LunarLux
- September 25, 2023
- CosmicNobab Games
- 19h median play time
"LunarLux is a single-player Role Playing game with an interesting plot and compelling gameplay, set on a moon called Luna, where humanity moved after a planetary catastrophe. Now, a thousand years later, humanity's existence is threatened again by an oncoming antimatter comet. Play as Lunar Warrior Bella, fighting your way across the Moon to find a way to destroy it, in this anime-inspired action-adventure RPG with excellent graphics and splendid music."
Reviews
- Engaging combat system that combines elements from Mega Man Battle Network, Undertale, and Mario RPGs, providing a unique and fun experience.
- Charming characters and a well-crafted story that keeps players invested, with plenty of humor and references to other games.
- Beautiful pixel art and an outstanding soundtrack that enhance the overall atmosphere of the game.
- The game can feel too easy, especially with certain skills and strategies that trivialize combat encounters.
- Some technical issues, such as lack of resolution control and key remapping options on PC, detract from the overall experience.
- The story, while enjoyable, can be predictable and relies on familiar tropes without much innovation.
- story140 mentions
- 31 % positive mentions
- 67 % neutral mentions
- 2 % negative mentions
The game's story is generally described as simple and predictable, often leaning on cliches typical of the genre, yet it remains engaging and enjoyable for many players. While some reviewers noted that the narrative lacks depth and complexity, others appreciated the charming characters and emotional investment it fosters. Overall, the story is seen as a fun, feel-good experience that complements the game's art and gameplay, though it leaves some unresolved threads that hint at potential sequels.
“The story strings along many vast characters with a plethora of fun backgrounds into a race to save the world from a threat known as 'comet coda.' Character interactions, revelations, and arcs are paced amazingly and written in such endearing ways.”
“The story is very sweet and has just the right kind of charm, really nostalgic for the RPGs of years past.”
“The artwork and gameplay are phenomenal, and the story is carefully thought out to make it an enjoyable experience for the players.”
“The story is unremarkable and doesn't feel complete.”
“The story starts strong but has several holes and feels contrived.”
“As many other reviews already pointed out, the story is pretty damn weak.”
- gameplay90 mentions
- 39 % positive mentions
- 58 % neutral mentions
- 3 % negative mentions
The gameplay is a vibrant blend of turn-based mechanics reminiscent of classic RPGs like Mario & Luigi and Mega Man Battle Network, featuring engaging combat and a variety of interactive elements. Players appreciate the intuitive mechanics and the introduction of a second party member, which enhances strategic possibilities, although some feel the difficulty could be improved to better showcase these mechanics. Overall, the game is praised for its fun combat, lively world, and strong narrative integration, making it a recommended experience for fans of the genre.
“Awesome game, great story, great style, great gameplay.”
“The gameplay is very intuitive and punchy for a turn-based game.”
“The gameplay, the visuals, the soundtrack, everything.”
“Having downtime by having to get shields and charging your SP is unfun, and when you get enough of both via upgrades it just trivializes these mechanics anyway.”
“Maybe if the encounters were harder we could see the mechanics shine better, but even the EX enemies just double the stats across the board of the enemy instead of adding anything that would challenge your understanding of the mechanics.”
“The back and forth nature of using the same attacks and praying you don't get a bullet hell pattern does have me recommending you look elsewhere if you only want more of a traditional Battle Network style of gameplay.”
- music65 mentions
- 51 % positive mentions
- 45 % neutral mentions
- 5 % negative mentions
The music in the game has received widespread acclaim, with many reviewers praising its energetic and diverse soundtrack that blends electronic, synthwave, techno, and rock elements. Players highlight the soundtrack as a standout feature, enhancing the overall atmosphere and gameplay experience, often comparing it favorably to classic titles. Overall, the music is described as polished, catchy, and integral to the game's charm, making it a memorable aspect for players.
“The soundtrack rocks, very in-tune with the mood of story moments and world regions.”
“By far the best part of this game is the soundtrack, lots of great songs, clearly a lot of love went into it.”
“From the moment I booted up the game, I was greeted by a burst of energetic music that instantly set the tone for the thrilling journey that awaited me.”
“The soundtrack is actually one of the strong points of the game, with loads of bangers in them.”
“One small nitpick - songs can play at pretty uneven volumes, so laid back songs are really quiet and high octane boss themes feel really loud.”
“I lack the knowledge about music to better describe them, but each and every one of them seriously is a vibe!”
- graphics34 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 41 % neutral mentions
- 9 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game have received widespread praise for their charming pixel art style and retro anime sci-fi aesthetic, reminiscent of classic titles like Mega Man and Sailor Moon. Players appreciate the vibrant character designs and animations, which contribute to an overall pleasant visual experience, despite some minor critiques regarding character portraits and occasional pixel alignment issues. The combination of appealing visuals and a great soundtrack enhances the game's nostalgic feel, making it a delightful homage to the Game Boy Advance era.
“The best part is its interesting combat system of mini-games and resource management reminiscent of Mega Man Battle Network and Undertale, with a close second best part being the charming graphical style.”
“It nails the aesthetic of retro anime sci-fi, giving off vibes of Mega Man, Sailor Moon, Power Rangers, and a few other similar works.”
“The art style is appealing and successfully blends the best of anime and western cartoons.”
“Character portraits feel out of place and do not fit the art style of the game at all.”
“As more of the body is shown, I feel that it's more difficult to take a glimpse of the character's emotions (as mostly expressed by their mimics) when reading the dialogue.”
