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The Last Blade, originally released in Japan as Bakumatsu Rouman: Gekka no Kenshi (
The PlayStation port was released again as downloadable online content for the PlayStation 3 and PlayStation Portable on April 26, 2007. The AES version was brought to Nintendo Wii's Virtual Console on March 13, 2012, for Japan and June 7, 2012, for America. The Arcade version was brought to Nintendo Switch's Arcade Archives on December 14, 2017.
Story[]
A translation of the story officially given by SNK is as follows:
"Two worlds once existed since ancient times... The world of the living, Ushyo, and the land of the dead, Tokoyo. A legendary boundary to forever separate them, The Hell's Gate, has existed since the birth of myths to keep an universal balance. There is said to be four gods that defend it: Seiryu of the East, Byakko of the West, Genbu of the North, and Suzaku of the South. They eternally perform their duty from the shadows of legend and were eventually forgotten by people as time passed.
Now, it is the "Bakumatsu".
The Tokugawa Shogunate, after 200 years of reign, began to have samurai who long dulled their battle skills during the outskirts of the Heian period. People, who have long since grown used to peace, are met with fascinating foreigners and wonder about the confines of their isolation. To add to the confusion, a sudden disturbance occurs.
A natural disaster unprecedented in Japan's history began. It was rumored to be the Majin Revival, a time when gods were to walk the land once more and deliver divine punishment. In a land where no chaos was said to exist, the people could do nothing but watch and despair.
However, it was said that there are individuals who did not. People who haven't lost their fighting spirit and stood to face the chaos. Those who wanted to find the real cause behind the disturbance and stop it. Moreover, people who were unexpectedly born at the center of chaos. Those who had the ambitions to control the threat and those who are said to be the cause of the Majin Revival. Without speculation of their cause, they are brought together by a heavy fate as their battle begins."
The passage to the land of the dead, Hell's Gate, which was previously guarded by Four Sacred Beasts appears to be opened. However, chaos sweeps the land once the gods are encased in human flesh, otherwise known as the Majin Revival. The story of the series continues to focus on how certain individuals choose to confront such conflict, and depicts how each of them are drawn on the same string of fate.
Plot[]
The game is set in 1863, during the Bakumatsu period, known as the final years of the Tokugawa shogunate, where a clash of ideologies were fighting to decide Japan's new society. All of the characters wield different types of weapons in combat.
Gameplay[]
Gameplay of Moriya vs. Juzoh
The button layout is weak slash (A), strong slash (B), kick (C), and deflect/repel (D). Using the D button, players can interrupt otherwise damaging attacks by stunning their opponents, leaving them open for an attack.
The Gameplay consist of two modes: Power Mode, and Speed (AKA Technique) Mode. Supers are known as Super Secret Slashes and can be done in both modes.
- Power Mode grants the player increased damage potential exponentially and giving access to "Hidden Secret Slashes" (or Latent Secret Skills in Japanese) 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 (known as Sublimations in Japanese); canceling a special move into an SS. At low HP, normal SS's can be perform indefinitely.
- Speed Mode (or Technique mode in Japanese) while having overall lower damage, allows players to chain several normal attacks into each other or a larger number of them into a special or super move, as well as execute an "Enigma Frenzy Attack", also known as a "Speed Combo" (or a Wild Dance Secret Skill in Japanese).
Players can test which mode is best for them, increasing replay value for characters as well as the longevity of the game.
Much like the Samurai Shodown series, it is possible to lose hold of your weapons and be forced to fight unarmed in this game if you block attacks too much, acting as a sort of guard crush penalty. Most characters have unique animations should they lose hold of their own weapons. Oddly, only the bosses like Musashi and Kagami are immune to this, even if controlled by the player.
Characters[]
Gameplay of Zantetsu vs. Kaede
Overview[]
This game has 17 characters (between normal and special versions), which are:
- Kaede (楓), the main protagonist and the youngest adoptive son of a warrior named Gaisei. Trained by him, he became an avid swordsman and powerful warrior. He searches for the killer of his adoptive father, and believes that his older brother, Moriya, murdered him. He is a possessor of Qinglong/Seiryu, one of the Four Gods depicted in the game. His name is Kim Doohan in the Korean version of the game.
