Lunar on DS

[kainemaxwell]

http://www.rpgamer.com/news/Q2-2005/061105b.html

Currently titled Lunar Genesis in Japan and Lunar: Dragon Song in North America, the game is the first original handheld entrant in the Lunar series. After a period of uncertainty concerning who would develop the game, long-time Grandia series developer Game Arts has been confirmed as the developer. Utilizing the Nintendo DS touch screen for menus and maps, players can choose options and direct their characters to destinations with the tap of a finger or stylus. Furthermore, players must use their voices to escape battles by saying "Run!" into the built-in microphones of their DS systems.

The game's plot begins 1,000 years before the events of Lunar: The Silver Star, and tells the story of protagonists Gien Campbell and Lucia Collins. Gien is described as a generous and quick acting youth who serves as an inter-town transporter, or carrier, of traded items. He dreams of eventually leaving his post and becoming a dragon handler, and craves adventure and exploration. The year younger Lucia, characterized by optimism and gleefulness, is viewed by Gian as a little sister and serves as an emotional supporter and less experienced carrier.

Nintendo DS gamers lacking a role-playing fix can pick up the first original handheld Lunar as early as this Summer in North America, and August 25 in Japan. The game is approximately ninety percent complete, and is to be distributed by Marvelous Interactive.

[FantasiaWHT]

Well crap...

I think I have to buy a DS now =(

[Drexel923]

I knew it was coming...but I didn't know it was coming so soon :D

Definitely picking this one up.

[towerofsong]

I love Lunar games, and I also love my DS
So I think I may buy this one
I can't wait :D

[MegaDrive20XX]

Definitely on my list :)

[drwily008]

No question about it.........I'm getting that shit. I knew it was coming, just not so soon. I wonder if that date will stick? I have wanted a new Lunar for about a decade, so I'm pretty stoked about the idea of possibly playing this in July! :D

[Crush Crawfish]

Allll over this one. I haven't finished the 1st two lunars, but this is a prequel, so that works out quite well for me! :D

[poloplayr]

Thank GOD I did not sell my DS. Now things are finally looking bright and the fact that the DS is kicking PSP's ass in Japan as of late is good news since it will attract publishers/great titles!

[PDorr3]

great news, and so soon! ds finaly gets a game i am looking forward to :)

[Son of Bael]

Already pre-ordered :D

I was suprised that it is coming out so soon as well, but it's all good in my book. The DS has some really good stuff to look forward to over the next 3 months.

[SoulBlazer]

Crap, looks like I'll have to get a DS now. :)

Well, I was going to get one for FF 3 eventuly anyway, but now that a new Lunar game is coming out for it.....

Does anyone have a more solid release date for US?

[BobbyRobby]

Gamestop says 7/26

[slip81]

Now the only question is; which flavor DS do I want?

[RetroYoungen]

Have to buy a DS now, dammit. CGE is coming up, I have to buy a DS to play Animal Crossing and Mr. Driller Drill Spirits and this new Lunar... I'm gonna be broke before I know it...

[Lemmy Kilmister]

http://www.the-magicbox.com/0505/lunar6.jpg http://www.the-magicbox.com/0505/lunar2.jpg


Too bad Gamearts isn't working on this game because it doesn't look all that hot if you ask me.

[Someone]

Now the only question is; which flavor DS do I want?
Rocky road? i :?

Man!
I promised myself I'd skip this generation of handhelds.
"My GBA is perfectly fine "I said
Now what am I suposed to do. @_@

[FantasiaWHT]

Woh, isometric...

Reminds me of Landstalker for some reason.

BTW, EB computers have it listed at 9/21 =/

So do I buy a DS now to take advantage of the "free Super Mario 64 with DS" deal?

[FantasiaWHT]

I've seen some more screenshots of Lunar now, in the recent Nintendo Power, and I'm SORRY but the game is absolutely hideous! The graphics aren't just bad, they're plain UGLY! It looks like an early PS1 RPG like Beyond the Beyond or Suikoden...

Seriously, Lunar Legend on GBA was a way better looking game.

[davepesc]

Furthermore, players must use their voices to escape battles by saying "Run!" into the built-in microphones of their DS systems.[/i]

You know, if you don't want to use the DS capabilities, then fine, but don't tack on something as lame as this, then put "DS MICROPHONE SUPPORT!!!*!*" on the package. Good thing no one runs from battles, anyway.

I can picture my wife being awakened by my shouts of "RUN! RUN!" coming from the living room. She'll think we're under attack or something.

BTW, any word on the Xenosaga release? Lunar and Xenosaga might make me buy a DS.

[The Plucky Little Ninja]

You know, if you don't want to use the DS capabilities, then fine, but don't tack on something as lame as this, then put "DS MICROPHONE SUPPORT!!!*!*" on the package. Good thing no one runs from battles, anyway.

You're absolutely right. This adds nothing to the game. It just seems pointless. Now we have to talk to our damn video games to accomplish things that used to only require a button?

