Natsume has announced its plans to bring the follow-up to the 2006/2007 DS title Rune Factory: A Fantasy Harvest Moon to the US this fall. Appropriately titled Rune Factory 2: A Fantasy Harvest Moon, the sequel continues the story that began in the first title and boasts enhanced graphics and deeper gameplay mechanics.

Take a look at the first English screens here. The full press release is below:

NATSUME TO BRING THE HIGHLY ANTICIPATED
RUNE FACTORY 2: A FANTASY HARVEST MOON TO NINTENDO DS LATER THIS FALL

Sequel to the Critically Acclaimed RPG Makes Its First Public
Appearance at E3 Next Month

Burlingame, Calif., June 24, 2008 - Natsume Inc., a worldwide developer
and publisher of family-oriented video games, announced today that
Rune Factory 2: A Fantasy Harvest Moon will be released for the
Nintendo DST system later this fall. The company has also released the
first screen shots of the game. The Rune Factory series is a unique
blend of elements from the world of Harvest Moon and that of a fantasy
RPG, offering Harvest Moon fans and traditional RPG players the best
of both worlds.

"We are thrilled to announce that Rune Factory 2 is on its way to the
U.S. The first Rune Factory title was a great success for us and our
fans have been eagerly awaiting a sequel," said Hiro Maekawa,
President and CEO at Natsume. "The Rune Factory series is a great
expansion of the Harvest Moon universe; it takes the addictive Harvest
Moon gameplay that fans know and love and combines it with the action
and adventure of a fantasy RPG. Rune Factory 2 offers better graphics
and even deeper gameplay than the first, along with many innovative
new features."

Rune Factory 2 is set several years after the first game. The evil
Sechs Empire has been defeated, and the Kingdom of Norad is once again
at peace. Things may not stay that way for long, however, as dark
premonitions foretell of dangers to come. It's up to player to
uncover the source of these premonitions and bring peace to the
kingdom once more.
Over the course of the story, players will build and develop a farm,
befriend townspeople, raise monsters, take on quests, and find a wife.
Rune Factory 2 offers innovative Touch Screen controls, easy-to-use
menus, and an all-new compelling storyline.

In a first for the Rune Factory series, the story of Rune Factory 2 is
multigenerational. Players begin the game as Kyle, a strange man who
comes to Alvarna Village. Eventually, players will take on the role of
Kyle's child, opening up a whole new adventure. It's an innovative
feature that allows players to follow the story of their family and
the townsfolk over two generations!

Rune Factory 2 will make its first public appearance at next month's E3
trade show in the Los Angeles area and will ship to retail later this
fall.

For more information on Natsume's titles, please visit www.natsume.com.