory 3, Rune Factory 2, Rune Factory 1, and Rune Factory Frontier, along with RF4, making Tides of Destiny the only one I do not own.

Nope. It's not rare anymore. Natsume reprinted the game and it's available on their website for $19.99.
Wish I had waited just a little bit longer before buying one... since they announced their reprint a couple of weeks after I bought mines from someone else. Ahh! Oh wells, good game and well worth the money. Haha.

Oh. I really didn't like ToD. Put it down after I started farming. I like having control over plants.