The Last Remnant

63%
Game Brain Score Based on 3,473 reviews
  • story
  • gameplay
  • graphics
The Last Remnant Game Cover
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In "The Last Remnant," players explore a fantasy world where powerful artifacts known as "Remnants" shape societal dynamics. As protagonist Rush Sykes, embark on a journey to rescue your sister and uncover the mystery behind the Remnants' origins. Engage in underground battles using a unique command-based system, leading a party of diverse characters in strategic, large-scale combat encounters.

  • PC
  • Windows
  • Xbox
  • Xbox 360
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

63%
Audience ScoreBased on 3,473 reviews
story638 positive mentions
grinding376 negative mentions
  • Unique and engaging battle system that allows for strategic planning and character customization.
  • Beautiful graphics and a captivating soundtrack that enhance the overall experience.
  • Rich world with diverse characters and numerous side quests that provide depth and replayability.
  • Confusing mechanics and lack of clear explanations for gameplay systems, making it difficult for new players to grasp.
  • The battle rank system can lead to frustrating difficulty spikes, punishing players for grinding.
  • The main character is often seen as annoying and the story is considered generic and predictable.
  • story2,046 mentions

    The story of "The Last Remnant" has received mixed reviews, with many players finding it to be a blend of typical JRPG tropes and clichés, often described as generic or predictable. While some appreciate the emotional depth and character development, others criticize the convoluted narrative and lack of clarity in quest progression, leading to confusion and frustration. Overall, the story is seen as a secondary aspect to the game's unique combat system and extensive side quests, which can overshadow the main plot.

    • “From the moment I started playing, I was completely immersed in its fascinating world and engrossing storyline.”
    • “It is filled with intriguing plot twists, emotional moments, and well-developed characters.”
    • “I recommend any RPG lover give this game a playthrough; there is so much to explore and to do with a very deep story.”
    • “The story is boring and the level up system is stupid.”
    • “The story itself is pretty generic where the bad guy is trying to do a thing and you rather he did not do said thing.”
    • “The story is filled with the usual JRPG fantasy tropes which became very old quickly.”
  • gameplay793 mentions

    The gameplay of "The Last Remnant" is characterized by its unique and complex mechanics, which require players to navigate a variety of hidden systems and strategies, often necessitating external resources like wikis for full understanding. While some players appreciate the depth and tactical elements, many find the lack of clear explanations frustrating, leading to a steep learning curve and a sense of detachment during battles. Overall, the game offers a mix of innovative ideas and execution flaws, resulting in a polarizing experience that can be rewarding for those willing to invest the time to master its intricacies.

    • “This game might fumble in some areas but more than makes up for the frustrations through its genius game loop and battle mechanics, gorgeous art, gripping soundtrack and an impressive breadth of weaponry, skills, wield styles and characters.”
    • “The fact that you cannot choose each specific input but only give slightly general commands to a unit actually makes sense from a gameplay design perspective (it would take forever for each battle otherwise) but also makes it fun and realistic in a sense, it gives the impression that you are a battlefield commander, not some sort of hive-mind, and each unit will indeed follow your orders but deciding the details by themselves.”
    • “Gameplay was novel and complicated enough that even after 60+ hours of play, I was still interested in the growth and mechanics available for me to manipulate.”
    • “The game requires you to figure out these mechanics on your own, which is what frustrates a lot of players.”
    • “A lot of game mechanics aren't explained to the player, which ends up just confusing and frustrating the player.”
    • “Unfortunately, much of the game is very poorly explained, if explained at all, forcing the player to look up all of the game's numerous mechanics.”
  • graphics498 mentions

    The graphics of the game, originally released in 2009, have generally aged well, with many players praising their quality and detail, especially on higher settings. While some users noted issues like texture pop-ins and glitches, the overall visual presentation, including character design and environments, is often described as beautiful and impressive for its time. The game utilizes the Unreal Engine, contributing to its appealing aesthetics, though some players found the graphics to be somewhat dated compared to modern standards.

    • “The game's unique battle system, captivating characters, and stunning visuals make it a must-play for any RPG enthusiast.”
    • “The graphics are beautiful and detailed for the year it was released; however, the optimization of the game leaves much to be desired.”
    • “The graphics are wonderful with some truly outstanding texture work in places (it uses the Unreal Engine 3), and the score is energetic and memorable.”
    • “The game is filled with glitches and graphical issues; the mechanics are pretty stupid, the story is meh.”
    • “The graphics are aged by today's standards, which is fine, but the locations and dungeons are generic and uninspired.”
    • “There's no anti-aliasing whatsoever, so even with my R9 380X 4GB graphics card, there's a massive screen tear even in the intro.”
  • grinding384 mentions

    The reviews indicate a mixed perception of grinding in the game, with some players finding it essential for progression while others criticize it as tedious and counterproductive due to enemy scaling. Many note that excessive grinding can lead to increased difficulty, making it feel pointless, while others appreciate the challenge it presents and the strategic elements involved. Overall, grinding is a significant aspect of gameplay, but its execution and impact on player experience vary widely among users.