- Moriya Minakata (御名方守矢), another orphan that was adopted and trained by Gaisei. For many years, he lived happily together with two other orphans, Kaede and Yuki, learning Bushidō. One day, he discovers the body of his dead master, and takes the blame for it. He also sets out to find the real culprit, like Kaede.
- Yuki (雪), the adoptive daughter of Gaisei. In the past, she was the daughter of a foreign family that managed ship trades. Sadly, her family died in a ship accident. She is later adopted by the warrior Gaisei, who trains her along with two other students: her adoptive brothers, Kaede and Moriya. Her name is Kelly in the Korean version of the game.
- Genbu no Okina (玄武の翁), an old man who is one of the guardian of the demonic portal known as "Hell’s Gate". For years, he and the other three guardians stood watch over its seal. For many years, it was peaceful and Okina resigned himself to fishing and the complacent life of a hermit. He was found by Kaede, and takes the young man in as his pupil. He also is one of the Four Gods, as a possessor of Xuanwu/Genbu. His name is Kang Tae Kong in the Korean version of the game.
- Akari Ichijou (一条あかり), a descendant of an onmyōji family. She sets off, determined to seal the Hell's gate and cure her sister of a mysterious illness, with the help of her adoptive brother Juzoh. Her name is Choi Jae Eun in the Korean version of the game.
- Juzoh Kanzaki (神崎十三), the adoptive brother of Akari, was knocked out and kidnapped by her, who "persuaded" him to accompany her on a journey to discover the Hell's Gate. His name is Back Chon Ji in the Korean version of the game.
- Hyo Amano (天野漂), a young man who has a strong love for sake, women, and the thrill of the fight. He notices the cherry blossoms are falling in an unusual way and decides to investigate.
- Lee Reeka (李烈火), a Chinese Xiaolin/Shaolin monk who learned a special form of Martial art that allows the user to control fire and involves the use of fans and powerful kicks. One day, he witnessed a "red star" (the opening of "Hell's Gate"). Knowing it to be a sign of great evil, he travels from his homeland China to stop the evil before it spreads across the world. His name is Hwang Bi Hong in the Korean version of the game.
- Zantetsu (斬鉄), the leader of the Kisaragi clan, during the Bakumatsu era, an age when the ninja class was in decline. Determined to prove the superiority of his people, he challenges warriors time and time again to prove his strength. When he hears of the opening of a portal called “Hell’s Gate”, he sets out to defeat the enemies within to prove his strength. His fighting style would be passed down from generation to generation, with Eiji Kisaragi—a character from the AOF series—being a modern day practitioner.
- Keiichiro Washizuka (鷲塚慶一郎), a leader of a unit of the Shinsengumi, a police-like group that operated during the Bakumatsu era. He is a firm believer in restoring order to Japan, and in the old ways of Samurai sword fighting. As such, he carries a very serious persona. He is extremely loyal to his Shinsengumi unit, and is a friend of Kojiroh Sanada, who was brutally murdered. His name is Yagyu in the Korean version of the game.
- Shigen Naoe (直衛示源), the other guardian of the "Hell's Gate". He is magically sealed in a massive stone for ten years by his friend Shinnosuke Kagami, who perceived him to be a threat in his plan for opening the gate. He eventually escaped, but clouded by his rage and anger, he could only think of getting back at his captor, and sets out to exact revenge. He is a possessor of Baihu/Byakko, one of the Four Gods. His name is Kwa Ji Mo Do in the Korean version of the game.
- Shikyoh (紫鏡), a former member of the Shinsengumi, expelled by Washizuka for his unfettered desire to kill people and his murderous killing spree. He is the killer of Kojiroh Sanada, a fellow Shinsengumi member, and meets Kagami, who tells him to go to Hell's Gate to sate his bloodlust.
