The Last Story
Encyclopedia
is an action role-playing game
developed by Mistwalker
and AQ Interactive
, and published by Nintendo
for the Wii
. The game's name and logo have been noted to be very similar to the Final Fantasy
series, which was created by Mistwalker
's head, Hironobu Sakaguchi
.
The game also contains 6-player cooperative and competitive online modes, where users either team up to face monsters or battle each other. The game also features the use of rapid fire crossbow
s in a manner similar to third-person shooter
s, including a cover system
and over the shoulder view.
The game also features online multiplayer modes, including: Suppression, where players team up to take on a boss for special rewards, and Fray, a player-versus-player battle royale mode which allows multiple players to fight each other using the character of their choice and even enemy monsters.
elements in the game.
in Japan. He will be renamed Zael in the English translation. - The main heroine of the game, skilled in the use of Holy magic for both healing and offensive purposes. A mysterious girl who is of noble birth and the niece of Count Arganan. She dreams of leaving the castle and exploring the world, but it is impossible due to her close supervision there. Voiced by Fumiko Orikasa
in Japan. - The leader of Elza's mercenary group who also negotiates their jobs. Skilled warrior specializing in defense . He is like an older brother to Elza as they have traveled together since their youth. He has grudges against the knights and wishes for vengeance. Voiced by Unshō Ishizuka. - The mood-maker of the group who fights with twin blades. Drinks a lot and has a foul mouth, but is very considerate of her allies. A squad leader who enjoys fighting on the front lines. Voiced by Megumi Toyoguchi
. - The youngest member of the group, but most skilled. A magician who uses Fire magic in combat. Treats mercenary work as a means of survival and doesn't talk much. He is afraid of ghosts. Voiced by Hiro Shimono
. - A mage who can use both Ice magic and swords. He behaves in a flirtatious and easygoing manner but is actually a thinker who cares about his allies. Voiced by Keiji Fujiwara
. - A healer who loves the forest and draws her powers from nature. She is also gluttonous. There appears to be a secret regarding her birth. Voiced by Mamiko Noto
. - The former highest ranking officer in the Imperial Army. Voiced by Fumihiko Tachiki
. - Skilled knight and pupil of General Trista. Does not think fondly of mercenaries such as Elza. Voiced by Hiroki Takahashi
. - The current head of the Arganan family which rules over Ruli Island. He's the most powerful person on the island and is both resourceful and ambitious. He gives employment to Elza and his mercenary crew. Voiced by Kōji Ishii
. - King of the Gurg race who are enemies of mankind. United the Gurgs for the first time with his power and charisma. Voiced by Jōji Nakata.
, had been working on a new game which he revealed in June 2009. He initially wanted to reveal the game by the end of 2009 but delayed the announcement to 2010 for unknown reasons. Nintendo CEO Satoru Iwata
said that Nintendo's collaboration with Mistwalker is seeking "a new form of RPG by choosing the universal theme of human emotion". There was some confusion on the Mistwalker
official blog that Sakaguchi may retire after this game. However, this was a translation error as Sakaguchi meant he was working on it as though he was working on his last game.
The Last Story was developed by Sakaguchi's company Mistwalker, with the system and programming headed by Takuya Matsumoto from AQ Interactive
. Sakaguchi conceived the story and collaborated with Matsumoto on the game concept.
, has been pressuring Nintendo of America for a localization of the game, along with Wii titles Xenoblade
and Pandora's Tower
. In July 2011, Nintendo of America issued a trademark for The Last Story title.
. A 3-disc soundtrack was released on February 23, 2011 on Uematsu's Dog Ear Records
label. A promotional soundtrack titled "The Last Story Premium Soundtrack" was released with certain offers of the game in Japan.
On December 27, 2010, The Last Story was given its first look through an event planned by Nintendo. During the event, the theme song of the game titled "Toberu Mono" was also revealed; "Toberu Mono" is composed by Nobuo Uematsu
and is performed by Kanon
.
magazine, with two critics giving the game 10/10 and two giving the game 9/10. The Last Story topped the Japanese charts, with 114,722 units in its first week - which also includes sales of a version that comes bundled with a Wii system. The UK's Edge Magazine gave the game a score of 8/10 in their April 2011 issue (#E226). Bordersdown gave it a score of 8/10, praising the story, system and voice acting, whilst noting its simplicity.
