Dear XSeed,
Seventeen years ago, an anime-themed RPG was released that would inspire me to become a Dragon Master. This transformation didn't occur until 1999 when I played my first Lunar title, Lunar Silver Star Story Complete, but it came soon enough to help me defeat the Magic Emperor.
When I wasn't donning a legendary sword, shield, helmet, and breastplate or collecting boob-a-licious bromides, I was spying on Mel's beloved daughter who would frequently bathe in Lunar's scalding hot springs. Lunar truly was amazing, and it wasn't just because of its Bill Clinton and Wheaties jokes.
As a devout fan of the series, I was tempted to begin an adventure (read: day trip to Gamestop to purchase Lunar Silver Star Harmony), but I wasn't sure if I wanted to splurge on your lovely collector's edition. It's not that your re-mastered soundtrack isn't aurally pleasing, but I'm not sure if it's worth purchasing Lunar Silver Star again when I already have a leather-bound manual, an ancient cloth map, a wonderful soundtrack, and a brain fart-filled 'Making Of' CD.
[embed:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iCIA_–En4U ]Battle Theme: Lunar Silver Star Story Complete
With such a pressing issue, I turned to the Internet for advice. Thanks to Bitmob's own Chris "Cosmo" Cohen, I learned of the existence of a relatively new PSP demo. After downloading and installing this digital delight, I immediately jumped into the shoes of Alex of Burg.
After booting up the title, I was greeted by Lunar's light-hearted opening theme — only this time with different lyrics. The new lyrics were pleasant, but I was surprised that the accompanying animated cut-scene was straight out of the PlayStation version — in its unchanged 4:3 aspect ratio. Even though Lunar Silver Star Harmony's other cut-scenes shared the same fate, I wasn't too disappointed as they still look relatively nice.
[embed:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UAXFJE8wAp0 ]Battle Theme: Lunar Silver Star Harmony (remake)
Once I moved beyond the initial animated cut-scene, I was welcomed by a scenic viewpoint atop a grassy mountaintop. This detailed 2D background was a step up from the same environment in the PlayStation version, but this change wasn't as conspicuous as the improved character sprites.
Lunar Silver Star Story Complete famously featured 16-bit-esque characters that were a far cry from the gorgeous artwork in its animated cut-scenes. The remake's 2D sprites don't reach a cut-scene level of excellence, but at least they're accurate representations of the original character art (Ramus no longer has blue hair!).
The snazzy new visuals were a good fit for my sleek PSP, so I was hoping other aspects of the game would be equally impressive. Fortunately, Lunar delivers a solid, (though not quite perfect) re-mastered soundtrack and humorous dialogue (albeit, with fewer Wheaties jokes), but it does have a couple glaring flaws.
When strolling through the quaint town of Burg, I noticed that character movement was awfully slow. A run button (R) partially rectifies this problem, but it's annoying that a button has to be held when Lunar SSSC had quick movement by default.
Also apparent, were the three second load times when entering rooms or other sections of the village. Normally, I'm not a stickler about load times, but when a game looks 16-bit (or slightly above in this case), I expect it to play similarly. Lunar SSSC didn't have this issue, so it's a shame that it plagues the PSP remake.
More annoying than the occasionally blank screen, however, is the fact that Lunar's wonderful tunes stop during load times, and begin a few seconds after entering a new room. This jarring starting and stopping of music really detracts from an experience that would normally immerse me.
It's not all weeping and gnashing of teeth with Lunar, however. Fortunately, the battle system still functions similarly to the PlayStation version — even if it's a bit slow. Some fans of the original may cry foul at the slightly easier battles and faster level-gaining, but this also makes the game more welcoming to newcomers. It doesn't hurt that the remixed battle theme is just as invigorating as the original, either.
Unfortunately, the final aspect of Lunar I'm about to discuss — its voice acting, may disappoint longtime series fans. Of course I've only played the demo, so I can't judge every character, but what I've heard so far is a mixed bag. Alex and Luna sound similar to their Lunar SSSC counterparts, but Quark the dragon no longer sounds like an awe-inspiring beast who could quickly flame-broil Lunar's cast; instead, he sounds like Phil the janitor.
Even more disappointing is the fact that Ghaleon is no longer voiced by the milk-guzzling John Truit, but I haven't heard his replacement, so I can't fairly judge the newcomer. At least XSeed wisely did away with the chipmunk-sounding Nall of the PlayStation version and replaced him with a lower-pitched (though not baritone) voice.
As you can probably tell, I have mixed feelings about this remake. I love Lunar and am tempted to shell out $40 for the Collector's Edition, but unfortunately, I don't have Ramus' diamond studded bank account — even though I share his voracious appetite. Since I don't want your remake to leave me with a broken heart, I now turn to my fellow Bitmobbers to aid me in my decision: What would you do for Lunar Silver Star Harmony and its assortment of delicious bromides?