Ryudo wrote: The Last Story
Hironobu Sakaguchi & Nobuo Uematsu are some of the most legendary names in RPG's and gaming. We know them from the so famed series Final Fantasy. After many years ay Square Hironobu left Square in 2001 to form Mistwalker Studios. Mistwalker recently more well known for Lost Odyssey and Blue Dragon.
In the latest RPG form the studio The Gooch stepped in the directors chair for the first time since Final Fantasy V.
Teaming up once again with Nobuo Uematsu,Nobuo taken back that his first draft for the score was rejected by his long time co worker and friend. The didn't speak for a month until Nobuo sent Gooch a new score and wrote if you don't like this I quit. Luckily for Gooch it was perfect for the game he had in mind. The Last Story a game he wished to convey more emotion and less padding of traditional RPG's. Similar to Final Fantasy there were rumors that if this title does not do well he would retire. very Similar to Final Fantasy in 1989. So is this a new Final Fantasy or yet another cliche RPG refusing to push the genre forward.
Story
The game starts off as Dagran the leader of a group of mercenaries in a cave full of nasties. As they are ambushed you switch to Zael the main character. As they work their way through baddies they get cornered and Zael hears a mysterious voice and is given the power of the outsider. Eventually you are back in your home & pub. When sent out to get some supplies Zael runs into a mysterious girl on the run. You end the night with both Zael and the girl talking and having a good time and she leaves to go home. Next morning Zael and the other Mercs are hired to help keep guard during the Ball. Zael discorvers the girl was not who she says she was and as they talk the castle is attacked by a long absent enemy the Gurack.
This is where the game picks up. While the whole game does have a story as a whole it also has many smaller stories told in Chapters. Some are optional. This is a very character driven story as well as a love story. While it does of some old things we come to know. Chosen one,betrayal,corruption. The character driven story parts really drive it.
From characters in your parties to some minor characters. Also unlike most RPGs after the final fight. The game goes on a few chapters story and character driven. Mostly quiet. Similar to how the end of Shenmue has little excitement but let you take it in and feel good.
The first of many small touching moments in story telling
Gameplay
Now RPG's often have 2 options for battle systems. Turn based or Action based. What happens if you do something than either of those?
The power given to Zael is really a useful in battle. When you gather enemies focus on you alone. Letting your allies concentrate one helping you. Each alley has a their own trait and are very useful. it's as if you are playing the best more coordinated co-op. No running into walls or standing doing nothing. Allies are not there to make you look good like many RPG's. When close to an enemies you swing the sword automatically. You can also guard and counter. At times you need strategy. You can coordinate your party members to do what in a top down RTS like view. You will need to do this as many enemies going in head on just won;t always work. Similar style to old Ys bosses and some Zelda mechanics. Sometimes enemies and bosses are a puzzle. However it's streamlined so that while you do this you also don't have time nor have to think to long. At time you need to destroy a bridge so you can use your crossbow or need to find a weak point. Using the crossbow is very similar to a third person shooter. To help with that there is many well placed blocks,benches,obstructions to take cover. When not in battle you only have one town. Home and hub of the game. Ruli is quite large and much to do. From quests to the Arena to compete in the games. Ruli as said before in other topics is one of the best cities in a game ever. Sure it has many NPC but they don't just stand in one area. They dance they sing the have actual conversations. They can rob you or another NCP. Fights break out. Street performers try and earn money. Comedians need bananas. Children play. Sometimes people are clumsy and drop a basket of lemons and you slip on them.
Standard RPG fare you buy and upgrade armor and weapons. Unlike standard fare. You have to earn or buy color dyes. This way you can custom your outfits even more. Some special dyes add partial effects or butterflies or music notes or evil aurora. The best one is invisible. Feeling pervy then make the male or female clothes invisible while still having full protection of the armor!
Visuals
Mistwalker must love water. They pulled off some really great looking water effects in the game. They liked it so much they show it off every chance they can. Character design is subjective. I rather liked it. Some do not. I felt it had style but not so much it distracts from the game. They wanted the characters to have character while retaining a more realistic approach.
Environments are very detailed and crisp. It has a very old European style. All very crisp and nice reflections in marble floors. They paid much attention to detail. Maybe to much as the Wii struggles sometimes with the game. Animations are fluid and nice touches like walking a ledge your character tries to balance himself. You will see many small details that just amaze you they put that much effort in.
Music
Nobuo music in The Last Story if different than his Final Fantasy takes. Sure some music is catchy but it's mostly dramatic or the small ques for emotional moments. Also finds a way to use some of the same tunes but have a different emotion tied to it depending on the scene. While I do love the OST. My fave work of his is FF series. However I do think they may be some of his best work simply because of the emotion behind the music in the game.
Only post one song from the game.
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NZSSHU6fFJA[/youtube]
Thoughts
To me this is what Final Fantasy should be. Good story telling and pushing the genre forward.
A another nice feature is instead of skipping cut scenes is fast forwarding. Yep just like an old VHS tape. Maybe just want to see a certain bit bit not the whole thing. While the game cut the fat and is only from 20-30 hours long it's a rich and packed in that small time. I would love to see this become a series.
Henry Spencer wrote: Yeah, okay, we can agree to disagree on it. But you honestly didn't think that:
Honestly?
Kenny wrote: Glad someone else though DMC2 was garbage too.
I'd like to revisit it though and see if it's as bad as I remember.
Henry Spencer wrote: Hey, Kenny's more of a man than me anyway. He beat Superman 64, for crying out loud.
Henry Spencer wrote: And LJN is?
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