Let’s talk about third-party Wii games… Everyone’s favorites. Okay, so I’ve already mentioned a few Wii games like 버섯 Men and the No 더 많이 히어로즈 series, and Madworld. While those are indeed good underrated Wii games, I am aware that there are a multitude of bad third party Wii games. But 당신 know what isn’t bad? A good old fashioned JRPG for the Wii. And no, it’s not Xenoblade Chronicles, so if 당신 were expecting that, then prepare to be disappointed. No, today, we are talking about the other Wii JRPG: The Last Story.
The Last Story is a game for the Wii that was made 의해 Hironobu Sakaguchi, a renowned creator in the JRPG industry, before Square Enix screwed him out of real work and forced him into Mobile Hell for the rest of his life. But terrible company choices aside, the game is also known for having it’s soundtrack created 의해 famous composer, Nobuo Uematsu, who made the soundtracks for a majority of Final 판타지 games. The Last Story did get some recognition, but when Xenoblade Chronicles came around, it completely wiped the floor with The Last Story. Nobody was talking about this game while Xenoblade Chronicles now has a sequel, complete with girls with very large breasts. Truly, a sign of quality. So, why did The Last Story get pushed aside? Surely, it deserved some fame, right? Well, let’s find out.
~Story~
The game follows Zael, a member of a small group of rambunctious mercenaries. This group contains Dagran, Zael’s childhood friend and leader of the team, Syrenne, a girl who i all about drinking and fighting, Yurick, a quiet mage who doesn’t like socializing much, Lowell, a flirtatious young man who is all about hitting on women, and Mirania, a young girl who cares about the earth and nature. Now, these characters may seem like your generic cast of characters, but don’t worry, I’ll talk about them later. Zael and Dagran have a dream of becoming 더 많이 than simple mercenaries, and wish to become knights, so they can live a life of ease and get the respect they deserve. While on Lazulis Island, the games setting, in the capital city, Zael ends up running into a young girl who calls herself Lisa, but is actually, in secrecy, Lady Calista, the niece the island’s king, Count Arganan. While on a mission, Zael gains the power of something known as the Outsider, and with it, is able to get closer to the count and Calista, while facing off a war between a rivaling race known as the Gurak, lead 의해 their king, Zangurak… clever. And from there, many little pieces are added to the story, and if I kept discussing the story from there, it would get a little confusing, so just believe me when I say that, as a JRPG, it’s pretty simple, but it manages to add some little pieces to it that allow 당신 to keep going on with the story. But what’s a game without the gameplay?
~Gameplay~
The Last Story isn’t your typical JRPG. It has a very… different approach to battle. Instead of a turn-based style, it’s 더 많이 action-based, allowing 당신 to freely move. Seems simple, until 당신 actually play it. 당신 fight enemies 의해 using… The control stick on the Wii’s Nunchuck controller. Stick with me on this, okay? As weird as it is the first time, I can assure you, it is very easy to get used to. Just point at an enemy and then attack. 당신 can also learn new moves as 당신 continue, allowing for stealth attacks, jumping attacks and ranged attacks. It never feels the same 또는 tedious when 당신 fight enemies and it always manages to add something new to keep the gameplay fresh and never get annoying. When 당신 have your party with you, 당신 can really get something done. If 당신 have a magic user with 당신 like Yurick, Mirania, 또는 Calista, 당신 can wait for them to 불, 화재 a 원, 동그라미 at the enemy, which can do either earth, fire, 또는 ice damage. If 당신 stand in the circle, 당신 can get a special attack boost to your weapons, like a flame 또는 ice boost. But, later n in the game, 당신 can get a wind 슬래쉬 ability, which can increase the damage from the magic 원, 동그라미 and hit every enemy in the area, as well as give 당신 the attack boost. Another technique is using the crossbow. While the crossbow isn’t… the most useful tool in the game, it can allow 당신 to hit enemies who are pretty far away. Granted, it isn’t much use and 당신 can probably just have your mages hit them, but it is still a useful tool. Also, if 당신 have the Prank Arrows, 당신 can trip people in the hubworld, and that’s always a fun time.
