Play it on: Windows (Steam Deck OK)
In the realm of video games, there is something truly captivating when gamers turn into creators, crafting fresh and peculiar experiences inspired by the classics. This sentiment is at the forefront of my mind as I immerse myself in Lunacid, a first-person dungeon action game that seamlessly merges the gritty aesthetics of PlayStation, the challenging nature of Dark Souls, and above all, the essence of King’s Field. Not to mention, it also incorporates a touch of queerness and boasts incredible music.
Upon selecting from one of the nine available classes (opt for Forsaken if you’re up for maximum suffering), you awaken in a desolate pit of despair. Your only course of action is to embark on a treacherous journey through the caverns in the hopes of one day discovering an escape. It took me roughly an hour to truly engage with the game, but once I hit my stride, I found myself delving deeper for a staggering four consecutive hours.
Lunacid expertly captures the essence of the 32-bit PlayStation aesthetic with its grimy graphics and low-polygonal art style. It manages to recreate your nostalgic memories of King’s Field’s appearance, even though FromSoft’s initial PlayStation dungeon crawls were significantly more rudimentary. The game’s modernization truly shines through its controls. Unlike the sluggish movements of King’s Field, Lunacid glides effortlessly at a smooth 60fps and, with sufficient leveling of your speed attribute, allows you to sprint around like a nimble gazelle. This fluidity translates beautifully when using an Xbox controller.
Which attribute should you prioritize? Speed! Trust me on this. In my opinion, dedicate your first ten levels solely to boosting your speed until movement feels exhilarating. The Shinobi class starts with a speed attribute of 15, making it the clear frontrunner in the early stages of the game, at least for me. I, uh, couldn’t stop until I reached level 53…maybe I have an addiction.
Lunacid truly embodies the spirit of its predecessor, King’s Field, by embracing its imperfections. The combat system remains relatively simple, not straying too far from the foundation laid out by FromSoft in 1994. While it may be more responsive now, you still find yourself orbiting stiffly animated creatures with a limited repertoire of movements. It’s safe to say that Lunacid is not on par with Bayonetta in terms of combat intricacy.
Just as the mechanical simplicity of King’s Field never hampered its appeal, the same holds true for Lunacid. It doesn’t strive to replicate the complex and elaborate action of “AAA” titles like Dark Souls, nor should it. Instead, it accentuates some of Dark Souls’ other strengths, including its atmospheric ambiance, engrossing exploration, idiosyncrasies, sense of isolation, and overall charisma. These marvelous qualities are deeply rooted in King’s Field and are now cherished and skillfully perpetuated by a new generation of talented creators. — Alexandra Hall
