LUNAR: Silver Star Story Complete

Pros • Auto battle • Lots of humour • Simple game interface • Monsters are on the map • The well told story is something other than a tale of revenge • Fabulous, frequent and lengthy anime sequences • Very classy packaging • Cool mini-game	Cons • 16-bit graphics and sound • Corny humour • $70 is a lot (especially since the game is shortish) • limited spells (with very lame effects compared to any Square title) • Bad Scottish accents
Bottom Line RPGs live and die on factors other than graphics and while LUNAR is weak in the graphic department (other than the first class anime sequences), it makes it up in spades in the more important areas such as plot, characterization and game system It takes guts to boldly pretend that SquareSoft doesn’t exist and has never made any of their modern games with spectacular three-dimensional rendered backgrounds, spell effects and character animations. It is doubtful that any of the big publishers would have the guts to try a title like Lunar Silver Star Story Complete. Working Designs does and did. While, personally, I don’t think that looking retro or campy imbues any coolness of its own right to design or style and do find the 16 bit look a little disappointing, I also hold that games in general and RPGs especially are driven by factors much more important than graphics. Lunar features the best story line in the recent crop of RPGs, outstanding and lengthy anime sequences and well developed characters. Whereas the 16-bit graphic look may not be appreciated, the ease of the game system and lack of daunting magic or inventory systems is refreshing and the brilliant packaging is definitely worth the extra price. No anime lover should be without Lunar in his or her collection.

Why would RPG gamers want to take the step back to 16-bit style graphics and interfaces? Why would anyone want to play LUNAR when there are so many much more technically impressive games on the market? While there are those who find the throwback to “old-style” console RPGs cool in some mocking or nostalgic way, the real answer is that Lunar has well developed characters, a fabulous story and brilliant anime sequences that are truly involving.

A gamer’s reaction to this game is apt to change a number of times:

Wow!

The most immediately striking thing about Lunar is the packaging. The box is very cool. The cloth map equally cool and the hard bound manual that features character introductions, game art and an introductory walk-through is truly outstanding. There are also extra discs above and beyond the two that the game spans that contain “The Making of LUNAR,” interviews, etc. that are interesting to anime or RPG fans and aspiring game developers.

Then the introductory anime sequence is very nice, as is the Japanese pop theme song. It is immediately apparent that this game is going to take place in a very anime environment as one of the first things you see is a winged and flying cat.

Eh? (or Huh? if you're American)

After being wowed by the packaging and the introduction, even though you know it is coming, the flat sprite character graphics and 16-bit style backgrounds come as a disappointing surprise. The positive aspects are that everything is very clean and there is none of that rendered background hunt and peck of the more current-style games.

The interface is also simple and old style. It is refreshing to not have to hunt through magic and inventory menus.

Hmm, Cool

The best aspect of LUNAR is the plot. While every other RPG tells the same story of revenge, LUNAR tells the story of a young man trying to come of age. His desires bring about, first the societal cataclysm that must be repaired, and then the resolution of the problem. The characters are well developed and the frequent anime sequences are outstanding. No anime fan will want to miss them.

Also cool is the combat system that takes into account some tactical movement and placement, which becomes more important as fighters level up and develop multiple attacks. There is even automatic battle AI if you begin to tire of the combat and want to get a snack while it is resolved. Monsters are visible on the map so that gamers also have a feeling of responsibility over what combats are encountered rather than the constant irritant of falling victim to capricious, random chance.

You can save the game anywhere and the voice bits in combat and scattered throughout the game keep things lively. The entire game system is easy and unobtrusive, which allows the player to be swept along the adventure by the great story and to enjoy the interesting combat system.

Yes, the graphics are lame, the game system is relatively simplistic and the sound is also more suited to 16-bit days of yore than to the current consoles. Still, LUNAR Silver Star Story Complete, with its great plot, fabulous anime, easy game system and interface is a great introduction to RPGs for those who haven’t yet tried one, a solidly worthwhile play for RPG gamers and a must have for anime RPG fans.

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