Lunar Remastered Collection has just made its debut on Xbox One, and it’s also fully compatible with Xbox Series X|S. Today, I’m excited to share an insightful conversation with Amy Nguyen, the Senior Graphic Designer at GungHo America, who played a pivotal role in reshaping the iconic logo of this beloved series for its latest release. We dove into her creative journey, inspirations, and the detailed process behind crafting this new logo.
To kick off our conversation, I asked Amy about her artistic journey and the standout projects she’s worked on at GungHo.
“Hello there! It’s great to chat. I’ve been fortunate enough to work on varied projects, from national tournament designs for our games to partnering with some renowned IPs. Leading the creative direction for Grandia’s console port in 2024 was a significant milestone for me,” Amy shared enthusiastically.
I couldn’t help but wonder how she felt when she took on the challenge of redesigning the Lunar logo.
“Honestly, I was both thrilled and a bit anxious when I got the brief,” Amy admitted. “It’s a big responsibility to shape a logo that encapsulates a game’s identity. I started with several designs and went through a cycle of feedback and revisions until the perfect design emerged.”
Curious about her design approach, I asked if she referenced the original logos as she worked on the new one.
“I always begin with research. For this remaster, it was crucial to honor the original brand image that fans have loved for years. Using that as a basis, I brainstormed a flurry of ideas. Several iterations later, we settled on a design that retained the iconic Lunar red, paired with fresh gold accents, symbolizing the remaster’s refined quality.”
A rich history of iterations led to the final design, so I inquired about where she drew her creative inspiration during those stages.
“My goal was to honor the nostalgic elements from the original Lunar text while hinting at its remastered nature. We experimented with color combinations and various icons like the dragon sword and ribbons from Eternal Blue’s Sega CD version. A blend of these elements eventually crystallized into the official logo everyone can now see.”
Discussing unique features of the new logo, Amy highlighted, “I love the elongated ‘R’ in ‘Remastered.’ It nods to the original while adding a modern touch. Certain letters have exaggerated serifs that give the logo distinct elegance.”
When I learned Toshiyuki Kubooka, the original Lunar artist, contributed new visuals, I was curious about her reaction and how it influenced the package design.
“His work is breathtaking! The darker tones mixed with a collage effect gave a fresh perspective on the beloved art. The front package layout felt intuitive, as Kubooka’s visuals were almost a perfect fit, requiring only minimal adjustments.”
On designing the back cover, Amy noted, “I wanted it to feel cohesive yet distinct for each game. Including pixel sprites was vital; they add nostalgia and personality. Screenshots provided game snippets, and the gradient background unified the two titles.”
Reflecting on her favorite aspect of the entire packaging process, Amy expressed, “Collaborating with Mr. Kubooka, coupled with the teamwork between GungHo’s Marketing and Production divisions and Game Arts, was truly rewarding. Their collective effort shaped a package design I believe fans will cherish.”
As we wrapped up our conversation, Amy encouraged fans to dive into Lunar Remastered Collection on Xbox. With updates in graphics, audio, and multi-language support, this remaster promises to captivate old fans and new alike, delivering a wave of ’90s nostalgia.
