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THE LAST BLADE

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.
THE LAST BLADE Game Cover
80%Game Brain Score
gameplay, atmosphere
graphics, music
79% User Score Based on 81 reviews
Critic Score 85%Based on 2 reviews

Platforms

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THE LAST BLADE Game Cover

About

THE LAST BLADE is a single player and multiplayer arcade fighting game. It was developed by Dotemu and was released on August 31, 2016. It received positive reviews from critics and mostly positive reviews from players.

"THE LAST BLADE" is a weapons-based fighting game set in the late Edo period of Japan. Choose from 16 unique characters, each with their own fighting style and story. With hand-drawn graphics and fast-paced gameplay, this game offers a challenging and engaging experience for both new and experienced players.

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THE LAST BLADE screenshot
THE LAST BLADE screenshot
THE LAST BLADE screenshot
THE LAST BLADE screenshot
THE LAST BLADE screenshot
THE LAST BLADE screenshot
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79%
Audience ScoreBased on 81 reviews
gameplay6 positive mentions
stability4 negative mentions
  • The Last Blade features elegant mechanics and deep gameplay, making it a rewarding experience for both newcomers and veterans of fighting games.
  • The pixel art and animations are beautifully crafted, capturing the intensity and grace of each fight, while the soundtrack enhances the overall atmosphere.
  • The game offers a solid balance between accessibility and competitive depth, with multiple game modes and a diverse roster of characters, each with unique fighting styles.
  • The port suffers from significant performance issues, including poor framerate and unresponsive controls, which detract from the overall gameplay experience.
  • The online multiplayer is nearly non-existent, making it difficult to find opponents, and the single-player modes are limited in variety and depth.
  • The user interface is considered bare-bones and awkward to navigate, with some players expressing frustration over the lack of quality-of-life features expected in modern fighting games.
  • gameplay
    24 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The gameplay of "The Last Blade" is celebrated for its elegant mechanics and deep combat system, featuring a mix of light and heavy attacks, as well as the innovative "reverse beat" mechanic that enhances combo potential. While the game offers a straightforward control scheme with 12 characters and basic defensive options, it is praised for its balance and technical depth, making it a rewarding experience for fighting game enthusiasts. Despite some players finding the pace slower and the combo options limited, the game's unique aesthetic and satisfying mechanics contribute to its enduring appeal.

    • “The Last Blade is a classic 2D fighting game that has endured the test of time thanks to its elegant mechanics, deep gameplay, and distinctive aesthetic.”
    • “Players must master both light and heavy attacks, as well as the innovative 'reverse beat' mechanic that allows chaining heavy attacks into light attacks, opening up fresh combo opportunities.”
    • “Its blend of technical gameplay, diverse characters, and evocative setting makes it a standout title that still holds up remarkably well decades after its initial release.”
    • “The narrative, while atmospheric, is relatively minimal compared to contemporary fighters, and some players might find the pace slower or the mechanics more technical than expected.”
    • “The gameplay is very simple; you have a roster of 12 characters, 3 attacking buttons, and 2 defensive mechanics which are the universal guarding and the dodge button, which you probably won't use much.”
    • “The gameplay is limited in terms of comboing, so people like me who enjoy stylish attacks won't have fun in this game.”
  • graphics
    12 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The graphics of "The Last Blade" are celebrated for their vibrant and impressive retro aesthetic, showcasing high-quality artwork that stands out even on modern displays. While the visuals may not appeal to players used to contemporary 3D graphics, they are considered a significant draw for fans of classic fighting games. However, some users have reported technical issues, including frame-rate problems and graphical glitches, which slightly detract from the overall experience.

    • “The Last Blade is a classic 2D fighting game that has endured the test of time thanks to its elegant mechanics, deep gameplay, and distinctive aesthetic.”
    • “While the graphics maintain a retro feel, the quality of the artwork ensures that it still looks impressive and vibrant on modern displays.”
    • “The art style is really the only reason why we'd plug in cent after cent into the arcade machine without regret, and without hesitation... the slashing animations, the characters, they were all way ahead of their time!”
    • “However, The Last Blade might not appeal to everyone, especially those accustomed to modern fighting games with flashy 3D graphics or extensive story modes.”
    • “Graphically, The Last Blade is a tad prettier than Samurai Showdown.”
    • “Coupled with monitor frame-rate issues, graphical glitches, and other technical details.”
  • music
    7 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The music in the game features a blend of traditional Japanese instruments and energetic tracks that enhance the intensity of battles, although it can be understated at times, with some fights lacking background music altogether. While the soundtrack effectively complements the game's aesthetic and narrative, technical issues such as frame skipping and audio desynchronization detract from the overall experience. The impactful use of silence during critical moments adds to the game's visceral nature, creating a unique synesthetic experience despite some shortcomings.

    • “The soundtrack features traditional Japanese instruments fused with energetic, adrenaline-pumping tunes that heighten the tension of battles.”
    • “The music in The Last Blade totally fits the action, aesthetic, and time period of The Last Blade's story.”
    • “The visceral nature of the battles is emphasized when the final blow is struck, the game literally cutting the music with the final blow in a silencing red flash.”
    • “The last blade is surprisingly understated for a fighting game, with a moody soundtrack and battles that sometimes forego background music entirely.”
    • “Game runs choppy with frame skipping and the music is out of sync, where in some instances two themes are playing at the same time for an extended period.”
    • “The visceral nature of the battles is emphasized when the final blow is struck, with the game literally cutting the music with the final blow in a silencing red flash.”
  • story
    7 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The story of "The Last Blade" follows a classic narrative arc involving a wealthy antagonist who unleashes a demon-possessed samurai, prompting a group of champions to confront him. While the plot may feel familiar, it is enhanced by atmospheric storytelling and complemented by fitting music, making it an engaging backdrop for the game's refined combat mechanics. However, the single-player focus and lack of modern multiplayer features may limit its appeal to some players.