- Kojiroh Sanada (真田小次郎), a former Shinsengumi captain of the fictional Unit Zero, which investigated demonic forces in Japan, following the concept of Bushidō. He was ordered to investigate the "Hell's Gate" and to dispatch the exiled member, Shikyoh.
- Ponta Akari, a new version of Akari, who is actually a tanuki in disguise.
- Deku no Shigen (木偶の示源), a doll made to replicate Shigen's actions. He was subconsciously created by the real Shigen, who is still sealed away.
- Musashi Akatsuki (暁武蔵), the sub-boss of the game, is a dead swordsman who once traveled the countryside, honing his skills and challenging worthy opponents along the way. He was resurrected by Kagami as part of his plan to open the Hell's Gate.
- Shinnosuke Kagami (嘉神慎之介), the final boss of the game, is one of the guardians of the Hell's Gate. After residing over his position and finding (or so he thought) that the humans he protected were weak and inferior to himself, he decides to release the seal on the portal. Along with this, he goes on a horrific killing spree, murdering various warriors, including Gaisei, the adoptive father of Kaede, Moriya and Yuki. He is the avatar of Zhuque/Suzaku, one of the Four Gods. His name is Mr. Bin in the Korean version of the game.
Official Roster[]
 Kaede |
 Moriya Minakata |
 Yuki |
 Genbu no Okina |
 Akari Ichijou |
 Juzoh Kanzaki |
 Hyo Amano |
 Lee Rekka |
 Zantetsu |
 Keiichiro Washizuka |
 Shigen Naoe |
 Shikyoh |
PlayStation-Exclusive Characters[]
 Kojiroh Sanada |
 "Akari" Ichijou |
Deku no Shigen |
Sub-Boss[]
 Musashi Akatsuki |
Final Bosses[]
 Shinnosuke Kagami |
Awakened Kagami |
Stages[]
- Note 1: In Arcade Mode, the first two sets of eight battles are with random opponents. Some characters may have up to two rival encounters (Stages 7 and 8) before the final bosses. The mode is divided into 10 Chapters.
- Note 2: Depending on the character chosen, the chapters do not always feature the opponents listed first.
| Stage | Character | Description | Intro | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Kaede | A maple garden next to a gate, set during a sunny day. Features maple leaves the cover the floor (some of which are falling from the trees), a stone with a kanji and a wall. Seen past the gate are bird houses, the ocean with a ship and some mountains in the distance. | 
|
Angled upwards towards the sky, the shot focuses on the roof of a building in the distance. The focus then changes to the tree branch that's close to the screen. |
|
Moriya | A windy bamboo forest set at night during a full moon. Features a watermill, a hut, shrubs, the river, small fences and a wooden plaque. At a certain point, the scene darkens. | 
|
A candle lit near a shoji door, which goes out with the strong wind, and showing the bamboo trees' shadows. |
|
Yuki | Yuki's stage. A forest next to a wooden house, set during an intense winter night. Features snow, other wooden house, leafless trees, snowed shrubs, lamps that line the walls, snowflakes falling from the sky and a lake that lies beneath a red bridge. | 
|
A shot of the stage from the inside of a building. |
|
Okina | A misty forest next to a river. The fight takes place next to the roots of a giant tree. Features other trees, vegetation, wooden pieces, a boat and some mountains in the background. | 
|
Initially starting at the branches of some trees, the camera pans down to the floor, where the silhouette of Okina fishing can be seen. |
|
Akari | The courtyard of a complex temple, set during a festival at late afternoon. Features people that are cheering or are interacting with the various stalls that dot the stage, birds, giant paper lanterns, monks in the main temple and a stand of pinwheels nestled between a giant maneki-neko and a rack of masks, one of which is a large Hyottoko mask. | 
|
The camera cuts between a close-up of pinwheel, birds flying next to a lantern and the people walking. |
|
