Lunar: The Silver Star

[Cyric]

Just posting a poll with this for the sake of curiousity. (I voted in favour of the SegaCD version because I've seen what they did to it for the PSX version)

I'm playing through the original SegaCD version right now, and I'm utterly blown away by how rich the story is. I'm really beginning to think the fact that it was the best selling game of all-time for the SegaCD, is an insult to the game because of how quickly the console died. I've only just made it to the Nanza Barrier, and I am getting the feeling that the game is only going to keep getting better. Not to mention the soundtrack is EPIC! Especially the 'new' overworld music, it kind of reminds me of the theme from FFIV

My only problem with the game is I'm STILL trying to figure out the mechanics to changing the party's order rather than just selecting random people until it's in the order I want.

If you've never played this game, and you like the Final Fantasy franchise, I IMPLORE you to play it!

[Wolf Kanno]

Lunar is one of my favorite RPGs and the game blew me away when I finally got the chance to play it. I've only played the PSX version but must say that most of the changes seem to be for the best and Working Design did a fine job with it.

Its sequel is pretty awesome as well. I haven't tried the new one but bad reviews have me wary of it as well.

I need to bust this game out and play it again.

[Cyric]

Lunar is one of my favorite RPGs and the game blew me away when I finally got the chance to play it. I've only played the PSX version but must say that most of the changes seem to be for the best and Working Design did a fine job with it.

The thing that really killed the PSX version for me, (SPOILER)is that the moment you meet Ghaleon, he LOOKS evil which completely gets rid of the shock of when he kills Quark. Sometimes too much animation in a remake can ruin the mood that the story creates. IMO that is. Maybe when I officially beat the original, I may try to stomach the PSX remake to see the pros and cons of each.

Here's the opinion of someone that appears to have played both the SegaCD and PSX versions.

So... is the music really that good? - Lunar: Silver Star Story Complete Message Board for PlayStation - GameFAQs

The difference is much more pronounced in the remake of Lunar 1 than it is in the sequel, and it's not only because the Lunar 2 remake uses most of the same music as the original (though yes, that does contribute to it a great deal). The Sega CD version of Lunar: The Silver Star is all-around much darker than the remake, in pretty much every definition of the word "darker." The storyline takes much darker turns in a few places, the music is less cheerful, and the color palette is even darker than the remake.

To compare and contrast, here are the opening cinematics for the two games.

Original: YouTube - Attract Mode - Lunar The Silver Star (Sega-CD)
Remake: YouTube - Lunar Silver Star Story Complete English Intro

As you can see, the remake's tone is generally a lot lighter. With the sequel, however, the remake is much more faithful to the original in nearly every regard, with only a few tweaks here and there to the story and the gameplay, and mostly the same music.

And if you want to experience just how dark it is, feel free to watch-along with the video walkthrough I doing of it on YouTube.

YouTube - Lunar: The Silver Star [SegaCD]

[Wolf Kanno]

Ghaleon looks plain evil imo. I understand where you're coming from. Though I feel the change of letting Luna travel longer with Alex makes her (SPOILER)kidnapping more emotionally charged cause you got to spend more time with her and she grew on you more. It also made the final scene in the game much more powerful. I don't understand why games don't use that trick as often.

Her boat scene is also one of the highlights of the PSX version. I feel the PSX version gave Luna more chances to grow on the character and expand her beyond simple "childhood friend with a secret". For new fans, they might feel cheated out of that particular plot twist but I feel the game more than makes up for it with strengthening the games awesome characters.

EDIT:

The amusing thing about the different openings is how each represents a different part of the game. The original focuses on the second half while the remake focuses on the first half (with a slight hint of the second.)

[Kawaii Ryûkishi]

The remake is one of my favorite games of all time. I'm aware of all the plot holes it introduces by changing around Ghaleon's motivations and other parts of the plot, and I definitely prefer some of the music from the Sega CD version; on the other hand, I think prefer just as many of the changes. And it's just beautiful.

[Cyric]

Ghaleon looks plain evil imo.

When I first met Ghaleon in the original, I seriously thought he would end up being like Auron from FFX.

[Wolf Kanno]

When I first saw him in a magazine ad back in 92 or 93, I felt he looked like an atypical evil chancellor leading the good king astray. When I finally played the game, I wasn't terribly surprised he was the villain but then again, I can't say there was much in this game that wasn't somewhat predictable. I feel I would have felt the same had I played the original first.

I feel most games have a hard time creating a villain that disguises themselves as a good guy, but to their defense, I'm a paranoid misanthrope who's waiting for the day your mute main character reveals at the end he's actually the evil mastermind.

[KentaRawr!]

I remember playing a Lunar game on the GBA. I really, really, REALLY liked that game! Whenever someone would ask what I was playing, I'd reply "Oh, nothing, just the best game ever!"

Little did I know I was playing what is commonly hailed as the absolute worst version of that game.

[Heath]

I remember playing a Lunar game on the GBA. I really, really, REALLY liked that game! Whenever someone would ask what I was playing, I'd reply "Oh, nothing, just the best game ever!"

Little did I know I was playing what is commonly hailed as the absolute worst version of that game. :roll2

Lunar Legend is still playable though. And better than not playing it at all!

I've not played the SegaCD version, only the PSX and GBA. I prefer the PSX version of the two.

As far as Ghaleon goes, I was initially quite surprised when he turned out to be evil. I didn't get the impression that he looked evil, just that he looks quite mage-y. Perhaps that could be put down to my then relative inexperience with RPGs though.

[Carl the Llama]

Lunar is without a doubt my all time favorite RPG, and as to which version I prefer? the PSX version ofc, there is just so much more character development, and every time something happens in the game all the npc's across the world have something new to say.

On a side note, its strange that you should make this thread, I only just started playig the game again a few days ago lol. Oh and whats the deal with Nall, is it a girl or a guy flying cat? with the voice iv always assumed it was female but meh.

[KentaRawr!]

Lunar is without a doubt my all time favorite RPG, and as to which version I prefer? the PSX version ofc, there is just so much more character development, and every time something happens in the game all the npc's across the world have something new to say.

On a side note, its strange that you should make this thread, I only just started playig the game again a few days ago lol. Oh and whats the deal with Nall, is it a girl or a guy flying cat? with the voice iv always assumed it was female but meh.

I'm pretty positive it's a male.

[Araciel]

I like SSSC but it's the only one i've played.

[theundeadhero]

I played through the PSX version around eight years ago and it wasn't until after I beat the game that I realized how much I didn't like the game. It's the only game I can remember where I was glad to be over with instead of somewhat mellow the adventure was over. What got to me the most was the repetitiveness of the combat. Oh, here's a blue blob on the map. When I touch it I'm going to fight this, this, and this every single time. In that fight every character did the exact same thing they did the last time they fought that monster set. It drove me crazy by the end.

Maybe I'll find a rom of the SegaCD version.

[Moon Rabbits]

And it's just beautiful.

I love the PSX version for that. And everything else. I couldn't dig the SegaCD version ... I don't know why.

On a side note, its strange that you should make this thread, I only just started playig the game again a few days ago lol. Oh and whats the deal with Nall, is it a girl or a guy flying cat? with the voice iv always assumed it was female but meh.

I'm pretty positive it's a male.

Nall is male. Play Eternal Blue, you'll see~

[Carl the Llama]

but why oh why did he have such a girly voice... bad choice of voice actor im thinking... prolly was a girl who did it.