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Magazine Articles - Nintendo Dream
Below are six scans from the magazine Nintendo
Dream. Translation are below the scans. The scans are
from Jeux
France.
  
  
Recently the Japanese magazine Nintendo Dream took a more detailed preview of the upcoming Lunar: Genesis for the Nintendo DS (Lunar: Dragon Song in the United States). The preview was at an early stage of the game--much of the statements in the article are still speculation, and many items have since been cleared up since the article. Nevertheless, there are many interesting bits in the Nintendo Dream article as it is quite extensive. The scans of the 6-page piece are below, courtesy of Jeux France, and after that is Kizyr's translation.
UPDATE: Nintendo Dream recently published an additional article on Lunar: Genesis. Find the report and translation here.
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After thirteen years, the newest part of the series is now here!
Lunar: Genesis (first look!)
Thirteen years ago, the first chapter came out on the Mega CD; the newest part of the Lunar series, which gained popularity as a traditional RPG, is now coming to the Nintendo DS! The worldview will follow its predecessors. Also, with the DS's dual screen and touch screen, the battles will be more enjoyable than ever.
DS |
Publisher: | Marvelous Interactive | Theme: | Fantasy |
Release Date: | 8/25 | Players: | n/a |
Price: | 5040 Yen (with tax) | Rating: | Under Review |
Genre: | RPG | | |
The setting: a world 1000 years before the first part of the series
The setting of the story is in the magical world formed by the Goddess Althena and dependent upon her power. Beastmen, who excelled in physical prowess, and humans, who were adept at using tools, lived together in perfect balance. This latest story happens to be in a world 1000 years before the setting of the first game. "Althena", "the Four Dragons", "Dragonmasters" and other elements unique to Lunar can be seen throughout. Finally, what sort of secrets will be revealed about the origins of this world?
(1st Screen on left)
(TSS screenshot is of Damon saying: "So long as Alex is not Dragonmaster, he cannot defeat Ghaleon.")
"The Silver Star" for the Mega CD
The story of the boy Alex growing up along with Luna (details on page 20)
(2nd Screen on right)
Once again, the Goddess Althena holds the key?
Goddess Althena was a major part of the last two Lunar games. In the newest game, what about the Statues of Althena...
(3rd Screen on bottom right)
A secret in the shrine?
This is the Shrine of Althena. It is a place which seems to have great significance to the story.
-----P19-----
On to adventure with two couriers and a beastwoman!!
The main character is Jian Campbell, who works as a courier in the port town of Searis on Caldor. The story develops greatly in the beast town of Healriz, where Jian was sent with Lucia. At first it was only the two of them, but before them lay the encounter with the beastwoman Gabryel who was soon to be their ally!
(1st Screen)
At first, an adventure with two
At the beginning of the story, Jian and Lucia are adventuring together.
(2nd Screen)
Does Gabryel join along the way?
Apparently Gabryel joins the party along the way. Perhaps they encounter her in the town where beastmen reside?
Main Character
The boy courier alive with curiousity
Jian Campbell
A boy of 15 years who lives in the port town of Searis. His sense of duty and justice is strong, and his spirit overflows with the longing for adventure. Also, more than anything, he does everything for Lucia.
(1st Screen beside Jian)
Jian is doing handstands in front of the water fountain. Maybe he's a bit capricious?
(2nd Screen beside Jian)
His skill is with kicks!!
With his skill in kicks in battle, Jian can deal out repeated attacks. He might prove a very reliable fighter!
Heroine
Jian's partner, caring and cheerful
Lucia Collins
A girl of 14 years who helps Jian with his work as a courier. She feels as close as a sibling to Jian, and her feelings towards him are paralleled by no one.
(1st Screen below Lucia)
(Screen reads: Heal Water - heal one party member)
Her skill is with healing magic!!
Lucia can use the magic of Althena at will. She supports Jian and Gabryel with healing magic.
The strong-willed beastwoman
Gabryel Ryan
A girl of 15 years, she is strong-willed and hates to lose. While she is a beastwoman, she is not the kind to look down on others. Also, she has a delicate appearance, yet she will overcome her difficult situation through this adventure.
(1st Image beside Gabryel)
She equips a metal claw on her arm. Her skill is attacking enemies with this claw.
(2nd Screen beside Gabryel)
Her skill is with claw attacks
Gabryel carries herself easily when facing enemies, having learned claw attacks. She has the ability to deal damage to all enemies by spinning rapidly with her claws.
