June 24, 2008
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
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 DS 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.
