Lunacid
- March 14, 2022
- KIRA LLC
- 9h median play time
Get on Steam"Lunacid" is a single-player Horror Role Playing game, inspired by classic FROMSOFT titles like Shadow Tower and King’s Field. As an undesirable thrown into a moonlit subterranean world, you must navigate treacherous dungeons, battle creatures, and uncover secrets to confront the ancient beast guarding your only escape. Despite some bugs, "Lunacid" boasts stellar visuals, a memorable soundtrack, and a delightful yet challenging gameplay experience that marries humor and horror in a wholesome story.
PC
Windows
Reviews
- music2,586 mentions
- 53 % positive mentions
- 46 % neutral mentions
- 1 % negative mentions
The music in *Lunacid* has received widespread acclaim for its atmospheric and immersive qualities, effectively enhancing the game's eerie ambiance and emotional depth. Composed by a mix of indie artists, including the developer, the soundtrack features a diverse range of tracks that fit the unique themes of each area, although some players noted occasional mismatches in tone. Overall, the soundtrack is considered a standout element, contributing significantly to the game's nostalgic and haunting experience.
“The wonderful soundtrack made by Kira themselves, Thorhighheels, Jarren Crist, Aster Vrisk, and Jeffery Nordin gives this already amazing game an amazing atmosphere, 'Book Betrayal', a calm and serene song, played in a grand library of forbidden knowledge.”
“The music adds just an incredible amount of atmosphere to the game.”
“The soundtrack is also just banger after banger with both mood/ambient pieces smashed between some real toe-tappers and knee slappers.”
“The music doesn't fit the game, with random easy listening stuff playing.”
“The music is a mixed bag since it seems like it's not entirely sure what kind of tone to convey depending on the area, the aforementioned crypts to blood sea to vampire castle is all good, no complaints there.”
“But when there's a stylistic tone clash with the music it seems a bit self-congratulatory.”
- atmosphere2,140 mentions
- 62 % positive mentions
- 37 % neutral mentions
- 1 % negative mentions
The atmosphere in "Lunacid" is widely praised for its immersive and haunting qualities, effectively blending retro aesthetics with a modern soundscape to create a unique experience reminiscent of classic dungeon crawlers like "King's Field." Players highlight the game's ability to evoke a range of emotions—from tension and dread to nostalgia—through its meticulously designed environments and a captivating soundtrack that enhances exploration. Overall, the game's atmosphere is considered its strongest aspect, drawing players into a richly detailed world filled with secrets and a sense of foreboding.
“The wonderful soundtrack made by Kira themselves, Thorhighheels, Jarren Crist, Aster Vrisk, and Jeffery Nordin gives this already amazing game an amazing atmosphere, 'Book Betrayal', a calm and serene song, played in a grand library of forbidden knowledge.”
“This game has some of the best atmosphere in gaming and is packed with so many little secrets and details.”
“Top tier atmosphere, immersive world building and a level of interconnectivity I last saw in Dark Souls 1 really made me enjoy the whole experience.”
“The atmosphere can be both oppressive at times and yet whimsical and thought provoking.”
“The atmosphere is this fog of suffocating melancholy or abstract mistrust, as if the walls themselves are making expressions you read out of your periphery, mostly imparting to you the feeling that you weren't to come.”
“The tonal and design inconsistency is extremely jarring and takes away from any atmosphere trying to be developed.”
- gameplay1,496 mentions
- 28 % positive mentions
- 67 % neutral mentions
- 4 % negative mentions
The gameplay of *Lunacid* is characterized by its blend of exploration and combat, drawing heavy inspiration from classic dungeon crawlers like *King's Field* and *Shadow Tower*. Players appreciate the engaging atmosphere, unique mechanics tied to real-world lunar phases, and the rewarding nature of uncovering secrets, though some criticize the combat for being simplistic and repetitive. Overall, while the game offers a nostalgic experience with a modern touch, it may not satisfy those seeking deep mechanical complexity or challenging gameplay.
“Lunacid is a beautiful game with new surprises at every corner. If you like exploring and finding secrets, along with an interesting combat mechanic, then I couldn't recommend this game more.”
“Everything in this game was a delight: if you've played games like King's Field, Ultima, Daggerfall, or other dungeon crawlers, this game nails the mechanics, atmosphere, and level design, but with just enough modernization to make exploration and combat responsive.”
“The exploration, spell puzzles, and even alchemy keep you engaged enough to carry the gameplay.”
“Pair it with a trash mechanic of losing all progress prior to the last save when you die, and you get plain garbage.”
“The gameplay is very simple: walk up to things, hit things, avoid said things, hit things again.”
“A combat-focused indie game like this should distinguish itself in its combat mechanics, but the gameplay is as dull as it gets.”
