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THE LAST BLADE

The Last Blade brings thrilling and strategic sword-based combat to Windows PCs, but the game's barren online play means that you'll need to mix it up with local friends.
78%Game Brain Score
gameplay, humor
music, graphics
77% User Score Based on 132 reviews
Critic Score 81%Based on 2 reviews

Platforms

Mac OSMac OSPCPCWindowsWindowsGog ComGog ComLinuxLinuxPlayStationPlayStationWiiWii
Buy Nowfrom $2.66
Buy NowGet on Steam$9.99

About

"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.

Genres & Tags
Play Modes
THE LAST BLADE screenshot
THE LAST BLADE screenshot
THE LAST BLADE screenshot
THE LAST BLADE screenshot
THE LAST BLADE screenshot
THE LAST BLADE screenshot

77%
Audience ScoreBased on 134 reviews
gameplay12 positive mentions
music3 negative mentions
  • The Last Blade is a classic fighting game with unique mechanics and beautiful character designs, making it a nostalgic experience for fans of retro games.
  • The game runs smoothly on Steam Deck and offers a solid local multiplayer experience, which is enjoyable if you have friends to play with.
  • Despite its age, the game features a charming aesthetic and satisfying combat mechanics that can appeal to both casual players and fighting game enthusiasts.
  • The port suffers from technical issues such as low frame rates, input lag, and a lack of online player base, making it difficult to find matches.
  • The user interface is clunky and the training mode lacks essential features, which can frustrate new players trying to learn the game.
  • Overall, the port feels like a bare minimum effort with no new content or improvements, leading to disappointment among fans expecting a better adaptation.
  • gameplay
    32 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The gameplay of "The Last Blade" is characterized by its blend of classic and modern fighting mechanics, offering a roster of 12 characters with basic combat controls that include three attack buttons and two defensive options. While the combat may feel simple and limited in combo variety, it is praised for its satisfying mechanics, balance, and the incorporation of parries and rolls, making it a rewarding experience for fans of the genre. Overall, the game is noted for its beautiful visuals and engaging gameplay, though it may not cater to those seeking more complex combo systems.

    • “If you're a fan of fighters and have not yet witnessed the wonderful animation and gameplay of The Last Blade, you're missing out on one of the most unique and rewarding gaming experiences of your life.”
    • “Unlike the archaic lane-switching mechanics of Fatal Fury and Samurai Shodown, The Last Blade incorporates many modern fighting game mechanics such as balancing offensive and defensive play with parries, rolls, and characters on the roster balancing one another.”
    • “The synesthesia rush of gameplay, music, and visuals all come together in this one distilled game of SNK greatness, which is only marred by its current developers.”
    • “The gameplay is very simple; you have a roster of 12 characters, 3 attacking buttons, and 2 defensive mechanics: universal guarding and a 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.”
    • “If you like the franchise, go for The Last Blade 2; it's a better option gameplay-wise.”
  • music
    13 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The music in "The Last Blade" is noted for its moody and atmospheric quality, fitting well with the game's aesthetic and historical context. However, technical issues such as frame skipping and audio synchronization problems detract from the experience, occasionally leading to overlapping themes. Despite these flaws, the soundtrack enhances the visceral impact of battles, particularly with its dramatic silence during critical moments.

    • “The music in The Last Blade totally fits the action, aesthetic, and time period of the game's story.”
    • “The synesthesia rush of gameplay, music, and visuals all come together in this one distilled game of SNK greatness.”
    • “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, the game literally cutting the music with the final blow in a silencing red flash.”
  • graphics
    12 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The graphics of the game are generally praised for their aesthetic appeal and functionality, with some users noting that it surpasses similar titles like Samurai Showdown. However, there are reports of technical issues such as frame-rate problems and graphical glitches that detract from the overall experience. Additionally, players appreciate the ability to mod the graphics, although there are preferences for specific enhancements.

    • “I strongly recommend this port as well, it runs great and has tons of functionality and artwork.”
    • “Graphically, The Last Blade is a tad prettier than Samurai Showdown.”
    • “The synesthesia rush of gameplay, music, and visuals all come together in this one distilled game of SNK greatness.”
    • “Coupled with monitor frame-rate issues, graphical glitches and other technical details.”
    • “Graphically, the last blade is a tad prettier than samurai showdown.”
    • “The synesthesia rush of gameplay, music and visuals all come together in this one distilled game of SNK greatness, which is only marred by its current developers.”
  • stability
    10 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game's stability is mixed; while it offers great functionality and artwork, users report occasional freezes during combat, graphical glitches, and frame-rate issues. Additionally, online play is sparse, which affects certain achievements, though there are fixes available for some technical problems.

    • “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.”
  • story
    8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game's story is praised for its fascinating narrative, complemented by epic character designs and engaging mechanics, making it a standout in the samurai fighting genre. However, the single-player focus limits multiplayer experiences, which suffer from significant connectivity issues and a lack of player engagement. Overall, the story and music effectively enhance the game's aesthetic and thematic elements.

    • “If you are looking for a challenging samurai fighting game with cool mechanics, epic character designs, and a fascinating story, along with secret characters and forms, this is the perfect game for you!”
    • “The music in The Last Blade totally fits the action, aesthetic, and time period of the game's story.”
    • “The story is engaging and adds depth to the gameplay, making each character's journey feel unique and compelling.”
    • “You can only play single player through story and time attack mode.”
    • “The multiplayer's netcode is another hell; it's literally empty because no one bought this game, and the lag spikes create a frustrating experience. The controls in this game make my left arm want to crush the keyboard.”
    • “The story lacks depth and fails to engage the player, making it feel like a chore to progress.”
  • humor
    6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The humor in the game is characterized by its quirky elements, such as the amusingly named "orgy mode" for playstyles and the developers' cheeky decision to list cheat codes on the Steam storefront. While some translation errors may detract from the overall experience, many players find these aspects entertaining and unique.

    • “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.”
  • character development
    3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game features impressive character development through its strategic fighting mechanics, captivating story, and unique character designs, including secret forms that enhance the overall experience. Players appreciate the depth and variety in character progression, making it a standout in the samurai fighting genre.

    • “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!”
    • “[Strategic fighting action, excellent character designs, amazing stages and music.]”
  • optimization
    2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game is highly optimized, running smoothly without any slowdowns or stuttering, and is free from major bugs.

    • “No slowdowns, no stuttering; the game runs smoothly without major bugs.”
  • monetization
    2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The monetization model is compared to modern microtransactions, suggesting a reliance on short, engaging experiences that were unique to the arcade format, though lacking the nostalgic appeal of earlier gaming practices. Overall, while the games offer value, their monetization approach feels reminiscent of contemporary trends.

    • “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.”
  • replayability
    2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game's replayability is limited, primarily relying on local multiplayer options, as the online features are deemed insufficient for engaging gameplay. This may disappoint nostalgia fans seeking a more robust experience.

    • “Unfortunately, my experience has shown that the online capabilities are not playable enough to warrant purchasing it for nostalgia fans, so local-only games are your only other means of replayability.”

81%Critics’ scoreBased on 4 critic reviews

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