"The Game Designers don't like you!"

Introduction –

Lunar has been around since 1992 its built a large fan base. This current lunar title is the first for the DS. It is also the first true RPG for the DS. This title takes place 1000 years before the events of Lunar: The Silver Star.

Gameplay –

Lunar takes the basic format of an RPG Good guy on one side bad guy on the other and tweaks it. Now the bad guy can be above you too! It takes running around a map and tweaks it, so that now you loose hit points when you run? Now this explains all those 30 somethings dropping dead during their afternoon jog. It takes the reward system at the end of a battle and tweaks it, now you get to choose between items and experience points (just forget about the gold). It takes buying weapons and tweaks it by letting your items break randomly and having no one there to fix them ever.

So now we know that Lunar is a “tweaked” RPG. At heart it stays an RPG. It has likeable characters. It has a good selection of weapons. The battles flow naturally and can be challenging if you do not level up to high. You have the option to choose Manual and Automatic battles. I believe that option takes something away because it is too easy to his Automatic and just walk away. There is a collecting aspect to this game that pokemon has forced every RPG to now have. There are cards to collect and use.

Story –

The story fits the environment. It is not a large compelling drama. It is a small story for the small DS. At times I did not really care what the story was about it just was never very interesting. The game maps the Y button on the DS to be the “story” button whenever its pressed (or accidentally pressed) you get a recap of the story. It specifically tells your current objective. I found this annoying and wanted something useful for that button.

Graphics/Sound –

Here is where the game shines. Its beautiful. The sound is wonderful. If you like the anime look of most RPGs these days the graphics will appeal to you. There were some noticeable glitches in camera movement during fights but it is a very small detail that's repeated every few minutes.

Play Time/Replayability –

I myself enjoyed the item collecting so the game took a LONG time easily a 30 hour game. I would almost bet someone could race through this game in about 10 hours but they would have to be a speed demon.

It's a RPG if you replay them then great. I don't replay RPGs I just move on to the next.

Final Recommendation –

I say BUY! I know I just gave this a pretty harsh review so why buy? It is all we got as far as RPGs go for the DS. This game has huge problems, but it is still a very playable and enjoyable game. It is my opinion they took a game with massive potential and tweaked it to the point that it destroys some of the natural fun of RPGs.

Reviewer's Score: 7/10, Originally Posted: 10/04/05