Lunacy (video game)
| Lunacy | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Developer(s) | System Sacom |
| Publisher(s) | Sega, Atlus Software (America) |
| Designer(s) | Hiroyuki Naruhama (director), Kaori Tsuchiya (planning), Kenji Takemoto (story), Kenichi Tanigawa and Nobuhiro Miura (English Version), Howard Delman(programming), Noriko Takeda and Koh Okamura (graphics) |
| Platform(s) | Sega Saturn |
| Release | May 31 1997 |
| Genre(s) | Graphic adventure |
| Mode(s) | Single player |
Lunacy is a videogame developed by System Sacom and published by Sega for Sega Saturn in 1997. Alternatively it was known as Torico in Europe, or, under its full title Gekka Mugentan Torico in Japan. Lunacy is a first-person adventure in the tradition of Myst, with a simple interface and many complex puzzles. The game is essentially a long series of interconnecting FMV sequences.
Storyline
The legendary City of Moons is a place said to be without aging or death, a realm of eternal happiness. When those who venture there return to this world, they are distinguished by a certain mark and left without memories...
As Lunacy opens, a traveler called Fred finds himself imprisoned in Misty Town jail. He came to the village in search of answers to his past, a past of which he has no recollection. On his head, he bears a crescent shaped tattoo. In his cell, Fred first meets the strange and seemingly all-knowing Anthony, who tells him of the legends of the City of Moons. It is said that the road to the City lies through the Misty Town. Anthony offers him the key to his cell, but after an attempted escape, Fred quickly finds himself back in the hands of Lord Gordon, the ruthless town ruler.
Lord Gordon immediately comdemns the traveler to death, but offers him a chance to save his life. If he can find the entrance to the City of Moons he will be spared. With his life now at stake, Fred begins his search for the fabled city, shadowed by Lord Gordon's sadistic henchman Jade. Throughout the village he will meet the various eccentric characters that populate the Misty Town, such as the irritable Dr. Morse, the soft-spoken Rose or the melancholic Gray. A dried up well may or may not hold the key to his mystery and as his quest unfolds, Fred's path will lead him across various items that may serve one magical function or another. Matches, oil, treesap and red paint prove to be an integral part of the puzzle...
Characters
- Fred: Also known as "The Traveler", Fred wanders around the City of Mists trying to uncover his forgotten identity. His forehead bears the imprint of a strange symbol, which seems to be the source of his amnesia.
The inhabitants of Misty Town
- Lord Gordon: A cold and ruthless man, Lord Gordon rules the Misty Town with an iron fist, alleviating his boredom by using people as pawns in his cruel games. Years ago, he fell in love with a girl called Louise, but she rejected his advances. When he tried to force her into marrying him, she committed suicide. Embittered, Lord Gordon has locked himself up in his mansion ever since.
- Jade: Jade is Lord Gordon's right hand man, and carries out his will with brutal efficiency. Always prowling the streets of Misty Town, he seems to take great pleasure in his work. He likes to pick on Fred and Anthony.
- Zaboo: Zaboo is Lord Gordon's enigmatic consort. She rarely leaves his side. It is later revealed she was a traveller once, and like Fred, found the City of Moons only to return with no recollection of her memory and a crescent tattoo on her forehead. When Lord Gordon found her he took her in and she has remained loyal to him ever since.
- Anthony: Anthony has few interests in the world of his fellow man, preferring to concentrate on his butterfly collection. Fred is first introduced to this peculiar character in Misty Town jail, where he claims to be the regular. However Anthony is kind-hearted man and helps Fred along his way with resources and advice. He seems to know a lot about the City of Moons.
- Mac: The eccentric owner of a quaint clock shop, Mac has no respect for those who do not respect time.
- Dr. Morse: Dr. Morse is the crotchety town physician and Lord Gordon's personal doctor. He does not like to be disturbed, but his door is always open. He has some knowledge of herbal remedy.
- Rose: A kind-hearted soul, Rose ekes out a humble living by tending her flower shop. All her flowers belong to Lord Gordon.
- Hal: Hal is Rose's son. He likes to follow Fred around town, and hopes to become a traveler himself one day.
- Gray: Gray has never recovered from the loss of his beautiful daughter Louise. He tends her grave but refuses to accept she is gone. He shares Fred's desire to find the City of Moons.
- Hannah: Hannah runs a dilapidated inn near Lord Gordon's manor. She takes a keen interest in handsome young travelers. She once loved a man in Misty Town who was a painter, but he disappeared after Lord Gordon ordered his house burned down.
The inhabitants of the City of Moons
- Ray: Ray acts as a spirit protector to the City of Moons and its inhabitants. She takes the presence of a ghostly old woman and offers advice to Fred.
- Louise: Louise seems to be locked up in the Tower of Moons, permanently turned to stone until her lover returns one day.
- Meg: A child-like spirit mysteriously bound to Fred, Meg guides the traveler along his way through the City of Moons.
Gameplay
Lunacy is set on two major locations: Misty Town and the City of Moons. Correspondingly, the game is divided on two discs. Once the player finishes disc 1, the game on disc 2 can be accessed and continues from there.
Although the game maintains the illusion of free three-dimensional movement, in reality each action loads a pre-scripted FMV sequence, ranging from movement through locations and picking up objects to talking to characters. Gameplay is essentially restricted to moving left and right, forward and backward or moving in to examine certain objects. The story is followed through first person perspective. Items can be collected and every important encounter is stored in a memory log. The player can save his or her progress anywhere, anytime.
Talking to the town residents is imperative to fulfill Lunacy's quest, as they will provide Fred with helpful advice and, sometimes, a key item. Some events may not even trigger until Fred has spoken to one of the townspeople. Nearly every place in Lunacy will eventually hold some importance to the game at one point or another, as will every item. It's crucial to check back often and see if anything was overlooked.
While the storyline of disc 1 follows a fairly linear course, disc 2 allows for multiple outcomes to the game, depending on what choices the player makes at a given moment or which items are used.
Miscellaneous
The number 4 seems to hold some significance in Lunacy. For starters the gateway to the City of Moons can only be accessed once every four years. Correspondingly, the wind blows only once every four years in Misty Town. In the City of Moons itself, the object is to free four butterflies, each of which connects roughly to one of the four elements: earth, water, wind and fire (light). When Fred descends in the well to find the gateway to the City of Moons it is exactly these four elements that open the portal when brought together (water, wind, crimson earth and fire).
Curiously, Anthony seems to be the only character unaffected by the City of Moons, as he is not imprisoned when he arrives nor does he suffer from amnesia after he leaves
The translation of the full Japanese title is in fact "The Legend of the City of Moons: The Prisoner", which suggests the game may have been planned as the first of a series. However no sequels ever came to fruition, and the game was simply retitled Lunacy in the US. However, given the original title, the similarities to The Prisoner TV series are likely not just coincidental.
A number of hidden bonus movies can be accessed after the game is completed by re-inserting disc 1 and entering the code x, y, z, a, b, c, l, r at the title screen. Depending on the outcome of the main game, the player will get to see 1 or 5 movies, among others the hidden sequence where Zaboo reveals her past.
External links
- Patrick J. Kelly's fansite dedicated to Lunacy - contains information, screenshots and footage from the game.
- Japanese fansite - contains basic information on the game and the characters and is also dedicated to fanfiction.
- Lunacy at MobyGames