Lunar The Silver Star is the founding JRPG on MegaCD. Alex the Dragon Master's adventure in the world of Lunar. Masterful CD soundtrack and epic romantic story. An absolute JRPG monument to own.
Your verdict
Category
RPG1 player12+
Description
Alex and friends set out in quest of the Dragonmaster to save the world in this landmark JRPG featuring anime animations and CD music. Published by Game Arts, released in Japan in June 1992. Turn-based JRPG with anime-quality CD animations, Japanese voice acting, memorable orchestral CD music. Japanese edition.
Lunar - The Silver Star review
4/5
Art direction
★★★★★
"Striking"
MAX
Music
★★★★★
"Legendary"
MAX
Story
★★★★★
"Masterful"
Signed by Noriyuki Iwadare, the music wraps Alex's quest in warm melodies and vocal songs, rare and precious for the era. From the adventure theme to the moving ballads, each track breathes tenderness and the epic. This melodic richness, deeply endearing, remains the soul of this JRPG classic.
Dreaming of matching the legendary Dragonmaster, a young villager sets off on an adventure and slowly discovers the weight of the destiny upon him. A pioneer of the CD-based RPG, the tale combines heroic quest, friendship and romance with sincere warmth and animated cutscenes. This founding epic left a mark on a whole genre.
Gameplay
"Excellent"
Fun
"Pleasant"
Addictiveness
"Obsessive"
Following the rise of a young dreamer, fleshing out your party and exploring a world full of endearing characters sets a pace of adventure you struggle to step away from. Every town visited, level gained and boss felled renews the urge to know what comes next. The frequent random encounters and the linear path show their age, but the narrative drive and the tenderness of the tone stay surprisingly gripping.
Difficulty
"Balanced"
Lifespan
"Massive"
Setting off in search of the Dragonmaster alongside Alex sets up a sweeping adventure where every town, dungeon and twist extends the journey. The series' founding tale, showcased by CD cutscenes and music, is savoured over long hours. That generosity of writing and atmosphere earns the title its status as a cherished JRPG classic.
Original Japanese Game Arts edition from June 1992, the first major RPG conceived for the Japanese Mega-CD and largely responsible for legitimizing the format among RPG audiences. The Japanese cardboard packaging is identifiable by its pointed cut and the Toshiyuki Kubooka illustration booklet includes preparatory sketches not reproduced in the Working Designs American release. It stands as the benchmark Lunar release for collectors.
Is Lunar - The Silver Star still worth playing in 2026?
The first entry of the Lunar saga by Game Arts, The Silver Star offers a classic JRPG with an endearing cast and a traditional adventure in a lunar fantasy world. The turn based combat system works admirably, the animated cutscenes benefit from the CD and the Working Designs translation brings an appreciated offbeat humour. Charming and accessible, the title is an excellent gateway to the Lunar saga and remains a little known but essential JRPG classic on Mega CD absolutely worth discovering for newcomers today truly indeed.
