Lunar: Silver Star Story Complete

Lunar: Silver Star Story Complete
Developer(s)	Game Arts Japan Art Media
Publisher(s)	Kadokawa Shoten ESP Working Designs Amusement Korea
Designer(s)	Toshiyuki Kubooka (character)
Series	Lunar
Platform(s)	Sega Saturn, PlayStation, PC
Release date	October, 1996 (SAT) July, 1997 (SAT) May, 1998 (PS1) May, 1999 (PS1) December, 1999 (PC) May, 2000 (PC)
Genre(s)	RPG
Mode(s)	Single player
Media	1 × CD-ROM (SAT) 2 × CD-ROM (PS1, PC)

Lunar: Silver Star Story Complete is a retitled version of the 1996 RPG Lunar: Silver Star Story (ルナ~シルバースターストーリー, Runa Shirubā Sutā Sutōrī^?), a video game developed by Japan Art Media and published by Kadokawa Shoten. It was originally released on the Sega Saturn console in Japan, but has since been ported and re-released on several additional platforms, most notably the Sony PlayStation.

Lunar: Silver Star Story Complete is a remake of Lunar: The Silver Star, a game for the Sega CD console published by Game Arts. As a remake, Silver Star Story Complete has a substantial number of changes from the original version. The scenario is slightly shorter, and parts of the story (including the backstory and history of Lunar) were changed drastically from the original. The graphics and animation were completely redone, and it features an almost entirely new soundtrack.

In North America, Lunar: Silver Star Story Complete was translated by the US publisher Working Designs. Working Designs originally planned to release their English language version on the Sega Saturn. However, this release was eventually canceled in favor of the PlayStation version.

Storyline

Lunar is the story of the idealistic lad named Alex who dreams of one day becoming Dragonmaster, the legendary guardian of the Goddess Althena and commander of the Four Dragons. The game begins fifteen years after the disappearance of the previous Dragonmaster, Dyne, who is presumed to be dead. A monument to Dyne was built in his home town and is an inspiration to all of Alex's dreams. As a series of extraordinary events unfold, Alex sets out on an adventure with his foster sister, Luna, to meet the dragons. Eventually Alex is compelled to realize his dream of becoming Dragonmaster in order to stop the evil forces which threaten Luna.

Alex's quest takes him to nearly every corner of the world, from small port villages, to the magic city of Vane which revolves in the air near the Goddess' tower, and even the desolate wasteland of the Frontier. Alex ultimately meets the Four Dragons and undergoes their trials to become the new Dragonmaster. With his newfound power, Alex defeats the Magic Emperor and restores peace to the land.

Astronomy and geography of Lunar

The world of Lunar consists of a large barren planet, which is orbited by a small, earth-like moon. The game takes place in a fertile region on that moon, which is called Lunar or the Silver Star. The planet, which can be seen in Lunar's skies, is called the Blue Star. It was once a habitable planet with oceans and forests, and people once lived there. However, millennia prior to the game, its inhabitants fought themselves nearly to extinction and left the Blue Star a wasteland. The people cried out to their goddess, Althena, who used her powers to create a hospitable region for them to inhabit on Lunar. Outside of the region blessed by the goddess' life-giving magic, Lunar is barren, as it has always been. It is in this wasteland that the Vile Tribe, a group of half-demons that refuse to worship the goddess, dwell. However, the Goddess Althena remains close to those who love her, watching over them from the Goddess Tower.

Although the basic framework is present, much of the above background is never specifically referred to in Silver Star Story itself, but rather is explained in its sequel, Lunar 2: Eternal Blue Complete.

Characters

Main characters

• Alex
  • Age: 15
  • Game Arts official name: Arhes
  • Full name: Alex Noah (アレス・ノア, Aresu Noa^?)
  • Voice: Akira Ishida (石田 彰, Akira Ishida^?) / Ashley Parker Angel

• Nall
  • Game Arts official name: Nall
  • Full name: Nall (ナル, Naru^?)
  • Voice: Junko Hagimori (萩森侚子, Junko Hagimori^?) / Jackie Powers

• Ramus
  • Age: 17
  • Game Arts official name: Ramus
  • Full name: Ramus Farmain (ラムス・ファーマイン, Ramusu Fāmain^?)
  • Voice: Yasuhiro Takato (高戸靖廣, Yasuhiro Takato^?) / Nancy Davis

• Luna
  • Age: 15
  • Game Arts official name: Luhna
  • Full name: Luna Noah (ルーナ・ノア, Rūna Noa^?)
  • Voice: Kyoko Hikami (氷上恭子, Kyoko Hikami^?) / Rhonda Gibson

