Lunar Legend

What is Lunar Legend?

Lunar Legend is a role-playing video game developed by Japan Art Media and published internationally by Ubi Soft for the Game Boy Advance. It serves as a re-imagined version of the beloved classic Lunar: The Silver Star, introducing both content and story changes while retaining the original characters. Set in a vibrant fantasy world crafted by the benevolent Goddess Althena, Lunar Legend immerses players in a narrative that combines adventure, heroism, and the struggle between good and evil.

In the world of Lunar, Althena has transformed a barren planet into a lush and habitable environment, creating three distinct races: Humans, Beastmen, and the Vile Tribe. While Humans and Beastmen enjoy a relatively peaceful coexistence, the Vile Tribe is banished to the desolate Frontier. To safeguard this world, Althena has created four powerful dragons and entrusted the role of protector to the Dragonmaster, who must undergo trials to gain their power.

The story centers on a young boy named Alex from the town of Burg, who dreams of adventure and aspires to become a Dragonmaster like the legendary Dyne. Accompanied by Nall, a winged cat-like creature, and Luna, his childhood friend, and love interest, Alex embarks on a quest to face the dragons’ trials. As their journey unfolds, they become embroiled in a battle for the survival of their world, intertwining their fate with the legends of the past.

How to Play Lunar Legend

• Lunar Legend features traditional RPG elements presented through charming 2D character sprites and richly designed environments. The gameplay offers a unique experience, particularly with its modified combat system. Unlike its predecessor, where characters moved freely across the battlefield, in Lunar Legend, characters attack from fixed positions, returning to their original spots after each move. This streamlining of battles creates a more accessible and engaging combat experience.
• Battles are triggered randomly in dungeons or during specific scripted events. As characters engage in combat and gain experience, they level up, enhancing their abilities and overall strength. A standout feature in Lunar Legend is the “Arts gauge,” located beneath each character’s HP and MP bars. This gauge fills as characters attack enemies, and once it reaches capacity, players can unleash powerful special attacks. These abilities deal significant damage or provide unique effects, such as temporary invincibility, adding strategic depth to combat.
• Players can further modify special attacks by equipping specific items. For instance, equipping Nash or Mia with the Light Emblem accessory alters their special attack to “Charge,” dramatically boosting the damage of their next magical attack.
• Navigating the world of Lunar Legend is facilitated by a world map that connects various towns, cities, and dungeons. Unlike Lunar: The Silver Star, the world map in Lunar Legend is free from random battles, allowing players to select locations directly and explore the beautifully reimagined world at their own pace.

With its enhanced gameplay mechanics and engaging narrative, Lunar Legend appeals to both fans of the original Lunar game and newcomers alike, offering a fresh take on a cherished story while inviting players to embark on a heroic journey through a vibrant fantasy world.