- graphics1,220 mentions
- 41 % positive mentions
- 57 % neutral mentions
- 2 % negative mentions
The graphics of *Lunacid* are intentionally designed to evoke nostalgia for the PS1 and early PS2 era, featuring low-poly models and retro aesthetics that charm many players. While some find the visuals to be a delightful homage to classic dungeon crawlers, others criticize them for being simplistic and repetitive, which can detract from navigation and immersion. Overall, the game's art style, combined with its atmospheric music and sound design, creates a unique and engaging experience that resonates well with fans of retro gaming.
“Lunacid is a genuinely beautiful game despite its older-style graphics, and the devs have masterfully used it to create some very lasting impressions of environments.”
“An absolutely gorgeous retro art style really helps sell the creepy, eldritch horror of the game.”
“The low-poly aesthetic combined with a PSX filter option gives a vintage feel that pairs well with the dungeon-crawling atmosphere.”
“Now if you're looking for a pure horror game, keep in mind a lot of the tension is reduced by Lunacid's late PS1 early PS2 era graphic design.”
“Everything looks the same, and having boring visuals while giving me mazes isn't stimulating.”
“Unfortunately, since the aesthetic aims to capture PSX graphics, the lack of landmarks becomes an issue, since most textures are too low resolution to help with navigation.”
- story894 mentions
- 25 % positive mentions
- 72 % neutral mentions
- 3 % negative mentions
The story of *Lunacid* is characterized by its atmospheric and environmental storytelling, reminiscent of FromSoftware's style, where much of the narrative is pieced together through item descriptions, NPC dialogue, and exploration rather than direct exposition. While some players appreciate the intriguing lore and the sense of discovery it fosters, others find the plot vague and the pacing unsatisfying, particularly in the game's conclusion, which can feel abrupt and unearned. Overall, the narrative is seen as a backdrop to the exploration and gameplay, with mixed opinions on its depth and coherence.
“That being said, while Lunacid has strong influences, it is a unique game with an incredible story and world-building that stands on its own.”
“The story of the game, while hidden behind item descriptions and small books littering the ground everywhere, is super interesting!”
“The love story of Ophelia and Jusztina was beautifully tragic.”
“The story feels like it doesn't go anywhere and it's not paced very well; all of the NPCs don't feel like they serve any important roles and none of the endings are very satisfying.”
“Without spoiling anything, essentially the story suddenly reaches a climax that feels outrageously unearned, like I missed a massive chunk of the story, but now I'm seeing the ending of character arcs I had no idea were happening in the first place.”
“I tried getting into the story, but really, there's not a whole lot to find - NPCs are pretty forgettable, lore is confusing, and the endings are bizarre.”
- grinding186 mentions
- 1 % positive mentions
- 1 % neutral mentions
- 98 % negative mentions
The grinding aspect of the game has received mixed feedback, with many players finding it tedious and repetitive, particularly when farming for specific items or achievements. While some appreciate the nostalgic grind and the sense of satisfaction it brings, others criticize the clunky combat and slow progression, which can detract from the overall experience. Overall, while grinding is a significant part of gameplay, it can feel excessive and detracts from the enjoyment for many players.
“It's not tedious or anything.”
“But when the only thing exploring offers you is more corridors with more enemies to kill, it starts to feel tedious very quickly.”
“This is a tedious part of the game that doesn't need to be there and seems to exist simply for the sake of nostalgia.”
“Fighting enemies is tedious and unfun.”
- emotional118 mentions
- 98 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 2 % negative mentions
Players express a wide range of emotional responses to the game, highlighting its ability to evoke feelings of nostalgia, fulfillment, and connection to its characters and world. Many reviewers note the game's poignant storytelling and atmospheric design, which can lead to moments of genuine joy, sadness, and even fear, creating a deeply immersive experience. Despite some frustrations with gameplay mechanics, the emotional impact of the game leaves a lasting impression, making it a memorable journey for many players.
“Just finished a run through and my god this game made me feel feels.”
“Some of the endings really got to me emotionally; they were really beautiful.”
“This game touches me on a spiritual and emotional level that no other game has.”
- humor116 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is described as a whimsical blend of dark and light elements, providing moments of levity amidst its creepy atmosphere. Players appreciate the quirky NPCs, humorous side quests, and creative spells that often lead to unexpected and funny outcomes. While some elements may feel out of place, the overall comedic tone is well-received, contributing to a unique and enjoyable gaming experience.
“The main friendly NPCs provide great respite from the constant hostility you'll find elsewhere, while a few hidden friends (and frienemies) provide humorous and enjoyable side quests.”
“It's all very well written and, more often than I expected, very funny.”
