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The Last Blade

SNK

The Last Blade

The Last Blade is a fighting game developed and published by SNK and released in arcades in 1997. It is set in a fictional version of late 19th-century Japan and features a roster of sword-wielding characters. The game uses a weapon-based combat system with selectable fighting styles that emphasize speed or power. Its presentation draws heavily on historical themes and traditional Japanese aesthetics.

Released
5 December 1997
Developer
SNK
Publisher
D4 Enterprise
Engine
Neo Geo MVS
Perspective
Side view
Age rating
PEGI 16 · ESRB T
Controller
Full controller support
Steam recommendations
177
Platforms
Arcade · Neo Geo AES · Windows Mixed Reality · Web browser · PlayStation 3 · Linux · Wii · PC (Microsoft Windows) · Mac · PlayStation · PlayStation Portable · Neo Geo CD
Genres
Fighting · Arcade
Also known as
Bakumatsu Romance: Moon Flower Swordsman · Bakumatsu Rouman: Gekka no Kenshi · Curtain Closing Romance: Swordsman of the Moon Luster · The Last Soldier
Estimated owners
20,000–50,000 (est.)
72
Player rating
70
Critic rating
23
Ratings counted
74%
Steam reviews
10
Achievements

The Last Blade

Quick answers

The Last Blade

The story

"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.

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Key facts

Platforms

Game modes

Themes

The Last Blade

Trailer

The Last Blade

Screenshots

The Last Blade

Reviews and languages

74% of 246 Steam reviews are positive. Valve labels that “Mostly Positive”.

10 languages in the interface, 1 of them with full voice acting. English is supported.

The Last Blade

Platform releases

Arcade
5 December 1997
Neo Geo AES
29 January 1998
Neo Geo CD
26 March 1998
PlayStation
24 February 2000
PlayStation 3
26 April 2007
PlayStation Portable
26 April 2007
Wii
13 March 2012
Linux
31 August 2016
Mac
31 August 2016
PC (Microsoft Windows)
31 August 2016

The Last Blade

Official pages

The Last Blade

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