Lunar Knights

"Watch out..... there are some new Vampire Hunters in town!"

If you enjoy Lunar Knights as much as I have, the title just may breath new life into your DS. Now I'm a big Action/RPG fan and Lunar Knights has definitely delivered. Many of you may know that this game has it's roots in the GBA title, Boktai. Many of you don't. Frankly, it doesn't matter if you have or not. This game stands on it's own two feet.

In Lunar Knights, you play the roles of a dark swordsman bent on revenge against all vampires and a solar gunslinger who's duty it is to protect humankind. The characters actually have.....character. And that makes for something else missing in so many games coming out today: a compelling plot.

Graphically, you will be treated to a bedazzling mix of orthographic landscapes inhabited by well designed and imaginative sprites, stunning anime cut-scenes, and even a 3D space shooter.

That's right. On the ground, your characters hack, slash, and blast there way through a variety of baddie infested surroundings. As you progress, you can alter the very climate of the land to open new pathways. The game incorporates a magic system of sorts to augment your weapon attacks. You can even go "Super Sayan", if I may make the comparison, and really go medieval on your foes. Of course, there are lots of goodies to loot and chests to discover. You will encounter oodles and oodles of support characters on the way who all have something to add to the story. Their are definitely RPG elements present in Lunar Knights. You can go on the traditional side quest. You can customize your characters stats and equipment. You get to collect and upgrade a dandy arsenal of weaponry. You can even level grind, if you feel so inclined. From time to time, you will be required to leave the confines of gravity and pilot a spacecraft. This is where the nifty 3D space shooter comes in. You get to dodge and blast and try not to die. I was just glad to see the game puts to use the DS's ability to render in 3D.

Lunar Knights really does make good use of the DS's special features. There is microphone puffing and touch screen action that is not merely superfluous. But the one thing it lacks, that I am told existed in the Japanese version of course, is WiFi. If Lunar Knights had WiFi, I would have given it a ten. That said, Lunar Knights does include wireless play. For those that want to take the experience to the next level, dust off your GBA cartridges and insert an old copy of Boktai 1, 2, or 3 (3 only available in Japan) along with Lunar Knights to unlock even more surprises. Doing so also allows players to utilize the GBA cart's light sensor. When you beat the game the first time, you will then have access to new game plus options that make re-play worth it.

Pick this title up today.
I'm not kidding.
Get up, go to your friendly neighbor hood game retailer
and buy it.
Nao.
Go.
GO!

Reviewer's Score: 9/10, Originally Posted: 02/13/07