Topic: Rune Factory: Guardians of Azuma for NSW1/NSW2

@JaxonH really? I believe you but wanna see sources. Can you link me one because when i read the box art it contains switch game. So that sounded like switch cart/update file. I am happy to be wrong but just wanna check. I don’t really read the forums in detail much anymore because I got tired of the fighting and derails. The info might be in this thread. I will check.

Honestly if true that is even less scummy as they paid for the cart and slammed out the update file. Which had to be a scramble even with dev kits.

@Ryu_Niiyama
It was a tweet. I'll see if I can find it but ya, Marvelous said the entire Switch 2 game is on a 64GB cart. It's a NSW2 Edition so it does have the Switch 1 version, and thus also plays that version when inserted into Switch, but it's a 64GB NSW2 game cartridge that has everything contained on cart.

@Ryu_Niiyama
NintendoLife has an article about it too, it seems. Marvelous apparently also pointed this out in an FAQ.

The Nintendo Switch 2 Edition is a red 64GB game card that includes, in full, the Nintendo Switch game and the Upgrade Pack.

There’s no need to download the full game: simply insert the card into either a Nintendo Switch or Nintendo Switch 2 console, and the correct version will launch automatically.

Like most modern titles, there may be small updates or patches available at launch to provide minor fixes and improvements, but rest assured: the complete game is on the game card, ready to play from day one.

https://www.nintendolife.com/news/2025/04/rune-factory-guardi...

@JaxonH thank you. I don’t do the social media. I likely don’t remember the article. I’ve edited my posts but as you said my general point still applies. I’m still weighing out what i will do as I have the CE on preorder. Since switch 2 will be digital only for me, I will likely just play on switch unless the performance is terrible. I liked rune factory 5, but the performance made me quit after I beat the final boss.

@Ryu_Niiyama
I watched a gameplay stream of the Switch version. It actually runs fantastic. Impressively smooth. The concession is very noticeable texture pop-in. At least in the main hub area with your farm, because it's so open. It's definitely detracting, but if that's the price to pay for the smooth gameplay it's the right tradeoff.

That said, Switch 2 version looks so crisp and sharp, with no pop-in, and runs 60fps. Definitely the version to play if given the choice. But I do think the Switch 1 version is serviceable. The most important thing is that it runs smoothly, and that it does.

Has anyone’s US copy shipped yet?

Edit: amazon finally updated my release date to the 20th. Can’t wait until I am done with my preorders this year. No more Amazon.

Not in the US, but I just got a message from my local video game store that my preordered Switch 2 copy is ready to be picked up tomorrow morning. Unfortunately I won't get the actual console until next week, but I'm pretty excited to play this as my first Switch 2 game, especially with the good reviews it's getting.

After watching a comparison video of the English and Japanese voice acting in Guardians of Azuma, I think I'm gonna make an exception with this game and play it with Japanese voices right from the start. There's nothing particularly wrong with the English dub, but it sounds a bit too "nineties saturday morning cartoon", which I don't think works that well with the game's overall aesthetic. Also, since it's clearly set in a fantasy version of Edo period Japan, playing it in Japanese feels more appropriate.

I am about two hours into this and really enjoying it, I'd have played more but had to go to work and also have tried Mario Kart and Fast Fusion and played a little on the cube games.

FYI: despite what Marvelous said before release, the full Switch 2 version of this game is not on the Switch 2 cartridge. After inserting the cartridge you have to download a 12 GB update. It's not a big deal to me, but I know some of you may not want to buy the physical Switch 2 version because of this.

@Polvasti
That is a lot, but are you sure it's not patch data? (Again, I'm aware that would be one heck of a patch, but they did go on the record as stating the full game is on there.)

Or isn't this the game where both (Switch 1 and 2) games are on the same cartridge, so the Switch 2 version would need to download extra assets?

Yeah, the Switch 2 cartridge is said to contain the Switch 1 version, so supposedly you can just insert in your Switch 1 and play it. (Haven't tried this myself.) I'm guessing there's actually just the Switch 1 version on the cartridge, and everything else you have to download, like you said.

@Polvasti
Yea, it's probably that. Is there any way you can choose to just play the Switch 1 version even if it's on your Switch 2?

Just curious. I'm probably gonna buy this at some point, looks fun!

Man, this game is so good! It's exactly the sort of midpoint between Animal Crossing style village management sim and a ARPG I was hoping it to be. There's nothing particularly innovative here, you have all the usual tropes (an amnesiac hero, a curse on the land that only she can heal, a Navi-style snarky flying sidekick, etc.), but everything works so smoothly and the vibes are chill. Plus the heavily Japanese visual style is just gorgeous on the Switch 2:

Sorry, I downloaded the Switch 2 update before I started playing, so IDK whether the game would work on S2 without it. Presumably it would, with backwards compatibility.

I just came off it, I am ten hours into it and really really enjoying it... I do think it has a great vibe, love the graphics, the music, the characters. I am so glad that its the game I decided to get alongside my Mario Kart bundle.... I did get Cyberpunk as well, ordered that later and haven't even started it yet.

Man, I'm really looking forward to diving into this game when it is delivered on Thursday! This'll be my first Rune Factory game and I understand it's pretty different from other releases but I've been itching for a great village/farming sim and this looks to hit just about all of my checkboxes for art direction and gameplay.

I'm not too torn up over the fact that the physical cartridge is the Switch version that I'll have to upgrade, I just wanted the physical box for my collection.

You really shouldn't be torn up over this since the Switch 2 physical version requires a 12 GB update anyway, as I mentioned above. 😅

@yaoisprout Rune Factory 4 frequently goes on sale on the Eshop for about £4 if you don't mind more basic graphics it's also quite a cool game.

I started playing the game yesterday and I’m having a blast! It’s running really well on my Switch 2, but I’ve noticed a few slowdowns here and there. They happen mostly in the second area of the first village and in the overworld zone (Tho are pretty rare (this is when I’m playing in docked mode at 1440p)).