Rune Factory: Oceans

In Rune Factory Oceans you take control of a character who is both Male and Female, in a sense, ensuring that you see the world through both perspectives. Azel (male) and Sonia (female) were actually two separate people in their own worlds. In the events that led the two into the same world, the two inhabit the same body, both with a separate consciousness.

 

The game still follows a love story, of sorts much like previous Rune Factory and Harvest Moon games. It appears, however, as Azel gets close to a girl, Sonia gets upset, and vice versa. This fact could have interesting gameplay possibilites, as you try to form a relationship through the game while still maintaining friends with the other conscious within your character. If it sounds complicated, it is.

 

Players will travel around the world in this RPG over seas with the aid of a giant green sea creature called Ymir. Ymir has the ability to raise new islands and sunken ships, and you will be able to carry out your farming duties on these new islands. Ymir will also enter battles with you, though exactly how is yet to be seen.

 

Battles in Rune Factory Oceans is realtime, pitting the characters against the usual threat of monsters. Azel/Sonia will have an arsenal of weapons including swords, hammers and various farming tools that are upgradable throughout the game.

 

Finally, the game is being produced by Yoshifumi Hashimoto who worked on Harvest Moon DS, Rune Factory 2 and Muramasa: The Demon Blade. The development team are from Neverland Company are responsible for the Lufia series, as well as Rune Factory Frontier on Nintendo Wii.

 

Playstation Move support is enabled for the Playstation 3 version. The game has a Japanese release date set for February 24, 2011.