Silver, blue, and repurposed. Lunar Remastered Collection.

My history with the Lunar (often stylized as LUNAR) series is unique. My first exposure came from Game Pro. I was sitting in study hall (circa 7^th grade), flipping through the pages, and one of the sections was a mini-strategy guide dedicated to Lunar 2: Eternal Blue for the Sega CD. I didn’t know a thing about the series, but I read that entire section from start to finish. I got a brief introduction to Hiro and his friends. The screenshots showed classic, 2D sprites in turn-based battles. I was very intrigued, but I knew that there was no way I’d ever play it since the chances of owning a Sega CD were close to zero. Fast-forward a few years and, once again, I’m reading a gaming rag. Unfortunately, I can’t remember which one, but I do remember flipping to a preview of an upcoming Sony PlayStation game: LUNAR: Silver Star Story Complete.

Indeed, it was the same series and it was getting a reboot of sorts for the more ubiquitous PlayStation. Many, many months of delays later, I finally played it and became a fan of the series. There have been hiccups (Dragon Song, the PSP version of Silver Star Story) but Lunar has established itself as a classic, cozy RPG series that is easy to get into. Now, there’s a remastered collection called the Lunar Remastered Collection containing Silver Star Story and Eternal Blue in one package. This is a great collection for veterans and those with the slightest bit of curiosity (like my first exposure back in 7^th grade) about the series.

As of this writing, I’ve finished Silver Star Story and gave Eternal Blue a test drive. Both games will feel like polished journeys down memory lane to those familiar with the PlayStation versions. I’d say 90 percent of the scripts were recycled based on me going through Silver Star Story. Subtle changes have been added and 90’s references have been removed, but I was able to pick up on many of the recycled verbiage from before. All that to say, the scripts and stories are the about the exact same. Silver Star Story features Alex as he goes on a journey to follow his dreams and become a Dragonmaster like his hero: Dyne. Eternal Blue takes place 1,000 years after the events of the first game and puts you in the shoes of Hiro. Alongside his friends, Hiro goes on a journey to help a mysterious girl named Lucia and the ominous message she brings. The baseline stories are fine, but it’s the characters (heroes and villains) that have made the series standout. You really feel like you get to know each cast. That was true then, and that remains in these remasters. New voice actors and actresses have taken over their voices, all of which sound great.

The most noticeable difference is the graphical upgrade. The 2D sprites and varied monsters look excellent. The anime cut scenes are also back and shinier than before. In terms of gameplay, they’re essentially the same as they were on PlayStation. You move from story point to story point, taking care of any quests needed to move the narrative forward. Towns have a statue for Althena where you can recover your energy. There are also shops for upgrading your items and equipment. One noteworthy change is the option to no longer deal with equipping items on your teammates. Inventory management was a minor pain before, but now you have access to all the items you acquire and don’t have to worry about limited space. This minor tweak makes a major difference for the boss battles, which still use Alex’s level to determine their stats. (Note that this change was removed from Eternal Blue Complete.) Battles also have a speed up feature, which makes training and leveling (which is still somewhat necessary) swifter. They’re as classic as their best/basic at their worst as before, but more tolerable since you can pick up their pace.

One change that I didn’t appreciate, at least in Silver Star Story, was the way the player acquires Bromides. Bromides are full-screen shots of Jessica, Luna, Mia, and some of the other gorgeous gals from the game. Humble brag time: I knew how to get those Bromides on the PlayStation after multiple saves and restarts. I thought those experiences would carry over into the Remaster. Sadly, they didn’t. A couple of new and highly missable scenes were added near the very beginning of the game that, if missed, will prevent players from acquiring all the Bromides and missing an achievement. I played on Switch so there wasn’t an achievement, but it was still annoying because I loved collecting them on the PlayStation. Before I begin my Eternal Blue playthrough in earnest, I’ll be having a guide handy to ensure I don’t miss any of them.

That was a minor nitpick. But, it’s still worth pointing out because there’s still a bit of bitterness about missing two of the Bromides. That aside, I recommend taking a look at this collection no matter your familiarity. If you missed them on the Sega CD and/or the PlayStation, then this is a super accessible way to rectify that. If you have played them before, chances are it’s been a while and there are some old-school aspects that you’re no longer vibing with. The collection helps remove some of the old-school pain points. Whether you’re revisiting Lunar or discovering it for the first time, this collection of classics is easy to recommend.

Overall, 8/10: The Lunar Remastered Collection honors the legacies of Silver Star Story and Eternal Blue and modernizes them for a new era.