Another thing I should mention are the graphics in this game. As far as games on the Wii go, the environments are beautiful. They may not look as impressive compared to the Wii’s competition at the time, but they are still breathtaking. From expansive kingdoms to large caves to just a simple walk across a grassy hill. It’s amazing. Can’t say the same for some NPCs. They’re fine upclose, but from a distance, they start walking really badly. So badly, 당신 can just count the frames they are moving in. I counted at least four frames per second. It’s incredibly distracting in the hubworld, where NPCs are everywhere. But, unless your a huge nitpicking nerd like me, 당신 will probably get used to it. What 당신 will get used to is how simple this game is. As far as JRPG’s go, this is probably one of the 더 많이 easier ones. In combat, this game can be a very forgiving. Each character has five lives at the start of every battle. When your health 또는 a party members health is drained, they will be able to get right back up, assuming they don’t run out of lives. And after each battle, 당신 will get all your lives back. The game is pretty forgiving, but trust me, you’ll need those lives in some boss fights. It gives 당신 a sense to keep fighting, while also wanting 당신 to fight the boss again with another strategy if 당신 do fail. The game is all about strategizing your battles, as it gives 당신 a chance to look at the enemies before 당신 do fight them. As long as 당신 don’t run out of health before the battle is done, 당신 should be fine. Just keep up the Gathering to bring your party members back and 당신 should be fine. Speaking of Gathering, 당신 will need that. It’s a very useful tool in this game. Aside from being able to revive your party members, Gathering lures all the enemies in the area away from your party and to you. That may seem like a bad tool, but trust me, if 당신 want your mage’s to use their magic while having a speed bonus from the Gathering, you’ll want to use it as often as 당신 can.
Another thing about The Last Story is the customization choices. From the different amount of clothing to the new kinds of 색깔 당신 can wear, 당신 don’t have to keep the same clothing on your characters throughout the entire game. Sure, 당신 could if 당신 wanted to, but 당신 never have to. Every armor choice is different for your characters, and they will always wear them, both in cutscenes and in game. Armor always shows up on your character, and so do dyes. Dyes are… a color option. 당신 can… use it to change the uniforms to… any color… Okay, I’ll be honest, I never used dyes in this game. I never needed them. But, for those who really like to make their party whatever color they want, I’ve heard that this is some of the best character customization to ever be in a JRPG. So take solace in the fact that the option is in fact there and a huge offer in fact if 당신 ever want to use it. So, while I didn’t do any dyes, what I did do were sidequests. There are many skippable chapters in The Last Story, mainly because these could be sidequests and nothing more. But 당신 really should do these side quests, because every character is enjoyable in some way 또는 another. Yurick distances himself because of his father’s leave and suspected betrayal, and helping him find out the truth allows him to have 더 많이 faith in his comrades. Mirania’s worry for the earth comes into play if 당신 가입하기 her on the island to find out what has happened. There is no boring sidequest in this game, and they make the characters that some would find to be one-dimensional appear to have 더 많이 character to them, and become some of the best characters in a JRPG. But of course, there is the story between Zael and Calista. This story had no reason to be as good as it was. When it comes to main character romances in a JRPG, this should have fallen flat on it’s 나귀, 엉덩이 super hard. So why is it so good? Sure, it’s no Casablanca when it comes to romance stories, but neither character goes through some bullshit misunderstanding, they don’t mope about their pasts to each other, and they don’t constantly bicker. In fact, they are incredibly loyal to each other, they always stick to each other’s side, and if something bad does happen, they always feel terrible about it, and always regret it immediately, but they don’t shove it in the players face for a good portion of the game. It’s got just the right amount of charm to make 당신 say, “Aw, that’s sweet”, and not, “Just shut up already and be a couple!”.
~Ending~
-Actually, I think, for the first time on Hidden Gems, I’m going to not talk about the ending. At least not in great detail. Because it’s got way too much plot, and has too much good twists in it that I’d rather just hold off on it. I will say some things about it. First off, the final boss is a real pain if 당신 aren’t ready. Starting off with a simple first phase, then a tolerable 초 phase, and just a strong third phase that will kick your 나귀, 엉덩이 if 당신 aren’t prepared. 당신 need a good strategy if 당신 want to beat the final boss, because he is not easy. It got incredibly hectic for me in the last part, having constant healers and revivers as everyone just zerg rushed him with their strongest weapons. It was hard as hell, but a very satisfying conclusion. But even after that, there is even 더 많이 game. The Last Story has as much endings as the third Lord of the Rings film. It takes the Atlus approach where, if 당신 still have control of your character, then there is still 더 많이 game. Shut up and do this quest. The game keeps going after 당신 think it’s over. Final boss dead? 더 많이 story! How is the kingdom doing? 더 많이 story! Zael and Calista’s relationship? 더 많이 story! But it never out stays its welcome and just adds 더 많이 to this game. And I appreciate it greatly. And after all that, the game ends with where Zael and Calista first met, as the game finally ends. I say finally, despite being twenty hours long. May seem like a lot, but that is nothing for JRPGs. They can go on for eighty 또는 more. But hey, take what 당신 get with this game.
