The Remastered Lunar Collection Has Become My New Favorite Retro RPG.

The Lunar Remastered collection offers a renewed and accessible experience thanks to details that impact the player. One standout aspect is the ability to save progress anytime and anywhere, which is especially useful for those who remember the days when that option wasn't available. A player recalls how, in his childhood, while playing Digimon World 3 on the original PlayStation, he didn’t understand the importance of proper saving. That experience changed when a friend taught him how to do it on his Game Boy Color while playing Pokémon Gold.

Over time, the expectation of being able to save progress at any moment has solidified, despite some RPGs working with save points in specific areas, a situation that can often be frustrating. Nowadays, the concern about whether those save points also restore the health of the party has become common, as there are games where this doesn’t happen. After playing remasters like Suikoden I&II HD Remaster, the arrival of the Lunar Remastered collection was a pleasant surprise, allowing players to save progress directly from the menu, offering a more relaxed pace compared to other classic RPGs, and serving as an incentive for veterans.

The collection includes the first two titles in the series: Lunar: Silver Star Story Complete and Lunar 2: Eternal Blue Complete. The first tells the story of Alex, a young man who seeks to become a Dragonmaster and protect the goddess Althena, facing off against a magical emperor. Meanwhile, the second game follows Hiro, who embarks on a similar mission a thousand years later. Both are extensive RPGs perfect for playing in short sessions.

Compared to Suikoden, the dungeons in Lunar are a bit longer but never become exhausting. The ability to save from the menu makes exploring these dungeons more fluid, allowing players to resume their progress without feeling pressured to find a save point. A positive aspect is the removal of random encounters, meaning enemies can be avoided if the player does not wish to confront them. This is complemented by the option to load a previous save to skip unwanted fights.

The turn-based battles also feature an automated battle system that impresses with its effectiveness. Each character makes smart decisions based on the context of the fight. For example, in situations where several enemies are grouped, mages like Nash can attack effectively, while other characters like Hiro use special attacks on stronger enemies. This functionality has been improved in the remastered collection, allowing for customization that makes battle control even easier.

Moreover, the option to choose which character will automatically attack is particularly useful, avoiding the hassle of having to manage each one’s attacks manually. For instance, if a player wants Luna, the healer, to heal an ally, they can activate it without interrupting the rest of the team’s automatic attacks. Luna’s AI intelligence allows her to make smart decisions in critical situations, resulting in a much smoother combat experience.

Although the Lunar games used to be hard to access due to their outdated hardware, popular demand has led to a welcome renewal. With a series of enhancements that bring them up to modern standards, the Lunar Remastered collection stands as a delightful option for those wishing to enjoy these classics that went unnoticed at their original release. This collection will be available on April 18 for PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, Nintendo Switch, and PC.