As much as I adore the Lunar games I feel less obligated to give this one a try simply because it's a prequel. I'm waiting to hear what word on the street is before picking it up. Now if it was god honest Lunar III I don't think I'd have a choice but to go buy a DS.

[-hellvin-]

God damn...this game fell of the "fucking ugly" tree and slammed into every branch on the way down. I personally just think those are lame graphics compared to some works we've seen on the DS already. While there have been some games that have made great use of the interactivity of the DS, the RUN!!!!!!!!111 is the lamest idea I've seen in a game in a long time. Hopefully they patch this one up, or I'll be skipping straight to FF3.

[Mianrtcv]

One of the main characters names is Gien Campbell? Why not Giarth Brooks? All I am going to think is Glen Campbell? What the hell is Glen Campbell doing in Lunar?

I am a Lunar addict though so i'll get over it.

[dougman999]

I want to see another Lunar on a console system.

[DTJAAAAMJSLM]

I'll wait for a used copy. I don't like the new look and the gameplay hasn't sounded too interesting from what I've read.

[Graham Mitchell]

I dunno, I saw some of the pictures in Nintendo Power this weekend, and I thought it was kinda' cool lookin'. I love Lunar, and all the artwork associated with the game that was printed in the article got me all worked up, so my opinion may be a bit biased. However, I'm glad that they are trying some new things with this one. The isometric view, the 3-D battle scenes, touch and microphone support etc. This really could be a cool, unique game, and I can't believe so many of you are poo-pooing it before you've even played it.

Oh, yeah, it doesn't look like Silver Star. Therefore it must suck, right?

[FantasiaWHT]

I never said the game was going to suck, I said it was fug-ugly. Suikoden was a great game, but it was about that ugly as well. There's a difference.

[googlefest1]

man!! I would rather have seen lunar on a disk based system - this is bad news for me

[Eb69]

I am saddened and hurt by this game being put on the DS. I was really hoping for a PS2 or Gamecube installment to the series. I'm not getting a handheld Lunar game, especially considering the fact I refuse to be required to talk to my video games. I mean, I do it already, but I don't want it to actually RESPOND to me when I do it.

[Captain Wrong]

One of the main characters names is Gien Campbell? Why not Giarth Brooks? All I am going to think is Glen Campbell? What the hell is Glen Campbell doing in Lunar?

http://www.amuseyourself.com/celebrity-symmetry/glen-campbell-mug-shot-3-xxx.jpg

+5 stubble
+57 hung over
-20 teeth

[PDorr3]

I am having second thoughts on spending #40 on this game because it is getting average reviews from many sources. Even famitsu gave it a 27.
Anyone else more hesitant than before?
The only thing I might not like are how exp and items are seperate battles and losing hp while running.

[le geek]

I'm holding out for Castlevania DS... Not that the luke warm reviews changed my mind, but sounds like Lunar is a wait for cheap and or used...

Cheers,
Ben

[PDorr3]

Game got a 5.5 from planet gamecube.
I think Im gonna hold off on this game, nd get it later on for cheap. It has received nothing but bland reviews, and I dont think its worth my $43. I might buy ultimate spiderman in place of it.

[Graham Mitchell]

Oops, double post.

[Graham Mitchell]

Screw reviewers. Make your own choices. Also, bear in mind that if you don't support a good idea (like making a game that's NOT a FPS or a racing game), the game manufacturers will cease to have good ideas because they won't be economically viable to have.

I'm not saying you should buy the game simply out of principle. That would be stupid. I'd just consider it as something to think about.

[PDorr3]

Thing is sometimes I do haveto base my purchases off of reviews. Money is not easy for me to come by, and I dont want to plunk down over $40 for a game I will possibly hate and stop playing after 2 hours. Sure I could love it, but its a risk I am not willing to take. Too many games coming out that I know I want, so I think Im holding off on this one.

[Daniel Thomas]

I would prefer reading a review in a weblog or zine to the prozines. That's not to say that I wouldn't value their opinions, but it all depends on their expectations of the game. Games like this require a bit of time before you really find its true worth. I'm sure some sites will start to chime in.

Spider-Man looks terrific, but fourty bucks?! Sorry, no dice. I want twenty.

If I see some insightful reviews, I'll post them on V - The Next Generation.

[Mianrtcv]

I never said the game was going to suck, I said it was fug-ugly. Suikoden was a great game, but it was about that ugly as well. There's a difference.

I have the game. The graphics are so-so. The walk around and talk screens are pretty stiff. They don't capture me like the sega cd, or ps stuff did. I loved the others so much I even got the japanese import lunars. This effort seems a little weak. I am only in the early stages of the game, however at this point I think I may egt into the story but the overall feel isn't the same as SSS, or Eternal blue on whatever system. I even liked the gameboy version. This one is a fan only title. I'm a fan so I still dig it. If you are not a fan definitely play the other titles first.

