Lunar: Silver Star Story Complete

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

Lunar: Silver Star Story Complete is an enhanced remake of the 1993 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. Silver Star Story Complete was originally released on the Sega Saturn console in Japan, but it has since been ported and re-released on several additional platforms, most notably the Sony Playstation. It is hailed considered by many fans and critics alike to be one of the greatest RPG video games ever created.

As a remake, this game 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.

The game also contains a hidden minigame called Lords of Lunar which was based on the concept of Warlords for the Atari.

Contents

[edit] Storyline

Spoiler warning: Plot and/or ending details follow.

Lunar is the story of the idealic young Alex's dream to one day become Dragonmaster, the legendary guardian of the Goddess Althena and commander of the Four Dragons. The game begins fifteen years after since the disappearance of the previous dragonmaster, Dyne, who is presumed to be dead. A monument to Dyne has been in the Alex's hometown. As a series of extraordinary events unfold, Alex realizes that his foster sister, Luna, may hold the key to the dragons and he is compelled to realize his dream of becoming Dragonmaster order to stop the evil forces which threaten her.

Alex's quest takes him to nearly every corner of the world, from small port villages of Saith and Meribia, to the magic city of Vane, which floats atop the Goddess' tower, and 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, Ghaleon the Magical Emperor, and restores peace to the land.

Typical screenshot
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Typical screenshot

[edit] 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 an inhabitable 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 still the same wasteland 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.

[edit] Characters

[edit] Heroes

Alex
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Alex
  • Alex
    • Age: 15
    • Game Arts official name: Ahres
    • Full name: Alex Noah (アレス・ノア Aresu Noa?)
    • Voice: Akira Ishida (石田 彰?)
Alex is the main character of the game. A country boy, he has an honest, straightforward personality, but he is also a bit timid and sometimes tends to drift though life. He lives in the small village of Burg with his parents, his friend Nall, and with Luna, an orphan who was given to Alex' parents while he was still little. Alex was born without any magic ability, but he is capable with a sword, and he plays the ocarina skillfully. Because Dragonmaster Dyne's monument in Burg, Alex grew up admiring him, and his biggest dream is to one day have adventures like Dyne and share the excitement with his friends.
Nall
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Nall
Nobody is quite sure what Nall really is, but most people assume that Nall is just a white cat with wings. Even Nall himself doesn't know what he really is, but being called a cat offends him, even though he has cat-like traits like a taste for fish. Nall can speak with humans and has innate magical abilities. He was given to Alex's parents by the same man who asked them to take care of Luna. Nall has a strong bond of friendship with Alex, and they treat each other like brothers.
Ramus
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Ramus
  • 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?)
Ramus is the son of the chief of Burg Village, and Alex's best friend along with Nall. Ramus has grand dreams of fame and wealth, but his father only sees him as a lazy troublemaker. He one day hopes to prove his father wrong by making a fortune. It is Ramus's thirst for adventure (and greed) which drives Alex, Nall, Luna and himself on their first adventure to the white dragon cave. However, despite all the fancy talking, Ramus barely has the nerves for adventuring and would do well to apply his keen mind and sharp business skills somewhere else.
Luna
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Luna
  • 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?)
Luna is a girl whom Alex' parents adopted and raised as their own child, along with Alex and Nall. Good-natured and kind, Luna has been gifted with a beautiful singing voice. Her songs are magical, drawing power from an unknown source; Luna has never studied magic, nor is she a priestess who can cast spells in the name of the Goddess. However, in a remote village like Burg, the quality of Luna's singing in itself outweighs the magics hidden in her songs. She is a pretty normal girl, apart from the fact the power of her own songs sometimes frightens her and she has a recurring dream that doesn't make sense to her...
Nash
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Nash
Nash is pretentious, elitist, and very vocal about being apprenticed to one of the strongest mages in the world, even though that honor doesn't save him from ending up in the occasional embarrassing situation. Nash's magical ability really is above average, and the fact the powerful Sage Ghaleon has acknowledged him only proves it. Unfortunately, Nash is all too aware of his gifts. Behind his big talk and overinflated ego, he has a soft spot for the future leader of the Magic Guild, Mia, and deep inside he's terribly afraid of a great power which even he must recognize as superior.
Mia Ausa
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Mia Ausa
  • 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?)
Mia is the daughter of Lemia Ausa, the current leader of the Vane Magic Guild. She has a composed and thoughtful personality, but she is also shy, and leads a withdrawn life at the Magic Guild in the floating city of Vane. Anxious about her future as head of the Magic Guild, Mia's insecurities are only being worsened by her mother's recent strange behavior. Yet despite all of this, she has a reserve of inner fortitude that's second to none. Though Mia lacks self-confidence, she has the potential to rank among the strongest magic users in the Guild. She is the idol of the all the students in the Magic Guild academies, but unfortunately for her, her biggest admirer is Nash.
Kyle
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Kyle
Kyle is the semi-official protector of the Nanza barrier, a mountain fortress on a crossroads between several important areas. More significantly, he is the leader of the local bandits. Brash, impulsive, sexist and sporting an ego the size of a small city, Kyle occasionally comes across as a bit too certain of his own capabilities. Kyle loves flirting, drinking, and fighting, and is especially good at the latter. Despite all this, he's a good bandit, protecting travelers for a fee instead of robbing them. Chivalrous enough to protect women and children for free, he's still enough of a bandit to charge men twice the money. He is involved in a fiery on-again off-again relationship with Jessica.
Jessica DeAlkirk
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Jessica DeAlkirk
  • 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?)
In the presence of her father Mel, the governor of the great port city of Meribia, Jessica appears to be the perfect daughter and lady. Around everyone else she is an impossible tomboy - though her disposition is normally sunny, she can be outgoing to the point of being strident, and temperamental almost to the point of violence. Jessica is studying to be a priestess of Althena, but she tends to skip her classes at the shrine more often than she attends them. She has a strong will and is very dedicated to any cause she decides to champion. She is in love with Kyle, but is too obstinate to admit it.

