Kaede is fighting Yuki and weapons slash quickly as the two leap about the screen. Quick strikes from both, the action is fast as each looks to string together a series of moves to end the battle. Another day, another fight between Kaede and Yuki, but this time things are playing out differently. This time the combatants have found themselves standing their ground, trading powerful blows, each gambling that their energy bar will last longer than their opponent’s, while also keeping an eye out for the opportunity to try something different. There are many ways battles can play out in The Last Blade - even in fights featuring the same matchups - and it makes for plenty of varied and enjoyable action.
The Neo Geo has a lot of one-on-one fighting games in its back catalogue. Most were entertaining, many were very good, but The Last Blade is a step above, sitting comfortably alongside The King of Fighters '98 and Garou: Mark Of The Wolves. Set in a Japan of centuries ago and using weapons in its fights, it has obvious similarities to the Samurai Shodown games, but here fights are quicker, more free-flowing and even when looking for an opening you’ll usually find yourself doing something to at least counter your opponent’s attack.
As is the norm, you partake in a series of best-of-three fights as you make your way to a couple of boss characters and ultimately your character’s ending. If you prefer you can dive into the options menu to change to best of five or single round fights. You can also enable a 'Short Mode' that as the name suggests gives you fewer battles to fight in the arcade mode if you’d like a quicker playthrough – you do not get an ending with this mode, however.
Whichever way you chose to play through, there are 12 characters for you to pick from with differing speeds, strengths and attacks. The character lineup is well-balanced, meaning these differences are just that and no-one is clearly more powerful than anyone else. The weapons also lead to variances in the fighting styles, with a number of differently sized bladed items and tools - Juzoh for instance, is swinging a baseball bat and Okina attacks with a fishing rod.
The combat system initially seems quite basic, with two strengths of weapon slashes and a button for kicking, but the moves flow together well. Soon, you’ll find you have plenty of options for attack as you mix in regular strikes with special moves, whether going for the odd hit here and there or stringing together a combo. The repel button also adds to your options as if timed correctly you can deflect your opponent’s attack, with your hit leaving them vulnerable to a counter attack.
After picking your fighter the game gives you the choice of either a power or speed fighting mode. Each offers benefits such as power being the best option when dealing with a serial blocker, whilst speed works better for combos. As was common with fighting games by this point in time (1997) there’s a power meter that builds up as you fight and once full you can unleash a devastating attack. You have to make sure to time it right, because while it can turn the tide of battle or lead to an unexpected victory, you’ll just look foolish if you opponent manages to avoid it.
As impressive as Neo Geo fighters are, there often comes a point in the reviews of these ACA releases where talk turns to the bigger, better sequel that’s either already available or expected to turn up on the eShop. While The Last Blade 2 will no doubt get the ACA treatment at some point, which is the better of the two games is not as clear cut as with other series. Playing largely the same, the sequel makes some changes including featuring more fighters (but fewer backdrops) than the first game and it adds a third fighting mode that sits somewhere between the two existing ones. This EX mode suits some characters better than others and the game is generally less balanced than this first instalment. That uneven playing field will be off-putting to some players, despite the extra characters and the slight edge it has in terms of audio-visual presentation.
Brief scene-setting animations appear before fights and the stages you fight on are varied and detailed. There’s lots to look at on some stages such as background spectators or the way birds will fly down and then hop along the ground. In other instance there are simple, but effective touches such as a mist, falling leaves or the way one stage has the fight in shallow water; ripples moving out from the feet of the combatants. The audio is also impressive with yells and impact noises from the fighters immersing you in the action. There’s a mix of mystery and sombre music between fights and on some stages, but other times the music makes way for background effects such as wind or a chattering crowd. At times it feels like something is missing, but generally it works well and adds to the atmosphere.
HAMSTER’s usual Hi Score (one credit) and Caravan (five minutes) modes are present, giving you a different way to play as you try to improve your point-scoring to move up the online leaderboards. The modes don’t suit a fighting game as well they do other genres however, so the main replay value comes from simply fighting through the arcade mode again or with two-player battles.
There’s replay value in playing through to get each character ending, but the way fights can vary also helps due to the unpredictable nature. Will you be combo-ing your way to victory or leaping about striking when you can? Your approach can even change during a fight should a missed attack from one player lead to a new opportunity. There’s a lot of depth to the game, but it’s fairly welcoming to newcomers should you bump the difficulty down (the usual eight settings available) whilst you get used to it. Likewise bumping the difficulty up will provide a tough challenge, requiring quick thinking and mastery of your various fighting abilities.
