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Lunar: The Silver Star. Which version is the best?

Christopher

Christopher

BDE (Big Dad Energy)
I don't think I've ever seen a game be remade so many times. We now have what

Lunar: The Silver Star (Sega CD)
Lunar: The Silver Star Story Complete (Playstation)
Lunar: Legend (Gameboy Advance)
Lunar: The Silver Harmony (PSP)

I've played them all now and I still say without a doubt the best version of this classic is the Playstation version. I finally understand what a strong localization, and effort can have on a game. While the Playstation Portable and GBA version are good they lack a certain charm, and lack character.

I only say that now because I finally got around to playing the PSP version, and it just lacked something. Also for some reason the game felt a LOT easier too compared to the older ones. The graphics and music were all wonderful but the dialog, gameplay, and character all seemed a bit weak...

What do my fellow gamers think the best version of this game is?
 
The Playstation version?

Really?

Sega CD version for life. It just had the more interesting scenarios, vastly superior soundtrack, and I thought it was more balanced.

As far as Lunar: Eternal Blue goes though... Playstation version all the way.
 
Definitely not the psp version when it's way easier and the loading cuts out the music when transitioning through screens.

I liked the PS version because of how hard the bosses were. You always scrapped by to win, made it so intense. And you couldn't powerlevel and force your way through.
 
Original is best, PS1 is second best, PSP is third "best", GBA is crap.

But the original on Sega CD is still the best.
 
I liked both the Sega CD and the Playstation versions. The Sega CD was the better game but I love and miss the packaging of the Playstation version.

RIP to the franchise and the localising dev.
 
The Playstation version WAS more difficult, but I didn't think it was leagues above the Sega CD release. Not enough to rate it higher at least.

The original release just made more sense to me. The scenario changes in the PSX version were not for the better.
 
Sega cd version. Even though it always made my system hang and I would have to tap the top of the cd door so it would load hehe.
 
jeremy1456 said:
The Playstation version WAS more difficult, but I didn't think it was leagues above the Sega CD release. Not enough to rate it higher at least.

The original release just made more sense to me. The scenario changes in the PSX version were not for the better.
Click to expand...

Like what? Luna staying with you more in the game made her character connect with you more. I just think the playsation version took everything good about the Sega CD version and expanded upon it.
 
I have only played the PS1 and PSP versions and I prefer the PS1 version because they changed the lyrics to the intro and boat song in the PSP version. I am not going to say the lyrics are superior in the PS1 version, just that those are the lyrics that grew on me over the years.
 
Lunar: The Silver Star Story Complete (Playstation)

It was my first JRPG other than Pokemon Red, and I only got Final Fantasy 7 after beating it. Excellent game, the story and dialogue were great, and the gameplay was great.
 
Played PS1 version a lot but never beat, PSP one seems fine. Bought for $15 on Vita, nice sprite smoothing.

I never played Sega CD one.
 
jeremy1456 said:
The Playstation version?

Really?

Sega CD version for life. It just had the more interesting scenarios, vastly superior soundtrack, and I thought it was more balanced.

As far as Lunar: Eternal Blue goes though... Playstation version all the way.
Click to expand...

I originally played both PSX versions as my first exposure to the series. I still own them as well, will never part with them, but I have a nearly mint copy of the first game for Sega CD that I'm going to start playing here soon.

Why do you say Eternal Blue is better on PSX - I've been wondering whether it's worth shelling out for it on the Sega CD? I'd always heard good things about the SegaCD version of the first game, so I knew I wanted to try it, but was just wondering why you say that about the second game.
 
Christopher said:
Like what? Luna staying with you more in the game made her character connect with you more. I just think the playsation version took everything good about the Sega CD version and expanded upon it.
Click to expand...

Some changes for the better, some for the worse. I MUCH preferred "Mr. SEGA CD's" tale with the different dragon story and the Black Dragon going insane capped with the battle against the Black Dragon's skeleton, and THEN when you finish it, you hear Ghaleon who has been watching all along. Dramatically, it worked better for me, and I think the voice work was better as a result. I didn't like Ghaleon "coming out" so much sooner in full Magic Emperor gear in the PS1 version.

There were some things I think "Mr. Playstation's" version of the tale did better, but the above is one area I think was definitely worse.
 
I don't think any version got it 100% right. I wish I could construct some crazy amalgamation of all four and create the perfect version.
 
I enjoyed the PS1 version most. Mine also came with a punching puppet Ghaleon so that earned it some bonus points.


Edit: NM that was Eternal Blue that came with Ghaleon. Oh well still liked PS versions best.
 
Gunloc said:
I don't think any version got it 100% right. I wish I could construct some crazy amalgamation of all four and create the perfect version.
Click to expand...

Meh. The DS and PSP versions didn't add anything important. The new opening "flashback" on the PSP is a disaster for the canon, IMO.

Take the best of the SEGA CD and PS1 and that would truly be the "ultimate" version (well, until the inevitable ZOMG version is made...)
 
