LUNARK

LUNARK is a passionate revival of the cinematic platformer, a genre defined by deliberate movement, rotoscoped animation, and tense, methodical pacing. Developed by Canari Games and published by WayForward, it embraces the spirit of classics like Flashback and Another World while reshaping them with modern polish and a cohesive sci-fi atmosphere. The game follows Leo, a courier with a mysterious past, navigating a world on the edge of collapse. Humanity lives under a powerful regime, and a looming rebellion stirs beneath the surface. From the outset, LUNARK establishes a strong thematic identity — one of oppression, secrecy, and survival — conveyed not through heavy exposition but through environments, encounters, and subtle world-building layered into every location Leo visits. The most immediate strength of LUNARK is its visual and cinematic presentation. The rotoscoped animation gives Leo’s movements a sense of weight and realism uncommon in pixel-art games. Every action — climbing, rolling, hanging from ledges, leaping across gaps — feels grounded, almost tactile, as if the character’s physicality is a puzzle piece you must constantly take into account. The environmental art is equally striking. Across factories, prisons, alien landscapes, and sprawling futuristic cities, the game delivers rich, atmospheric backdrops bursting with detail. Combined with stylized pixel visuals and sharp lighting, each scene becomes a small work of art that supports the tension and scale of Leo’s journey. Even brief cutscenes, animated with a smoothness that echoes the genre’s origins, help stitch the story together with flair. As a cinematic platformer, LUNARK places great emphasis on precision and patience. Movement is intentionally measured rather than agile: Leo’s momentum matters, jumps require careful spacing, and hazardous rooms punish rushed decisions. Players accustomed to modern, highly responsive platformers may initially find this style restrictive, but once understood, its rhythm becomes rewarding. Each area becomes a choreographed sequence of running starts, timed rolls, deliberate climbs, and carefully placed shots. When a difficult segment finally clicks — combining navigation, combat, and puzzle-solving in a single fluid run — the sense of accomplishment is significant. This deliberate pacing invites players to observe more closely, strategize their approach, and savor the atmosphere rather than rushing through it. Combat and exploration complement the platforming without overwhelming it. Leo’s blaster functions on a cooldown system rather than ammunition, encouraging thoughtful firing rather than spammed shots. Enemies come in varied forms — drones, soldiers, environmental turrets, and more — requiring players to understand their patterns and time attacks effectively. Combat is rarely the centerpiece of the experience, but it adds urgency to the platforming, especially when combined with environmental hazards. Exploration, meanwhile, rewards attentiveness: secrets hidden in corners of the map offer health expansions or upgrades, and stages feature light puzzle-solving that blends naturally into platforming challenges. These elements enrich the game’s structure, preventing repetition and adding depth to each chapter. Narratively, LUNARK opts for a minimalist approach. Rather than inundating players with lore, it allows information to surface gradually, revealing pieces of Leo’s past and the world’s larger mysteries through small interactions, brief scenes, and contextual snippets. This restraint works to the game’s advantage, giving the world a sense of history without slowing the pace. The story’s emotional beats land effectively, driven more by tone and imagery than dialogue. As Leo uncovers the truths behind his own origins and the authoritarian world he inhabits, the narrative’s stakes become clear, culminating in moments that feel earned even without lengthy exposition. However, LUNARK’s uncompromising design is both its greatest strength and its most notable barrier. The controls, faithful to the cinematic platformer legacy, can feel unforgiving — especially in moments where combat, platforming, and environmental hazards overlap. Small errors may lead to sudden deaths, and the game expects players to learn its timing rather than adapt to theirs. For some, this strictness contributes to the game’s charm; for others, it may feel outdated or frustrating. Additionally, while the game’s length is tight and focused, some players may wish for more content or expanded narrative depth once the adventure ends. These critiques do not diminish the overall experience but highlight that LUNARK is a game built for a specific audience — those who appreciate patience, precision, and retro-inspired challenge. In the end, LUNARK stands as a thoughtful and lovingly crafted homage to a classic style of platforming that many modern games rarely attempt. Its beautiful pixel-art world, evocative animations, and carefully paced gameplay create a memorable sci-fi adventure rooted in atmosphere and skillful design. While its exacting controls and methodical movement may not appeal to everyone, players who embrace its rhythm will find a deeply satisfying experience that captures the essence of cinematic platformers while infusing them with fresh artistry. LUNARK is both a tribute and a statement — proof that this genre still holds power, beauty, and tension when crafted with care. Rating: 8/10