[edit] 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?)
A burly, battle-worn beastman, Mel is not a man to be crossed. Before joining forces with Dragonmaster Dyne as one of the Four Heroes, Mel was a pirate, and he earned the nickname 'Hell Mel' while terrorizing merchant ships. He's since become governor of the free port of Meribia, one of Lunar's largest cities, and is universally admired by the citizens. Mel dotes upon his daughter Jessica, seeing in her a reminder of his dear, departed wife, a fine Meribian lady. He seems unaware that while Jessica inherited her mother's charm, she also has her father's rough-and-ready spirit. An unpleasant turn of events soon await Mel, however, which may prove to make both Meribia and Jessica distant concerns by comparison.
Ghaleon is Premiere of the Vane Magic Guild, second-in-command to Lemia, and he is also revered as one of the legendary Four Heroes, who fought to protect the Goddess in the days of old. He is famous for the breadth of his knowledge, and many believe that he is the most powerful mage in world. Once lively and spirited, the Premiere has been afflicted by a continual melancholy since the death of his fellow hero and close friend, Dragonmaster Dyne. He often spends months at a time away from Vane on Guild business, but very few people know where he goes.
  • Lemia Ausa (レミリア・オーサ Remiria Ōsa?)
    • Game Arts official name: Remilia
    • Voice: Aya Hara (原 亜弥?)
Lemia is the governess of the floating city of Vane and head of the Magic Guild, as well as the mother of Mia Ausa. She is also one of the Four Heroes, though that's an aspect of her past put well behind her. Once known as a judicious and compassionate ruler, Lemia has since upset the balance of the Magic Guild with her sudden turn toward tyranny - her temper has grown dangerously short, and she punishes those who speak even the slightest ill word against her. How long can the Guild keep her change of character a secret?
  • Dragonmaster Dyne (ドラゴンマスターダイン Doragonmasutā Dain?)
The greatest of the four great heroes, Dyne is the subject of adventure stories told all across Lunar. He is said to have been killed under mysterious circumstances. He was a native of Burg, and a monument was built there in his honor, but it may not be his final resting place...

[edit] 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?)
The partiarch of the Dragon Tribe that protects the Goddess Althena, Quark spends most of his time deep in the White Dragon Cave near Burg Village. Though the aged dragon is initially very imposing Alex and his friends, Quark is actually very warm-hearted. He encourages Alex to journey forth and become Dragonmaster.
  • 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?)
Laike is a wanderer whom Alex and his friends regularly encounter in their journey, who always seems to be a step ahead of them. He is an easygoing, unflappable sort of guy, but not someone to trifle with, because he is a swordsman of consummate skill. Is he watching over Alex?
The leader of the Prairie Tribe and a formidable warrior, Tempest left his people's lands in search of a girl who was kidnapped from his tribe. He lives by a warrior code that values strength of character as much as physical ability. Forthright and independent, Tempest puts the well-being of the Prairie Tribe and his wife Fresca ahead of his own.
Tempest's wife and partner, Fresca is just as strong as she is beautiful, and fearlessly accompanies Tempest into dangerous situations. She is incapacitated by a curse which strikes the Prairie.
  • 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?)
As an inventor in a world where most tasks can be done just as well with magic, people view Myght as a kook. He dislikes people, and lives an isolated life in his tower laboratory (though his reclusiveness might also be related to his persistent case of B.O. (in the US release only)). Despite this, Myght is a good-hearted machinist, and an old friend of Dragonmaster Dyne... both of which prove invaluable to dealing with the darker schemes of the Magic Emperor.