~Legacy~
Thanks to the group who started Operation Rainfall, a campaign to get Japanese exclusives to western audiences, we were able to get The Last Story here in the west, along with Xenoblade Chronicles. The game became Xseed’s highest selling game and their most successful game to ever be released, even getting a PRemium Edition. While it did pretty well when it first came out, it was eventually forgotten and would just fall into the bargain bin of your local store. Is what I would say if the game didn’t cost almost sixty dollars online. I’m serious, this game is real pricy. I only got a hold of this game because my local 도서관, 라이브러리 had it on the shelves. Sometimes, I hate the retro gaming market.
~Rating~
I’d be lying if I said this wasn’t one of the better JRPG’s I’ve played. It had style, it had a wonderful story, it had a unique way of gameplay, and it managed to not shove typical tropes in my face and, if there were tropes, they were surely made less annoying in every way possible. The Last Story is a game that I say is worth a 검색 (Assuming 당신 can find a copy with a reasonable price). It is a game that I highly recommend to all JRPG 팬 or, hell, anyone who just owns a Wii. It is worth it to have this game with you. It’s no Xenoblade, but 당신 know what, that is okay. The Last Story gets a well deserved Hidden Gem ranking.
The Last Story is a game for the Wii that was made 의해 Hironobu Sakaguchi, a renowned creator in the JRPG industry, before Square Enix screwed him out of real work and forced him into Mobile Hell for the rest of his life. But terrible company choices aside, the game is also known for having it’s soundtrack created 의해 famous composer, Nobuo Uematsu, who made the soundtracks for a majority of Final 판타지 games. The Last Story did get some recognition, but when Xenoblade Chronicles came around, it completely wiped the floor with The Last Story. Nobody was talking about this game while Xenoblade Chronicles now has a sequel, complete with girls with very large breasts. Truly, a sign of quality. So, why did The Last Story get pushed aside? Surely, it deserved some fame, right? Well, let’s find out.
~Story~
The game follows Zael, a member of a small group of rambunctious mercenaries. This group contains Dagran, Zael’s childhood friend and leader of the team, Syrenne, a girl who i all about drinking and fighting, Yurick, a quiet mage who doesn’t like socializing much, Lowell, a flirtatious young man who is all about hitting on women, and Mirania, a young girl who cares about the earth and nature. Now, these characters may seem like your generic cast of characters, but don’t worry, I’ll talk about them later. Zael and Dagran have a dream of becoming 더 많이 than simple mercenaries, and wish to become knights, so they can live a life of ease and get the respect they deserve. While on Lazulis Island, the games setting, in the capital city, Zael ends up running into a young girl who calls herself Lisa, but is actually, in secrecy, Lady Calista, the niece the island’s king, Count Arganan. While on a mission, Zael gains the power of something known as the Outsider, and with it, is able to get closer to the count and Calista, while facing off a war between a rivaling race known as the Gurak, lead 의해 their king, Zangurak… clever. And from there, many little pieces are added to the story, and if I kept discussing the story from there, it would get a little confusing, so just believe me when I say that, as a JRPG, it’s pretty simple, but it manages to add some little pieces to it that allow 당신 to keep going on with the story. But what’s a game without the gameplay?
~Gameplay~
The Last Story isn’t your typical JRPG. It has a very… different approach to battle. Instead of a turn-based style, it’s 더 많이 action-based, allowing 당신 to freely move. Seems simple, until 당신 actually play it. 당신 fight enemies 의해 using… The control stick on the Wii’s Nunchuck controller. Stick with me on this, okay? As weird as it is the first time, I can assure you, it is very easy to get used to. Just point at an enemy and then attack. 당신 can also learn new moves as 당신 continue, allowing for stealth attacks, jumping attacks and ranged attacks. It never feels the same 또는 tedious when 당신 fight enemies and it always manages to add something new to keep the gameplay fresh and never get annoying. When 당신 have your party with you, 당신 can really get something done. If 당신 have a magic user with 당신 like Yurick, Mirania, 또는 Calista, 당신 can wait for them to 불, 화재 a 원, 동그라미 at the enemy, which can do either earth, fire, 또는 ice damage. If 당신 stand in the circle, 당신 can get a special attack boost to your weapons, like a flame 또는 ice boost. But, later n in the game, 당신 can get a wind 슬래쉬 ability, which can increase the damage from the magic 원, 동그라미 and hit every enemy in the area, as well as give 당신 the attack boost. Another technique is using the crossbow. While the crossbow isn’t… the most useful tool in the game, it can allow 당신 to hit enemies who are pretty far away. Granted, it isn’t much use and 당신 can probably just have your mages hit them, but it is still a useful tool. Also, if 당신 have the Prank Arrows, 당신 can trip people in the hubworld, and that’s always a fun time.
