Alundra

About

Alundra is a classic RPG with adventure and platform elements from Matrix Software. You play as a Dreamwalker navigating two realms, reality and nightmares, to stop a demonic force corrupting a village. Combat mixes real-time action with strategic upgrades, while exploration spans labyrinthine dungeons filled with puzzles and monsters. The story follows Alundra and ally Meia as they uncover a false god’s deception, blending mythic stakes with eerie settings. The game’s structure shifts between tense investigation and fast-paced battles, demanding both puzzle-solving and reflexes. The game stands out for its atmospheric world and challenging design. While not widely discussed today, it’s often praised for its creative dual-realm mechanics and tight controls. Originally developed for PlayStation in 1997, it retains a cult following for its ambitious blend of genres. The PlayStation Portable and PS3 ports keep it accessible for newcomers drawn to its moody aesthetic and rewarding progression.

Storyline

Alundra, the silent protagonist and player character, is an elf from the clan of Elna, the Dreamwalkers. He set out for a place called Inoa because of a recurring dream in which a mysterious figure who calls Alundra "Releaser" tells him that he must save the villagers from the evil of Melzas. The ship carrying Alundra is caught in a storm and is broken in half, leaving most of the crew dead and Alundra drifting unconscious. Alundra is next seen washed ashore to an unknown beach, where a man named Jess finds and rescues him. Jess carries Alundra to his house at the village of Inoa and lets him sleep in his guest room. In the village, Alundra discovers he is a Dreamwalker, which means he has an ability to enter other peoples' dreams, and helps the villagers get rid of the nightmares that have been possessing them. Since Alundra's arrival, bad things begin to happen in the village, with various villagers being murdered in their dreams, which leaves them dead outside of their dreams as well. Some of the villagers eventually start blaming Alundra for what is happening. Another dreamwalker, Meia, from the clan Elna arrives to the city and helps Alundra fight off the nightmares of the villagers. Later in the game, it is revealed that the demon, Melzas, has disguised himself as a god, and he is the source of all the nightmares of the village. His goal is to make the villagers pray for their god, and thus make Melzas himself gain power from their prayers. Ronan, the priest of the village, was also on the side of Melzas and helped him to deceive the villagers, and keep them praying for Melzas, the false god. Once Alundra discovers the truth, he gathers the information and items needed to access Melzas' palace to defeat the demon. After Melzas is destroyed, Alundra and Meia bid farewell to the villagers and depart together, before going their separate ways.