“Everything just jives-- the weapon upgrades, the spells, the leveling, the enemy dismemberment, the super vague secrets, the hilarious meme equipment like the axe with -1900% guard or the spell that instantly kills you when you cast it, or the wand that shoots projectiles of random elements.”
- stability62 mentions
- 10 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 90 % negative mentions
The game's stability has received mixed feedback, with many players reporting various bugs and glitches, particularly in menus and during critical gameplay moments like boss fights. While some users experienced significant issues, such as freezing and getting soft-locked, others found the game enjoyable despite these flaws, noting that the overall experience outweighed the technical shortcomings. Overall, the game is described as "buggy" but still worth playing, with hopes for future updates to address these stability concerns.
“Runs great on Steam Deck.”
“Combat is fine, the game runs great, love the gameplay.”
“Buggy, and be prepared to have to cheat to get the last achievement, since they won't fix the bug.”
“Broken, the game freezes at the last shot of the well in the opening and won't go to character creation.”
“Some level geometry can be quite buggy, resulting in getting stuck and requiring a death.”
- replayability48 mentions
- 29 % positive mentions
- 65 % neutral mentions
- 6 % negative mentions
The game offers significant replayability through its diverse class options, multiple endings, and various build mechanics, allowing players to explore different playstyles and secrets. While some players feel the replay value is diminished after completing the game, many appreciate the enjoyable exploration and combat that encourage multiple playthroughs. Overall, the game is regarded as highly replayable, despite its relatively short length.
“I love the replayability of the different classes and the visuals and the music and the enemy design.”
“This game has some great replayability possibilities with the leveling mechanics and exploration, and the wide range of secrets in this game were quite enjoyable to find.”
“Love it so much, such a joy to explore, the combat is fun and the variety of weapons and spells makes for an awesome and highly replayable experience, the soundtrack is amazing and one of the few I actually listen to outside of the game.”
“Replayability for me personally is rather low, as I've done and seen everything the game has to offer, as far as I'm aware.”
“- poor replayability and short length.”
“It's a short game by most people's standards, and you can complete it in a few hours if you ignore things like weapon XP grinding and secret hunting, but the replayability can't be understated.”
- character development36 mentions
- 22 % positive mentions
- 69 % neutral mentions
- 8 % negative mentions
Character development in the game is met with mixed reviews, as players appreciate the varied and unique character designs but criticize their inconsistency with the game's dark setting. While some characters, like Demi, stand out positively, many NPCs lack depth and meaningful interactions, reducing them to mere exposition. Overall, the art direction and character design are praised, yet they often clash with the game's intended atmosphere, leading to a disjointed experience.
“The art style, level design, story, world building, combat, and character development are all top notch.”
“Character designs are equally great and often even complement the environmental design, such as characters like Demi sticking out in a dark corner of an already tense mausoleum due to their glowing eyes.”
“Wonderful art direction, character design, soundtrack, and gameplay that makes leveling up feel all the more substantial with each point increase of strength or dexterity.”
“I'm willing to look the other way, but between bizarre character design and a game-breaking bug where I can't even talk to NPCs, at this point I'm losing my goodwill to the game.”
“However, the cutesy anime character designs are off-putting in this supposed dark setting.”
“As an aside, the NPCs are all one-note and have absolutely no interactions with the player beyond their initial lines upon meeting them; after that they simply become exposition dumps or vendors without anything to say.”
- optimization30 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 33 % neutral mentions
- 33 % negative mentions
The game's optimization has received mixed feedback; while many players praise its smooth performance and nostalgic visuals, others report significant stuttering issues, particularly when using a mouse. Some users have found workarounds for these problems, but the inconsistency in performance has been a notable concern. Overall, the game showcases impressive design and atmosphere, yet technical issues persist for some players.
“Truly a marvel of optimization.”
“Performance is flawless, progression is satisfying, and visuals are comfortably nostalgic.”
“+ decent optimization at this point - constant 240 fps with no lags, crashes, glitches, whatsoever.”
“Tl;dr: experiencing major stuttering whenever I move the mouse.”
“The most glaring of which is the constant stuttering when using a mouse to look around.”
“After forcing myself through 20 minutes attempting to brute force the main menu and character creation screen, I was met with the ability to jump in place and do nothing, with broken camera stuttering.”
- monetization6 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The monetization aspect of the game is not explicitly addressed, but there are concerns about potential microtransactions overshadowing the overall experience. Players appreciate the game's environments and atmosphere, suggesting that even if mechanics are lacking, the game could still be recommended unless it introduces aggressive monetization strategies.
“User experience is a bit rough around the edges as far as engaging with mechanics, but where this game really shines is its environments and atmosphere, to such a degree that I don't think any form of bad mechanics short of microtransactions could make me not recommend this game.”
“Despite advertising pronoun choice, the game doesn't offer my pronouns.”
