It only took 23 years, but Moon (originally called Moon: Remix RPG Adventure in Japan) has finally been localized into English. It's hard to define Moon as anything other than a game that was far ahead of its time, yet is somehow a product of the year it was made, warts and all.
Let's start over. Moon begins with a young boy playing a video game on his GameStation. The game he is playing is a parody of 16-bit JRPGs, where a legendary hero goes on a quest to fight a dragon. The player's mother tells them to go to bed, and when the boy falls asleep, they are dragged into the world of the video game they just played. They have been brought into a setting that they have just destroyed while playing as a hero, as the corpses of slain animals now litter the landscape, and people live in fear of the warrior who just barged into their home and took their stuff. The protagonist has been brought to this world by a mysterious queen, who wants them to spread as much Love as possible, either by saving the souls of the slain animals or helping the residents out with their lives.
Using Your Head
To say that Moon is a unique game is an understatement. The game has been described as an "antiRPG" and it was cited as one of the main inspirations for Undertale, all of which is written into the DNA of Moon. It's the player's job to explore the game world in order to solve puzzles, complete quests, and unlock new areas. The entire game world lives on its own schedule, with residents appearing at specific places at certain times. There is no combat in Moon, which means players have to resolve all issues with their brains. Completing quests will earn the player Love, which will improve the main character's stats and let them stay awake for longer without needing to rest.
The main gameplay loop of Moon involves exploring the world and helping those in need. The hero has killed lots of animals in search of experience points and the player can find their spirits by solving small puzzles. Clicking on the animal's body will give a clue as to the answer to the puzzle. The puzzles can sometimes be obtuse, and the game expects the player to be searching every nook and cranny for clues, as well as talking to people as much as possible, which can become frustrating when combined with some of the issues mentioned below. The more frustrating puzzles are the ones involving the cast, as these are tied to the schedule and require more item hunting than the animal spirits. Fortunately, these quests are also the highlight of Moon, with moments that can be both laugh out loud funny and genuinely touching. The localization job in Moon is excellent and the quality of the writing is top-notch all around.
The visuals are reminiscent of 32-bit era 2D games like Saga Frontier and they match the bizarre (and sometimes creepy) world of Moon. The character and world design is fantastic and matches the surreal atmosphere of the game, even if everything is stuck within a 4:3 frame. The soundtrack is equally stunning, and the game features a wide range of vaguely Simlish sound effects for its cast that will grab the player's attention whenever they talk.
A Slow Start...
One major problem that Moon is that it's a product of its era and people expecting modern conveniences might be caught off-guard. The game doesn't explain some of its most important features, and the player is given little guidance outside of "spread Love". As such, the player will likely spend the first few hours repeatedly dying, as the protagonist has a stamina meter that depletes over the course of the day and they can't do much before dropping dead of exhaustion. The only way to save is by sleeping in bed, of which there are only two in the game. Fortunately, the more Love the player spreads, the more stamina they will receive. The player will also unlock fast travel options over the course of the game, so stamina becomes less of an issue over time, but it's still a pain to endure at the start of the story. The fact that there is little guidance in Moon, coupled with the schedule and stamina limit can make exploring a hassle during the first few hours of the game, at a time when it should be encouraged.
The other problem with Moon is its slow pace. Once the player has opened up the game world, they will often have to revisit areas and repeat activities. It's here when the character's slow movement speed and the pacing of the text start to become grating. Moon would have benefitted from the speed-up option seen in games like the modern Final Fantasy ports, in order to get through some of the duller moments faster.
... But Worth Some Love
Moon is going to be a hard sell for a lot of people, as it's hard to get across just how bizarre and unique it is. It has its frustrating moments and the fact that the developers have asked fans on Twitter to seek out the manual for the game is telling, as it comes from an era where nothing is explained. Once the player comes to terms with the annoying parts and things start to click, they will find a game that's strange, engaging, and unforgettable all at once, with a story that may change how people look at RPGs in the future.
A Switch copy of Moon was purchased by the reviewer for this review. Moon is available now for Nintendo Switch.
Moon
Onion Games describes Moon as an 'anti-RPG', a game initially launched in Japan in 1997 before getting a Western translation in 2021. You play a young boy transported through a TV screen into a video game, where he must find love in order to grow stronger.