Lunar Knights is closely tied to the GBA Boktai series, a game that included a sun-sensing gimmick that affected gameplay based upon the intensity of the surrounding light. Knights opts for a virtual sky to make things a little more lenient, but you still have to stay aware of the weather - Lucian is more suited for nighttime attacks, while Aaron's solar gun needs daylight to keep going. Holding the A button in key areas bathes you in heavenly goodness, recharging your abilities and ensuring your survival.
Knights comes from the Metal Gear masterminds at Kojima Productions, so it's no surprise that sneaky stealth modes have made it into the game. If you blow into the DS' microphone, your character will whistle and alert any surrounding enemies. Thing is, they're kinda stupid so they'll head straight for current location - just start running and you can pass right by them, provided there's a little bit of cover between you and the creature.
Leveling up Aaron and Lucian is done by pumping power points into their stats, sort of like X-Men Legends. Some abilities take multiple points to level up, while others are bottom-of-the-line features that take no time at all the build. A healthy selection of items and weapons rounds out the whole RPG feel.
Then there are the Casket Rocket areas, where you're flying a spaceship just out of orbit, blasting vampires into oblivion. The stylus both moves the ship and targets incoming enemies, so it's not the easiest setup to get behind. The 3D graphics garishly stick out when compared to the normal game's crisp, 2D animation. The lengthy animated cutscenes look even better, offering a sense of style few DS games have managed to pack in on their tiny carts.
Lunar Knights is still slated for a "winter" release, but we'll bet it's out in plenty of time for the impending madness of the holiday season.
