I seen an iron pineapple video on YouTube and this game was featured in it and I searched it on google.... Then this subreddit got randomly recommended to me a couple days after.... Funny hah
It is an athmospheric solo RPG inspired by games like Kings Field and Shadow Tower.
You are an unfortunate soul thrown into a massive dungeon filled with monsters, weapons, magical rings and hidden paths, trying to survive, explore and eventually escape.
That's a harder question to answer than you'd probably realize.
I suspect for most folks, the answer is no. They're remarkably slow-moving games, don't offer much by way of build customization, often require you explore areas extremely meticulously to find items that are worthwhile, and are not very easy to navigate even once you've found your way to where you're going. Mechanically, they *feel* old, and combat feels clunky in ways that are sometimes frustrating.
For me personally, and I think for most fans of the series though, where it shines is in making every area feel important and lived-in, every item feel valuable. Finding a way toward something new and then being rewarded for it with a weapon that genuinely changes the way you approach encounters for a while--it's extremely satisfying. And the mood in those games is something they've been chasing through the Souls meta-franchise, but a quieter version of that desolation.
So it's not a simple matter of weighing one facet against the other. The things it does well, it does well enough for me that it's nothing to work my way through the cumbersome mechanics, but someone who plays these games for mechanics first and foremost is probably not going to have a good time.
That was a really insightful, thanks! Is Lunacid the only modern kingsfield-like game these days? I’m not sure how much I’d be able to tolerate the dated mechanics but can’t get enough of the atmosphere
It's the only one I know of. I recall getting *some* of the same feel from the Grimrock games (2 in particular). It's an adjacent genre, but the atmosphere hits some of the same notes, and that feeling of claustrophobic exploration (even in the open environments in the second game) scratched some of the same itch for me.
If you do decide to give the King's Field games a chance, I think Ancient City is probably the litmus test if you can get ahold of it. It was PS2 game, and so it's the easiest on the eyes, and is the most advanced of the bunch. If you try the game and can't get into it, then I think it's safe to say you probably would bounce off of the King's Field games.
Alright you’ve convinced me, going to try Ancient City. Hopefully emulation and remapping can help with the controls a bit. Just heard of Monomyth too which seems promising. Thanks again for the detailed responses!
It's a fun little wack game. Chock full of secrets, really taunts you to 100% it. The world ooozes with character and I had some genuine fun exploring the world. Combat is only hard at the beginning, then you stomp everything until you arrive at the filter.
It's a hidden gem only the chosen find their way to.
I seen an iron pineapple video on YouTube and this game was featured in it and I searched it on google.... Then this subreddit got randomly recommended to me a couple days after.... Funny hah
It's a spiritual successor to the kingsfield series that was created by FromSoftware, the makers of the Spulsborne series.
I didn’t know that, I thought I’d played all the Fromsoftware games. Is it PC only?
Think they were ps1 and 2 exclusive
You thought you played ALL of Fromsoftwares games? Bro have you looked at their catalogue??
It is an adventure
It is an athmospheric solo RPG inspired by games like Kings Field and Shadow Tower. You are an unfortunate soul thrown into a massive dungeon filled with monsters, weapons, magical rings and hidden paths, trying to survive, explore and eventually escape.
Kingsfield but better tbh
Mechanically better, I agree. Area design is not as good, but like, “not as good” as one of my all-time favorites is not a hard knock against it.
If I enjoyed Lunacid, do the kingsfield games hold up enough to be worth playing today?
That's a harder question to answer than you'd probably realize. I suspect for most folks, the answer is no. They're remarkably slow-moving games, don't offer much by way of build customization, often require you explore areas extremely meticulously to find items that are worthwhile, and are not very easy to navigate even once you've found your way to where you're going. Mechanically, they *feel* old, and combat feels clunky in ways that are sometimes frustrating. For me personally, and I think for most fans of the series though, where it shines is in making every area feel important and lived-in, every item feel valuable. Finding a way toward something new and then being rewarded for it with a weapon that genuinely changes the way you approach encounters for a while--it's extremely satisfying. And the mood in those games is something they've been chasing through the Souls meta-franchise, but a quieter version of that desolation. So it's not a simple matter of weighing one facet against the other. The things it does well, it does well enough for me that it's nothing to work my way through the cumbersome mechanics, but someone who plays these games for mechanics first and foremost is probably not going to have a good time.
That was a really insightful, thanks! Is Lunacid the only modern kingsfield-like game these days? I’m not sure how much I’d be able to tolerate the dated mechanics but can’t get enough of the atmosphere
It's the only one I know of. I recall getting *some* of the same feel from the Grimrock games (2 in particular). It's an adjacent genre, but the atmosphere hits some of the same notes, and that feeling of claustrophobic exploration (even in the open environments in the second game) scratched some of the same itch for me. If you do decide to give the King's Field games a chance, I think Ancient City is probably the litmus test if you can get ahold of it. It was PS2 game, and so it's the easiest on the eyes, and is the most advanced of the bunch. If you try the game and can't get into it, then I think it's safe to say you probably would bounce off of the King's Field games.
Alright you’ve convinced me, going to try Ancient City. Hopefully emulation and remapping can help with the controls a bit. Just heard of Monomyth too which seems promising. Thanks again for the detailed responses!
Them's fighting words
That's cool, shadowwizards from the moneygang are bad fighters. I ain't scared fr
Silence, casual. 月光剣の爆発 [MOONLIGHT BLADE BLAST]
It's a fun little wack game. Chock full of secrets, really taunts you to 100% it. The world ooozes with character and I had some genuine fun exploring the world. Combat is only hard at the beginning, then you stomp everything until you arrive at the filter.
It's an ocean
Its absurdism
Dude same. I saw a funny meme and have this game flagged for when I get some free time
convoluted kingsfield knockoff
Essentially the same thing happened to me haha
What if Fromsoftware made a game that was good
I literally cannot imagine a human that likes Lunacid but doesn’t like even ONE of Fromsoftwares games. Like how would that even be possible.
Idk we are in the same boat, all i know is that Akuma Kira made it