“Will today’s players still enjoy a game from 30 years ago?”: JRPG icon Kei Shigema says he was thrilled to see Lunar getting a remaster even if he’s not involved himself

Kei Shigema is a novelist and game writer who’s worked on numerous projects over the years, including the likes of Asura’s Wrath and Scarlet Nexus. But he’s best known for Lunar: Silver Star Story and Lunar 2: Eternal Blue, a pair of Sega Saturn and PS1 classics that are now getting a long-overdue remaster. Shigema says he’s beyond excited that these beloved JRPGs are getting another chance, even if he’s a bit apprehensive about how modern audiences might respond.

“When I saw Grandia being remastered first,” Shigema tells GamesRadar+ through an email interview, “I thought, ‘That’s so nice. I’m jealous!'” Grandia was, of course, developed by the same studio as Lunar in Game Arts, and Shigema himself would contribute to the sequel – but it’s Lunar that’s truly his baby.

“I had been hoping for a Lunar remaster as well,” Shigema continues, “so I was thrilled when it was announced. At the same time, I can’t help but wonder – will today’s players still enjoy a game from 30 years ago?” Shigema isn’t directly involved in the production of the new Lunar Remastered Collection, which launches next month, but he’s nonetheless cognizant of its importance in helping a new audience find these old games.

“Movies, novels, and manga can be enjoyed in their original form, but games require the hardware they were originally released on, making them far less accessible. While watching old playthrough videos can give you a general idea of what a game is like, as the question suggests, games are ultimately media that must be ‘experienced,'” he says.