Lunar: The Silver Star
Story Complete
Review by Chi Phan
Before we get to the review, we'll do a little recap. Lunar
was first release for the Sega CD system. With the rise in the playstation popularity,
GameArts decided to re-package and re-make the game for the playstation calling
it Lunar: Complete. Working Designs then ported the game over here but added their
own extra packaging. Hence, this is how Lunar came about. Now on with the review.
STORY
The story of Lunar starts off with Alex (main hero) and his friends
(Luna and Ramus) going off in search of adventure. After about a quarter into
the game the cast found themselves at the city of Vane. In Vane they meet up with
a character name Ghaleon. Ghaleon requested that Alex take him to meet the white
dragon, whom Alex had met earlier in the game. During the journey to the white
dragon's cave, Luna gets abducted by the Magic Emperor. From this point on, the
story quest begins with Alex and his friends searching for Luna. Along the way
you'll meet up with new characters and learn more about Luna's past and who the
Magic Emperor is. The story starts off very slow but will gradually pick up pace
as you spend more time on the game. The story itself is pretty much your typical
rpg story. Save the world and rescue the girl. A little above average.
Score: 7/10
CHARACTERS
Lunar introduces us to a large numbers of characters throughout
the game. Some are annoying while others may become your favorites. Not all the
characters are develope nicely though. The one thing that is nice is that the
game allows you to use all of your party members in fights. I hate having some
in reserve. The voice acting for some characters tend to hurt their overrall presentation.
But when it comes to colorful characters, a big thumbs up.
Score: 8/10
GRAPHICS
Now since Lunar is a Sega CD game way back in dark ages, you
can't expect too much out of it. The game uses sprites in a 2-D background. Pretty
much 16 bit graphics here. The colors in Lunar are very nice though as well as
the anime cut scenes.
Score: 6/10
MUSIC/VOICE OVERS
Lunar music is excellent. A good variety of tunes and some catchy
ones at that too. You'll have to sit back and spend some time listening to the
sound of Lunar. Well done.
Unfortunately the voice acting is as bad as the music is as good. The voices not
only sound like all the actors been spending major time inhaling balloons but
they don't seem to match the characters they belong to. Oh, the horror, the horror.
I'll leave it at that.
Score 7/10 GAMEPLAY
Lunar gameplay is as basic as basic traditional turn base rpg
can get. Nothing that rpgers haven't seen before. Just take turn attacking and
using magic. The one thing I like about Lunar is that there are no random encounters.
You can see the monsters thus avoid a fight if you are really quick. I like it.
Overrall the gameplay is very easy. Good for beginners.
Score: 5/10
EXTRAS/REPLAY
There are practically nothing signifacant in terms of extras.
Oh you can pick up some extra weapons and accessories as well as bromides but
nothing you can't finish the game without. The replay comes soley from the enjoyment
of the game first time around. Overrall Lunar is the kind of game you only play
once even if you enjoyed it.
Score: 2/10
Lunar is a game that traditional rpgers must buy but only at
used price or at a lower price than the going rate of a new game. A 16 bit game
is not worth the kind of price Lunar is selling at for a new copy even with all
the extra packaging.
Final Score: 7/10
~Chi
