Lunar: Dragon Song

 DS
  • Publisher: Ubisoft
  • Release Date: Sep 27, 2005
Lunar: Dragon Song Image
Metascore
59

Mixed or average reviews - based on 30 Critic Reviews What's this?

User Score
5.2

Mixed or average reviews- based on 21 Ratings

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  • Summary: (Also known as "Lunar Genesis" in JPN) The first original installment of the Lunar franchise to be released in more than 10 years - Lunar: Dragon Song - is also the first traditional fantasy RPG for Nintendo DS and takes players to 1,000 years before the events that occurred in the first(Also known as "Lunar Genesis" in JPN) The first original installment of the Lunar franchise to be released in more than 10 years - Lunar: Dragon Song - is also the first traditional fantasy RPG for Nintendo DS and takes players to 1,000 years before the events that occurred in the first game of the Lunar series, "Lunar: The Silver Star." The world of Lunar is at peace under the protection of the goddess Althena, creator of Lunar. At the fringes of this peaceful existence, vicious demons have started to slowly invade, and there are few with power enough to know how to deal with this demon invasion. Players experience the world of Lunar as the human boy, Jian, and his group of friends. Jian’s story begins simply but quickly evolves as he and his friends unravel the evil plot being laid against Althena and discover that they alone can save Lunar from the forces of evil. [Ubisoft]… Expand
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Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 2 out of 30
  2. Mixed: 22 out of 30
  3. Negative: 6 out of 30
  1. GameSpy
    80
    Aside from these minor quibbles and instances of tedium, the story progresses at a respectable clip, with plenty of twists and surprises to keep things interesting.
  2. Nintendojo
    70
    The learning curve is gentle enough for first time RPGers while the scale of the story should appease RPG veterans.
  3. Play Magazine
    65
    Combing an area twice (once for experience, again for items) becomes tedious and aggravating. [Nov p.100]
    All this publication's reviews
  4. Game Chronicles
    62
    Obviously, your choices for RPG’s on the DS aren’t overwhelming, so if you can’t wait for something better to come along, give this a shot. It’s not terrible, but one can only imagine how good this could have been.
  5. DarkStation
    60
    This RPG exudes some of the series' old school charm, but its dated combat and uninspired visuals fails to impress modern gamers.
  6. NintendoWorldReport
    55
    If you are utterly starved for an RPG to play on your DS, rejoice my pitiful friend, because Lunar: Dragon Song is a traditional, predictable take on the genre that will last forty or fifty hours. If, however, you have anything less than the patience of a statue, this game will bore you to tears long before the anticlimactic ending sequence.
  7. NTSC-uk
    30
    Lunar: DS really is held back by its design. Parts that should be kept simple have been made frustratingly complicated, whilst others that could use a little elaboration have been left far too basic, all these decisions seemingly being made for the sake of producing a game that’s a little different.

See all 30 Critic Reviews

User Reviews

Write a Review
Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 2 out of 9
  2. Mixed: 2 out of 9
  3. Negative: 5 out of 9
  1. JohnH.
    Jan 30, 2006
    9
    a game that makes most traditionalists crazy and mad, makes me happy. this game creates a different atmosphere than that of a traditional a game that makes most traditionalists crazy and mad, makes me happy. this game creates a different atmosphere than that of a traditional rpg. the thing that makes this game stand out is the music. very nice.… Expand
  2. DyneL.
    Oct 24, 2005
    8
    Just because its Lunar....
  4. IrishChai
    Aug 19, 2011
    7
    Although I am rating this pretty high, I have to admit it deserves most of it's poor/mediocre ratings and reviews. If it didn't have the LunarAlthough I am rating this pretty high, I have to admit it deserves most of it's poor/mediocre ratings and reviews. If it didn't have the Lunar name and art style, I would've never bought it nor played it without swiftly returning it. However, the huge fan that I am ever since the original on Sega CD is loving this addition to the series. I can enjoy it primarily because it's obviously set in the same world with similar looking characters, so I suppose a lot of it's appeal is nostalgia with me. So if you are that serious of a die-hard fan that you buy games in a series just because of a brand name or relation to your favorite RPG of all time, this is worth the purchase. Oh, I should also mention I got it for $5 lol If it had been $10 or more, I probably could've lived without it.… Expand
  5. Marie
    Aug 26, 2008
    4
    Interesting at first, but about half way became a chore just to finish. Annoying having to go and do teddious errends just to get enough moneyInteresting at first, but about half way became a chore just to finish. Annoying having to go and do teddious errends just to get enough money for armor. Couldn't they have spell checked the game as well? At least one of the delivery errends had the wrong name as the person to deliver it to, and how could you miss capitalizing other names?! I regretted paying the initial $40 price tag for a game that gives Lunar a bad name!… Expand
  6. Sam
    Dec 22, 2005
    3
    Much like the "Game of the Damned" Shadow the Hedgehog, this amazing series has taken such an awful mistep that it may never recover.
  7. JoeJ.
    Oct 6, 2005
    3
    Really poor lunar game.
  8. OmegaChase1002
    Mar 14, 2020
    0
    I think I finally found it. I think I finally found the WORST JRPG OF ALL TIME.
    Okay, so get this crap:
    - Simply running on the overworld    I think I finally found it. I think I finally found the WORST JRPG OF ALL TIME.
    Okay, so get this crap:

    - Simply running on the overworld drains your HP. Not your "stamina" or your "energy", YOUR FREAKING HP. So you're forced to slowly walk everywhere at a snail's pace.

    - Simply blowing into the mic makes you run from battle. This game is portable, so naturally you'll be playing on the go. But what if you're playing somewhere loud like on the bus or in a room with 2 other friends having a conversation? You'll auto-run from a fight and miss out on EXP.

    - I fought several enemies and couldn't figure out why I'm not getting any EXP. Turns out, you have to be in a certain special mode by pressing the R button to get EXP. There is zero reason why we have to switch between 2 different modes for different battle results, but I guess Ubisoft was doing aaaaall the cocaine.

    - You can't even choose which enemy to target for an attack.

    I stopped playing this trash before even reaching the second town. Why did they intentionally cram as many un-fun mechanics as they possibly could into this? To make the game "different" from other RPGs? You can stand out without being garbage or that different, you know.    … Expand

See all 9 User Reviews

Awards & Rankings

48
#48 Best DS Game of 2005
34
#34 Most Discussed DS Game of 2005
14
#14 Most Shared DS Game of 2005