Action role-playing game
Action role-playing games form a loosely defined sub-genre of role-playing video games that incorporate elements of action or action-adventure games, emphasizing real-time action where the player has direct control over characters, instead of turn-based or menu-based combat...
developed by Mistwalker
Mistwalker
is a Japanese video game development studio founded by Hironobu Sakaguchi in 2004, with the financial backing of Microsoft. The logo and name were trademarked in 2001...
and AQ Interactive
AQ Interactive
AQ Interactive was a Japanese video game developer and publisher. AQ stands for Artistic Quality. It was the parent company of the developers Artoon, Cavia and feelplus, and most recently the U.S. publisher Xseed Games...
, and published by Nintendo
Nintendo
is a multinational corporation located in Kyoto, Japan. Founded on September 23, 1889 by Fusajiro Yamauchi, it produced handmade hanafuda cards. By 1963, the company had tried several small niche businesses, such as a cab company and a love hotel....
for the Wii
Wii
The Wii is a home video game console released by Nintendo on November 19, 2006. As a seventh-generation console, the Wii primarily competes with Microsoft's Xbox 360 and Sony's PlayStation 3. Nintendo states that its console targets a broader demographic than that of the two others...
. The game's name and logo have been noted to be very similar to the Final Fantasy
Final Fantasy
is a media franchise created by Hironobu Sakaguchi, and is developed and owned by Square Enix . The franchise centers on a series of fantasy and science-fantasy role-playing video games , but includes motion pictures, anime, printed media, and other merchandise...
series, which was created by Mistwalker
Mistwalker
is a Japanese video game development studio founded by Hironobu Sakaguchi in 2004, with the financial backing of Microsoft. The logo and name were trademarked in 2001...
's head, Hironobu Sakaguchi
Hironobu Sakaguchi
is a Japanese game designer, game director and game producer. He is world famous as the creator of the Final Fantasy series, and has had a long career in gaming with over 100 million units of video games sold worldwide...
.
Gameplay
The game includes abilities such as "Gathering", which allows Elza to draw the attention of enemies to buy time for his allies to cast spells. Another ability called "Focus" which allows you to make long range attacks and see the weaknesses of enemies. A sequence in the first trailer for the game shows an example of the focus ability being used to cast fire magic to destroy a bridge with enemies on it. Pointers show which allies are being targeted at any given time.The game also contains 6-player cooperative and competitive online modes, where users either team up to face monsters or battle each other. The game also features the use of rapid fire crossbow
Crossbow
A crossbow is a weapon consisting of a bow mounted on a stock that shoots projectiles, often called bolts or quarrels. The medieval crossbow was called by many names, most of which derived from the word ballista, a torsion engine resembling a crossbow in appearance.Historically, crossbows played a...
s in a manner similar to third-person shooter
Third-person shooter
Third-person shooter is a genre of 3D action games in which the player character is visible on-screen, and the gameplay consists primarily of shooting.-Definition:...
s, including a cover system
Cover system
A cover system is how a video game lets a virtual avatar avoid dangers usually in a three-dimensional world. This method is a digital adaptation of the real-life military tactic of taking cover to dodge enemy gunfire or explosives. Similar gameplay elements can be traced back to as early as 1986,...
and over the shoulder view.
The game also features online multiplayer modes, including: Suppression, where players team up to take on a boss for special rewards, and Fray, a player-versus-player battle royale mode which allows multiple players to fight each other using the character of their choice and even enemy monsters.
Setting
The game takes place on Ruli Island (Lazulis Island in the English translation), governed by Count Earl Arganan and located at the entrance of a harbor which serves as the only entrance to a mountainous continent. The player controls a group of mercenaries that have come from the desolate continent to the island seeking work. The production staff is trying to limit science fictionScience fiction
Science fiction is a genre of fiction dealing with imaginary but more or less plausible content such as future settings, futuristic science and technology, space travel, aliens, and paranormal abilities...
elements in the game.