Juzoh | Set during a busy street at day surrounded by buildings. People can be seen cheering in the background, including a rickshaw runner angrily shouting at the fighters as his foreign passenger is seemingly speaking to him. Next to a castella sign, a Netherlands flag can be seen. Note: In Juzoh's Arcade Mode, Akari fights in this stage. |
|
It starts with the camera pointed at the sky; birds can be seen flying past. The camera pans down to the floor, where people can be seen standing around. A rickshaw runner dashes by the camera, pulling his rickshaw that carries a foreigner. |
|
Washikuza | A deserted village after a rainy night. Features houses, puddles, lanterns, leafless trees, a red fabric and a Japanese umbrella. A silhouette of a pagoda can be in the background. | 
|
Mist dissipates away from the screen to the sound of howling dogs and dripping water. |
|
Shikyoh | The garden of a hut, in a rainy night. Features a red sky, graves, puddles, wooden pieces and two wells. The sky occasionally flashes with lightning. | 
|
Focusing on a large stone, the camera pans slightly to the left. After brief flashes of lightning, where Shikyo's shadow can be seen, blood drips down onto the stone. |
|
Amano | A red bridge, set at night with a full moon in the distance. Features sakura trees, buildings, lanterns and people cheering. Far in the distance past the big gate, a silhouette of a pagoda can be seen in the background. | 
|
The moon reflected in the water. A sakura petal falls onto it, creating small ripples. |
|
Lee | An abandoned ship pier, set at sunset. Features ships, boats, a hut, shrubs, barrels, wooden fences, ropes, a cart, a vase, a wooden wheel, a bonfire, seagulls flying over the stage and Netherlands' flag. | 
|
The camera focuses on a seagull as it soars past the bowsprit of a ship. |
|
Zantetsu | Set at night, the stage is set inside the cargo hold of a ship, which rocks up and down above the sea. Features a cannon, barrels, sacks, bottles, wooden boxes, a stair, a fabric and ropes. A rat can be seen coming out from one of the barrels. | 
|
Three kunai are thrown at the ground. The camera pans up until Zantetsu can be seen, tightly gripping a tantō in his hand. |
|
Shigen | An underground sanctuary inside a cavern. Features many candles that illuminate the cavern, multiple Buddhist statues, and stalactites and stalagmites that covers both the floor and ceiling. | 
|
The wall with the tigers carved onto it that's seen at the back of the stage is smashed through by Shigen's fist. |
Sub-Boss & Boss Stages[]
- Note: The Sub-Boss and Boss stages don't have an intro in all other versions except the Korean version of the game.
| Stage | Character | Description |
|---|---|---|
|
Musashi | A rocky place next to a lava river. Features large Buddhist statues carved into the rocks, a black energy ball and lava waterfalls bubbling and shaking. |
|
Kagami | The main salon of the mansion, set during a rainy night. Features two stairs, a balcony, red carpets, windows, a portrait of the Siddhaṃ character ma (probably used as a seed syllable), candelabras and chandeliers. |
|
From the 2nd round, the stage is partially destroyed by the same energy ball seen in Musashi's stage, and the top of the rocky outcrop of that same stage can also be seen. |
Chapters[]
The Story Mode in this game has 10 chapters, shown during each stages' intro.
- CHAPTER 1: A NEW AGE AWAKENS
- CHAPTER 2: A TWIST OF FATE
- CHAPTER 3: THE SCENT OF BATTLE
- CHAPTER 4: AN INVITATION TO INCISION
- CHAPTER 5: EXPOSING THE HEART
- CHAPTER 6: DEMON'S SABBATH
- CHAPTER 7: PANGS OF PASSION
- CHAPTER 8: THE BOUNTY OF BATTLE
- CHAPTER 9: THE EVE OF DESTRUCTION (Sub-Boss)
- CHAPTER 10: AS IF IN A DREAM (Final Boss)
Ports[]
Neo Geo CD (SNK)[]
Released on March 26, 1998, the Neo Geo CD version of The Last Blade has a lot of loading screens added.
PlayStation (SONY)[]
Released on February 25, 1999, the Playstation port boasts a fair bit of changes:
- The command to unlock hidden characters has been simplified.
