Marvelous Games has announced the release date for Rune Factory 3 Special, which will be coming to the Nintendo Switch next year.
Initially revealed in a Nintendo Direct on September 13, Rune Factory 3 Special is a remaster title of the original DS game, where players can relive the best the Rune Factory series has to offer, spelunking dungeons, toiling the farm, and seeking love, now refined as ever with current-gen graphics and redrawn 3D character models.
According to Marvelous’ official website, Rune Factory 3 Special is set to launch on storefronts in Japan on March 2, 2023. Though overseas fans are left in the dark in the meantime as the Nintendo eShops outside of Japan still do not list a release date as of this writing. Fans are eagerly waiting for a concrete date from the game’s overseas publishers XSEED and Marvelous Europe.
Determined to go all out on Rune Factory 3’s triumphant return on a current-gen platform, Marvelous has also announced that the remaster will also be coming with three separate collectors’ editions that are sure to catch the eyes of any hardcore fans.
▍Special Deals Over at the Marvelous Shop!
This announcement also came hand in hand with the developer’s new opening of the “Marvelous Shop”. An online storefront for all things Marvelous. Fans will be able to get their hands on these limited-run deals for Rune Factory 3 Special through their new online website, as well as the usual physical storefronts.
The following physical/digital bundles are what’s up for grab:
A Digital Deluxe Edition that’ll cost JPY$5,980 plus tax, which includes a digital copy of the game plus the additional content “Everyone Wears Swimsuits Mode.” Simple enough right?
A more extravagant Dream Collection will set you back JPY$9,800 tax included, which comprises a copy of the game, a special box featuring an illustration by series illustrator Minako Iwasaki, an all-star drama CD, a “classified private CD,” memorial diorama acrylic stand, and an extra download code for the additional content “Everyone Wears Swimsuits Mode.” The bundle will be ostensibly a limited run, so pick them up quickly if you want to know what hijinks could be inside those drama CDs!
Finally, the Marvelous Shop-exclusive Dream Collection & Wedding Collection at JPY$33,600 plus tax, which contains everything in the Dream Collection content, An actual Engagement Ring No.9 and Happy Ring No. 9 from the game decked out with a special ring case, a necklace to wear the rings, 11 bridal photo prints, bridal diorama photo stand, and a special box to fit the entire thing.
Anyone opting to buy the Dream Collection will also be able to get their hands on a special B2-sized cloth poster and an exclusive 3R-sized bromide! Customers buying the standard edition of the Marvelous Shop can also get the bromide.
▍About Rune Factory 3
Rescued by a young woman after crashing headfirst into the provincial town of Sharance, Micah awakens with no memories of his past and soon finds himself embroiled in a longstanding conflict between humans and monsters. Now mysteriously equipped with the power to turn himself into a golden sheep-like creature called a wooly, it’s up to Micah to build bridges and mend the tension between the two races, all the while uncovering an old secret lying in Sharance.
▍Brand New Features Await!
Trailers for the game have shown off that Rune Factory 3 Special features overhauled HD graphics and redesigned 3D character models, complete with Live2D animations that breathe new life into the game.
The game will also interestingly be adding the Newly-Wed Mode for players who want to spend more time with their chosen partner character in-game. Seemingly becoming a mainstay of the remasters for the Rune Factory titles, these new story segments were first added to the previously released remaster for the fourth title in the series.
The game will incorporate newly animated FMVs for the opening cutscenes and Newly-Wed Mode as well. More news on these new animations is to be revealed soon.
Along with the news of updated visual flares to the game, returning fans can relive Micah’s adventures again this time with the new Hell difficulty being added for players wanting more of a challenge than the previous Hard difficulty.