Another thing I should mention are the graphics in this game. As far as games on the Wii go, the environments are beautiful. They may not look as impressive compared to the Wii’s competition at the time, but they are still breathtaking. From expansive kingdoms to large caves to just a simple walk across a grassy hill. It’s amazing. Can’t say the same for some NPCs. They’re fine upclose, but from a distance, they start walking really badly. So badly, 당신 can just count the frames they are moving in. I counted at least four frames per second. It’s incredibly distracting in the hubworld, where NPCs are everywhere. But, unless your a huge nitpicking nerd like me, 당신 will probably get used to it. What 당신 will get used to is how simple this game is. As far as JRPG’s go, this is probably one of the 더 많이 easier ones. In combat, this game can be a very forgiving. Each character has five lives at the start of every battle. When your health 또는 a party members health is drained, they will be able to get right back up, assuming they don’t run out of lives. And after each battle, 당신 will get all your lives back. The game is pretty forgiving, but trust me, you’ll need those lives in some boss fights. It gives 당신 a sense to keep fighting, while also wanting 당신 to fight the boss again with another strategy if 당신 do fail. The game is all about strategizing your battles, as it gives 당신 a chance to look at the enemies before 당신 do fight them. As long as 당신 don’t run out of health before the battle is done, 당신 should be fine. Just keep up the Gathering to bring your party members back and 당신 should be fine. Speaking of Gathering, 당신 will need that. It’s a very useful tool in this game. Aside from being able to revive your party members, Gathering lures all the enemies in the area away from your party and to you. That may seem like a bad tool, but trust me, if 당신 want your mage’s to use their magic while having a speed bonus from the Gathering, you’ll want to use it as often as 당신 can.
Another thing about The Last Story is the customization choices. From the different amount of clothing to the new kinds of 색깔 당신 can wear, 당신 don’t have to keep the same clothing on your characters throughout the entire game. Sure, 당신 could if 당신 wanted to, but 당신 never have to. Every armor choice is different for your characters, and they will always wear them, both in cutscenes and in game. Armor always shows up on your character, and so do dyes. Dyes are… a color option. 당신 can… use it to change the uniforms to… any color… Okay, I’ll be honest, I never used dyes in this game. I never needed them. But, for those who really like to make their party whatever color they want, I’ve heard that this is some of the best character customization to ever be in a JRPG. So take solace in the fact that the option is in fact there and a huge offer in fact if 당신 ever want to use it. So, while I didn’t do any dyes, what I did do were sidequests. There are many skippable chapters in The Last Story, mainly because these could be sidequests and nothing more. But 당신 really should do these side quests, because every character is enjoyable in some way 또는 another. Yurick distances himself because of his father’s leave and suspected betrayal, and helping him find out the truth allows him to have 더 많이 faith in his comrades. Mirania’s worry for the earth comes into play if 당신 가입하기 her on the island to find out what has happened. There is no boring sidequest in this game, and they make the characters that some would find to be one-dimensional appear to have 더 많이 character to them, and become some of the best characters in a JRPG. But of course, there is the story between Zael and Calista. This story had no reason to be as good as it was. When it comes to main character romances in a JRPG, this should have fallen flat on it’s 나귀, 엉덩이 super hard. So why is it so good? Sure, it’s no Casablanca when it comes to romance stories, but neither character goes through some bullshit misunderstanding, they don’t mope about their pasts to each other, and they don’t constantly bicker. In fact, they are incredibly loyal to each other, they always stick to each other’s side, and if something bad does happen, they always feel terrible about it, and always regret it immediately, but they don’t shove it in the players face for a good portion of the game. It’s got just the right amount of charm to make 당신 say, “Aw, that’s sweet”, and not, “Just shut up already and be a couple!”.