-----P20-----
Earn income by working as a courier between towns
To work as a courier, take on jobs at the "Gad's Express" shops in various towns. Jian and his friends earn income by carrying items to their destination. Working as a courier isn't just for money; it also has to do with going to new towns and unlocking new events.
(1st Screen on left)
(Bottom of screen reads: Inn 1F, Restaurant, Josiah's House, Isabella's House)
Move so easily through town with the touch pen
The port town of Sealis where Jian and Lucia live. Just by choosing the area you want to visit with the touch pen, you can easily go there.
(2nd Screen on bottom-left)
(Jian's Room)
This is Jian's room. The story begins here.
(3rd Screen beside the 2nd)
(Fountain Square)
This is the Fountain Square, where residents relax. Is that parasol in the middle Lucia's!?
(Large Screen in center)
(Top part reads: Gad's Express - middle of job
Package urgent, number remaining: 1/1
Destination: Perit - Gad's Express; Pay: 283)
(Bottom part reads: Look For Work / Cease Work)
TOP: Job details for Gad's Express
The details of the jobs you take and the reward are displayed here. It also shows the town to where you carry the package. |
BOTTOM: Select a job
On the bottom screen, you can "Look for Work" and "Cease Doing the Current Job". |
(5th Screen on right)
(Top part reads: Buy
Shoes - Feels great even if you walk a lot)
Buy items and equipment with the money you earn
Buy items and equipment with the money you earn. If you do a lot of work, then you can quickly become strong.
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The series which sold over 400,000 copies! The history of "Lunar"
The tale of the boy who wanted to be Dragonmaster
Lunar: The Silver Star
The setting is Lunar, the world which received the blessings of Althena. It is a coming-of-age story about Alex, who lives in the northern village of Burg, who together with Luna undergoes the trials to become Dragonmaster. Even its opening song is impressive!
(1st Screen reads: Dragonmaster Dyne was born and raised in this village of Burg)
The story's main character Alex is a boy who looks up to Dragonmaster Dyne, who was a hero of this town.
(2nd Screen reads: Good morning Alex, you're late again)
Alex's beloved Luna, she supports Alex with the power of her songs.
(3rd Screen)
The five-person battle formation and battle system to fight enemies was established in the first game.
System: Mega CD, Publisher: Game Arts
Release: 6/26/1992, Price: 7800 Yen * |
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* Note: 7800 Yen was about US$65.00. Right now, it sells for less than 500 Yen (US$4.70) in many used game shops.
-----P21-----
Move about easily on the field as well with the touch screen
You can move around on the field the same way as in towns using the touchscreen. You don't need to figure how to "walk from town X to cave Y". You can progress through the story without any stress.
(1st Screen on left)
(Bottom part reads: Wierd Woods, Searis)
You're at this screen once you leave town!!
Ok just with touching the destination
Upon leaving town, the screen changes into this. To move on the upper field, just touch the destination on the touchscreen and you're good to go! |
(2nd Screen in center)
Escaping the forest...
The Wierd Woods are to the west of Searis. It's a place where many monsters roam about. Treasure is there, too.
New selections on the bottom screen
Upon exiting the Wierd Woods and going outside, the screen once again changes to the field screen like the picture to the left. But this time, it's the western side of the Wierd Woods, and there are more choices on the touch screen. |
(3rd Screen on top-right)
A new town
This is the village of Perit. It is different from the town of Searis on page 20, and there is such a quaint atmosphere in the air.
(4th Screen on bottom-right)
As you pass through forests and dungeons, the world of adventure grows!!
Temple
This is the entrance of a temple where four dragon statues are lined up outside. In the Lunar series, the "Four Dragons" is an essential part of the story... What important thing might be in here?
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The story unfolds of a girl who arrived from the Blue Star
Lunar: Eternal Blue
It is an epic story of Hiro, an adventurer after old legends, and Lucia, a mysterious girl on a journey to meet the Goddess Althena. The epic sense was felt completely in its movies.
(1st Screen)
Under the guidance of his archaeologist grandfather is Hiro, the main character with a strong sense of adventure. He dreams of journeying across this immense world.
(2nd Screen)
This is Lucia, the girl who came from the Blue Star which shines in the sky. She has decided to accompany Hiro in order to find the Goddess Althena.
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System: Mega CD, Publisher: Game Arts
Release: 12/22/1994, Price: 9800 Yen *
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The system ports of Lunar
The two games of the Lunar series were then ported to other systems (as Remakes). It might be good to play the other two games before playing the third one for the Nintendo DS.