    • “In conclusion, The Last Blade is a masterclass in classic 2D fighting game design, offering a refined and challenging combat experience wrapped in stunning pixel art and atmospheric storytelling.”
    • “If you are looking for a challenging samurai fighting game with cool mechanics, epic character designs, fascinating story, and even secret characters/forms of characters, that's the perfect game for you!”
    • “The music in The Last Blade totally fits the action, aesthetic, and time period of the game's story.”
    • “However, The Last Blade might not appeal to everyone, especially those accustomed to modern fighting games with flashy 3D graphics or extensive story modes.”
    • “You can only play single player through story and time attack mode.”
    • “The multiplayer's netcode is another issue; it's literally empty because hardly anyone bought this game, and the lag spikes create a frustrating experience that makes it impossible to enjoy the story.”
  • stability
    5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game's stability is mixed, with users noting occasional freezes during combat and specific stages, as well as issues with online play due to a lack of players. While there are fixes for some bugs, including x-input problems, graphical glitches and frame-rate issues persist, impacting the overall experience.

    • “I strongly recommend this port as well; it runs great and has tons of functionality and artwork.”
    • “The game freezes on occasion during combat, and the online mode (which is needed for 2 achievements) has no one playing it.”
    • “Coupled with monitor frame-rate issues, graphical glitches, and other technical details.”
    • “The screen freezes on its own on Shikiyo's stage.”
  • optimization
    3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The optimization of the game has been criticized for poor framerate and performance issues, suggesting it may have been poorly ported from an arcade version without adequate adjustments. While some users noted that the game runs smoothly without major bugs, others experienced noticeable frame drops and cumbersome command sequences, indicating a lack of refinement in the overall gameplay experience.

    • “The game runs smoothly, without major bugs, and there are no slowdowns or stuttering.”
    • “Absolutely awful framerate and performance.”
    • “What went wrong with this specific PC port: performance (they probably took the arcade version and put it on an unoptimized emulator. It doesn't bother too much, but the frame drops at certain moments are noticeable); the story mode has 9 limited credits (if you lose them all, you have to restart... a clear sign that they didn't modify much from the version of the game used here); the command list is not directly accessible for the character you are using (you have to keep searching every time); the sequence of commands to execute special moves is convoluted and hard to pull off (just like in other SNK games).”
  • atmosphere
    3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The atmosphere of the game is deeply enriched by its Meiji-era setting, which combines traditional themes with supernatural elements, creating a unique backdrop for battles. While the narrative is atmospheric, it is less prominent than in modern fighters, leading to a slower pace and more technical mechanics. Overall, the game excels in classic 2D fighting design, featuring stunning pixel art and immersive storytelling.

    • “The narrative backdrop, set during a fictionalized version of Japan’s Meiji era, adds an atmospheric layer to the battles, blending traditional themes with supernatural elements that enrich the overall experience.”
    • “In conclusion, The Last Blade is a masterclass in classic 2D fighting game design, offering a refined and challenging combat experience wrapped in stunning pixel art and atmospheric storytelling.”
  • humor
    3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The humor in the game is characterized by its quirky elements, such as amusing translation errors and the playful term "orgy mode" for a unique playstyle option. While some humorous aspects may detract from the overall experience, the developers' decision to list cheat codes on the Steam storefront adds a lighthearted touch that players find entertaining.

    • “Fun, different, and no stranger to some hilarious translation errors.”
    • “Something oddly unique to the last blade is a speed/power playstyle option humorously referred to as 'orgy mode', which is more of two specializations of playstyles.”
    • “I found it hilarious that the developers wrote the cheat codes on the Steam storefront page to unlock the hidden characters.”
  • replayability
    3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game's replayability is limited, primarily relying on local multiplayer options, as the online features do not provide a compelling experience for players seeking nostalgia.

    • “Unfortunately, my experience has shown that the online capabilities are not sufficient to warrant purchasing it for nostalgia fans, leaving local-only games as the only means of replayability.”
    • “The lack of diverse gameplay options makes it hard to find reasons to replay the game after finishing it once.”
    • “Once you've completed the main story, there isn't much incentive to dive back in, as the side quests feel repetitive and uninspired.”
  • character development
    1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game features impressive character development through its engaging story, unique character designs, and the inclusion of secret characters and forms, enhancing the overall experience for players seeking depth in their gameplay.

    • “If you are looking for a challenging samurai fighting game with cool mechanics, epic character designs, fascinating story, and even secret characters/forms of characters, this is the perfect game for you!”
  • monetization
    1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The monetization in these games is compared to modern microtransactions, often seen as exploitative, yet they offer brief, valuable experiences that were unique to their time and platform, distinguishing them from traditional console or PC gaming.

    • “Beneath the quarter-eating exterior that we may liken to modern microtransactions without the nostalgia of their novelty, these games provided short, worthwhile experiences that could not be done on consoles or PC hardware at the time.”
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85%Critics’ scoreBased on 2 critic reviews
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Frequently Asked Questions

THE LAST BLADE is a arcade fighting game.

THE LAST BLADE is available on PC, Mac OS, Windows, Linux and others.

THE LAST BLADE was released on August 31, 2016.

THE LAST BLADE was developed by Dotemu.

THE LAST BLADE has received positive reviews from players and positive reviews from critics. Most players liked this game for its gameplay but disliked it for its graphics.

THE LAST BLADE is a single player game with multiplayer and local co-op support.

Similar games include GAROU: MARK OF THE WOLVES, THE LAST BLADE 2, The King of Fighters XIV, SAMURAI SHODOWN NEOGEO COLLECTION, Garou: Mark of the Wolves and others.