LunarLux

LunarLux is an indie sci-fi action-adventure RPG set on the moon, Luna, where players take on the role of Bella Grey, a Lunar Warrior tasked with preventing an asteroid from destroying the moon. Inspired by classics like Mega Man Battle Network and Undertale, the game features turn-based combat, engaging minigames, and a vibrant anime-style aesthetic. With a mix of exploration, strategic battles, and quirky characters, LunarLux offers a unique and enjoyable experience for fans of JRPGs and sci-fi adventures.

LunarLux: A Celestial Tapestry of Ambition and Heart

Introduction

In the vast expanse of indie RPGs, few dare to carve their identity on a celestial canvas as audaciously as LunarLux. This 2023 release from CosmicNobab Games, LLC, doesn’t just present a science-fantasy narrative set on humanity’s lunar refuge—it orchestrates a symphony of homage and innovation. Drawing direct lineage from the turn-based tactical genius of Mega Man Battle Network and the soulful charm of Undertale, while weaving in the sci-fi grandeur of Undertale‘s bullet-hell segments, LunarLux stands as a bold, albeit imperfect, testament to the power of indie vision. Yet, beneath its pixelated lunar surface lies a profound exploration of legacy, sacrifice, and the ethics of survival. While its execution occasionally falters under the weight of its own ambition, LunarLux emerges as a deeply resonant experience that, for all its quirks, achieves the rare feat of feeling both nostalgically familiar and refreshingly new. This review will dissect its stellar journey—from its crowded development credits to its thematic core—ultimately arguing that LunarLux, despite its narrative bloat and pacing hiccups, is a celestial worth exploring for any RPG aficionado seeking both heart and mechanical ingenuity.

Development History & Context

CosmicNobab Games, LLC, a studio forged from the passion of developer Nobab Moinuddin and a sprawling team of 1,382 contributors (77 core developers, 1,305 “thanks”), embarked on a monumental two-and-a-half-year journey to birth LunarLux. Their vision, crystallized through a successful Kickstarter campaign that raised $52,669, was to create an anime-inspired sci-fi RPG that fused classic JRPG mechanics with modern sensibilities. The game’s technological backbone was a fascinating hybrid: initially built on RPG Maker 2003 for Windows (as confirmed by the RPG Maker Wiki), it was later transitioned to GameMaker for its full release. This dual-identity allowed the team to leverage RPG Maker’s traditional grid-based exploration while implementing GameMaker’s flexibility for the game’s signature hybrid combat system—a delicate dance between turn-based strategy and real-time action.

Released on September 25, 2023, for Windows, with a subsequent Nintendo Switch port arriving in April 2025, LunarLux entered a saturated indie RPG landscape dominated by titles like Bug Fables and Chants of Sennaar. Yet it carved its niche through audacious world-building and a combat system that felt like a love letter to Mega Man Battle Network’s folder-building and Undertale’s dodge-mechanics. The studio’s ethos, evident in their self-declared mantra—”The power of Science is Astronomical!”—was rooted in blending real-world scientific concepts (antimatter, lunar colonization) with fantastical elements (Lux energy, ancient lunar civilizations). This creative ambition, though occasionally overwhelming, positioned LunarLux as a product of its time—a 2023 indie darling where passion and persistence triumphed over polish.

Narrative & Thematic Deep Dive

At its core, LunarLux spins a tale of legacy and perseverance set against the backdrop of humanity’s last stand. The year is 30XX, a millennium after a cataclysmic antimatter comet, Comet Coda, rendered Earth-like planet Terra uninhabitable. Humanity now thrives on Luna, Terra’s moon, but Comet Coda’s return threatens annihilation. Players step into the jet boots of Bella Grey, a pink-haired Lunar Warrior driven by the ghost of her mother, Thea—a revered former Lunex General trapped in a mystical realm. Bella’s quest to save Luna evolves from a straightforward comet-deflection mission into a labyrinthine conspiracy involving the feral Murks, antimatter-based creatures ravaging the moon’s colonies.

