Lunar: Silver Star Story Complete – Полное переиздание легенды

1996 video game

Lunar: Silver Star Story Complete, originally released in Japan as simply Lunar: Silver Star Story''''', (ルナ~シルバースターストーリー, Runa ~ Shirubā Sutā Sutōrī) is a role playing video game developed by Game Arts and Japan Art Media as a remake of 1992's Lunar: The Silver Star. While the overall plot remains true to the original, accommodations are made to the game's story to allow for a larger, richer cast, as well as additional scenarios. Initially released on the Sega Saturn in 1996, the game has gone through several variations, beginning with enhanced video support in conjunction with the Saturn's MPEG graphics add on in 1997, and later being ported to Sony's PlayStation in 1998. The PlayStation version was released in North America by Working Designs, who had also produced the English adaptation of the original game, in May 1999. Like its forerunner, the game follows the exploits of Alex, a young boy from a small, humble town who enters a life of adventure and intrigue after being chosen as the heir apparent to the title of "Dragonmaster", guardian of the forces of the planet. With the help of his expanding band of companions, Alex must pass the trials set by ancient dragons to claim his place in history, and stop a powerful sorcerer and former hero from controlling the world. Since its English release, Silver Star Story has garnered much attention from critics for its use of fluid full motion animated sequences, lavish game packaging, and quality of the English script. The game was followed by a sequel, Lunar 2: Eternal Blue Complete, in 1998. Two more remakes of Lunar: The Silver Star, Lunar Legend and Lunar: Silver Star Harmony, were released in 2002 by Media Rings and Ubisoft and in 2009 by GungHo Online Entertainment and Xseed Games, respectively.

The plot of Silver Star Story Complete remains true to the original Sega CD version written by Kei Shigema. Novelist Keisuke Shigematsu was recruited as the remake's scenario writer, and was tasked with expanding the previous script written by Shigema to make the game more current. As in the original version, players assume the role of Alex, a young boy who hopes to become a great hero like his idol, the legendary Dragonmaster Dyne. At the insistence of his fortune hunting friend Ramus, Alex travels to the nearby Dragon's Cave with his cat like companion Nall, and sweetheart Luna, to seek a precious gem. When the team reaches the cave's interior, they find Quark, an aged, wise dragon who sees hidden potential in Alex, and beckons him to travel the world and become its protector as the new Dragonmaster. Returning home, the group expresses mutual interest in Alex's quest; Ramus wishes to sell the dragon gem at a large city, Nall wants to find out what he is, and Luna merely to protect Alex. The group sets off across the frontier to the port town of Saith to continue their journey. [[File:LunarSSSCLuna. png|thumb|An animated sequence with Luna singing "Wind's Nocturne", created by combining traditional and computer animation While the original game contained roughly ten minutes of animation produced internally, the remake features fifty minutes of new, fully animated cut scenes by Studio Gonzo. For the game's first release on the Sega Saturn in October 1996, in game movies could only display in quarter screen and low fidelity due to the system's video limitations. This was corrected for the game's second release in July 1997 with the introduction of the Saturn's MPEG card adapter, which allowed for full screen playback at better quality. Both Saturn versions would be published by Kadokawa Shoten. In May 1998, Silver Star Story was ported to the PlayStation system in Japan, this time published by Entertainment Software Publishing. This version, while retaining all the extra features of the second Saturn release, including full screen movies, was unable to produce the same high fidelity playback as its video card enhanced predecessor. The company originally expressed interest in localizing the Saturn version under the name Lunar: Silver Star Story Director's Cut to be released in Fall 1996. When Fall 1996 arrived the localization was still in its early stages, and the release date was accordingly pushed back to the fourth quarter of 1997. Working Designs stated that its conflict with Sega of America would not impact the four Saturn projects from Working Designs which were already in progress, but though the other three all were released as promised, Lunar: Silver Star Story Complete was not. Work began on the PlayStation version in 1998. Silver Star Story Complete was headed by company president Victor Ireland, who also served as head translator and localizer. Like the original game, the English version features a lighthearted, non literal interpretation of the original Japanese script while retaining the same basic story, which now includes American pop culture references, breaking the fourth wall, and slapstick humor. Working Designs initially announced that the PlayStation version would be released in North America in August 1998, just three months after the planned Japanese release. A Windows based PC version of Silver Star Story was released in Japan in December 1999 by DigiCube featuring higher resolution graphics and video playback. Working Designs had expressed interest in bringing this version to North America in 2002, but claimed that the English version was too buggy and unstable to be released.

The music for Silver Star Story Complete consists of entirely new background themes by Noriyuki Iwadare. When creating the music for Silver Star Story Complete, Iwadare drew from his own experiences, admitting that he was trying to put a personal touch on his work and "express [myself] through [my] honest emotions". Each song was divided into four categories: town or village, dungeon, battle, or field; each with their own pacing and emotional direction. Iwadare described the game's music as "very well received" according to fan feedback. was added to the game to heighten the emotion of Alex and Luna's departure into the world, which was kept at Mizoguchi's insistence even as material was being cut for time. ! width="10%" | English (Silver Star Complete) The characters' voices are used in pre designated cut scenes, animated interludes and when using special attacks in battle. The English cast was composed of family and friends of the Working Designs staff, as well as local talent from the area.

The Saturn version of Silver Star Story was well received in Japan, with Weekly Sega Saturn Magazine recognizing it as one of the most memorable gaming experiences of 1997. The PlayStation version received a 7 out of 10 score from Hyper PlayStation magazine, remarking that although it contained lower quality visual effects and movie playback than the previous Saturn releases, it still remained a solid role playing game. It sold enough to qualify for Sony's PlayStation the Best distinction, and was subsequently re released in Japan in April 1999 at a budget price. Silver Star Story Complete sold over 223,000 units within its first year in North America, including the entire production run of the four disc collector's edition. The game became the highest selling Working Designs title to date, and the third highest selling role playing game of 1999 behind Final Fantasy VIII and Planescape: Torment. A heavy media push in magazines and websites brought recognition to the game, and alerted customers that Working Designs planned to cease production of the title starting December 31, 1999. GameSpot simply described the graphics as "truly dated", adding that many of Lunars aesthetic qualities could be re created on a Super Nintendo. In 2000, Silver Star Story Complete ranked 22nd in IGN's list of top PlayStation games of all time, while in 2001 Electronic Gaming Monthly ranked it 75th on its list of the top 100 games of all time. Next Generation reviewed the PlayStation version of the game, and stated that, "See, playing an upgraded Lunar now is a bit like getting to watch a digitally enhanced Thundercats with Dolby Surround: you're either going to think that's really cool, or you won't. If you do, then the entire package [ ] will satisfy the most avid completists."

The game's engine and several design concepts, such as fully animated video interludes and collectible bromides, would later be used in the development of Magic School Lunar! in 1997 and Lunar 2: Eternal Blue Complete in 1998. Working Designs used the game's strong sales as justification to produce the English version of Eternal Blue Complete in North America, which also featured an elaborate collector's edition. A four part Japanese novelization of Silver Star Story's events would later be written by Kei Shigema and published in 2001. Silver Star Story Complete would be the first of three major revamps of the first Lunar game. In 2002, a new version of the game developed by Media Rings was released for the Game Boy Advance handheld system under the name Lunar Legend (ルナレジェンド), with the title's English version being the first game in the series not published by Working Designs, but rather Ubisoft. Later in 2010, Lunar: Silver Star Harmony was released for PlayStation Portable, marking the last major revamp of the series.