- It is no longer possible to lose your weapon and fight bare-handed.
- Three new hidden characters were added:
- Like most home ports of SNK games at the time, an exclusive animated intro was added.
- The difficulty was reduced.
- The BGM was replaced by an arranged soundtrack.
- A gallery mode was added that includes art sent in by fans, and 4-koma manga that can be viewed during loading screens.
On the 26th of April, 2007, the PlayStation port of The Last Blade would be added to "Game Archives",[2] a service for the PlayStation 3, PlayStation Portable and PlayStation Vita that made games from older platforms available to be purchased on the PlayStation Store.
PlayStation 2 (SONY)[]
- Main article: Bakumatsu Rouman: Gekka no Kenshi 1・2
The second volume of SNK's Neo Geo Online Collection. It is based off of the Neo Geo version, although players can switch between the original and arranged soundtracks. Has an online mode that is now defunct.
Wii Virtual Console (Nintendo)[]
A port of The Last Blade, based off of the Neo Geo version, was first published by D4 Enterprise for the Wii Virtual Console on March 13, 2012, available for 926 points.[3] As of 31st of January, 2019, it is no longer available for purchase.[4]
Steam (PC; Valve)[]
On September 1, 2016, a port of the Neo Geo version that was developed by DotEmu would be released on Steam. It features online multiplayer.
ACA Neo Geo (Hamster Corporation)[]
As part of the Arcade Archives project, Hamster Corporation would release a port of the MVS version of The Last Blade onto multiple platforms.
Platforms[]
- PlayStation 4 (released on May 18, 2017)[5]
- Xbox One (released on May 18, 2017)[5]
- Nintendo Switch (released on December 14, 2017)[5]
- Microsoft Store for Windows 10 (released on February 28, 2018)[5]
- iOS (released July 21, 2022).[5]
- Android (released July 21, 2022).[5]
Critical Reception[]
The game earned positive praise from both fans and critics alike. The game featured backgrounds with detailed real-time effects, character animations that were smooth and some of the best seen on the Neo Geo, and a colorful character roster that was relatively balanced so that no character noticeably overpowering another. The only flaws mentioned by Christian Nutt from Gamespot, "All in all, this is a great game; if you enjoy a solid two-dimensional fighter, and you understand the nuances of the genre, you will really enjoy it".
Related Media[]
Like most SNK titles at the time, a drama CD surrounding the events of the game was available for purchase on February 4, 1998. A two-part light novel series was written by Akihiko Ureshino; the illustrations were done by Kotomi Tobashi. A manga which dramatizes the story's events was also created by Takeshi Fujita.
An English web comic series based on the game was published from October 28, 2020 to October 31, 2021 by Tapas Media, written by Hayden Robel, and the illustrations done by Cocoon Productions.[6]
External links[]
- GOG Store page
- The Last Blade on Steam
- SNK's Official Website for the PlayStation port
- Page for the Wii Virtual Console release
- Neo Geo CD Gameplay Footage
- PlayStation extras footage
References[]
- ↑ NEOGEO BATTLE COLISEUM【幕末浪漫 月華の剣士 】 (in Japanese). SNK PLAYMORE. Retrieved July 14, 2024.
- ↑ PSStore「ゲームアーカイブス」に14作品追加＆PS3対応ソフト発表 (in Japanese). Dengeki Online. April 25, 2007. Retrieved July 31, 2024.
- ↑ 月華の剣士 (in Japanese). SNK Corporation. Retrieved July 30, 2024.
- ↑ ネオジオ バーチャルコンソール ラインナップ / NEOGEO Virtual Console Lineup (in Japanese). D4Enterprise Co.,Ltd. Retrieved July 30, 2024.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 5.4 5.5 幕末浪漫 月華の剣士 | アケアカNEOGEO (in Japanese). アケアカＮＥＯＧＥＯ. HAMSTER Co. Retrieved July 30, 2024.
- ↑ Read The Last Blade | Tapas Web Comics. Tapas. Retrieved July 23, 2024.