The narrative’s strength lies in its thematic depth and character relationships. Bella’s bond with her robot sidekick, Tetra, forms the game’s emotional anchor. Their dialogue—filled with humor, warmth, and moments of poignant vulnerability—elevates the pair beyond archetypes. Tetra’s dry wit (“HP is already full!”) contrasts with Bella’s earnestness, creating a dynamic reminiscent of Persona’s protagonist and Morgana. Conversely, the Murk Slayer, Nickle, embodies the game’s ethical complexity. Initially an antagonist—a masked vigilante hunting Murks and distrustful of the Lunex Force—he undergoes a powerful heel-face turn after revealing the horrific truth: General Saros, the revered hero of Lunex, is secretly transforming civilians into Murks as part of his desperate, immoral experiments. Saros himself emerges as a fascinating Well-Intentioned Extremist, believing humanity’s only salvation is forced evolution into antimatter beings to escape Comet Coda and a shadowy alien civilization, Nemesis. His tragic downfall—losing control of his 99% “resonance” Murk serum and devolving into the feral boss Chaos—underscores the game’s cautionary themes about sacrifice and hubris.

Yet the narrative’s pacing is its Achilles’ heel. Chapters are bloated with excessive dialogue, often lingering on trivial interactions (e.g., detailed ramen descriptions or dumpster-diving tangents) that stall momentum. This bloat occasionally obscures the tale’s emotional beats, such as Bella’s confrontation with her mother’s Murk form, Chronos—a pivotal moment where the former general sacrifices herself to protect Bella, only to be temporarily revived to aid in the final battle. Despite these flaws, LunarLux’s narrative resonates through its exploration of legacy (Bella honoring Thea), the duality of humanity (Murks as former victims), and the cyclical nature of doom (Comet Coda’s repeated threat).

Gameplay Mechanics & Systems

LunarLux’s crown jewel is its innovative hybrid combat system, a masterful fusion of turn-based strategy and real-time action. Battles unfold on a grid where players command Bella (and later Nickle) to execute Active Skills (40 total) and Support Skills (30 total). Each Active Skill—from the basic Gun Saber to the area-clearing Nebula Grenade—costs SP and can be augmented by Support Skills like Shield (for blocking) or Vital Aura (for health regeneration). The system’s brilliance lies in its layers:
– Timing and Defense: Enemy attacks trigger minigames reminiscent of Undertale. Some require precise dodging on a grid, while others (e.g., Soul Attacks) demand reflex-based bullet-hell evasion. Shielding is a resource-management gamble, as each block depletes a shield stock with a cooldown, forcing players to weigh aggression against vulnerability.
– Lux Combos: Once the Lux Meter fills, players can stack any three Active Skills to create devastating Lux Combos. With 30 possible combos (including the story-critical Snack Time), this system echoes Mega Man Battle Network’s Program Advances, rewarding experimentation and strategic foresight.
– Skill Progression: Leveling grants +10 HP and scales skill damage, but progression is primarily equipment-based. Skills cap at level 3 (boostable to 4 via post-launch “Beach Episode” content), encouraging diversification over specialization.

Exploration, while less revolutionary, offers tactile joys. Players traverse Luna via a customizable spaceship or jet suits, seamlessly transitioning between orbital and ground-level exploration. The world is brimming with interactivity—petting dogs 20 times for unique dialogue, dumpster-diving trash cans for secrets, and even befriending rocks—though this occasionally devolves into tedium. The Affinity System incentivizes engagement, as boosting colony reputation unlocks shop discounts. Sidequests, such as tracking down the CrossCode cameo or solving combination-locked chests (with developer foresight preventing brute-forcing), add depth without overwhelming the主线.

However, the UI suffers from minor inconsistencies. Interface spoilers hint at Nickle’s inclusion (e.g., dual status bars, Anti Meter references), while battles can drag due to enemy HP bloat, especially against late-game bosses like Necromia—a 15,000-HP damage sponge immune to all but Lux Combos. These quirks, though forgivable, temper the otherwise brilliant mechanics.

