Natsume has announced that Rune Factory 2: A Fantasy Harvest Moon for the Nintendo DS has shipped to shops across North America.

The Rune Factory series combines the fun and rewarding gameplay of Harvest Moon with the fantasy and excitement of an action-RPG, offering Harvest Moon fans and traditional RPG players the best of both worlds. "We are thrilled to finally bring Rune Factory 2 to our fans who have been eagerly awaiting its launch," said Hiro Maekawa, President and CEO at Natsume. "Rune Factory 2 builds upon the elements that made the first title a huge success, and expands the series' RPG elements while offering beautiful graphics, innovative Touch Screen controls, and an all-new, multigenerational plot."

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 strange disturbances in the earth warn that a great evil is stirring. It's up to player to uncover this new threat to the land 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.