The Last Blade (Bakumatsu Roman - Gekka no Kenshin), is a fighting game series created by SNK for the Neo Geo system. The Korean version of the game is known as "The Last Soldier". The Last Blade and its sequel are widely considered to be two of the most accomplished games available for the Neo Geo system, with fan opinion divided as to which is the better installment.
The game takes place during the late Tokugawa shogunate era in Japan, and incorporates various elements of Japanese mythology (with a heavy emphasis on the symbology of the Four Symbols). As such, the background music generally incorporates synthesized instruments simulating a sound appropriate to the 19th century setting, in a Western classical, pseudo-Romantic style (unusual for a fighting game).
STORY:
Long before humanity existed, in a far off time of myth, death was an unknown, equally distant concept, but when death first came to the world, the "Messenger from Afar" was born.
With time, the Sealing Rite was held in order to seal Death behind Hell's Gate. At that time, two worlds, one near and one far, were born. Thus the history of life and death began.
Half a year has passed since Suzaku's madness, and the underworld is still linked by a great portal. Kagami's great sin is still heard as if ringing from the heavens. Our world has been called upon. Legends of long ago told of the sealing of the boundary between the two worlds. The Sealing Rite would be necessary to hold back the spirits of that far away world. However, the Sealing Rite brings together the power of the Four Gods and Sealing Maiden, for the first time properly completing the ritual.
To find the Sealing Maiden, Genbu began searching in the center of the world, from which all things begin. At the same time in the underworld, in the depths of darkness, many spirits conspired, plotting to hinder the Sealing Rite. They had but one wish, to be reborn into our world.
In the American version of this arcade game, the games opening story retains its original Japanese text and voice over.
CHARACTERS:
1 Akari Ichijou
2 Musashi Akatsuki
3 Genbu no Okina
4 Hibiki Takane
5 Hyo Amano
6 Juzoh Kanzaki
7 Kaede
8 Keiichiro Washizuka
9 Kojiroh Sanada
10 Kouryu
11 Lee Rekka
12 Moriya Minakata
13 Setsuna
14 Shigen Naoe
15 Shikyoh
16 Shinnosuke Kagami
17 Yuki
18 Zantetsu
GAMEPLAY:
The Last Blade series is seen as a spiritual successor to SNK's popular Samurai Shodown series, due to it being a similar 2D weapons-based fighting game. The gameplay is characterised by two selectable fighting styles, and a unique combo system along with a "deflect" system which involves pressing the D button at an opponents attack. Upon deflecting, the opponent is left open to attack.
The two styles consist of two modes: Speed mode and Power mode:
- Speed mode allows players to chain several normal attacks into a special or desperation/super move, as well as execute a "Speed Combo".
- Power mode on the other hand, grants the player increased damage potential exponentially and giving access to "Super Desperation Moves" which inflict an exorbitant amount of damage (the recommendations to performing them however, requires the player's life bar to flash and have a full power bar). Power mode also allows the player to perform Super Cancels; canceling a special move into a desperation/super move (but not a desperation move, with the sole exception of Awakened Kaede in the first game).
PLAYSTATION VERSION:
The Playstation One version was more or less the same as the Neo Geo CD version, but with an absolutely hideous anime intro and the added feature of playing as Kojiroh Sanada (the real Kojiroh Sanada, not his sister), who's actually just a palette swap of Washizuka.
Manufacturer's description:
Featuring some of SNK's finest characters with weapons and its ever so refined game engine, Last Blade keeps the 2D torch burning very brightly.
Features:
- Third person perspective.
- 2D graphics
- Cartoon graphics
- Medieval Japan theme.
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