World-Building, Art & Sound

LunarLux’s world-building is a triumph of ambition, transforming the moon into a character rich with history and diversity. Luna is partitioned into distinct colonies: Regolithia (a bustling urban hub), Silica (a mining colony with a black market), and Oceanus (a coastal haven), each brimming with life and secrets. Ancient Lux Ruins hint at a precursor civilization, the Ancients, whose downfall at the hands of the alien Nemesis ties into the game’s wider mythology. This setting is bolstered by subtle world-building details: Murks as victims of unethical science, the Ancients’ energy-based technology, and even Golden Records from Earth (discovered by Lunex scientists) that interstellar lore buffs will adore.

Visually, LunarLux adopts a charming anime/manga pixel art style. Environments, while not breathtaking, are serviceable and distinct—Regolithia’s neon-lit towers contrast with Silica’s cavernous mines. Character portraits (e.g., Bella’s determined gaze, Tetra’s expressive LED eyes) and enemy designs (the biomechanical Murks, the corrupted Ancients like Guardia) inject personality. Particle effects during Lux Combos and Phase Mode transformations add flair, though animation can feel stiff during dialogue.

Sound design, however, is stellar. The soundtrack, composed by Vanilluxe Pavilion, blends moody synths with pulsing electronic beats, elevating tense battles and serene exploration. Tracks like “Battle vs. Mad Scientist” feature chaotic drum rolls that mirror the final boss’s frantic energy. Voice acting, anchored by Lizzie Freeman’s spirited performance as Bella, adds emotional weight to key scenes, while Tetra’s robotic chirps and the Murks’ guttural roars create auditory texture. The retro 8-bit hacking minigames (rendered with pixel-perfect flair) further enhance the audiovisual cohesion.

Reception & Legacy

Upon release, LunarLux received a mixed but promising critical reception. On Metacritic, it debuted with a 60% critic score (based on one review praising its “stellar combat” while lamenting “pacing issues”), yet user reviews averaged a favorable 8.2/10. Critics like Ole Gamer Joe (IDreamOfIndie) lauded the combat as “one of the most unique and refreshing takes on a turn-based system” but criticized the “excessive dialogue” and “overwhelming interactivity.” Gameplay (Benelux) noted the game’s “playful sci-fi RPG” appeal but felt it “lacked focus,” an sentiment echoed in its Switch port review. Over time, however, LunarLux’s reputation has evolved. Post-launch patches addressed technical glitches, and the addition of the Beach Episode (a $20K Kickstarter stretch goal) enriched the postgame. Its influence is evident in indie circles, particularly for its hybrid combat system, which has inspired developers to blend turn-based strategy with action elements. Culturally, it resonates as a love letter to 16-bit RPGs, with its Lux Combo system and Murk designs becoming touchstones for fans of Mega Man Battle Network. While it may not redefine the genre, LunarLux has carved a lasting niche as a heartfelt, mechanically inventive underdog.

Conclusion

LunarLux is a game of celestial contrasts—a flawed gem that shines brightest in its moments of unbridled passion. Its narrative, though bogged down by exposition, delivers a poignant exploration of legacy and sacrifice, anchored by Bella and Tetra’s endearing bond. Its gameplay, a triumph of hybrid design, revitalizes turn-based combat with timing-based dodges, strategic Skill stacking, and Lux Combos that feel genuinely empowering. The world-building, art, and sound collectively create a vibrant lunar tapestry, even if technical limitations temper its visual grandeur.

Ultimately, LunarLux is more than a mere tribute to its inspirations; it’s a testament to the power of indie ingenuity. While its pacing problems and UI quirks prevent perfection, the game’s heart—its themes of redemption, its combat brilliance, and its unwavering optimism—propels it to greatness. For RPG enthusiasts seeking a blend of nostalgia and novelty, LunarLux is not just a game worth playing—it’s a celestial odyssey worth remembering. In the annals of video game history, it stands as a bold, ambitious whisper from the moon: that even in the vastness of space, humanity’s greatest achievements are born from courage, curiosity, and cheesecake bars. Final Verdict: 8/10—a flawed, unforgettable voyage.