Back in 1993, when Lunar made its way to North America, it quickly captured the hearts of gamers in the burgeoning world of Japanese RPGs in the West. What set Lunar apart were its rich, animated cutscenes, abundant voice acting, and top-notch music, but what truly lingered in players’ memories was its charming narrative filled with unforgettable characters. While it wasn’t the pioneer CD-ROM JRPG, it undoubtedly left its mark on everyone who engaged with it.
The saga didn’t stop there. A sequel, followed by remakes on the PlayStation and a PSP version, helped expand the legacy of Lunar. Fast forward over 30 years, and the enchanting worlds of Lunar and Lunar 2 are being reintroduced to PlayStation through the Lunar Remastered Collection. To revisit what made these games special and ignite fond reminiscences among long-time fans, we had a chat with Matthias Pergams, the Producer at GungHo Online Entertainment America.
In a discussion with Pergams, he highlighted the groundbreaking nature of Lunar as one of the inaugural JRPGs utilizing the CD-ROM format, complete with its own animations, voice cast, and even a theme song. “The series not only established a loyal fanbase within Japan but garnered appreciation internationally, shaping the path for the genre.” He noted its significant place in gaming history.
Given the series’ history of remakes and rereleases on various platforms, it was intriguing to learn why the PlayStation “Complete” editions were chosen as the foundation for the remasters. Pergams confessed there was a fair bit of deliberation involved; each version came with its own charm. Ultimately, the choice boiled down to which version they felt most encapsulated the series, settling on the PlayStation iteration for this tribute.
As the Remaster is not a full-fledged remake, we were curious if seasoned players might notice any major new twists in story or gameplay. Pergams reassured that the core storyline and gameplay remain steadfast to the originals. “Our aim is to preserve the original essence envisioned by GAME ARTS, so there haven’t been major changes,” GondHo noted. However, they have introduced several improvements, such as adjustable battle speeds, a consolidated inventory system to ease item management in Lunar 1, and new settings for character AI behavior in battles.
The Remaster Collection also includes a Classic Mode where players can enjoy the game with visuals akin to those from the PlayStation 2 era, complete with a CRT filter, which has been specially prepared to give them a nostalgic flair.
Taking a look at what’s new in Lunar Remastered, the standout changes are the revamped graphics—the updated in-game effects, user interface, animated sequences, and bromides, along with a new aspect ratio to fit modern screens in the “Remastered Mode.” But those feeling sentimental can switch to “Classic Mode” to experience the original PlayStation visuals.
The conversation about voice acting was inevitable. With an announcement here on the PlayStation Blog that a fresh cast would feature in the remaster, there was buzz amongst fans. Pergams remarked that they focused on retaining the essence of each character with the new voices. The effort resulted in what Pergams described as a final product the team could truly be proud of, staying faithful to fans’ cherished memories while adding a fresh twist.
Another highlight was ensuring the iconic musical numbers, originally sung in Japanese, received proper care in this release. The vocal tracks in Lunar 1 and 2 have been performed by Luna and Lucia’s voice actresses, paying homage to the original Japanese renditions, according to Pergams.
The efforts to touch up the notable animated cutscenes without altering their original content was another endeavor the team took seriously. With guidance from the original developers at GAME ARTS and imput from the composer, scenario writer, and character designer, the team ensured the remastered scenes would resonate with longtime fans, while attracting a new audience.
An unexpected delight was the return of Toshiyuki Kubooka, the renowned character artist, who created new artwork for the series. “It felt like reconnecting with old friends,” Kubooka shared, delighted to be part of the remaster.
This collection travels to Europe for the first time, with hopes that players there will embrace its spirit of adventure and discovery. Pergams captured the essence of Lunar when he described it as embracing the classic journey into unknown realms, gaining allies, conquering evil, and discovering true love.
As a final tip for newcomers, Pergams suggested using recovery items generously in battles—a piece of advice that might save players in challenging encounters. Embrace the innovations, like the Auto Battle system and Battle Speed-Up option, for a smoother gaming experience. However you choose to embark on this adventure, Lunar promises a nostalgic and captivating journey.