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Ports of "Lunar: The Silver Star"
Lunar: Silver Star Story (Saturn) - Released 10/25/1996
Lunar: Silver Star Story MPEG Version (Saturn) - Released 7/4/1997
Lunar: Silver Star Stories (Playstation) - 5/28/1998
Lunar: Legend (GBA) - 4/12/2002
Ports of "Lunar: Eternal Blue"
Lunar: Eternal Blue (Saturn) - Released 7/23/1998
Lunar: Eternal Blue (Playstation) - Released 5/27/1999
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* Note: 9800 Yen was about US$82.00. It's now considerably rarer than TSS, hard to find and will usually run you about 5000 Yen (US$47.00)
-----P22-----
The battle system, developed on the DS
(1st Screen on upper-left)
When you encounter enemies in the field...
Battle begins!
Monsters are roaming about on the field. When Jian encounters one, battle will begin!
(2nd Screen in center)
Make full use of the dual screen
With the DS's dual screen feature, battles are more in-depth. The battles, progressing with both aerial and ground enemies, seem quite interesting. |
(Right side of page)
Defeat aerial enemies with magic and bows
Enemies in the top screen cannot be defeated by Jian and Gabriel's ordinary attacks since they are in the air. Use ranged attacks such as bows and magic.
(3rd Screen on right side)
This is Lucia's healing magic. Even when attacking, the screen will be split in two like this. |
(Lower-left side of page)
Defeat ground enemies with direct attacks
Ground enemies can be taken on with direct attacks. You can deal damage to the enemies with Jian, who specializes in kicking attacks, or Gabryel, whose strength is with her claws.
(4th Screen on center-left)
Jian, whose skill is with kicking attacks, cannot attack enemies in the air (on the upper screen). So, select and attack those enemies on the bottom screen (on the ground).
(5th Screen on bottom-left)
Aerial enemies descend
When you defeat the enemies on the ground, aerial enemies will drop down. Now, it's Jian and Gabryel's turn to attack! |
The battle proceeds automatically with the Auto Mode
The Auto Mode, which has been around since the first Lunar game's battle system, is still here on the DS version. With the Auto Mode, battles are made easy and require no commands from the player. For those who want to issue commands, you can still select Manual Mode.
(6th Screen on bottom)
During battle, you can change between Auto and Manual any time. Choose based on the the circumstances of the battle.
(7th Screen on bottom-left)
In the Auto Mode, the computer elects to use items, cast magic, or attack automatically based on the situation. When your HP is critical, it will also use healing magic. |
-----P23-----
A secret in the items you receive after battle?
After battle you receive not only experience points and money, but items as well. In previous games, you could find expensive items like healing herbs for immediate use; but in the DS version you find suitable "ingredients". Is this perhaps related to your courier job?
(1st Screen on left)
(Screen reads: Clay x1, Scales x1)
After battle with monsters you receive not only experience points and money, but items as well.
(2nd Screen in center)
(Screen reads: Metals, Objects, Nature, Accessories, Life, Food)
Materials to make items?
The options on the left--"Metals", "Objects", and "Nature"--seem like materials used to make weapons, armor, and items... But, maybe you are to deliver this to someone else, instead? |
What does "Life" mean...?
It's easy to guess what the options "Accessories" and "Food" mean, but what about "Life"? Maybe it has to do with the adventure itself. |
(3rd Screen on right)
(Bottom part of screen reads: Scales were stolen!)
Monsters who steal items, too...
You do not only receive items after battle, but you can lose them, too. There are many annoying monsters who will steal the items your party members have.
You can run away from enemies by yelling into the mic!
(4th Screen in center)
Move freely in the field!!
If you move freely, then you can run away from battles. Once you do, you will be returned to the field screen.
(5th Screen in bottom-left)
Yell loudly into the mic!!
If the party members are weak, or if you run into strong enemies, and you don't want to fight, then yell into the microphone or blow against the touch screen.
Can you not only defeat, but revive monsters as well?
Apparently, not only can you defeat monsters, but they can be revived as well. It is still unclear how to revive them, or what happens to resurrected monsters, but it seems that this will be one element of the game which will be very enjoyable--so much so that one might want to know the details of the system as soon as possible.
(6th Screen on bottom-right)
Who has that skill among these characters...?
There might be a character among these who has the skill (ability) to revive monsters. |
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LunarNET's official Lunar: DS section has more complete details on many aspects of the game. As the release date approaches, LunarNET will continue to update you with more and more information. KF
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