Lunar: Silver Star Story Complete

Review

by Shawn Sackenheim

Lunar: Silver Star Story sure has changed since its original release on the Sega CD as Lunar: The Silver Star. While the bare bones of the story remain the same, the graphics have been overhauled and given a facelift. Each town is at least twice its original size with diverse art on buildings, objects, terrain, water and NPCs (non-player characters). The movie sequences have also been redone and there is over an hour of anime that can only be described as breathtaking.

If you were a fan of the original, you're probably asking yourself if this is worth buying. The answer to this is a resounding yes because of all the new plot twists and turns in the story as well as the new look of the game. These things will surely keep you on your feet and make you believe in 2D role-playing games (an example is the Super Nintendo Final Fantasy games) again.

If you're a newcomer, Lunar: Silver Star Story Complete is a pure old-school role-playing game that tells a story of love and betrayal. The ultimate goal is to save the world from the Magic Emperor and save your one true love. Though it may sound cliché, believe me when I say that its not. The way it is presented is so engrossing that you begin caring and feeling something about certain characters and what happen to them. It hooks you with its beautifully translated conversations with townsfolk and important people and saddens you to see someone hurt or killed in battle.

Working Designs made a controversial name for themselves when they developed the original Lunar by adding several pop culture jokes that weren't originally planned. Despite claims by some that they were ruining the game's mood, their additions have made it one of the most memorable role-playing games of the entire genre. Most of this witty banter comes in the form of Nall, Alex's flying feline friend and Kyle, who can only be described as a chauvinistic pig. Though the humor is evident throughout the entire game, it always takes a backseat to the main story, which is very serious.

The battle system isn't much to write home about. You've got four decisions right off the bat: Command, AI, Tactics, and Run. There are individual commands such as casting spells and using items. If you'd rather not be bothered with making all the decisions in battle, or just want to learn how it works, you can opt to select the AI option. This lets the computer make all the decisions it thinks is best for that particular fight.

Additionally, the boss system has been reworked to operate in conjunction with Alex's experience level. For example, a boss' hit points are calculated by multiplying Alex's current level by 80. If he is on level 13, that boss will have a hit point total of 1040. The developers did this to discourage people from going into dungeons and stocking up on experience points to make the game easier. This practice has been very popular throughout the years -- especially with the Final Fantasy games. If you do it now, it only makes the boss harder.

In conclusion, Lunar: Silver Star Story Complete is a very challenging role-playing game just like its Sega CD ancestor. It is an adventure that can be enjoyed by just about anyone looking for a great story and cast of characters, beautiful artwork, Japanese animation and a unique world that's actually worth exploring. Oh yeah, and there's a ton of good laughs to be had.