• Nash
  • Age: 17
  • Game Arts official name: Nasch
  • Full name: Nash Rumack (ナッシュ・ルーマック, Nasshu Rūmakku^?)
  • Voice: Daisuke Sakaguchi (坂口大助, Daisuke Sakaguchi^?) / Lief Huckman

• Mia
  • Age: 16
  • Game Arts official name: Mia
  • Full name: Mia Ausa (ミア・オーサ, Mia Ōsa^?)
  • Voice: Yoko Asada (淺田葉子, Yoko Asada^?) / Jackie Powers

• Kyle
  • Age: 18
  • Game Arts official name: Killy
  • Full name: Kyle (キリー, Kirī^?)
  • Voice: Tomokazu Seki (関 智一, Tomokazu Seki^?) / John Haas

• Jessica de Alkirk (Japanese: Jessica Alkirk)
  • Age: 16
  • Game Arts official name: Jessica
  • Full name: Jessica Alkirk (ジェシカ・アルカーク, Jeshika Arukāku^?)
  • Voice: Haruna Ikezawa (池澤春菜, Haruna Ikezawa^?) / Melissa Gulden

The Four Heroes

• Mel de Alkirk (メル・デ・アルカーク, Meru De Arukāku^?)
  • Game Arts official name: Mel
  • Voice: Yuusaku Yara (屋良有作, Yuusaku Yara^?) / Keith Lack

• Ghaleon (ガレオン, Gareon^?)
  • Game Arts official name: Ghaleon
  • Voice: Kiyoyuki Yanada (梁田清之, Kiyoyuki Yanada^?) / John Truitt

• Lemia Ausa (レミリア・オーサ, Remiria Ōsa^?)
  • Game Arts official name: Remilia
  • Voice: Aya Hara (原 亜弥, Aya Hara^?) / Dixie Garret

• Dragonmaster Dyne (ドラゴンマスターダイン, Doragonmasutā Dain^?)
  • Game Arts official name: Dragon Master Dain
  • Voice: Akio Otsuka (大塚明夫, Akio Otsuka^?) / Blake Dorsey

Allies

• Quark
  • Game Arts official name: Faidy
  • Full name: Quark the White Dragon (白竜のファイディ, Hakuryū no Faidi^?)
  • Voice: Yuusaku Yara (屋良有作, Yuusaku Yara^?) / Hal Delahousse

• Laike
  • Game Arts official name: Laeik
  • Full name: Laike (レイク・ボガード, Reiku Bogādo^?)
  • Voice: Akio Otsuka (大塚明夫, Akio Otsuka^?) / Blake Dorsey

• Tempest (テムジン, Temujin^?)
  • Game Arts official name: Temzin
  • Voice: Yasunori Masutani (増谷康紀, Yasunori Masutani^?) / Chad Letts

• Fresca (ピリア, Piria^?)
  • Game Arts official name: Pilya
  • Japanese seiyū: Sakura Tange (丹下 桜, Sakura Tange^?) / Melissa Gulden

• Myght
  • Game Arts official name: Maight
  • Full name: Myght Farn (マイト・ファーン, Maito Fān^?)
  • Voice: Yuusaku Yara (屋良有作, Yuusaku Yara^?) / Dean Williams

Villains

• The Magic Emperor (魔法皇帝, Mahō Kōtei^?)
  • Voice: Kiyoyuki Yanada (梁田清之, Kiyoyuki Yanada^?) / John Truitt

• Xenobia (ゼノビア, Zenobia^?)
  • Game Arts official name: Xenobia
  • Voice: Aya Hara (原 亜弥, Aya Hara^?) / Katheryn Krik

• Phacia (フェイシア, Feishia^?)
  • Game Arts official name: Faithia
  • Voice: Sakura Tange (丹下 桜, Sakura Tange^?) / Paula Angel

• Royce (ロウイス, Rouisu^?)
  • Game Arts official name: Rouyce
  • Voice: Machiko Toyoshima (豊嶋真千子, Machiko Toyoshima^?) / Jennifer Stigile

• Taben (バタネン, Batanen^?)
  • Game Arts official name: Batanen
  • Voice: N/A

Version differences

The majority of the Japanese releases were merely titled Lunar: Silver Star Story. The distinction of "complete" was only added to the title of two versions: the second Saturn release in Japan, and the North American PlayStation release. The American version included several features such as analog and Dual Shock support that the Japanese releases lacked altogether. (For a more detailed account of the technical differences between the different releases, see the Release history section.)

This game itself has substantial differences from the original Sega CD version. The scenario differs in a number of ways, detailed below. The remake releases also feature an almost entirely new soundtrack (possibly due to licensing issues) and the sound was changed from redbook CD audio to sequenced audio. This resulted in a markedly different musical style overall. The game world was completely redesigned, resulting in an overworld and dungeons that were substantially less maze-like; the overworld also became free of random encounters with monsters. Some areas were completely removed, while a new dungeon was added. The remakes also feature over 40 minutes of new animated FMV cutscenes, in comparison to the 10 minutes of FMV in the original.

