LUNAR Remastered Collection: A Nostalgic Trip with a Few Potholes

Reliving the 90s JRPG Magic, Now with Extra Bugs

Launch Day Larry

Ah, the 90s. A time when JRPGs were pixelated masterpieces and your biggest worry was whether your Tamagotchi would survive the school day. Enter the LUNAR Remastered Collection, a game that promises to transport you back to those simpler times, albeit with a few modern-day hiccups. Let’s dive into this remastered journey and see if it lives up to its nostalgic promise or if it’s just another case of rose-tinted glasses.

Gameplay: A Classic Revisited, Bugs and All

The LUNAR Remastered Collection is like finding your old Game Boy in the attic—exciting, but a bit dusty. The gameplay remains largely faithful to the original, which is a double-edged sword. On one hand, fans of traditional RPGs will appreciate the nostalgic mechanics and the classic JRPG style. On the other hand, the lack of significant updates might leave some players feeling like they’ve stepped into a time machine that’s stuck in reverse.

Quality of life improvements, such as the ability to save anywhere and automatic resurrection of characters, are welcome additions that make the game more accessible. Plus, the option to speed up combat is a godsend for those who remember the grind of the original. However, the game’s technical issues, like inconsistent frame rates and bugs that seem to have crawled out of a beta version, can be as frustrating as trying to find a save point in a dungeon.

Graphics: A Mixed Bag of Pixels and Promises

Graphically, the LUNAR Remastered Collection is a bit like a Monet painting—great from a distance, but up close, it’s a bit of a mess. The remaster boasts 4K Ultra High Definition, which sounds impressive until you realize that the visuals are as grainy as a 90s TV set. The backgrounds and character models appear disappointingly low-res, and the animations are stiffer than a board game night with your in-laws.

While the remastered FMV sequences have been improved with AI filters, the overall graphical effort feels half-baked, especially for a $50 port. The scaling issues and lack of graphical settings on the PC port are like trying to fit a square peg in a round hole—frustrating and ultimately unsatisfying.

Story: Heartfelt Nostalgia with a Side of Simplification

The story of LUNAR: Silver Star Story is like a warm hug from an old friend. It’s a heartwarming tale of friendship and destiny that evolves from a simple adventure into a profound narrative. The characters are memorable, each with distinct personalities that draw you into their world. The dialogue is filled with charm and humor, making the story a significant draw for both new players and those familiar with the series.

However, the remaster has made some changes that might not sit well with purists. The story has been simplified, with key plot points explained directly rather than discovered through foreshadowing. This change, along with alterations in dialogue and cutscenes, might leave some players feeling like they’ve been handed a CliffNotes version of a classic novel.

Final Verdict

The LUNAR Remastered Collection is a nostalgic journey that’s both heartwarming and frustrating. While it retains the charm of the original with its classic gameplay and engaging story, the technical shortcomings and lack of significant updates can’t be ignored. If you’re willing to overlook these issues, you’ll find a delightful trip down memory lane. But if you’re expecting a polished remaster, you might want to keep your expectations in check.

Score: 6.0/10