PS1 REVIEWS: Lunar 2: Eternal Blue Complete

Lunar 2: Eternal Blue Complete is the rare sequel that, while not departing much from its predecessor, makes many small improvements that turn a good game into a great one. If you enjoyed or loved the first Lunar, then you will surely love this one as well. This is yet another classic JRPG, filled to the brim with romance and adventure, with an engaging gameplay loop that should push you towards a great story's conclusion and beyond.

While I still would not call Lunar 2 a true masterpiece of the genre, I think it packages all the good things we love about JRPGs, even if it doesn't necessarily excel at any of them. As such, the new Remastered release of the first Lunar games is not only a good deal for two lovely games, but also a historical record of JRPGs at their root.

#A19: Lunar: Eternal Blue Complete:-

Year: 1999, 2025 (Remastered).
Genre: JRPG.
Publisher: Kadokawa Shoten, Working Designs, GungHo (Remastered).
Developer: Game Arts, Ashibi Co. (Remastered).

 

"Lucia has come here from the Blue Star to SAVE our world, not to destroy it"


Set 1000 years after the events of the first game, something evil is stirring on the planet of Lunar. Sensing this change, the lone caretaker of the Blue Star, a girl named Lucia, descends to Lunar in search of the Goddess Althena. Thankfully for her, she stumbles into the adventurer Hiro, who is immediately struck by her beauty and agrees to become a guide in her voyage. However, it quickly becomes apparent that the Goddess Althena may not be what she seems, and that Lucia is in danger.

What ensues is a story of Hiro and Lucia's adventure as they narrowly escape the authorities sent to capture them, meet new allies, and slowly grow as characters and fall in love. The change is especially stark for Lucia, who starts as an almost aloof alien, but grows in humanity as she interacts with the party and the world.

 

She even learns the power of song

 

The story of Eternal Blue has some predictable plot elements all over, but that doesn't waste a solid premise and strong delivery. Mostly, though, the relationship between the characters is what elevates the story beyond some of its peers, with a lot of funny dialogue and genuine relationships being forged, especially between the two main characters.

One thing worth noting is that playing the first game is not a prerequisite to enjoying this one, with the story standing strong on its own. However, you will get more of the story if you did play it, especially regarding some key returning characters. In fact, one of the most emotional scenes only gets its power if you played and finished the first game.


"Your miserable souls will enable us to revive Master Zophar, our great leader"


When writing about the game's battle system and gameplay, I feel I can directly copy what I wrote regarding its predecessor: "Just like its traditional story, there is little that is innovative or unique about Lunar: SSSC’s combat or gameplay. It is a classic turn-based battle system with a five-member party. However, some additions, such as the auto-attack mode and visible enemies, thankfully speed up the combat and exploration. This is further enhanced in the Remastered Collection, which has a fast-forward button and massively improves the inventory management system of the first game."

However, that isn't entirely true, since just as I feel the story marginally improved in the sequel, so did the battle system. In effect, the balance between characters and some engaging boss battles required more strategy and thought this time around. Thankfully, the gameplay remains as snappy as ever, especially with the Remastered version's fast-forward features.

 

Don't fast-forward in boss battles though, or you will get punished for it

One aspect that provided an extra complexity to your party composition was the addition of badges that you can equip. These badges give your characters extra abilities that can change up or augment their battle roles. For instance, you can add offensive magic to your main healer or healing magic to your hero character. Often, I felt that smart use of badges was the difference between victory and defeat in some of the more challenging battles.


"The power to love, trust, and hope will always conquer the lure of evil"


Outside of battle, Lunar 2 did not add much to the first game beyond one major addition: an extensive epilogue that you need to complete to obtain the "true" ending. This epilogue features multiple optional dungeons and some of the game's strongest bosses, requiring the strategic use of your party as well as effective resource management.

Yet, the fact that these optional quests are only available post-game does highlight the absence of any side activities in the main game itself. This, combined with some basic dungeons and limited side stories, does limit the appeal of the game a bit. Thankfully, each of the main characters has their own arc in the main story, and as such, none is neglected in a way that was common in many 90s JRPGS.

 

All the characters get their chance in the limelight

 

Then again, for some people, the more focused nature of the game means less time wasted and better pacing.


"Why am I upset? Because you walked into the bath with all your no-no parts showing..."


There is little to differentiate the two PS1 Lunar games in terms of graphics or sound. Both games look and sound almost identical, with the same classic use of 2D sprites for most of the game, an extensive utilization of anime cutscenes in key sections, and a brilliant score by Noriyuki Iwadare.

Again, we see another example of reliance on 2D art being a major reason for the game still looking great, while anime cutscenes aged much better than the polygonal CGI scenes that were common on the day. That's not to say that the game's basic sprites were anything exceptional, with the game barely being better drawn than late SNES games. However, they are mostly charming and do the job well, especially with the anime cutscenes and choice voice acting, giving an extra dimension to the story.

 

Anime cut-scenes are special for the series

 

Of course, that extra emotional dimension is only possible thanks to the Iwadare's excellent soundtrack, which utilizes the excellent "Lucia's Theme" as a motif for the entire game, while the rest of the soundtrack provides both sombre and exciting music.


In Conclusion:


I can honestly say that writing this review was much harder than writing the review for Lunar: SSC, since both games are similar, and the only conclusion I can give is that Lunar: EBC is marginally better in every facet that it gains a whole point over its predecessor. Explaining that, I would end up writing almost the same exact review as the first game, but with a few additional superlatives.

Frankly, I think that this is exactly my conclusion: Lunar: EBC is the rare sequel that is only just marginally better than its prequel, but in such a way that it elevates the game from just merely being good to actually becoming great.


Final: 9/10 (Highly Recommended)

As opposed to the first Lunar, you will have to work to get the "perfect" ending

Pros:

• Charming story and characters.
• A true culmination of JRPG themes
• Improved battles compared to the original.
• Badge systems change things up.
• Meaty epilogue to tackle.
• 2D Art aged well.
• Brilliant soundtrack.

Cons:

• Rather basic turn-based battle system.
• Limited gameplay beyond battle.
• Basic 2D sprites.

Tips:

1. Change up the badges you equip when facing difficult bosses.
2. Buy the latest equipment in each new town you visit.
3. You will get enough resources and money, so don't be cheap with your items.
4. Utilize the auto-battle system and fast-forward option to speed things up.
5. Don't neglect the post-game if you want to see the true ending.
6. Don't try and fight everything in the post-game dungeons, since you will need some resources for the boss fights.
7. Make sure to space out your party to avoid area-of-effect attacks.

 

It didn't take long for Lucia to figure out her "no-no" parts

Series:

For those reading one of my PS1 review blogs for the first time, here is the basic concept:

I already reviewed both major Generation 4 consoles and am now reviewing Generation 5 consoles. I already finished reviewing the Sega Saturn, so I am now reviewing the PS1. In these reviews, I take a top 100 games list and review the games that interest me in that list. This time, my review series is based on this list from Retro Sanctuary and other sources, since the PS1 can handle a list bigger than a top 100.

Wherever you are, I will find you

Next Game:

So I liked the second Lunar game more than the first. I am not sure where that puts me within the consensus.

Now, I should be back to reviewing the base PS1 reviews series, with Medal of Honor at #19 being the next game. However, I will first write a report about the 10 games in the addendum list.

Stay tuned to find out.

For Previous PS1 Game Reviews:

The List