Characters
- The main hero of The Last Story, Elza is a strong and agile swordsman who can unleash powerful Winds from his blade that can combine with his allies' magic spells to spread the magic over the battlefield and even generate Special attributes. He lost his family as a child and works as a mercenary to survive. He dreams of becoming a knight. Voiced by Mamoru MiyanoMamoru Miyano
is a Japanese voice actor, actor, and singer from Saitama. He is best known for his roles on Ouran High School Host Club, Death Note, Mobile Suit Gundam 00, and Kōtetsu Sangokushi. At the 2007 Seiyu Awards he was nominated for two awards for his role as Light Yagami in Death Note, and in 2008, he...
in Japan. He will be renamed Zael in the English translation. - The main heroine of the game, skilled in the use of Holy magic for both healing and offensive purposes. A mysterious girl who is of noble birth and the niece of Count Arganan. She dreams of leaving the castle and exploring the world, but it is impossible due to her close supervision there. Voiced by Fumiko Orikasa
Fumiko Orikasa
is a Japanese voice actress and singer who works for Atomic Monkey. Her record label is Geneon Entertainment. Shopping is one of her hobbies. She is a skilled dancer, and is referred to as "Oririn" by fellow voice actors and fans. She also performed a fair number of anime insert and character image...
in Japan. - The leader of Elza's mercenary group who also negotiates their jobs. Skilled warrior specializing in defense . He is like an older brother to Elza as they have traveled together since their youth. He has grudges against the knights and wishes for vengeance. Voiced by Unshō Ishizuka. - The mood-maker of the group who fights with twin blades. Drinks a lot and has a foul mouth, but is very considerate of her allies. A squad leader who enjoys fighting on the front lines. Voiced by Megumi Toyoguchi
Megumi Toyoguchi
is a voice actress, born on January 2, 1978 in Machida, Tokyo, Japan. She is employed by the talent management firm 81 Produce.-Trivia:* Toyoguchi is the only seiyū to have the distinction of appearing in every anime in the Saturday 6 p.m...
. - The youngest member of the group, but most skilled. A magician who uses Fire magic in combat. Treats mercenary work as a means of survival and doesn't talk much. He is afraid of ghosts. Voiced by Hiro Shimono
Hiro Shimono
is a Japanese voice actor employed by I'm Enterprise.-TV anime:*30-sai no Hoken Taiiku *Asura Cryin *Baka to Test to Shōkanjū *Baka to Test to Shōkanjū: Ni!...
. - A mage who can use both Ice magic and swords. He behaves in a flirtatious and easygoing manner but is actually a thinker who cares about his allies. Voiced by Keiji Fujiwara
Keiji Fujiwara
is a Japanese voice actor from the Tokyo Metropolitan area who is affiliated with Air Agengy.His best known projects include Crayon Shin-chan as Hiroshi Nohara, Eureka Seven as Holland, Fullmetal Alchemist as Lieutenant-Colonel Hughes, Zoids: Chaotic Century as Irvine, Final Fantasy VII Advent...
. - A healer who loves the forest and draws her powers from nature. She is also gluttonous. There appears to be a secret regarding her birth. Voiced by Mamiko Noto
Mamiko Noto
is a Japanese voice actress working under Office Osawa. She was born in the city of Kanazawa, Ishikawa, and graduated from Hokuriku Gakuen Senior High School.-Voice:...
. - The former highest ranking officer in the Imperial Army. Voiced by Fumihiko Tachiki
Fumihiko Tachiki
is a Japanese voice actor and narrator.-Career:Formerly a blues singer and known for his low voice, Tachiki is best known as the narrator for the pre-fight movies for Pride Fighting Championships and currently for Dream...
