Last Remnant
Square-Enix latest attempt to show diversity in what they can make that doesn't have the words "Final" and/or "Fantasy" in it seems to glimmer in some parts and cause frustation in others. Last Remnant is a RPG that will have you trying to save not only your sister, father, mother, but the world as you know it.
the graphics are probably the biggest problem with the game. I have never seen so much visual refreshing of textures and mapping in my life. Square-Enix should know better than try to make a game that the 360 can't completely handle. Once all that stuff is loaded the game looks pretty good, but it is just sad that every time the camera changes focus there's a chance that there is going to be some refreshing going on. Another thing is you're going to see your character's armor have some major malfunctions. The models and different areas look like they do in every Square Enix game that is associated with the 2 words they are trying not to be associated with.
The sound and music of the game can at times get really old as they same one liners are used after almost every battle, and the background music does start to turn stale. Actually I take that back, get into a fight and make it last for a couple of turns, after that the music will change and that battle music is much better.
The controls are really simple, and as long as you are quick with the button presses you can cause some serious damage. You'll notice during battles that you'll some times have a button flash on the screen time it right and do critical damage, or parry an attack. There is one button press that I can't stand though, and it has to do with the camera more than the actually button press. Try walking into a building in a town, and without turning the camera walk back to the door to exit, notice that the name of the area you're about to exit to appears at the bottom of the screen, but until you turn the camera so you can actually see the 'A' button display on the door you're stuck in there.
This game has potential, and it feels like it slips through one's fingers at different intervals. I spent 8 hours of the game trying to figure out how to progress the gameplay, I was suppose to be about 2 hours in at that point. I can't really complain too much because my characters were over-leveled for when the story did actually progress, but still there wasn't a finite thing that I could figure out to do to advance the storyline. Another thing is you're going to be fighting in units, so you'll be issuing an overall command. I really wish I could select specific options for each individual unit. The unit idea is a good one, but I don't think that you get enough control with them. Also I really wish that there was a way to save attacks. Lets say that you go attack a unit of Devians, and you only use 1 of your three attacks to beat them, then lets say another unit moves in to take its place, I think it only logical if you still have the attacks in a queue that you should be able to use them. Finally I issue this word of caution, don't try to link a bunch of battles when you enter different areas, there is a chance that the battles that you once fought and destroyed the opponent will be completely different even though what you think you're facing looks the same. Oh and by the way always follow the cardinal rule of RPGs, Save often, if you don't you will suffer great disappointment. After all I've seen and said I have to give this one a 6.8 out of 10.