By the way, never have I felt such a connection to a group of video game characters. I remember back in the PS1 days, finishing Lunar for the first time, and feeling sad for like a week because I missed those characters so damn much.

Haven't felt that before or since.

vireland said:
Meh. The DS and PSP versions didn't add anything important. The new opening "flashback" on the PSP is a disaster for the canon, IMO.
Click to expand...
Yep. Completely unnecessary and borderline embarrassing, especially since the voice acting on that new stuff was so bad. Didn't add a damn thing to the mix.
 
vireland said:
Meh. The DS and PSP versions didn't add anything important. The new opening "flashback" on the PSP is a disaster for the canon, IMO.

Take the best of the SEGA CD and PS1 and that would truly be the "ultimate" version (well, until the inevitable ZOMG version is made...)
Click to expand...

Agreed. That opening made no sense at all and spoiled the major plot twist way too early...

unless you actually used the ocarina in the PS version and scrolled down. Vic >O
 
vireland said:
Meh. The DS and PSP versions didn't add anything important. The new opening "flashback" on the PSP is a disaster for the canon, IMO.

Take the best of the SEGA CD and PS1 and that would truly be the "ultimate" version (well, until the inevitable ZOMG version is made...)
Click to expand...

The execution wasn't that great, but I think the idea of a prologue was good. Plus I liked the large character portraits in the PSP version and the special moves from the GBA version. (The GBA character sprites were nice too, though I don't know if I'd replace the PSX version. The PSP sprites & background graphics were so charmless.)

There's some other things from the two portable versions, but it's not the important to go into detail. All I know is that I still don't think there is a definitive version of the game, and it would be nice to see one.
 
vireland said:
Meh. The DS and PSP versions didn't add anything important. The new opening "flashback" on the PSP is a disaster for the canon, IMO.

Take the best of the SEGA CD and PS1 and that would truly be the "ultimate" version (well, until the inevitable ZOMG version is made...)
Click to expand...

I truly appreciate the voice work in the WD versions when I heard the PSP versions. I'm no snob but it had no heart in it at all, you could tell the voice actors weren't properly directed. Did Luna stay the same - I swear even though the lyrical songs were a disaster it sounded like her.
 
DidntKnowJack said:
Yep. Completely unnecessary and borderline embarrassing, especially since the voice acting on that new stuff was so bad. Didn't add a damn thing to the mix.
Click to expand...
Yeah, it made me wonder for awhile if it was me growing out of Lunar that made it so embarrassingly bad. But given how I liked Trails in the Sky partially because the feel IS like Lunar, no, that was just an awful addition.

Well, actually, I can't discount the angle that Trails in the Sky had a similar feel but with a more developed world/cast of characters, but that's beside the point. I'll just go through the PSP version properly on the Vita.
 
Christopher said:
I truly appreciate the voice work in the WD versions when I heard the PSP versions. I'm no snob but it had no heart in it at all, you could tell the voice actors weren't properly directed. Did Luna stay the same - I swear even though the lyrical songs were a disaster it sounded like her.
Click to expand...

They were able to get Jenny to sing the new versions of the songs they wrote, yes.
 
vireland said:
Some changes for the better, some for the worse. I MUCH preferred "Mr. SEGA CD's" tale with the different dragon story and the Black Dragon going insane capped with the battle against the Black Dragon's skeleton, and THEN when you finish it, you hear Ghaleon who has been watching all along. Dramatically, it worked better for me, and I think the voice work was better as a result. I didn't like Ghaleon "coming out" so much sooner in full Magic Emperor gear in the PS1 version.

There were some things I think "Mr. Playstation's" version of the tale did better, but the above is one area I think was definitely worse.
Click to expand...

That scene was so good. I think I know what I'm playing this week.
 
I'd go with the PSX version. Differences aren't that big, and the difficulty added a lot. Still have my pretty boxed version with the hard-cover booklet thing. Very snazzy touch.
 
Mxrz said:
I'd go with the PSX version. Differences aren't that big, and the difficulty added a lot. Still have my pretty boxed version with the hard-cover booklet thing. Very snazzy touch.
Click to expand...

I just repurchased both WD Lunar games on ebay. Can't wait to play through them again! :D
 
I only ever played the PSP version but its beautiful and I loved the opening part. Pretty hardcore. Hate the loading though.
 
vireland said:
Some changes for the better, some for the worse. I MUCH preferred "Mr. SEGA CD's" tale with the different dragon story and the Black Dragon going insane capped with the battle against the Black Dragon's skeleton, and THEN when you finish it, you hear Ghaleon who has been watching all along. Dramatically, it worked better for me, and I think the voice work was better as a result. I didn't like Ghaleon "coming out" so much sooner in full Magic Emperor gear in the PS1 version.

There were some things I think "Mr. Playstation's" version of the tale did better, but the above is one area I think was definitely worse.
Click to expand...

spoilers, but directed to Vic:

The whole sequence aboard the Grindery with Dark Athena and the new final dungeon were MUCH better than the original IMHO. I still do not understand what the hell Ghaleon turned into in the Sega CD version O.o
 
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