Fantasy farm-simulation dungeon-crawler fans will have something to be happy about this holiday season. Rune Factory 2: A Fantasy Harvest Moon for the Nintendo DS, the sequel to 2007's Rune Factory: A Fantasy Harvest Moon, has gone gold and will be available next month for North American gamers.

For those unfamiliar with Rune Factory, the player works on a farm, plants crops, goes fishing, makes friends with townspeople, tries to meet a potential mate, and performs other tasks similar to the regular Harvest Moon series, which began on the SNES and has spawned many games across multiple platforms. Rune Factory adds action-RPG gameplay to the mix, sending the player into dungeons to fight monsters. The player can also befriend monsters for the purpose of raising them.

Some of the improvements in Rune Factory 2 include an easier-to-use menu system, enhanced touch-screen controls, and an all-new multi-generational storyline (begin as one character, later play as his son) which takes place several years after the first Rune Factory. Those who plan to purchase the game still have time to get their unique squirrel plush for pre-ordering at Amazon.com or GameStop. Rune Factory 2: A Fantasy Harvest Moon will be released in North America on November 18, 2008.