Creating the Lunar Remastered Collection: The Inspiration Behind Its Iconic Logo and Packaging Design

To mark the launch of Lunar Remastered Collection, now available on Xbox One and adaptable for the Xbox Series X|S, I had the pleasure of chatting with Amy Nguyen, our Senior Graphic Designer at GungHo America. She shared some fascinating insights into the design journey of the new logo for this remaster, including her sources of inspiration and the creative process she followed.

Hey Amy! I’m thrilled you could join me for this conversation. Can you tell us a bit about your background in art and some significant projects you’ve handled at GungHo?

Hi! It’s great to be here. I’ve had the chance to work on a diverse array of projects. One of my early significant assignments was designing assets for a national tournament for one of our titles. I also worked on high-profile IP collaborations and most recently led the creative process for the console port of Grandia, slated for release in 2024.

What went through your mind when you received the task of designing the Lunar logo?

There was this mix of excitement and a touch of anxiety when I was tasked with creating the Lunar logo. It’s such a crucial element in the game’s branding. I started by crafting a few variations and continued to refine them based on feedback until we reached the design you see today.

Considering the design process leading to the official logo’s creation, did you look at the original logos for reference?

Absolutely, I always start with some research. Given that we’re working on a remaster, it was important for the logo to evoke the iconic image beloved by long-time fans of Lunar. I began by sketching numerous ideas, making sure to vary the designs significantly. We finally chose a design that melds the classic red of Lunar with a fresh gold accent, symbolizing the remastered nature of the games.

The logo went through several versions. Where did you find inspiration for each of these iterations?

Keeping the nostalgic feel of the original Lunar text in mind, I explored both its classic color schemes and elements unique to the remaster. Each version sought to test different design directions; some played with colors, combining the reds and blues from different versions of Lunar, while others experimented with symbolic accents like the dragon sword and ribbon. Eventually, we settled on a fusion of these ideas to create the final look.

Are there any unique features of the final logo you’d like to point out?

I particularly enjoyed designing the elongated tail on the ‘R’ in “Remastered,” paying homage to the original Lunar logo. Small adjustments to the serifs on specific letters like R, E, and N also helped enhance the logo’s visual appeal.

Lunar’s original artist, Toshiyuki Kubooka, added new visuals to the remaster. What were your thoughts on them and how did they influence your packaging design?

Mr. Kubooka’s detailed work on the key visuals was mesmerizing. The darker, layered composition he introduced was a fresh take on Lunar’s classic art. For the front packaging, his key visual seamlessly fit the cover with only minor tweaks needed to ensure everything was perfect.

Turning to the back cover, you had a bit more freedom there. What guided your design choices?

I was keen on incorporating pixel sprites on the back cover to evoke nostalgia while ensuring the design felt cohesive with the front. Alongside these, screenshots offer a glimpse into the game’s essence. I tied in elements like the gold hue and font style from the logo for consistency and used a gradient transition to tie together both games while highlighting their distinct narratives.

What’s your favorite part of the packaging design?

Working closely with Mr. Kubooka, and collaborating with both GungHo’s and Game Arts’ teams, was incredibly rewarding. Everyone poured their passion into this project, and I’m proud of the outcome. I hope it resonates with players just as much as it does with us.

Dive into the reimagined adventures of LUNAR: Silver Star Story Complete and LUNAR 2: Eternal Blue Complete, two JRPG gems that have enchanted gamers for decades. Join Alex, an earnest Dragonmaster in the making, or follow Hiro’s epic mission a millennium later, each bringing a captivating narrative to life. Experience this remastered collection with improved graphics, audio, and user-friendly tweaks that elevate 90s nostalgia to new heights, now with multilingual support available in English, Japanese, French, and German.

Lunar Remastered Collection is out now on Xbox.