Today marks an exciting moment for Lunar fans as the Lunar Remastered Collection becomes available on Xbox One and is compatible with the Xbox Series X|S. I had the privilege of chatting with Amy Nguyen, the Senior Graphic Designer at GungHo America, about the prestigious task of creating the new logo for this enduring classic. We delved into her influences, design methods, and the overall journey of bringing the logo to life.
Hi Amy! Thanks for joining me today. Could you share a bit about your creative backstory and some memorable projects you’ve tackled at GungHo?
Hello there! I’ve worked on a variety of things, from crafting assets for one of our game’s national tournaments to collaborating with major IPs. My first major gig as the creative lead was on the 2024 console port of Grandia, which was truly an enlightening experience.
What was your reaction when you were asked to design the new Lunar logo?
The prospect of designing the Lunar logo was thrilling yet slightly daunting. It’s a crucial piece of the game’s identity. My process kicked off with a couple of different takes before settling on a concept. It was a lot of back-and-forth with feedback until we nailed the final design.
Could you walk us through how you incorporated the original logo elements into the new design?
Certainly! My starting point is always research. Given that this is a remaster, I wanted to honor the cherished image of Lunar for longtime fans. That served as my launching pad for brainstorming and sketching a wide array of ideas. We explored quite a few variants, from minor adjustments to more significant changes. Ultimately, we went with the final logo that showcases Lunar’s iconic red and its internal shimmer, coupled with new golden accents signifying the game’s remastered features.
You mentioned the logo had several iterations. What inspired you during this phase?
Inspiration came from wanting to maintain the nostalgic feel of the original “Lunar” text while emphasizing the remastered aspect. We explored numerous designs to see what resonated. For instance, one version merged the red from Lunar: Silver Star Story with the blue from Lunar 2: Eternal Blue. Another focused on blending different features like the dragon sword and ribbon, nodding to Lunar 2: Eternal Blue’s Sega CD logo. Eventually, a combination of different elements formed the official logo.
Are there any particular details in the final logo that you’re particularly proud of?
Absolutely. I adore the elongated tail on the ‘R’ in "Remastered," echoing the original Lunar logo’s style. I also played around with the serifs in "Remastered Collection" to enhance the typographic style, making it more captivating.
Original Lunar artist Toshiyuki Kubooka provided new key visuals. How did his art impact your packaging design?
Mr. Kubooka’s detailed compositions gave the visuals a refreshing feel, blending dark backgrounds with collaged elements. For the front packaging, integrating his visuals was straightforward. Only minor tweaks were needed to fit everything safely on the cover.
On the packaging’s reverse, you had more creative freedom. Can you elaborate on your design choices?
I wanted to inject some nostalgia by including pixel sprites on the back cover, which convey significant character in a limited space. Adding screenshots also helped depict the game content. Design-wise, I mirrored the gold hues and fonts from the "Remastered" logo to maintain brand cohesion. A gradient transition distinguished the two games, emphasizing the sense of a unified collection.
What aspect of the package design do you appreciate the most?
Collaborating with Mr. Kubooka and enjoying a team effort across GungHo’s Marketing and Production departments and Game Arts was truly rewarding. The design reflects everyone’s dedication, aimed at bringing joy to our audience.
The Lunar: Remastered Collection is available for you to dive into right now. It includes LUNAR: Silver Star Story Complete, where Alex aspires to become a Dragonmaster to thwart the Magic Emperor, and LUNAR 2: Eternal Blue, where Hiro and his friends seek out the Goddess Althena. Both adventures are blessed with enhanced visuals, improved audio, and convenient quality-of-life updates. Rediscover these adventures with language options in English, Japanese, French, and German!
