Lunar Legend

"Get this game NOW!!!!!!"

I have played most of the rpg's out there that are worth playing and so I am very critical when deciding on a new one. These days in an effort to hook you into buying their game, game companies have consistently messed up their games by adding new and so called ''improved'' battle systems or sometimes hard to follow multiple storylines. These are just a few examples of the new crap that has been messing up rpg's for the last few years. When I started to play Lunar I was very happy to see that it wasn't a rpg formed around some ''new thing''. Don't let people fool you, just cause it's new doesn't mean its good! Anyways as we get going here just know that lunar is one of the best rpg series ever and this game is one of the best rpg's ever.

GAMEPLAY:
Like I said nothing new here; there is a good and simple battle system which is improved by the option to fight automatically or tactically. It's nice to be able to just hit one button that will get the fight going and give you a rest from the monotonous battles. Tactical is similar, but instead of just attacking a character might use a spell instead. A feature that is lacking and I feel in necessary in all rpg's from now on is the ''let go'' system implemented by the suikoden series. It makes sense that if you are 20 levels above your enemy that you will have the power to choose whether to fight them or not. I'm sick of being traped by low level enemies that are nothing more than an annoyance, and where it takes longer to click through the experience and items you won than kill the enemy. Well, although lunar doesn't have a guaranteed no fight button, it doesnt hurt it that bad. There will be those moments where you will just want to get to where you are going already instead of being stopped every few seconds. You walk pretty fast so that offsets the battles a little; plus you can purchase an item to get the baddies away. One major setback I found was moving through doors or openings. I shouldn't say major, but very annoying; is the fact that many times you will walk through a door when you didn't want to cause just getting close to the door or stairs will make you use them. On top of the fact that when people get in the way it makes it way worse. Also the opening are not clearly defined and you will find yourself looking for the exit as the walls look like walls and the doors look like walls. Other than that and a small delay when talking with npc's the gamplay is great.

GRAPHICS:
This is one of the best 2d games I have looked at mainly cause of the animations. Lunar goes out of its way to really express certain things in the way the characters look and the way the move. When they are sad a sad picture of them pops up next to the dialog and when they are angry an angry one etc. It isn't just the same ol mugshot everytime and that adds a ton of life into the game. Another added tonage is the animations which although may seem slow at times is well worth it. For example one character in battle has a very slow attack animation, but its not bothersome because it conveys that he is a strong person and has strong deliberate strikes as he attacks. A nice bonus are the scinematic pictures throughout the game that you can come back and awe at in the gallery at a late date; another life giver.

SOUND:
Gameboy sound; nothing more to say. Although it is better than most games out there.

GAMEFLOW:
I am not going to talk about the story cause whether the story is good or not is a matter of opinion, but something that most don't look at is how well does the story and gameplay work together to make their world more real. Everything works well together and I don't think there is a time that you feel like you are in a different game other than lunar. The transitions are nice and all the elements fit perfectly.

DIALOG:
Although this is part of gameplay I had to give it its own section because lunar absolutely has the best dialog I have ever seen in any rpg period! There are a few mistakes here and there but you will find yourself looking foward to the next comment the characters make. The fact that even small meaningless conversations have two or three participants adds a richness that is unheard of. The vocabulary is sophisticated and adult as I heard the word ''horny'' for the first time ever in a rpg. Not that bad words automatically make a game good, but the characters talk the whay you think they should be talking and say the right things at the right time.

All in all this game is awesome and definitely on of the best rpg's in history as probably the rest of this series is. If you like rpg's don't hesitate and get this game.

Reviewer's Score: 9/10, Originally Posted: 12/17/02, Updated 12/17/02