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| Lunar (series) | |
|---|---|
| Title | Lunar |
| Platforms | Sega CD, Sega Saturn, PlayStation, Game Boy Advance, Microsoft Windows, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4 |
| Developer | Game Arts, Studio Alex |
| Publisher | Working Designs, Sega, Entertainment Software Publishing, XSEED Games |
| Genre | Role-playing video game, Japanese role-playing game |
| First release | Lunar: The Silver Star (1992) |
| Latest release | Lunar: Silver Star Harmony (2009) |
Lunar (series) is a series of Japanese role-playing video games created by Game Arts and originally produced for the Sega CD and Sega platforms. The franchise blends fantasy narrative with science fantasy elements and is noted for its character-driven storytelling, animated cutscenes, and distinctive musical scores composed by Noriyuki Iwadare. Over multiple remakes and localizations, the series reached Western audiences through companies such as Working Designs and influenced later Japanese role-playing game design and localization practices.
The series centers on quests involving the Moon, ancient gods, and reincarnation themes across titles like Lunar: The Silver Star, Lunar: Eternal Blue, and remakes. Key creative figures include Kenji Miyamoto (game designer), Kazuhiro Fujishima, and composer Noriyuki Iwadare, while corporate partners involved in development, publishing, and localization include Game Arts, Working Designs, Sega, Entertainment Software Publishing, and XSEED Games. The franchise is remembered alongside contemporaries such as Chrono Trigger, Final Fantasy, and Suikoden for its narrative focus and cinematic presentation.
The main entries and notable remakes include: - Lunar: The Silver Star (1992) — original for the Mega Drive and later Sega CD enhanced versions produced by Game Arts and Studio Alex. - Lunar: Silver Star Story (1996) — a substantial Sega Saturn and PlayStation remake featuring animated sequences by studios connected to Studio Ghibli alumni and visual artists like Katsuya Kondo. - Lunar: Eternal Blue (1994) — sequel originally on Sega CD with a revised plot and cast. - Lunar: Silver Star Story Complete (1999) — expanded PlayStation port with new art and voice work produced during the era of Working Designs localizations. - Lunar Legend (2002) — Game Boy Advance adaptation featuring developer tweaks. - Lunar: Dragon Song (2005) — a canon mobile entry for Nintendo DS developed by Neverland. - Remakes and collections released across Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 4, and Nintendo Switch including Lunar: Silver Star Harmony (2009).
Titles combine traditional Japanese role-playing game systems—party-based exploration, turn-based combat, experience point progression, and world maps—with cinematic cutscenes influenced by anime production techniques. Combat often uses an active turn order with choices for magic, items, and tactical positioning similar to contemporaries such as Final Fantasy VI and Tales of Phantasia. Many entries introduced animated story sequences, voiced dialogue, and minigames reflecting trends seen in franchises like Shining Force and Star Ocean. Character progression emphasizes story-linked skill acquisition, echoing design philosophies from Xanadu (video game) and Ys (series).
Protagonists include recurring archetypes such as the young hero Alex (Lunar), the priestess Luna (character), and companions reflecting roles similar to parties seen in Breath of Fire and Suikoden II. Settings mix pastoral towns, floating citadels, and lunar ruins, drawing visual and thematic parallels with The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past locales and Final Fantasy worldbuilding. Antagonists range from tyrannical rulers to ancient cosmic beings, with narrative themes of destiny, reincarnation, and the reconciliation of myth and technology seen in works like Chrono Cross and Xenogears. Supporting figures and guest characters were often illustrated by notable artists with ties to manga and anime production houses.
Development was led by Game Arts with collaborative work from studios such as Studio Alex and animation teams including personnel connected to Gainax and independent anime illustrators. Music composition by Noriyuki Iwadare and direction by designers like Kenji Miyamoto (game designer) shaped the series' auditory identity. Localization efforts by Working Designs in North America and later releases by XSEED Games and Sega involved notable alterations in dialogue, voice acting, and packaging—paralleling localization debates surrounding Final Fantasy, Suikoden, and Shenmue. Release timelines spanned the 1990s through the 2000s across hardware generations including Sega CD, Sega Saturn, PlayStation, Game Boy Advance, and handheld consoles.
Critical reception praised storytelling, character development, and musical scores, drawing comparisons to classics like Chrono Trigger, Final Fantasy VI, and Secret of Mana. Some remakes received mixed reactions due to changes in mechanics or localization decisions similar to debates around Final Fantasy IV and Secret of Evermore. The series influenced later narrative-driven Japanese role-playing games and contributed to Western awareness of expansive localization, affecting companies such as Working Designs and XSEED Games. Retrospectives cite its animated presentation and score as influential for later titles and adaptations within the intersection of anime and video game media.
Category:Video game franchises Category:Role-playing video games