The Last Blade

Overview

The Last Blade, known in Japan as Bakumatsu Rouman: Gekka no Kenshi (loosely translated to "Bakumatsu Romance: Swordsman of the Moonflower"), is a 2D historical-fantasy weapon-based fighting game developed and released by SNK for arcades (running Neo Geo MVS hardware) on December 5, 1997.

Set in mid-19th century Japan, during the end of its Edo period, The Last Blade chronicles the tale of Kaede, an avid swordsman seeking to avenge the death of his father by his foster brother Moriya, only to find out that a gate between the human world and the demon world has risen.

The game borrows many elements from the mid-'90s entries of SNK's other historical-fantasy fighting game series Samurai Shodown, including a control scheme accustomed to weaponry and multiple gameplay styles (one for rapid combos and one for heavier strikes). It would receive a sequel a year later, titled The Last Blade 2.

The game was later released for the Neo Geo AES on January 29, 1998 and was ported to both the Neo Geo CD on March 26, 1998 and Sony PlayStation on February 25, 1999 (exclusive to Japan). The original game was digitally re-released by D4 for the Wii (via Virtual Console) on June 7, 2012, and by SNK Playmore (ported by DotEmu) for the PC (via Steam) on August 31, 2016. It was included in some Humble NEO GEO Bundles starting in late 2015 for the PC, Mac, and Linux (both downloadable, with ROMs included, and on modern browsers). The game was also included alongside its sequel in the 2006 Japan-exclusive Bakumatsu Rouman: Gekka no Kenshi 1+2 compilation for the PlayStation 2.

Gameplay

The Last Blade plays similar to SNK's other 2D fighting games from the time, with three attack buttons (Weak Slash, Strong Slash, and Kick) and one utility button (Repel).

Attacks

The game's A, B, and C buttons are reserved for "Weak Slash", "Strong Slash", and "Kick", each with their own unique strengths and properties.

Some special techniques include:

• Using B while holding the joystick back/forward to throw the opponent.
• Pressing B+C together to perform an overhead slash, which must be blocked low.
• Pressing B or C with a certain joystick motion to perform a pursuit attack in order to attack opponents on the ground.

Repel

The game's D button is reserved for the "Repel" technique, which is used to deflect/parry opposing attacks and leave them option for counter-attacks. The direction of the joystick is used to determine which attacks can be repelled:

• Neutral and Back repels standing/jumping normal attacks. Forward repels standing/jumping special attacks.
• Down-Back repels crouching normal attacks. Down-Forward repels crouching special attacks.

During this technique, the fighter performs a motion that can leave them vulnerable to other attacks for a time. Some techniques, such as throws and projectiles, cannot be deflected.

Fighting Modes

Unique to the series at the time are two separate fighting modes (also known as "Ken-shitsu", or "blade type") that players choose from after selecting their fighter, with each mode accustomed to the player's preferred style of play.

Unlike the Slash/Bust system in Samurai Shodown III, both modes change various gameplay aspects (including attack properties and super attacks) instead of the character's movelist. This system is somewhat similar to the "Ism" system in Street Fighter Alpha 3 and the "Groove" system in the Capcom vs. SNK series.

Power / Ryoku

Power Mode is designed for players who prefer unleashing damage from single strikes.

• Individual attacks inflict the most amount of damage, with normal attacks inflicting chip damage while blocked. Blocked weapon attacks also knock both players back, similar to the Samurai Shodown series.

• Special moves can be cancelled into Desperation Moves.

• When the character is at critical health and has a full power bar, players gain the option to perform a more powerful Super Desperation Move.

Speed / Waza

Speed Mode is designed for players who prefer unleashing damage from flurries of strikes.

• Normal attacks can be linked together to perform chain combos, although stronger attacks cannot be linked into weaker attacks.

• Normal attacks can be cancelled into special moves.

• When the character is at critical health and has a full power bar, players gain the option to perform a Combo Special (Down, Down + A + B) that grants them a temporary buff with faster attacks that can all be chained together (other than Super Moves).

Characters

• Kaede - The game's main protagonist and an avid swordsman, who searches the country for his foster brother Moriya to get revenge for the death of his father and mentor. He fights with his father's brand of katana swordsmanship. Bearing the symbol of the Seiryu (the Japanese maple), it is believed that he possesses the power of the God of the same name.

• Moriya Minakata - Kaede's foster brother and rival, who is on the run in order to find their mentor's true killer. Bearing the symbol of the moon, he fights with a different style of katana swordsmanship.

• Yuki - Kaede's foster sister from a foreign land, joining Kaede on his quest to find Moriya. Bearing the symbol of the snowflake, she fights with a naginata.

• Akari Ichijou - A young child from a family of onmyouji, who has the power to control various spirits. She has a hidden Tanooki doppelganger in the PS1 version.

• Juzoh Kanzaki - Akari's free-spirited adoptive older brother, who accompanies her on her quest. Having a large stature, he fights with a large kanabou.

• Hyo Amano - A handsome vagabond and playboy. He fights with his sword sheathed, like a bokuto, and he has techniques based on cherry blossoms and shogi tiles.

• Genbu no Okina - An old hermit who became Kaede and Yuki's teacher after the death of their master. Although a skilled swordsman, he instead uses a fishing rod in combat.

• Shigen Naoe - A hulking berserker who fights with his bare hands, wearing a rosary of the God Byakko that strengthens him. He has a hidden Puppet doppelganger in the PS1 version.

• Lee Rekka - A Shaolin monk from China, who traveled to Japan after witnessing a sign of great evil in order to stop it. Along with acrobatic martial arts, he fights with a folding fan.

• Zantetsu - An elder ninja. Along with quick ninjitsu, he wields dual blades.

• Keiichiro Washizuka - A high-ranking officer of the Shinsengumi who takes his job, along with the art of bushido, seriously. He fights with the Tennen Rishin-ryuu style of katana swordsmanship.

• Shikyoh - A psychopath who joined the Shinsengumi to kill the innocent, only to escape justice as he seeks more prey. He fights with a pair of blades that can be combined into one.

• Musashi Akatsuki - A reanimated version of a legendary swordsman. He is based on the legendary 17th century swordsman Musashi Miyamoto. He is the game's sub-boss, and is only playable with cheat codes.

• Shinnosuke Kagami - The game's main antagonist. He is the game's final boss, and is only playable with cheat codes.

• Kojiroh Sanada - A Shinsengumi captain. He is a hidden character exclusive to the PS1 version, playing similar to his sequel counterpart.