Lunar Remastered Collection

The Lunar Remastered Collection is a window back to the mid-90s that modernizes the presentation without replacing the soul.

Maybe the most important thing a developer can do when remastering a game is choosing not to fix what isn’t broken. For the most part, that’s exactly what GungHo did here; they kept the remaster simple, but not because this is a cheap port. Adding a bunch of fancy bells and whistles would diminish the purity of these games. Simple is the point. And if simple is what you need right now, then spin up the Lunar Remastered Collection. You’ll be in for a good time.

LUNAR Remastered Collection is a fantabulous package of 2 of the best lighthearted retro RPGs ever made. With impeccable localisation that's filled with hilarity, bubbly characters, and unforgettable moments; I highly recommend this compilation to all of my fellow merry chums.

These games are great, breezy, and iconic representations of anime-styled fantasy JRPGs in the 1990s. To that end, this is a great compilation, and I am grateful to finally have Eternal Blue released from its prison. However, the lack of options included in the iOS version of Silver Star Story holds this collection back, even if slightly. That said, the love for the series is evident by the care taken to preserve them with these slight updates that still hew to the memory of the PSX classics.

Lunar Remastered Collection is exactly what it needs to be: a comfortably nostalgic revisit to a comfortably nostalgic pair of games. Neither breaks the mold, but they remain charming and fun enough that they don't overstay their welcome. The remastering is done with a light touch, and there are times when I wish it had gone further, particularly with the translations. It does well enough to make it the best version of the games to pick up. Sometimes you just need an adventure, and Lunar delivers that in spades.

What Lunar lacks in gameplay complexity it more than makes up for in wonderful animations, captivating characters, and riveting music. You’ll absolutely feel the surge of excitement as you set out on these adventures, letting the whimsical charm sweep you away.

LUNAR Remastered Collection is a basic update of two RPGs in the best 1990s style, featuring beautiful animated cutscenes and charismatic casts. However, the difficulty of the battles may cause newer fans of the genre to take longer to appreciate the quality of the two available games.

Despite only offering minor updates, I still wouldn’t hesitate to recommend the LUNAR Remastered Collection to any fan of RPGs who hasn’t played these great games. I still absolutely love both of these games. Even after all these years, they are well-paced adventures filled with a lot of heart and excellent characters who are highly memorable. It would have been great to see LUNAR once more get the red-carpet treatment, but just having these games easily accessible to modern audiences is a major win.

This collection faithfully preserves the charm, story, and gameplay of the original Lunar games with enhanced visuals and quality-of-life tweaks, though it lacks substantial difficulty options or broader localization, which might limit accessibility for newcomers.

LUNAR Remastered Collection is a warm and welcome return to the important and severely underrated ’90s JRPGs. Within are those iconic anime cutscenes, a charming cast of characters and a magical universe that spans a millennium. Though more could’ve been done to modernise the pair of adventures, including minimising the frustrating difficulty spikes and at times disorienting level design, it’s worth it for how this special and unique collection is enshrined today. The LUNAR games are an endearing and wonderful affair that shouldn’t be lost to time and are begging you to play them. If you make the right decision to do so, the rest will be history.

LUNAR Remastered Collection offers two classic JRPGs from PS1 with improved anime scenes and some quality-of-life options that, while discreet, are gladly welcome. The visuals have received only minimal, almost imperceptible touch-ups, but both games remain adventures that stand out for their naive and charismatic heroism, typical of their times. These are two games that find their strength in the honest and engaging simplicity of saving a beautiful fantasy world with sword and magic.

If you’ve been looking for a way to play these games on modern consoles, then Lunar Remastered Collection is a godsend. The visuals are mostly preserved, the item management is better, and the voice acting is brand new. New players might be thrown by the simple plot and the retro combat, but the high-speed autobattles offer a convenient off-ramp. While they aren’t my favorite retro RPGs by any means, this collection is a great way to get ahold of them. If nothing else, the 90s anime vibes are downright immaculate.

The Lunar games embody everything that's nostalgic about 90s JRPGs, from the fun characters and colourful fantasy worlds, to the glorious spritework and catchy music. That said, Lunar's underlying grind can make it difficult to stomach here in 2025 — especially when the Lunar Remastered Collection doesn't do enough to mitigate the series' most tedious aspects. It's great to experience these games again — a fully deserved revival — but it's a real shame that the collection isn't flush with more helpful features.