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Information About

The Last Blade




  Developer SNK
  Publisher SNK
  Release January 29, 1998
  Genre Versus Fighting
  Modes Up to 2 players simultaneously
  Cabinet Upright
  Arcade System Neo-Geo (474 Mbit Cartridge )
  Monitor Raster , 320 x 224 pixels (Horizontal), 4096 colors
  Input 8-way Joystick , 4 Buttons
  Ports Neo Geo CD , NGPC , PlayStation , PlayStation 2 , Windows


''The Last Blade'' (月華の剣士: ''Gekka no Kenshi''), or ''LB'' for short, is a Fighting Game series created by SNK for the Neo-Geo arcade and home system.

The game takes place during the Bakumatsu era of Japan , and also has a take on Japanese Mythology . Nearly all characters in the series are of Japanese origin.


STORY SYNOPSIS

Long before humanity existed, in a far off time of myth, death was an unknown, equally distant concept, but when death first came to the world, the "Messenger from Afar" was born.

With time, the Sealing Rite was held in order to seal Death behind Hell's Gate. At that time, two worlds, one near and one far, were born. Thus the history of life and death began.

Half a year has passed since Suzaku's madness, and the underworld is still linked by a great portal. Kagami's great sin is still heard as if ringing from the heavens. Our world has been called upon. Legends of long ago told of the sealing of the boundary between the two worlds.
The Sealing Rite would be necessary to hold back the spirits of that far away world.

However, the Sealing Rite brings together the power of the Four Gods and Sealing Maiden, for the first time properly completing the ritual.

To find the Sealing Maiden, Genbu began searching in the center of the world, from which all things begin. At the same time in the underworld, in the depths of darkness, many spirits conspired, plotting to hinder the Sealing Rite. They had but one wish, to be reborn into our world.


GAMEPLAY

''The Last Blade's'' gameplay was characterised by 2 selectable fighting stances, and a unique combo system along with a "deflect" or "parrying" system which proved to be much more forgiving in terms of timing than similar systems from other games (see '''').

The game's "Speed" mode would allow one to easily chain several normal attacks into a special or desperation move, as well as execute a "Speed Combo" which consisted of a set of pre-determined button sequences, while the game's "Power" mode required much stricter timing with regards to chaining attacks, but also increased damage potential exponentially, opened up a variety of desperation move links, and gave access to "Super Desperation Moves" which inflict an exhorbitant amount of damage. Power mode also allowed the player to perform ''Super Cancels'', i.e. cancel into a Desperation move from a special move, thus increasing the chaining potential of moves.


TRIVIA

  • Just as Nobuhiro Watsuki's '' Rurouni Kenshin '' series was inspired by '' Samurai Shodown '', ''The Last Blade'' series were SNK's way of returning the favor, with the same time period, many similar moves, and character designs which bear a remarkable resemblance to those seen in the well-loved Anime and Manga series. For example:

  • Moriya is basically a direct lift of ''RK's'' Hiko Seijuro , with a different color scheme. His teleportation move is animated in a virtually identical fashion to some maneuvers that Kenshin used later in the series, and his quick-draw slash, the ''Ittou Oboro'' (''Single-Blade Mist'') has him in an identical ready stance as Kenshin's Battoujutsu techniques (aside mentioning his hairstyle is similar to Kenshin's).

  • Washizuka is directly based on Saitou Hajime , down to the stance of his most powerful move, Gatotsu, and he has a cross-shaped scar on his cheek, just like Kenshin himself. Also, both characters are members of the Shinsengumi group.

  • Mukuro is patterned after Shishio Makoto .

  • Hyo's design is 95% faithful to the appearance of a minor villain early in the ''RK'' series.

  • The game's unique style of music (sweeping orchestral melodies, largely devoid of percussion, as opposed to the usual upbeat rock/techno fare of most fighting games), has drawn both great criticism and praise from reviewers and gamers alike. Many attribute this to a cultural difference where in Japan, fight scenes are often characterised by softer musical pieces. More likely, however, it is meant to be indicative of the Western influences which were prevalent in Japanese culture at the time.

  • The character of Zantetsu would later have a descendant named Eiji Kisaragi of the '' Art Of Fighting '' and '' The King Of Fighters '' series.

  • The character of Lee Rekka is based loosely on Jet Li 's portrayal of Wong Fei Hung in the '' Once Upon A Time In China '' movie series.

  • Kaede's "Awakened" form is based somewhat on how a Saiyan 's hair color changes to yellow in the popluar anime '' Dragon Ball Z ''



GAMES

  • ''The Last Blade'' / ''Bakumatsu Rouman: Gekka no Kenshi''

  • ''The Last Blade 2'' / ''Bakumatsu Rouman Dai Ni Maku: Gekka no Kenshi - Tsuki ni Saku Hana, Chiri Yuku Hana''

  • ''The Last Blade - Beyond the Destiny (Neo Geo Pocket Colour conversion)''



CHARACTERS


Characters With Appearances in Other Series



Other characters



EXTERNAL LINKS