~Ending~
-Actually, I think, for the first time on Hidden Gems, I’m going to not talk about the ending. At least not in great detail. Because it’s got way too much plot, and has too much good twists in it that I’d rather just hold off on it. I will say some things about it. First off, the final boss is a real pain if 당신 aren’t ready. Starting off with a simple first phase, then a tolerable 초 phase, and just a strong third phase that will kick your 나귀, 엉덩이 if 당신 aren’t prepared. 당신 need a good strategy if 당신 want to beat the final boss, because he is not easy. It got incredibly hectic for me in the last part, having constant healers and revivers as everyone just zerg rushed him with their strongest weapons. It was hard as hell, but a very satisfying conclusion. But even after that, there is even 더 많이 game. The Last Story has as much endings as the third Lord of the Rings film. It takes the Atlus approach where, if 당신 still have control of your character, then there is still 더 많이 game. Shut up and do this quest. The game keeps going after 당신 think it’s over. Final boss dead? 더 많이 story! How is the kingdom doing? 더 많이 story! Zael and Calista’s relationship? 더 많이 story! But it never out stays its welcome and just adds 더 많이 to this game. And I appreciate it greatly. And after all that, the game ends with where Zael and Calista first met, as the game finally ends. I say finally, despite being twenty hours long. May seem like a lot, but that is nothing for JRPGs. They can go on for eighty 또는 more. But hey, take what 당신 get with this game.
~Legacy~
Thanks to the group who started Operation Rainfall, a campaign to get Japanese exclusives to western audiences, we were able to get The Last Story here in the west, along with Xenoblade Chronicles. The game became Xseed’s highest selling game and their most successful game to ever be released, even getting a PRemium Edition. While it did pretty well when it first came out, it was eventually forgotten and would just fall into the bargain bin of your local store. Is what I would say if the game didn’t cost almost sixty dollars online. I’m serious, this game is real pricy. I only got a hold of this game because my local 도서관, 라이브러리 had it on the shelves. Sometimes, I hate the retro gaming market.
~Rating~
I’d be lying if I said this wasn’t one of the better JRPG’s I’ve played. It had style, it had a wonderful story, it had a unique way of gameplay, and it managed to not shove typical tropes in my face and, if there were tropes, they were surely made less annoying in every way possible. The Last Story is a game that I say is worth a 검색 (Assuming 당신 can find a copy with a reasonable price). It is a game that I highly recommend to all JRPG 팬 or, hell, anyone who just owns a Wii. It is worth it to have this game with you. It’s no Xenoblade, but 당신 know what, that is okay. The Last Story gets a well deserved Hidden Gem ranking.
A car is violently flipped over.
"Yo! What the fuck!?" The passengers cried angrily.
"OPEN FIRE!" Officer Shane cried, and all the officers started killing the suspects, though they were no threat at all.
However, Shane ended up accidentally shooting chief Rick Grims, nearly killing him.
"Oh nooo... He's been shot because 의해 the criminals" Shane called out nervously.
Shane and the officers ran over to the fading away Rick.
"By the way. If 당신 die 또는 fall into a coma.. I'm gonna sleep with your wife" Shane's voice said as it was fading away.
AT THE HOSPITAL
The doctor violent punches Rick while he was still unconscience.
"What 당신 do doing!?" Shane cried.
"My job..Sometimes people FAKE being in a coma. This man's not.. Unless.. The first 펀치 knocked him out.. Either way, we won't know for sometime" the doctor replied.
Stay tuned for more..
"Yo! What the fuck!?" The passengers cried angrily.
"OPEN FIRE!" Officer Shane cried, and all the officers started killing the suspects, though they were no threat at all.
However, Shane ended up accidentally shooting chief Rick Grims, nearly killing him.
"Oh nooo... He's been shot because 의해 the criminals" Shane called out nervously.
Shane and the officers ran over to the fading away Rick.
"By the way. If 당신 die 또는 fall into a coma.. I'm gonna sleep with your wife" Shane's voice said as it was fading away.
AT THE HOSPITAL
The doctor violent punches Rick while he was still unconscience.
"What 당신 do doing!?" Shane cried.
"My job..Sometimes people FAKE being in a coma. This man's not.. Unless.. The first 펀치 knocked him out.. Either way, we won't know for sometime" the doctor replied.
Stay tuned for more..