[edit] Villains

The Magic Emperor is a mysterious being who plans to destroy the Four Dragons, and rule the world with the power of the tainted Goddess Althena. His minions range the land kidnapping talented singers, but the reason for this is unknown.
  • Xenobia (ゼノビア Zenobia?)
    • Game Arts official name: Xenobia
    • Voice: Aya Hara (原 亜弥?)
Mistress of the Vile Tribe and oldest of the Vile Tribe sisters. Xenobia's power as a sorceress exceeds even Lemia, the head of the Magic Guild. She bares a deep hatred of the Goddess Althena for banishing her people to the Frontier, and allied the Vile Tribe with the Magic Emperor in order to take revenge on the Goddess. However, she may have her own personal reasons for serving the Magic Emperor as well.
Phacia is the middle child of the Vile Tribe sisters. With her gentle looks and demeanor, she easily infiltrated the Temple of Althena and gained a high rank. Like Xenobia, she is concerned about the future of the Vile Tribe, but she does not share Xenobia's hatred of humans.
First encountered as a fortune teller on Meribia's Black Rose street, Royce, the youngest of the Vile Tribe sisters, seems to have her own agenda. The state of the Vile Tribe or vengeance on Althena means nothing to Royce. She simply wants to entertain herself, and battle is her favorite game.
  • Taben (バタネン Batanen?)
    • Game Arts official name: Batanen
    • Voice: n/a
Originally an inventor who experimented with steam-powered machines, Taben was shunned and viewed as a crackpot by the rest of society. In response, he created the devastating vehicle known as the Grindery for the Magic Emperor. Taben cares nothing for the suffering and misery he inflicts provided he can prove his genius to the world.

[edit] 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 (which was an altogether different from the Japanese Playstation's). These were the two most technically accomplished versions of the game ever released and the American version included several features such as analog and Dual Shock support that the Japanese releases had altogether lacked. 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 slightly in a few points points from the original. The remakes 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, and, in in the Japanese Playstation version, lower sound quality. The gameworld was even redesigned in several places, resulting in an overworld anddungeons) that were substantially less mazelike in design. Some minor areas were completely removed, while a new dungeon was added. The remakes also featured all new anime FMV cut-scenes, complete with voice acting, which was still incredibly rare at the time in American RPG's.

[edit] 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), an instrument well-suited to accompanying a singer. 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, complete with spoiler song title.

[edit] 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. However, these legends appear in a much abbreviated capacity in the remake.

[edit] 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 which exposes Ghaleon as the Magic Emperor. In the remakes Ghaleon betrays Alex and has Quark captured, 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 (in both versions the Black Dragon is a boss).

[edit] 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.

[edit] 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. In the original version, Luna simply accepted Alex's need to move on, and was content to stay home and keep her foster parents company. She has much more screen time and character development in the remake; however, the change introduced a considerable plothole.

[edit] Burg's fate

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

[edit] Nash's betrayal

In the original, while Nash appears to betray Alex, it is Xenobia he double-crosses, 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.

[edit] Red Dragon's Cave

In the original Alex's first attempt to reach the Red Dragon cave, via hot air balloon, ends with an ignominious crash and 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.

[edit] 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 permanantly 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.

[edit] The 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 his second and final form. In the remake, there is an additional battle between, which occurs between the first two. In this battle Ghaleon appears in white armor and the player is made to intentionally lose that match, which acts as a segue into the final battle.

Spoilers end here.

[edit] Critical Response

Upon its release the game received overwhelmingly positive reviews. Critics cited its well-developed characters, solid storyline, stunning anime cut-scenes, 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. While the new musical score was well received by most who hadn't played the original, it retained the 2D graphical style of the original rather than jumping on the 3D bandwagon of its contemporaries such as Final Fantasy VII and VIII.

Although Silver Star Story Complete never gained the mainstream popularity that some had hoped, it sold well among its target audience and many view it as the definitive version of one of the most beloved RPGs in video game history.

Lords of Lunar (hidden minigame)
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Lords of Lunar (hidden minigame)

[edit] Release history

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

  • 1 × CDROM.
  • The original release, this version displays FMVs at 3/4 screen and has fewer collectable 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?) - Sega Saturn, 1997

  • 1 × CDROM.
  • This version features full-screen FMV via the Saturn's movie card add-on. Fans claim that this version has 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?) - Sony PlayStation, 1998

  • 2 × CDROM.
  • 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 × CDROM (including the 'Making of' disk)
  • 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, a documentary disc with minigame, a cloth map (of the SegaCD version's world map), and fancy packaging with hardbound manual. It's thus called the Collectors' Edition although it was the only NA release for two years.

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

  • 2 × CDROM
  • 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.

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

  • 2 × CDROM
  • 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.

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

  • 2 × CDROM (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.

[edit] See also

[edit] References

  • Newtype 100% Collection 30 - Lunar: Silver Star Story (ニュータイプ100％コレクション Lunar Silver Star Story). Tokyo: Kadokawa Shoten. ISBN 4-04-852773-8

[edit] External links


v • d • e
Lunar series by Game Arts
Lunar: The Silver Star • Lunar: Eternal Blue • Lunar: Walking School • Lunar: Dragon Song

Remakes
Lunar: Silver Star Story Complete • Lunar 2: Eternal Blue Complete • Magic School Lunar! • Lunar Legend
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