“The 8-bit aesthetic is fine and works in the context it's used, but it doesn't elevate the overall visual experience.”
- grinding8 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Overall, players find the grinding in the game to be manageable, with minimal effort required to achieve 100% completion. While the combat system is designed to avoid tedium, some users express a desire for more enemy encounters and grinding spots, as the game can feel too easy and lacks sufficient challenge. Completing the main story takes around eight to ten hours, with an additional ten hours needed for thorough exploration and achievement hunting.
“Generally, combat is sparse, likely because the dev realized too much of this combat system would be tedious.”
“Finding enemies in the overworld is kinda tedious, makes me wish this game had random battles.”
“My only big gripe is the game is a bit too easy; I only died once, and it was because I was being incredibly careless, and that for 100% completion is too grindy.”
- character development7 mentions
- 29 % positive mentions
- 29 % neutral mentions
- 43 % negative mentions
Character development in the game is a mixed bag; while the main characters, particularly Bella and Tetra, are engaging and their interactions are well-written, the overall narrative leans towards cliché and predictability. The third main character receives the most development, but this comes at the expense of other characters, who often feel generic or underutilized. Despite these shortcomings, the art and character designs are appealing, and the story's emotional weight is effectively conveyed through Bella's journey.
“The narrative is intriguing and the character development is done meticulously, allowing players to feel the weight the main character, Bella, faces throughout her journey.”
“If you like any anime by Studio Trigger, the character designs will definitely resonate, but the story is solid, the music is bopping, and the character interactions are actually hilarious and well-written a lot of the time.”
“The main two (Bella and Tetra) are really fun, but the third main character receives most of the game's character development and is a bit hit-or-miss. The Raine squad is alright and I would have appreciated more screen time, while everyone else is generic and/or unremarkable.”
“This affects the natural progression of character development and disrupts the balance between gameplay and dialogue.”
“It feels like he got the majority of character development in this game compared to everyone else.”
- atmosphere5 mentions
- 40 % positive mentions
- 20 % neutral mentions
- 40 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is highly praised for its engaging music, vibrant sprite animations, and detailed HD art, which collectively create an immersive experience. Players appreciate the charming easter eggs and character depth that enhance their emotional connection to the plot. While it draws comparisons to Mega Man Star Force, Lunar Lux is recognized for its unique identity and heartfelt ambiance.
“The best parts are definitely the atmosphere, music, sprite animations, HD art, interactive battle system, and the neural link designs!”
“To me, that goes a lot further for enjoying the atmosphere that is being presented, caring about the characters, and feeling personally involved in the plot.”
“Lunar Lux will be compared to Mega Man Star Force due to its atmosphere and cheeky space references, but do not be mistaken; Lunar Lux easily has its own heart and soul.”
“Loads of easter eggs to other media that are charming while not detracting from the game's atmosphere.”
- emotional5 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Players report a strong emotional investment in the game's narrative, despite some predictability in story beats. The heartfelt moments resonate deeply, even evoking feelings in long-time gamers who typically remain detached. Additionally, the developers' wholesome engagement with the community enhances the overall emotional experience.
“While some story beats were a little predictable, it did not detract from me getting emotionally invested in the narrative.”
“Also, some really heartwarming moments that even made my very soul feel something for the first time in 9 years of playing Counter-Strike.”
“E is for emotional, just listen to our songs!”
- humor5 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is a mix of occasional wit and lightheartedness, contributing to a cute atmosphere rather than eliciting strong laughter. Character interactions are often well-written and genuinely funny, with each NPC offering unique jokes, references, and lore that enhance the overall experience. The humor, combined with vibrant pixel graphics and engaging storytelling, creates a charming adventure reminiscent of Saturday morning cartoons.
“If you like any anime by Studio Trigger, the character designs will definitely resonate, but the story is solid, the music is bopping, and the character interactions are actually hilarious and well-written a lot of the time.”
“This is a really fun little RPG with adventure game humor, amounts of random text, and Saturday morning cartoon overtones.”
“Each NPC brings unique value, rewards, a funny reference or joke, lore, side quests, etc. You want to interact with everything possible since it gives you bonuses such as store discounts and a deeper world-building guide.”
- replayability2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Players highlight that the game's replayability largely stems from its customizable difficulty settings, allowing for varied experiences. However, the absence of a new game plus mode is noted as a potential limitation that could further enhance replay value.
“I'd go even as far as to say that most of the replay value for this game comes from how much you can customize the difficulty curve!”
“While I'm unsure if the game features a New Game Plus mode, such an addition would certainly enhance its replay value.”
- optimization1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -500 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
The game is highly praised for its exceptional optimization, featuring polished mechanics, an engaging soundtrack, and rewarding exploration. Players report a seamless experience with no noticeable issues, contributing to an overall positive impression.
“It's really a true gaming experience with an awesome soundtrack and dialogue. The cool battle mechanics are all so optimized and polished; I never ran into any issues. Exploration is nice and rewarding, and the world is pretty lively with all those little easter eggs and variety. Overall, a 10/10! I'm so glad this game came up in my queue.”
“The optimization in this game is top-notch! Everything runs smoothly, and the attention to detail in the mechanics makes for a seamless experience.”
“I was impressed by how well-optimized the game is. The performance is fantastic, and it allows for an immersive experience without any lag or glitches.”
“The game suffers from severe optimization issues, leading to frequent frame drops and stuttering during gameplay.”
“I was disappointed by the lack of optimization; loading times are excessively long and the game often crashes.”
“Despite its potential, the game feels unpolished and poorly optimized, making it frustrating to play at times.”