When the Lunar Remastered Collection was unveiled, nostalgia and excitement filled the air among fans of the classic 1990s JRPG series, which began on the Sega CD before finding its way to the Saturn and PS1. The series, revered for its storytelling and gameplay, was especially famous for its English localisation by Working Designs, which featured notable voice acting that left a lasting impression on its audience.
However, despite eager anticipation, it has now been confirmed that the remaster will not include the original English voice acting from the '90s. Victor Ireland, the founder of Working Designs, revealed this disappointing news, emphasizing that the decision was out of his hands. In a discussion on the Retro Hangover podcast, Ireland expressed his readiness to collaborate with GungHo, the company behind the Lunar remasters, by offering the original localizations "for cheap." He stressed his willingness to ensure that the remaster was the best it could be, even reaching out proactively with the offer.
Despite his efforts, Ireland has encountered "radio silence" from the remaster's developers. His outreach has been met with no response, leaving the offer to include the nostalgic voice acting on the table, unaccepted. Ireland's frustration was palpable as he described the situation as a missed opportunity to deliver what he believes the fans truly deserve—a remastered version that stays true to what made the original so special.
This isn't the first time Ireland has been snubbed in his attempts to contribute to reviving classic games. He shared that similar situations had occurred before, such as when he was contacted by Sega ahead of the Genesis Mini 2's release. Ireland was prepared to license the use of his localizations for a modest royalty, which he argued would safeguard him financially if Sega later ramped up production. Despite his compromise, negotiations fell through, and his involvement was minimized to an "insultingly small one-time fee," which he refused.
Critics of the decision to exclude the original voice acting argue that the Lunar Remastered Collection could have greatly benefited from the authenticity and depth that the voice acting brought to the original games. To fans who grew up with these titles, the voice work is seen not only as a key component but as the definitive version of the characters they loved. The omission of this aspect has, therefore, left many feeling that the remasters might shortchange them, echoing Ireland's sentiments that what is being offered is merely a "check the box" effort that doesn’t fully honor the legacy of the original games.
Beyond the voice acting, Ireland hinted at a trove of other extras he could offer, including uncensored outtakes and archival audience tapes, which could enrich the remastered editions even more. His readiness to provide these resources speaks to his commitment to preserving the titles' histories and enhancing fans' enjoyment of the games.
Though the decisions around the English localisation for this remaster seem set for now, the situation sheds light on the broader issues of cultural preservation in the gaming industry. It raises questions about how companies should handle legacy content when updating classic games for new audiences and platforms. As the project moves forward without the acclaimed English voice acting, the gaming community will no doubt watch closely to see how the Lunar Remastered Collection will be received upon its release.
Fans eagerly anticipating the chance to relive their cherished memories with Lunar's remastered editions might feel an element of loss, but there remains hope that the remasters will still capture the essence of what made the originals so beloved. However, the exclusion of the original English voiceovers will likely serve as a reminder of what could have been had the developers embraced every aspect of the games' storied pasts.
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