Special attacks do not require overly complicated inputs and the game gives you some leeway with the input timings. Even the powerful desperation moves are fairly straightforward; one input that crops up a lot being a quarter circle back, start to go the other way, hit forward and both attack buttons. Straightforward controls mean that in a push, the game works okay with detached Joy-Con should you be out and about and feel like an impromptu two-player game. Mistakes can happen however, so ideally you’ll play on the big screen with your special moves, combos and deflections all happening as intended.
Conclusion
Easy to pick up and play, The Last Blade may at first seem a simple fighting game but you'll soon discover a good range of fighting options as you employ a mix of defensive and offensive tactics to see you through. Fights among the well-balanced cast of characters are hugely entertaining whether putting together a series of moves, interrupting an attack with a well timed deflection or simply stopping your opponent's assault with a kick to the face. Its excellent sequel will make an appearance on Switch in the future and should you only wish to have one Last Blade game, you'll need to decide if you prefer some extra characters and the EX mode to the balanced fighter lineup in this first game. Ideally, they'd be bundled together, but even on its own The Last Blade is one of the best picks for Switch-owning fighting fans.
Comments 26
One of my favorite 2D fighters ever, probably neck and neck with Tatsunoko vs. Capcom. I think it may be the best on Neo Geo, at least. Partly because newbies can grasp it quickly and have fun in multi, which doesn't happen with most NG fighters.
The sequel messes with a nearly perfect package.
This is now the best retro arcade fighting game to play on the Switch (that is until KOF 96 and Samurai Shodown II came out).
Now I just sit back and wait for my main to arrive next year...
THIS GAME IS LUSH.
this is a must buy for me when I have some time available.
It's nice to know The Last Blade 2 will be making it's way on Switch, I was under the impression that it was PS4/Vita exclusive since they did a release for it recently on those platforms that wasn't the usual ACA treatment.
In any case the original is a fantastic game, it's a great alternative to Samurai Showdown and better than most games in that series besides SSII.
I never spent nearly as much time as I should have with the Last Blade series. I need to fix that. The art direction and presentation is top notch on the first one. Though they went with common backgrounds and some streamlining in the 2nd one. I also like Hibiki from the 2nd one mainly using her Capcom Vs. SNK 2 form. I'll definitely be pick up both though.
I put a lot of time into my Dreamcast and Neo Geo Pocket Color (Dear SNK, release a NGPC clicky stick joy-con!) versions back in 2000. Damn fine fighter!
Wish Hamster would release these on Steam as that's what I have my arcade sticks for. Still, this is good enough for single-player fun on the go and I will get this.
@Shiryu Argh, I was gonna post that!
But this is an excellent game. I prefer The Last Blade 2, but this would still be more than enough to hold me over until that releases...except I already have that on 3 other platforms...including the Vita...
BANNED !
I saw Explicit Blood !
I knew it will be so 18+
First played this game on Wii VC some years back. Loved it, and then got Last Blade 2 on VC as well. I have it on Switch now, with LB2 on PS4..
This seems to be the last article of 2017... HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!
@Anti-Matter
Starting the year as you mean to go on?
😉
This is like the Soul Calibur of Neogeo.
@Fandabidozi
I still same guy with Anti-Mature games mindset, you know.
@Anti-Matter
I wouldn't want it any other way. 😃🤗
This game has got style. The soothing stage music makes you serenity but you're actually killing each other up. Beautifully made.
@Anti-Matter Boxing also leads to bleeding and serious injuries, so what gives?
@TurboTEF Last Blade is on Steam.
@KeeperBvK
I saw Untolerable Explicit blood from sword slash.
Banned !
Period !
@Anti-Matter Again: What is the difference from bleeding in boxing, which you seem to not mind?
@KeeperBvK
Different Content, Different case.
For Boxing games, i ONLY allowed Cartoonish Boxing games with NO Blood whatsoever. For example, Animal Boxing NDS, K-1 Pocket GBA 1 & 2, K-1 games on PS2 Japan.
I will NOT Allowed UFC, MMA, any Fighting with Blood spreaded out so Obviously due to Explicit Blood and Brutal way of Fighting.
Yes, i love Boxing, BUT I want that sport in CUTE Way, NOT in Brutal way. That's why i allowed the Cartoonish Boxing games with No Blood.
I have very Strict rules for gaming.
@Anti-Matter Oh, ok. I see. Thanks for the clarification.
@KeeperBvK
I'm aware, but those are bad ports by a different company (DotEmu). I have Last Blade 1-2, Metal Slug 1-3, and Twinkle Star Sprites and they have massive resolution and performance issues. The Hamster ports are far superior and I hope SNK rereleases them on Steam at some point.
Luckily SNK has released their newer titles by themselves on there. All the KoF ports are great as well.
@TurboTEF Oh, ok, I see. I wasn't aware of that.
@Anti-Matter If you are not that keen on blood in this game, you can turn it off via "Brutality Display" in the game settings.
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