The ocarina/harp connection

In the original Sega CD version, Alex plays the harp (at his mother's insistence; his father wanted him to learn the accordion). In the remake, Alex takes a page from Link's book and plays the ocarina. This has little effect on the actual gameplay, although using the ocarina as an item acts as a music gallery.

Origin of the Magic Emperor

In the original version, there are legends of an ancient Magic Empire, ruled by a power hungry Emperor who tried to take over the world. The Goddess Althena, grieved by the destruction the Empire had wrought, destroyed the empire in a purifying flood of tears, at the same time lifting the city of Vane into the air. These legends help explain the widespread fear that the name 'Magic Emperor' evokes in the people of Lunar. These legends appear in a much abbreviated capacity in the remake.

Quark's capture and the dragons' fates

One of the most distinct changes between the original version and the Saturn/PlayStation remakes is the treatment of the scene in which Ghaleon reveals himself as the Magic Emperor. In the remakes, Ghaleon captures Quark, using the dragon's life force to fuel the Grindery's assault. Similar fates soon befall the remaining dragons. However, in the original, Ghaleon fatally wounds Quark on the spot, and abandons Alex and Nall to watch one of the last living dragons meet his subsequent demise. Only the Blue and Red Dragons' spirits remain by the time Alex reaches them, and the long-deceased Black Dragon's skeleton attacks the party as a boss.

Royce and Phacia

In the original version, Xenobia had no cohorts apart from the demons of the Vile Tribe. Her sisters, Phacia and Royce, were added in the remakes, presumably to make Xenobia's character traits more distinct and to provide the now-humanized Vile Tribe with a leader at the end of the story.

Luna, Meribia, and Alex's departure

In the remake, when Alex departs for Meribia, intent on selling the Dragon Diamond and making his first journey away from home, Luna makes a last-minute decision to join with him in his quest, remaining as a playable character for much longer than in the original. This resulted in the introduction of a plothole for the sake of drama: she is abducted by Ghaleon himself after he confirms with Quark that she is the one he seeks, yet other girls are abducted later in the game as part of his search. In the original version, Luna was content to stay home and keep her foster parents company, and thus does not meet Ghaleon; she is just one of several singers that Xenobia captures and is not identified as The One until after they have all been gathered.

This one event, moreso than the others, has a grand effect on the game. As the chunk of the game from when Alex and Ramus depart from Saith, Alex and Ramus are to fight the Sewer Dragon with no effective healer (unless Ramus stocks items), as well as the Lann Dragonmaster (wherein Jessica is the only healer), and the Vane trials (as Nash leaves the party, Alex is forced to traverse the trials alone, facing the Truffle Troubler with only his magic and items). This arguably would make the earlier stages of the game much more of a challenge.

Burg's fate

In the original, after Ghaleon defeated Quark, the people of the town of Burg were kidnapped and forced to work in the Talon mines in order to support the Grindery's operations. In the town, Alex's parents have been replaced with demonic impostors. These events do not take place in the remake.

Nash's betrayal

In the original, Nash appears to betray Alex, but actually he double-crosses Xenobia; having only gone along with her to learn the way for Alex to get to his next destination. He returns to the party injured from his escape from Xenobia, but with loyalties to Alex and his mission intact. In the remake, he actually sabotages the group out of his genuine feelings that their mission is hopeless against the power they face, and his desire to keep Mia from harm in trying.

Red Dragon Cave

In the original, Alex's first attempt to reach the Red Dragon Cave via hot air balloon ends with an ignominious crash. Ultimately, the party rides a sea turtle to reach both the Red Dragon Cave and Damon's Spire. In the remake, the balloon works as advertised and delivers him directly to the cave, though it does crashland in Reza near the Thieves' Guild when attempting a return flight.

Dyne, Althena, and Ghaleon

In the original, Dyne loses his power as a result of confining the Black Dragon, who had gone insane and was laying waste to the land. Ghaleon hated the Goddess for sending his friend to do a task that he believed she should have done herself, and plots to capture and control the goddess while she is in her human incarnation. In the remake, Dyne gives up his power voluntarily in order for Althena to become permanently human, since the two of them had decided that the people would be better off without a goddess. Ghaleon disagrees, saying that the people need a divine leader to worship, and attempts to fill the role himself. In both versions, the then-powerless Dyne assumes his new life as the bearded adventurer, Laike.