    • “The battles are challenging, there is no grinding, and there are plenty of side quests and missions for you to enjoy.”
    • “There's no grinding in this game, although there's a lot of content for you to miss.”
    • “The game can be completed just fine with no grinding at all.”
    • “The horrible enemy scaling makes grinding pretty much pointless unless you have your set team already.”
    • “The problem I had with it is that the grinding is boring and the dungeons are bland.”
    • “The game can be extremely and unnecessarily grindy - punish players by having monsters not always spawning and drops with frustrating drop rates.”
  • music343 mentions

    The music in the game has received widespread acclaim, with many reviewers praising its quality and ability to enhance the gaming experience. The soundtrack is described as dynamic and engaging, particularly during battles, where it adapts to the flow of combat and boosts player morale. However, some players noted that certain tracks can become repetitive over time, and while the battle music is often highlighted as exceptional, other background music may lack memorability. Overall, the soundtrack is considered one of the game's standout features, contributing significantly to its immersive atmosphere.

    • “The game's soundtrack is also top-notch, setting the perfect mood and enhancing the immersion in this incredible world.”
    • “The music is awesome, and even after almost 80 hours of play, it never got old, and the rousing battle music never failed to inspire.”
    • “The battle music really gets your heart pumping for adrenaline, especially when your troops are at high morale.”
    • “Firstly the music, oh my dear god what fresh hell is this?”
    • “It's as if Square has taken the old school way of 'just repeat 5 seconds of music over and over' from their old FF titles and thrown it into a modern game.”
    • “The battle music is the same no matter the enemy or the area; it is always the same and after a couple of hours you get so damn sick of hearing it.”
  • character development52 mentions

    Character development in the game is a mixed bag, with some players praising the interesting and fleshed-out character designs while others criticize the system as opaque and overly complicated due to hidden stats. While there are options for character growth and planning, many reviewers feel that the overall development is weak or simplified compared to classic RPGs, leading to a lack of depth in the narrative and character arcs. Overall, the game offers visually appealing characters and environments, but fails to deliver a satisfying character development experience.

    • “The character development is very well done so far and makes me all the more curious to learn more about them.”
    • “Planning out the battle system and character development is tons of fun and there are a ton of options.”
    • “The characters in this game are interesting and fleshed out, a refreshing take on character design if you ask me.”
    • “This game has the most opaque and cryptic character development system ever.”
    • “Similar to the Saga series, The Last Remnant has no character development or decent plot, and has a different combat and leveling system compared to oldies like Final Fantasy or Breath of Fire.”
    • “The plot and character development was poor; the main characters see a winged beast at the beginning and the sister is kidnapped, but when they saw the enemy in that scene they realized it was hostile, then proceeded to calmly wait for the enemy to fly over and attack.”
  • optimization50 mentions

    The optimization of the game has received mixed reviews, with some players praising its smooth performance and customization options, particularly on PC, while others criticize it for being poorly optimized, leading to significant lag and performance issues. Despite the game's beautiful graphics, many users feel that the optimization detracts from the overall experience, with some noting that it contradicts the intended gameplay strategy. Overall, while there are improvements over previous versions, the optimization remains a contentious aspect of the game.

    • “The performance is extremely smooth, and I have yet to find a place where I have lags or where the game stutters.”
    • “Great improvement from the 360 version with better optimization and fewer bugs.”
    • “Performance on the PC is absolutely stellar with neat little tweaks you can make to improve its fidelity even further.”
    • “Pretty terrible honestly, extremely poorly optimized.”
    • “Sadly its poor optimization made the game lost in time.”
    • “The graphics are beautiful and detailed for the year it was released; however, the optimization of the game leaves much to be desired.”
  • humor46 mentions

    The humor in "The Last Remnant" is a mixed bag, with some players finding it genuinely funny and enjoyable, particularly in character banter and side quests, while others describe it as cringy or obnoxious. Many appreciate the game's quirky moments and nostalgic references, though some feel that attempts at humor often fall flat. Overall, the humor contributes to a lighthearted atmosphere, but its effectiveness varies widely among players.