[Drexel923]

I starting playing this last night. It's interesting to say the least. The developers made some choices that will really make you scratch your head...

1) You lose health while running. I suppose they did this so you can't avoid all the battles by running around them. But then why does it happen in towns too? However, it's not as bad as it could be...you lose 1 HP every 2-3 seconds, so if you need to quick run past something its not a problem...it's more of a reminder to slow down I guess.

2) 2 seperate battle systems. Very strange. Before fighting, you choose to either battle for experience or items...you can't get both at the same time. I was really worried about this before I started playing, mostly because it meant double the battles I had to fight...but after playing a bit it really isn't all bad. The battles progress pretty quickly, and at the end of the day, you feel as if you spent the same amount of time fighting as you would in any other RPG. Just really strange.

3) Auto targeting in battle. Simply put, you can't pick which enemy to attack in a group...kind of lowers the strategy element, but its not the end of the world.

Changes to the RPG formula that I like...

1) The town is broken up into pieces. You don't walk around huge towns in this game. Each town is broken up to small areas (inn, shop, house) and you use an overmap to travel between them. You still get to explore each area, but its much quicker to find things then wandering around town lost.

Now I've only played an hour so I'm sure more good or bad things will appear...I really don't know how some of these ideas came to pass. The game is not a great RPG...and going into it expecting the other Lunar games is a bad idea, but it's not bad either. Despite it's "problems", it's definitely a game I can live with. More impressions will come later.

[SoulBlazer]

Drexel took the words right out of my mouth. :)

I've only spent a hour on this, with Lost in Blue and Trace Memory sucking up most of my DS time, but he said what I was thinking about the game as well.

[PDorr3]

Ill definitly give this game a try when I can get it for $20 or under. All of its problems dont seem TOO bad, but stick them all together in one game and it seems like it can get a little annoying.

[Drexel923]

Ok...a little more into to it a more problems.

1) Equipment can break. This is one of the things that I completely hate in my RPGs. It's especially worse in this game since equipment costs a damn fortune...and the only way to get money is by doing jobs (which leads to my next point).

2) Getting money is impossible and take forever. The only way to get money (that I know of) is to complete jobs. Most of these consist of you collecting items (which you get from enemies) and delivering them to people. Problem is, they usually need 7-10 of each thing, and when you battle its almost random on what you'll get. I spent a whole hour and a half just completing one of the first jobs in the game.

Because of these 2 things, the game gets insanely hard. Leveling up your character isn't bad, but when you can't afford weapons or armor to help you out, you will get your ass kicked (see the boss in athena temple for proof). Despite all of this frustration there is still a small desire from myself to continue playing...a very small one though. I can't see myself sitting through all of this stuff and I'm really dissapointed that this and the previous complaints made it into the final game. It's almost as if the developers took every bad idea possible and decided to build a game around it.

If anyone wants my copy they can have it for $30 shipped. :/

[hezeuschrist]

I certainly don't bank all of my purchases on reviews, but the flaws, or "gameplay design changes" they've made to the game are just too glaring to bother giving this title the time of day.

As soon as I heard you couldn't manually target enemies I knew I was waiting for the bargin bin on this one. Even then, strictly for the collection, not to play.

[Mianrtcv]

Because of these 2 things, the game gets insanely hard. Leveling up your character isn't bad, but when you can't afford weapons or armor to help you out, you will get your ass kicked (see the boss in athena temple for proof). Despite all of this frustration there is still a small desire from myself to continue playing...a very small one though. I can't see myself sitting through all of this stuff and I'm really dissapointed that this and the previous complaints made it into the final game. It's almost as if the developers took every bad idea possible and decided to build a game around it.

If anyone wants my copy they can have it for $30 shipped. :/

I agree with your gripes. I still like the game... so far.
Yes, I have had stuff break or get stolen. Sad part, stolen items are not recovered after defeating the creature that stole it! :angry:
I am Lunar Grunt though. I have some idle time, I'll battle a lot, barely travel just level up.
I do think this game could be better though. More as I progress.

OK, this game is now officially outright annoying. The jobs are silly. Get 10 of this and 7 of that. Then give it to Enos. You can be stuck two items short of one for quite a while, then get one away and have an item stolen, beat the creature that took it and not get it back, That is just plain stupid. Not to mention a waste of time and annoying. Also you can fight the creature that yields that item numerous times and not get said item, that said it seems if like when you don't need it you have plenty. This game should not have the Lunar name on it, it should be titled "generic rpg #12,837, that is rip off of a decent series".

[drwily008]

I'm digging it, it isn't the Lunar that I had hoped it to be. However it is an above average RPG with lots of innovative elements.

I think the battle system & item searching can be tedious, but I really am enjoying the game.

[mr_pollock]

When I read the reviews for this game, I wasn't looking for the reviewer's opinion; alternatively, I was looking for facts about the gameplay and mechanics. The losing HP while running thing sounds horrible. The game doesn't last very long as far as I know. It's probably a good attempt, but I won't be buying it.