An old-school jewel
Lunistice (PEGI 3) PC, Switch ★★★✩✩
I’VE said this before, but nostalgia is very big business.
From TV shows that tap into our childhoods, to retro toys and figures that tug on sentimental heartstrings, and remasters of treasured computer games that sweep you back to happier times, nostalgia is a powerful emotion.
A few years ago, there was a flurry of 8-bit and 16-bit indie games which developers hoped would pique the interest of misty-eyed gamers.
Now it seems it is the turn of 32and 64-bit titles, as developers tap into our love of old PS1, N64 and Saturn games.
And it works, as it was the delightfully retro design of Lunistice that first drew me to the title.
Truth be told, the game kept me waiting a few weeks as developer A Grumpy Fox realised that it was slated to land around the same time as The Last of Us back in September, and wisely moved the release date back to allow Lunistice space to shine.
This 3D platformer hits you squarely in the childhood, as Hana the Tanuki (a Japanese wild dog, trust me they’re adorable) races through a series of vast dreamscapes.
It’s not hard to see where inspiration for the game’s design has come from, with large sweeping loops and grind rails instantly recognisable as Sonic the Hedgehog-esque.
There are seven levels to explore, each broken into two parts.
As you’d expect for a game that takes place in someone’s dreams, the designs are a cacophony of colours and shapes.
From chasing through a shrine, to exploring a beach, and a mountain peak, each level is as delightfully chaotic as the last.
Gameplay is frenetic, with tons of old-school dynamics in play – like timing jumps to ensure you don’t slide off into the abyss below, which took a few goes to get the old muscle memory going.
Controls are tight and responsive, with very few buttons to have to worry about – you jump, double jump and even triple jump your way out of danger.
There are weird and wonderful looking bad guys sprinkled through the levels – pouty faced triangles, and spikey, hedgehog-like cats that block your path, but none pose any great threat.
Levels don’t end with boss fights, just a counter telling you how many origami cranes you collected, and how long your run took – the ultimate challenge for competitive gamers.
The music simply adds to the experience, delightfully upbeat and instantly reminiscent of mid-90s games.
Another thing I loved about this game is that the graphics options let you decide just how retro you want to be, with a choice of low res, hi res, crt mode and depth of field.
Is it the most complex game? No. Will you have oodles of fun playing it? Yes.
And what’s even better, it costs less than £5 so is perfectly priced for these cost-conscious times.
And while you’ll find yourself boxing off the entire game in a matter of hours, the urge to dive back in and play it again is ridiculous – Lunistice calling to you long after you’ve switched off the PC.
Buy it: £4.99 store. steampowered.com/ or £4.99 from nintendo.co.uk/