Battles against the Magic Emperor

In the original, Ghaleon is fought twice. The first battle occurs at the top of the Grindery, while he is wearing his standard black Magic Emperor armor. After the battle, he is assumed to be dead. When the Dragon Angels appear, intending to free Luna of Ghaleon's influence, Ghaleon kills them and morphs into a monstrous final form. In the remake, there is an additional battle which occurs between the first two that segues into the final confrontation. This battle cannot be won, and Ghaleon appears in the white-armored form he will assume as the final boss. Unlike the original, Ghaleon retains a human-like form throughout all encounters.

Critical response

Upon its release, the game received mostly positive reviews. Critics cited its well-developed characters, solid storyline, stunning anime cutscenes, and particularly the excellent dialogue and voice acting (especially for non-playable characters), the latter of which was still relatively uncommon in American RPGs at the time of the game's release. The battle system, polished up from the original, was acknowledged as an effective twist on the traditional turn-based style. On the other hand, critics frequently used the word "dated" to describe the game. Not only does it retain the 2D graphical style of the original - a style that was becoming increasingly rare as consumers clamored for 3D - it was also a 1996 title (based on a 1992 original) being released in 1999, and its lack of visual polish was obvious. Another common criticism of Silver Star Story Complete was that it was not considered innovative due to the completely linear plot and absence of significant side-quests or minigames.

Lunar: Silver Star Story Complete was very profitable for Working Designs and gained a devoted following. This devoted following has helped increase the price of the game above the initial retail price. The game sells for more than $60 used and even more when still sealed.

Release history

Lunar: The Silver Star - Sega CD, 1993

• 1 × CD-ROM.
• Originally released in Japan in 1992. Localized in the United States by Working Designs and released in 1993.

Lunar: Silver Star Story (ルナ~シルバースターストーリ, Lunar: Silver Star Story^?) - Sega Saturn, 1996

• 1 × CD-ROM.
• The second release, this version displays FMVs at 3/4 screen and has fewer collectible bromides than any other version.

Lunar: Silver Star Story Complete (MPEG Version) (ルナ~シルバースターストーリ ＭＰＥＧ版, Lunar: Silver Star Story Complete (MPEG Version)^?) - Sega Saturn, 1997

• 1 × CD-ROM.
• This version features full-screen FMV via the Saturn's movie card add-on. MPEG video encoding gives this version higher video fidelity than the PlayStation releases. Besides the addition of a few bromides, gameplay is identical. Trading cards depicting the original 10 bromides are included.

Lunar: Silver Star Story (ルナ~シルバースターストーリ, Lunar: Silver Star Story^?) - Sony PlayStation, 1998

• 2 × CD-ROM.
• Published by ESP. This version has full-screen FMV, but with slightly lower fidelity than the previous release. Music quality is lowered, and some in-game visual effects are simplified (the Dragon Caves, most notably). Gameplay has the additions of the MPEG version. Re-released as Lunar: Silver Star Story The Best in 1999.

Lunar: Silver Star Story Complete (Collectors' Edition) - Sony PlayStation (North America), 1999

• 4 × CD-ROM (including the 'Making of' disk and Soundtrack CD)
• Besides the English translation, this version makes a number of functional improvements on the Japanese PlayStation release, including analog and Dual Shock support, and improved memory card usage. Also comes with a soundtrack CD, a documentary disc with minigame, a cloth map, and packaging with hardbound manual. The game was also produced with disc variants, including different artwork on the discs, varying by copy. It has become known as the Collectors' Edition, although it was the only NA release for two years.

Lunar: Silver Star Story (ルナ~シルバースターストーリ, Lunar: Silver Star Story^?) - PC (Japan), 1999

• 2 × CD-ROM
• Published by Digicube. Features increased resolution and the highest quality FMV playback of any version. The music has been converted to MIDI format, and can be played independently of the game. Working Designs expressed interest in bringing this version to North America, but eventually canceled the project, citing technical difficulties with the port.

Lunar: Silver Star Story (루나 실버스타스토리) - PC (South Korea), 2000

• 2 × CD-ROM (4 in the Limited Edition)
• Korean language version, and otherwise identical to the Japanese PC release. The translation is based on the Japanese versions, but uses the English language songs. A limited edition package includes the soundtrack from the 1999 North America release as well as a calendar and a demo for another game.

Lunar: Silver Star Story Complete (Fan Art Edition) - Sony PlayStation (North America), 2001

• 2 × CD-ROM
• Identical to the 1999 NA release but without the extras -- thus lacking the minigame on the Collectors' Edition's documentary disc, although the code to unlock it is still provided during the game.

References

External links

• Lunar-Net an excellent resource on the game and the Lunar series
  • Lunar: Silver Star Story Complete info at rpgamer.com
• Lunar: Silver Star Story page at Amusement Korea's official site
• Home of Lunar: Silver Star Story - Information not only about the Lunar series
• Lunar: Silver Star Story Complete at MobyGames