PSone REVIEW:
Over 1000 years have past since Alex the Dragon Master fought back the forces of evil from Lunar. Over this time though, the history has been muddled and people of Lunar have become content in life and care little of the Goddess Althena and the ways that were.
Now, Hiro, a young adventurer who thirsts for knowledge of Lunar, Althena, and the Blue Star, is off exploring to find the answers he seeks. You see, it is said that the Goddess Althena put the people there, directly from the Blue Star.
Little does Hiro, and his…Um..Kitty? Ruby know what they are getting in to. Ruby, a long time friend of Hiro, is a flying cat-like thing with delusions of being a Red Dragon. Ruby also is excited because legend has it that the Goddess is protected by a group of four dragons, and the Dragon Master.
If only Hiro and Ruby could find out more and have some excitement in their lives…
Lunar 2 plays almost exactly like its predecessor. But for those uninitiated with the original, I will explain a bit.
Each of the characters has stats like most RPGs, and with monster slaying comes the reward of going up in levels and getting your stats brought higher. One nice thing with Lunar 2, as in the first one, is that if one of your party is knocked unconscious they still receive the experience.
There are plenty of weapons and items in Lunar, including rings and crests. Rings will offer protection from certain ailments or conditions and crests will usually allow certain magic use or raise certain stats.
Battle can have a strategic feel for a couple of reasons. First is the characters range stat, and second is the characters speed. These two I found to be the most important. If you know who will go first or how far the character can run to hit the enemy, it makes for a less trying fight. Of course there is much more to take into account, such as magic, strength and so on. An added feature of Lunar 2 is the effect indication. When you are selecting an enemy to attack colored symbols will appear above their heads. Damage to the enemy is either going to be weak, normal, or strong depending on the display. This takes the guesswork out of determining which monster is weak against which attack type. Some may not like this feature, but I do. No more wasted magic points on ineffective attacks, ha!
Speaking of attacks. All the monsters are visible, no random battles. Keep in mind though that in areas there are monsters that can definitely out run you and you will have to fight a majority of those you encounter. Then again, there\'s always the run away command. But you wouldn\'t do that now, would you?
The towns are luscious and absolutely full of life. Taking on your typical 2D atmosphere and expanding into vibrant towns and dungeons, Lunar 2 has an immersive feel. There are loads of people to talk to, not once or twice, but many times. One very strong point of Lunar 2 is the story and with all the conversation you\'ll be having, that story gets conveyed well.
Also, to aid the story, Lunar 2 is packed with voice-overs during your exploration. This gives your eyeballs a break from reading all that text and as in the first Lunar; the jobs of voice acting are done superbly. Interspersed here and there are Anime style cut scenes, which again are done brilliantly and convey the story well.
Oh. Did I forget to mention the lighter side? The Bromides are back! For those left scratching their heads, I\'ll explain, Bromides are pieces of art that you acquire throughout your adventure. Pictures, mostly of the babes in the game. They are stored in your inventory and can be viewed whenever you need some inspiration. Also, Lunar 2 is loaded to the hilt with humor, both conventional and in reference to modern day happenings. Rich, I tell you.
Do I really need to mention the sound of Lunar 2? The first Lunar was awesome in it\'s soundtrack, and all I can say is that Lunar 2 is right up there with it.
Every town you enter, every dungeon you forage, all is enchanted with awe inspiring musical scores that will have you unknowingly bouncing in your seat and humming all day. Don\'t get me wrong. Not in a bad way like a stupid commercial for soap or something, but in a way that is prone to send chills down your spine. Just like the entire game.
FEATURES:
· Explore the vast world of Lunar with a variety of characters to command.
· Learn and control multitudes of different magic, to crush your enemies.
· Enter vast and wonderful cities to learn from the towns people what exactly is going on in your world. · Interactive battle design lets you control every aspect of your combat.
· Beautifully rendered characters and surroundings that will entice you into Lunar.
· A soundtrack that is as awe inspiring as the Goddess Althena herself.
OPTIONS:
• 3 Disk(s)
• CD Media
• 1 Block required on Memory card per save (min)
• Up to 1 Players (without Multi-tap)
• Uses Dual Shock Pad Buttons
• Uses Dual Shock Pad Analog Sticks
• Uses Dual Shock Pad Vibration facility |
