Lunistice review for Nintendo Switch, PC

Platform: Switch
Also on: PC
Publisher: Deck13
Developer: A Grumpy Fox
Medium: Digital
Players: 1
Online: No
ESRB: E

Given that the PS1-influenced games I?ve played relatively recently were both deeply weird, when I read that Lunistice also had stylistic debt to that era, I wasn?t sure what to expect given that it?s a 3D platformer. Would it be akin to something like Super Kiwi 64, or something far stranger?

Something else entirely, as it turns out. After all, that era featured not just two gaming titans battling it out, but three ? and it?s Sega and their crazy colour palette whose influence looms large over Lunistice.

Almost everything about Lunistice feels as if it could?ve come out alongside Nights into Dreams or an early 3D Sonic game, with lots of flashy environments and moving pieces. Not only that, everything has a slightly blurry, blocky look, which makes you feel like you?re watching the game play out on a CRT screen. Add in a fair number of collectibles to pick up in each level, and you can see why the game practically screams ?1990s.?

There?s one area, though, where Lunistice clearly sets itself apart from its influences: in how the game?s star, Hana the Tanuki, dashes and jumps her way through every level. There?s speed and fluidity to it that may echo Sonic, but more in the way Sonic plays in Sonic Colors or Sonic Frontiers. It?s been a long time since I played those ?90s 3D platformers on their original hardware, but I?m quite sure that none of them were capable of moving so seamlessly and non-clunkily as the way Hana does here (nor could the camera keep up quite as well as it does here).

And the best part? Lunistice is under $5. Given that its seven levels are highly replayable due to all those collectibles, plus a timer that gives you reason to strive for a S-tier run, and you can see why it?s easy to recommend this game.

Deck13 provided us with a Lunistice Nintendo Switch code for review purposes.

Grade: A-
Matthew Pollesel

Recent Posts

Get some Minecraft bling with the PDP REALMz Minecraft – Diamond Print Wireless Controller featuring Steve

Finally Jack Black in controller form…what, no? It’s not him? Oh man…

8 hours ago

Victrix Pro KO Leverless Fight Stick lets you execute 720s without taking up too much space in your bag

A fight stick without a stick…what a wild time we live in.

8 hours ago

Whee!! RollerCoaster Tycoon Classic is building towards a December 5th Nintendo Switch drop

A quarter of a century after the original game's launch, Atari is re-releasing one of…

9 hours ago

Hannah review for PC, Xbox

Hannah looks great…right up until you start moving.

14 hours ago

ININ Games acquires the publishing rights for Shenmue III

To celebrate the 3rd game's 5th anniversary and the original's 25th (!), YSNET has transferred…

14 hours ago

Nintendo eShop Update: Stray, Critter Café, Tiny Cats

One of 2022's best games is slinking onto the Switch in this week's update.

15 hours ago

This website uses cookies.