When Clunky Games are Fun – Rune Factory 5

I’ve been playing Rune Factory 5 for the better part of 3 weeks now, and although the game is crippled by a host of issues, it’s still rather fun. And this has become somewhat of a trend in the gaming industry, and I’m not sure how I feel about it. Rune Factory 5 is definitely bogged down by some serious frame rate hitches and some ‘floaty’ combat controls, but the core game is still a blast. After all, we can look past a few issues, right? … right?!

I think it depends on who you are. For me, sure – I can look past the frame rate hiccups each time I enter or exit a building. I can even deal with the floaty controls; I just need to stock up on potions to heal myself. But although I’m OK with the jankiness in this title, I’m not OK with it in other titles. And this all comes down to personal preferences and desires.

I love farming simulation titles, so I knew that Rune Factory 5 was going to be a game I really enjoyed. So despite the flaws, I power through an will myself to have a positive experience. Someone with less of an admiration for this franchise might quit in the first 10 minutes.

I’ve had this with other titles as well. I’m a huge fan of ARK: Survival Evolved, but it might be one of the most hated open world survival games on any system. Why? Because the game is a freaking mess. Trees you chop sometimes don’t disappear. Same goes for rocks. Dinosaurs get stuck on environmental pieces making them easy prey. I’ve had the sun set and then never rise again. I’ve had flying dinosaurs clip the water, throw me off, and then fly straight up into the stratosphere. It’s a mess. But a mess that I love.

The reality is that game developers should be fixing these titles right at launch, or at the very least, within a few weeks. But they aren’t, and it’s likely because so many fans are willing to give them a free pass. May be it’s time for us all – myself included – to stop giving games these free passes?