Reviews:
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This pretty cool throwback to the age of classic cinematic adventures like Out of This World (and others) is a retro treat
For people who aren’t “vintage gamers” out there I’m not sure how to convey how mind-blowing the arrival of cinematic adventures were back in the day. I remember watching the opening sequence in Out of This World, mouth agape, and then being further blown away by the fact that for the most part the game and its characters looked very much the same. Sure, we’re talking about very crude and pretty blocky versions of people, but at the time that was really groundbreaking. Since Lunark is generally conceived and executed in that same general mold I’ll admit I was pretty quickly and easily taken with it. In the same vein as the games that inspired it, the focus is generally more on puzzle solving and executing critical jumps or other moves in order to stay alive. Be warned that, consistent with those titles, the timing of your execution isn’t quite as quick as you’re used to, you’ll need to slightly anticipate some things like jumps, but thankfully it’s consistent in execution so once you have it down you should generally be set. What’s nice is that in general the game is also quite forgiving, providing periodic means for healing as well as checkpoints which make your failures less aggravating. While you could say it’s surprising that a game with such a dated look and overall sensibilities could provide a terrific modern gaming experience, that’s absolutely where I landed with it. It won’t be for everyone, but it’s a faithful adaptation of a style and type of gameplay I’ve missed.
Justin Nation, Score:Nindie Choice! [8.3]