Lucky Luna review - "A surprisingly precise swiping platformer"

Though Netflix has achieved great success through television streaming, it is now crossing the line into video games. One of their brand new exclusive titles only available through Netflix Games, is Lucky Luna. There's no shortage of titles based on Japanese folklore, and this game is another story based on it. It's a platformer that attempts to minimize controls to finger motions rather than having on-screen UI. Should you choose to undertake the journey yourself, you'll find yourself running and jumping through a magical world that is as beautiful as it is challenging and, at times, quite frustrating.

The Lucky Luna Story

Though mobile games are not expected to have huge epic stories, some devs will try to make the most of the medium. There is a lot of lore and mystery surrounding Lucky Luna that will come to light as you continue playing. You take on the role of a young girl named Luna who wears a very distinctive fox-like mask almost all the time. Her tale begins when she washes up on an unknown shore and is drawn into the depths of some nearby ruins. She also encounters a fox that she begins to pursue through a number of mystical portals leading to wondrous and dangerous realms. Curiosity calls you to adventure and it's worthwhile to check it out.

Lucky Luna presents precision platforming at the top of your finger

When it comes to mobile gaming, it can be difficult to balance an experience between casual and engaging. However, Lucky Luna manages to pull it off through design and gameplay. It's a 2D platforming adventure where everything is controlled through tapping and swiping. Depending on the length and speed of your swipes, Luna will walk or dash in a straight line in whichever direction you choose. She can't jump, so you'll need to use the heights provided by the surrounding platforms to navigate the best route. When hazards and enemies appear, a strategic element is introduced where you need to think carefully about each move as well as the timing.

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Then there's the scale of the game. Despite being a mobile platformer based on simple finger movements, there is a lot of variety to be found in Lucky Luna. Each level has its own theme and atmosphere. They gradually introduce new mechanics and hazards so you can familiarize yourself with them before encountering more of them in different combinations. There are also a fair number of contained challenges to take on to get treasure and rare collectibles. They range from surviving a gauntlet in a contained room to riding an insect up a long shaft.

Lucky Luna will take a lot of patience and perseverance

An appealing aspect to platformers is how quick they tend to be in terms of getting started and retrying when you fail. Unfortunately, Lucky Luna can be quite unforgiving in this regard. Though there are several checkpoints, they alternate between being few and far between. This is very apparent when you realize that all it takes is one brush with danger to kill Luna and kick her back to the last checkpoint. Challenge areas are particularly harsh as many present long routes that you need to complete in one run and are fraught with hazards. This, combined with the loose feel of Luna's sliding movement, can definitely try your patience.

Seeking fortune with Lucky Luna

Lucky Luna is a Netflix-exclusive mobile 2D platforming adventure about chasing a fox through magical worlds. It provides a lot of varied levels and challenges while keeping controls quick and simple. Though the degree of difficulty can be frustrating and intimidating to casual players, it's still satisfying to complete them. Whether you're looking for a challenging game on the go or a mystical adventure to jump into now and then, you should take a chance on Lucky Luna.