Lunar Threads

Hi,

Pier Solar was the last original RPG that appeared on the MD/MCD in 2010. It was created by an indie group known as Watermelon.
http://www.magicalgamefactory.com/
PS is very reminiscent of the Lunar games as well as Grandia and Secret of Mana so I thought people who visit LunarNet could be interested by this game.

After several editions which have all been sold out, it has been decided to recreate the game on modern platforms in HD such as the Dreamcast/x360/PC/Mac/Linux.
http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/573 ... -linux-and

I was the person who handled the character designs, cutscene artworks/pixel art and printed artworks in the original and in this new version.
I work as a storyboarder and animator in real life.
You can see examples of concept art I created for another indie game (please scroll at bottom of the page) :
http://www.segaage.com/forum/messagevie ... adid=45643
I also handled the cutscene art of the game Battlekid 2 for the nes/famicom :
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rZZmcE6qv48

If you missed the original Pier Solar or did not own a megadrive/scd, please know that the full MD game will also be present as an unlockable in the HD version. $139000 then $170000 have been reached, as cool stretched goals have appeared and the kickstarter coming to a close the 5th of december.

175k - Pier Solar HD for Android & OUYA: Pier Solar HD for Android devices and the OUYA!
200k - Pier Solar HD for Wii U: Pier Solar HD for the Nintendo Wii U!

If you like the Lunar games, you will also love this game for sure. If you feel you can help, then please make sure to checkout the kickstarter page.
http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/573 ... -linux-and

You're the one who did the art for the Lunar SSSC Fan Art Edition, right? In about three weeks?

Back then in 2001... Yeah that was me. If I'm not mistaken it was done in a couple of days (2/3?) because there wasn't a lot of time left according to WD. In fact, it's the letter from WD which took several weeks to arrive as they didn't find another way to contact me.

I already pledged for the PC version of this yesterday. I missed out on the original for the Sega Genesis/Megadrive, so it's awesome that this game is getting an HD release. I keep hearing how good of an RPG it is, so I wanted to try it myself. If I had more money, I'd pledge for more than just the PC version. The Dreamcast version just sounds soooo tempting! DX

Thanks for your support. The last stretch goal is the Wii U version at $200k.
http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/573 ... -linux-and

On top of PSHD, WM is also developping a beatem up for the Megadrive/Genesis and an action adventure game for the SNES.
You can check it out on their website :

http://www.magicalgamefactory.com/

The game is almost complete. It will be available on all the major platforms, plus pc, Android ouya and Dreamcast in physical form.
Here are trailers of the game :
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lGlZGaJgbgY

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NTzXbASy9d8

http://e3.nintendo.com/games/wiiu/piersolar-hd/

Pier Solar is now out on PS3/4, Steam and Ouya. It shall be available in the future on WiiU, Xbox one (digital) and Dreamcast and PC(win/mac/linux) in limited physical edition. It will also be available on PS Vita as a crossbuy(ps3/4).

You can choose to play in HD version or with the original Megadrive 16bits graphics, you can also choose between the SCD cd quality soundtrack or the Megadrive FM chiptune soundtrack.
The game is available in 6 languages
Pier Solar is reminiscent of games such as Lunar, phantasy star or FF/chronotrigger.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qfKynklPRto
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ok_g8LR_j_c

Thanks for the reminder about this! I'll look into it.

Great.

We got it, but haven't looked at it yet. Hope to get to it this weekend!

This thread reminded me that I needed to use my key and download the game! So I did that, lol. If I didn't already have so many other things I was playing, I would try it now. So many games, so little time.

No need to hurry. The future DC version and the digital versions (via update) will also have a 3 min opening animation I directed/animated.
The animation parts found in the trailer are excerpts from the opening.

So, we started playing this last night (on PS3). Enjoying it! Wish we had a clue what all the stats are though. There were a couple of battle tutorials, but nothing on the stats.

It's funny... if you described the very first bits (party comes together and goes to first dungeon) in bare-bones terms you'd get something similar to Lunar 1: boy goes with another boy and girl to dangerous cave. Motivations are totally different, though. I will say that Hoston's mother reminded me a whole lot of Alex's mother in design.

We've had some fun switching between 16-bit and HD graphics, and between similar versions of music. The first dungeony areas are pretty dark with the HD graphics, and much lighter in 16-bit, so it's sometimes useful to switch to the latter to see where to go.

Story thus far is interesting (there's just been a suggestion of overarching story rather than things just happening) and there is some humor reminiscent of Lunar. I'm generally liking the characterization too, aside from one gratuitous feminist stereotype.

Glad you like it overall. The story gets much more serious at the end.
Btw, I'm not responsible for the dialogues or writing, only the character art.
The game will also be out on wiiu the 6th of november with gamepad features and on the Dreamcast in the future in a treasurebox like limited packaging.
Vita version will be also be available as a crossbuy if you had ps3/4 version.

Yeah, I wasn't trying to hold you responsible for the writing, just commenting generally. We haven't gotten back to it because of busy schedules but maybe tonight!

Is there a manual somewhere? I feel silly asking, but we really don't know what the various stats are.

There isn't a manual for the digital version. A full physical guide is currently in the works based on the following faq:
http://www.gamefaqs.com/genesis/618165- ... faqs/61924
You shall find inside the game walkthrough and mechanics explained.

PP - Attack Power. The higher this is, the more damage you do.
DP - Defense. The higher this is, the less damage you take.
AP - Agility. The higher this is, the more likely you are to go first. This
is important!
LP - Luck. This probably governs critical hits. Beyond that, I'm not sure. All
the manual says is that Luck "might allow your hopeless attacks to
succeed."
MA - Magic Attack. Attack spells do more damage. Does not affect healing.
MD - Magic Defense. Like defense, but against enemy magic.

I'm gonna try to sit down and spend more time with this game today on PS4.

I hated this game. It's just a hunk of retro chunk that fails to compare even to the RPGs of the time it is supposed to be based on. It moves along as slowly as a snail swimming through tar. About eight hours in, I've accomplished very little as opposed to the real RPGs of the SNes/Sega Gen.

Can I get some more opinions on this game? I'm curious about it.

Well, there's always Codiekitty's rants about it:

Original post: http://www.codiekitty.com/MOREC/piersolar.htm

The sequel: http://www.codiekitty.com/MOREC/piersolarresponse.htm

The threequel: http://www.codiekitty.com/File/Quickies/2012/review.htm

Final review: http://www.codiekitty.com/File/PierSolar/index.htm

Having played the game, myself, I can confirm every criticism the author has.