GungHo Online Entertainment has launched the Lunar Remastered Collection for Xbox One, which is compatible with Xbox Series X|S. This collection honors the legacy of the classic JRPGs with updated visuals and gameplay enhancements.
Interview with Amy Nguyen, Senior Graphic Designer
To delve into the design process behind the collection’s logo, I spoke with Amy Nguyen, GungHo’s Senior Graphic Designer. We discussed her background, inspirations, and the meticulous journey that led to the final design.
Amy’s Artistic Background
Amy shared her diverse experience at GungHo, highlighting her contributions to various projects, including her role as the creative lead on the 2024 port of Grandia. Her work ranges from designing assets for national tournaments to collaborating with renowned intellectual properties.
Designing the Lunar Logo
When tasked with creating the logo for the Lunar Remastered Collection, Amy felt a mix of excitement and nerves due to the logo’s importance in conveying the game’s identity. She began by exploring multiple variations of the logo, iterating on feedback to refine her ideas until they arrived at the final design.
Inspiration from the Original Logos
In developing the new logo, Amy conducted thorough research to ensure it resonated with the nostalgic essence cherished by longtime fans. She experimented with various designs, blending the iconic red of Lunar with gold accents to reflect the remaster’s enhanced qualities while retaining the familiar shape and color schemes.
Logo Iterations and Key Features
Throughout the design process, Amy focused on staying true to the original logo’s shape and color. She crafted numerous variations, incorporating elements from both Lunar: Silver Star Story and Lunar 2: Eternal Blue. The final logo features distinctive typographic elements, such as an elongated tail on the letter ‘R’ that echoes the original design, enhancing visual interest.
Collaboration with Toshiyuki Kubooka
In preparing the packaging, Amy expressed her admiration for the newly created key visuals by original Lunar artist Toshiyuki Kubooka. The intricate designs he produced added freshness to the iconic series. The front cover design integrated these visuals seamlessly, ensuring they fit well within the packaging while maintaining essential details.
Back Cover Design Considerations
For the back cover, Amy employed pixel sprites that evoke nostalgia and character personality. This design featured a gradient background to differentiate between the two games included in the collection, while still presenting a cohesive overall aesthetic. The layout was crafted with careful attention to branding elements from the logo.
Final Thoughts on the Package Design
Amy’s favorite aspect of the project was the collaborative process, working alongside Kubooka and various teams within GungHo. She appreciated the collective effort that led to the final design, believing it represents the dedication and passion of all involved in bringing the Lunar Remastered Collection to life.
The Lunar Remastered Collection is currently available on Xbox, offering enhanced graphics, audio, and various quality-of-life improvements, catering to both new players and long-time fans of the series.