    • “I've overall spent a nice time roaming the various, very unique cities, all of them with a specific style and going through sidequests, not a few of which are very humorous.”
    • “The character banter is hilarious and amusing... in that 'so bad it's good if you don't take it that seriously' way.”
    • “The last remnant is a random-soup of a JRPG with funny moments/references, serious situations, and deep gameplay, with the amount of action seasoned to taste just right.”
  • replayability36 mentions

    The game boasts high replayability, with players praising the extensive character options, customization, and numerous side quests that encourage multiple playthroughs. Many reviews highlight the engaging New Game+ feature and the vast amount of content, offering nearly 70 hours of gameplay for a low price. However, some users note that if played without leveling, the replay value may diminish significantly.

    • “Great, has a lot of replayability and a good story!”
    • “High replayability, great customization and variety yet extremely challenging and rewarding.”
    • “This game is like an old school JRPG, it uses an evolved and funny to watch turn battle system where you can use up to 18 characters, the game features a lot of playable characters, many side quests, epic battles, fantastic cut-scenes, a good story, good voice actors, many playable hours and a very good replay value.”
    • “With that said you may as well just run through the game, try not to level at all and at that point there is no replay value at all.”
    • “Awesome game, great combat and skill system. The PC version has some replayability but does have some minor texture popping issues, but nothing game-breaking.”
    • “The keyboard and mouse controls are playable at best and that's the worst part about it, so put a 360 controller in and you are good to go.”
  • emotional34 mentions

    The emotional aspect of the game is highlighted by its intriguing plot twists and well-developed characters, which evoke strong feelings and investment from players. However, many reviews criticize the overall story as boring and lacking depth, suggesting that while emotional moments exist, they are often overshadowed by poor execution and gameplay mechanics. Despite these criticisms, some players still find the emotional engagement rewarding, particularly when completing side quests that enhance the narrative experience.

    • “It is filled with intriguing plot twists, emotional moments, and well-developed characters.”
    • “I wouldn't recommend playing this game without a wiki guide if you don't want to cry after playing 20 hours and find out that you've missed an important sidequest.”
    • “I cried so much in this game!”
    • “Boring story, even more boring battle system that gives you little control over the action of the characters, not the best crafting system.”
    • “The game is okay, it has nice graphics, an open world to explore, but a boring storyline and a horrible battle system.”
    • “Boring story and the battle mechanics are kinda lame too.”
  • stability24 mentions

    The game's stability is a mixed bag; while some players report smooth performance on PC, particularly on Windows 10, others experience significant glitches, crashes, and graphical issues. Many users have encountered bugs that disrupt gameplay, such as blue screens and audio sync problems, leading to frustration and refunds. Overall, the PC version seems to have fewer issues compared to its console counterpart, but stability remains a concern for many players.

    • “It runs great, plays well, and is a solid RPG.”
    • “The 360 version may have been laggy and unfinished, but on the PC it runs great and has the quirks mostly worked out.”
    • “Still runs great on Windows 10 as well.”
    • “It's a little buggy: I've gotten a couple of blue screens, and sometimes pieces of characters flop around in comical ways.”
    • “The game will crash after alt + tab to desktop, it forces me to restart or my laptop freezes, refunded.”
    • “Really bad port, audio is out of sync, Japanese or English, weird graphics/animation glitches.”
  • atmosphere16 mentions

    The game's atmosphere is highly praised for its intense combat and immersive "army scale combat" feel, evoking nostalgia for the golden era of JRPGs. The art style draws comparisons to Final Fantasy XII, while the lengthy side quests enhance the overall experience without being overwhelming. Overall, the atmosphere is considered unique and engaging, contributing significantly to the gameplay.

    • “The game has a really good atmosphere as well, and it managed to remind me much of the golden era of JRPGs.”
    • “The game has very successfully created this 'army scale combat' atmosphere.”
    • “Combined with the at times intense combat atmosphere, it really did make me grit my teeth on multiple occasions.”
    • “Atmosphere aside, game mechanics-wise it also frees up space for customization.”
    • “Art style reminds me of Final Fantasy XII and the lengthy side quests and atmosphere remind me of Final Fantasy XI.”
  • monetization2 mentions

    Users prefer transition screens over traditional ads and click-bait tactics, indicating a desire for a less intrusive monetization approach in the game.

Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

Critic Reviews

58% average critic score

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Play time

73hMedian play time
101hAverage play time
16-100hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 52 analyzed playthroughs

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