I'm a huge fan of Another World and other cinematic platformers from that time, like Flashback or Heart of the Darkness. While this title borrows heavily from these classic games, it feels inferior to them in every aspect and offers little innovation. Controls? Feel even clunkier than in older titles. Graphics? Lower sprite resolution than in older titles. Story and setting? Generic, older titles are much more creative and interesting. Conclusion? Better to play/replay 30-year-old games.

If anyone has played Prince of Persia or Flashback this will feel very familiar. For anyone who hasn't played those games the controls may seem different to what you're used to but stick with it. While very much in the mould of earlier cinematic platformers, it has enough of its own innovations in playability to feel like an advancement. Care has also been taken to reduce some of the clunk of those earlier games. As for the story? I’m not going to spoil anything. Suffice to say Lunark will join Flashback as a game I'll continue to replay for years to come.

Espèce d’ode au cinématique platformer des années 90, Lunark en reprend malheureusement les principaux travers. Les animations sont relativement jolies, même si se sont des animations 3D downgradées en pixel art pour coller à l’univers. Le jeu dans l'ensemble reste assez laid pour un titre de 2023. J’ai bien compris que c’est fait exprès pour rappeler des jeux comme Another World voir Prince of Persia sous certains aspects, mais ce qui relevait du génie en 1990 est devenu désolant plus de trente ans plus tard. Le jeu n’est malheureusement pas rattrapé par sa maniabilité, qui est complètement au fraise. On se retrouve avec des phases de plate-forme demandant précision et rapidité, tout en ayant littéralement une seconde de latence entre le moment où l’on appuie sur le bouton et celui où le saut s’effectue. Le fait de devoir systématiquement recommencer plusieurs tableaux avant la "phase d’action" m’a finalement beaucoup trop frustré et m’a définitivement fait lâcher la manette. Dommage, ça aurait pu être un bel hommage aux classiques du genre, mais il ne fait finalement qu’en souligner les défauts. NB: j'ai dû faire la moitié du jeu sur mon steamdeck en mode hors ligne, un temps de jeu non pris en compte par Steam

Le digne héritier de Flashback, qui en reprend les codes tout en respectant profondément notre temps. Difficulté très raisonnable, checkpoints abondants, animation et pixel art charmants, jouabilité qui évolue bien. Court mais tellement agréable! Bravo à l'auteur!

A chunky pixel throwback to the Cinematic Platformers of yore (particularly Flashback). Doesn't reinvent the wheel, but a short and solid nostalgia trip nonetheless.

Jogo genial. Adorei que os créditos finais agradecem a Jordan Mechner, Eric Chahi e Paul Cuisset já que o jogo aqui é extremamente inspirado por Prince of Persia, Another World e, *PRINCIPALMENTE*, Flashback. Se você é fã do clássico Flashback, você vai adorar esse jogo. Flashback 2 foi uma decepção, esse jogo aqui deveria ter sido o Flashback 2 de verdade. Minha única *pequena* crítica é ao fato do jogo ser bem fácil, muito porque as mortes são bem inconsequentes: morrer te jogar umas 2 a 4 telas pra trás, mas com todos os objetivos alcançados sem resetar (todas as portas abertas seguem abertas, etc), por outro lado todos os items de cura são spawnados novamente. Isso realmente faz com que morrer não tenha nenhuma grande consequência, e não era assim no Flashback (ou no Another World ou no Prince of Persia). Mas nenhum deles eram exatamente muito difíceis também, e como esse jogo aqui é razoavelmente mais longo que o Flashback sem nunca se tornar cansativo ou longo demais, acaba sendo facilmente perdoável. Jogaço, altamente recomendável.

I skimmed the description of the game and thought it'd be different but I still had a good time with this, it's only 3 hours long, and if you've ever played another world, it's a lot like that control wise (some boss fights felt frustrating since I'm so used to souls-likes). also cool pixel art, story, & enemies

7/10