Lunar Remastered Collection: The Creation of Its Stellar Logo and Package Design

Today marks the exciting release of the Lunar Remastered Collection for Xbox One, which is also compatible with Xbox Series X|S. To dive into this nostalgic celebration, I had the pleasure of chatting with Amy Nguyen, the talented Senior Graphic Designer at GungHo America. We discussed the logo creation for this remaster, uncovering the inspirations and processes behind its design.

Hey there, Amy! I appreciate you taking the time to chat. To kick things off, can you tell us about your journey as an artist and some standout projects you’ve tackled at GungHo?

Hi! It’s great to chat. I’ve had the chance to work on a variety of projects, ranging from crafting assets for national gaming tournaments to collaborating with globally recognized intellectual properties. My first major project as a creative lead was the 2024 console port of Grandia.

What went through your mind when you were first tasked with designing the Lunar logo?

When the project landed on my desk, I was equally thrilled and anxious—this logo is integral to the game’s brand identity. I started by experimenting with a few design variations. Once I had a rough sense of direction, it became a back-and-forth process of gathering feedback and refining the logo until we finally hit the mark.

How did the original logos influence this new design during your creative process?

I kicked off the process with thorough research, especially since a remaster is inherently about honoring what came before. I wanted the main logo to capture the beloved essence of Lunar for its longstanding fans. This meant brainstorming extensively and sketching countless ideas. We went through various iterations, from minor tweaks to major overhauls. Ultimately, we settled on a design that merged the iconic red and inner glow of Lunar with fresh gold accents, nodding to the remastered elements.

Creating a final logo often involves numerous drafts. Where did you draw inspiration for each iteration?

I prioritized maintaining the nostalgic shapes and colors of the original “Lunar” text while also incorporating the remaster’s essence. Each sketch explored different design avenues to pinpoint what worked best. For instance, some variations played with color combinations mixing the reds and blues from different Lunar episodes, while others experimented with decorative elements like the dragon sword and ribbon. In the end, a blend of initial ideas formed the official logo!

Now let’s talk specifics. What special details in the final design do you personally love?

I’m particularly fond of the elongated ‘R’ in “Remastered,” which echoes the original Lunar logo’s style. For letters in “Remastered Collection,” I emphasized serifs to heighten the font’s visual intrigue.

We have to talk about Toshiyuki Kubooka’s stunning new visuals for the remaster. How did they impact your packaging design?

Kubooka’s intricate artistry blew me away, especially his fresh approach with darker backgrounds and layered compositions. His original visuals adapted beautifully to our CD covers, requiring minimal adjustments to fit safely within the cover space.

You had more creative leeway for the back cover design. What guided your choices there?

I wanted to capture the nostalgic charm of pixel sprites, so I added them to the back cover. They lend personality while connecting with the game’s nostalgic roots. These were paired with screenshots offering a glimpse of the gameplay. I tied everything together with gold hues and fonts from the logo, ensuring a cohesive design. A gradient transition clearly distinguishes the two games, while still presenting them as a unified collection.

What’s your favorite part of the package design journey?

I cherished working with Kubooka, as well as the whole collaborative spirit in designing the package. While I focused on the visual and aesthetic elements, I received great support from both GungHo’s Marketing and Production teams and the original developer, Game Arts. It was a team effort, and hopefully, it’s something fans will truly enjoy!

And there you have it—Lunar: Remastered Collection is now ready for adventure on Xbox. Dive into the cherished worlds of LUNAR: Silver Star Story Complete and LUNAR 2: Eternal Blue Complete, beloved by gamers for generations.

Join Alex, an aspiring Dragonmaster, and Hiro with his companions in their respective grand quests. This remaster enhances graphics, audio, and overall quality to satiate your 90s nostalgia, featuring updated language support in multiple languages. Ready to relive or discover these adventures? Now’s your chance!