. - Skilled knight and pupil of General Trista. Does not think fondly of mercenaries such as Elza. Voiced by Hiroki Takahashi
Hiroki Takahashi
is a Japanese voice actor best known for the role of Eiji Kikumaru in The Prince of Tennis, Kenji Harima in School Rumble and Katsuya Jonouchi in Yu-Gi-Oh. He works at Big Shot/Interchannel. He also has voice acted in some yaoi Drama CD's such as Love Neco, and Koi cha no Osahou...
. - The current head of the Arganan family which rules over Ruli Island. He's the most powerful person on the island and is both resourceful and ambitious. He gives employment to Elza and his mercenary crew. Voiced by Kōji Ishii
Koji Ishii
is a Japanese voice actor currently affiliated with Vi-Vo.-Notable voice roles:*Chief Koutarou Taiga in The King of Braves GaoGaiGar and The King of Braves GaoGaiGar FINAL*Kimura-sensei in Azumanga Daioh*Jose Collins in A.D...
. - King of the Gurg race who are enemies of mankind. United the Gurgs for the first time with his power and charisma. Voiced by Jōji Nakata.
Development
Hironobu Sakaguchi, head of MistwalkerMistwalker
is a Japanese video game development studio founded by Hironobu Sakaguchi in 2004, with the financial backing of Microsoft. The logo and name were trademarked in 2001...
, had been working on a new game which he revealed in June 2009. He initially wanted to reveal the game by the end of 2009 but delayed the announcement to 2010 for unknown reasons. Nintendo CEO Satoru Iwata
Satoru Iwata
is the fourth president of Nintendo, succeeding the long-standing previous president of the company, Hiroshi Yamauchi in 2002. He was responsible in great part for defining Nintendo's strategy both before and during the release of its Nintendo GameCube video game console in 2001, a vision which...
said that Nintendo's collaboration with Mistwalker is seeking "a new form of RPG by choosing the universal theme of human emotion". There was some confusion on the Mistwalker
Mistwalker
is a Japanese video game development studio founded by Hironobu Sakaguchi in 2004, with the financial backing of Microsoft. The logo and name were trademarked in 2001...
official blog that Sakaguchi may retire after this game. However, this was a translation error as Sakaguchi meant he was working on it as though he was working on his last game.
The Last Story was developed by Sakaguchi's company Mistwalker, with the system and programming headed by Takuya Matsumoto from AQ Interactive
AQ Interactive
AQ Interactive was a Japanese video game developer and publisher. AQ stands for Artistic Quality. It was the parent company of the developers Artoon, Cavia and feelplus, and most recently the U.S. publisher Xseed Games...
. Sakaguchi conceived the story and collaborated with Matsumoto on the game concept.
Localization
Despite rumors of a Nintendo UK rep discussing a European localization, the game was noticeably absent at E3 2011. It was confirmed on June 26, 2011 by the product manager of the French branch of Nintendo, Ludovic Amouroux, that the game is indeed being localized for the European market for a release in 2012. The game will also be released in Australia. There have been no announcements with regard to a North American release, although the fan-based localization movement, Operation RainfallOperation Rainfall
is a fan campaign meant to persuade Nintendo of America to localize three role-playing video games for the Wii console: Xenoblade Chronicles, The Last Story, and Pandora's Tower...
, has been pressuring Nintendo of America for a localization of the game, along with Wii titles Xenoblade
Xenoblade
Xenoblade Chronicles, known in Japan as , is a role-playing video game published by Nintendo and developed by Monolith Soft for the Wii console. The game was announced during E3 2009, when a trailer was released to media...
and Pandora's Tower
Pandora's Tower
Pandora's Tower, also known as , is an action role-playing video game developed by Ganbarion and was published by Nintendo for the Wii video game console. It was released in Japan on May 26, 2011.-Relationship with Ceres:...
. In July 2011, Nintendo of America issued a trademark for The Last Story title.
Audio
The music was composed and produced by Nobuo UematsuNobuo Uematsu
is a Japanese video game composer, best known for scoring the majority of titles in the Final Fantasy series. He is considered as one of the most famous and respected composers in the video game community...
. A 3-disc soundtrack was released on February 23, 2011 on Uematsu's Dog Ear Records
Dog Ear Records
Dog Ear Records is a music production company founded by video game composer Nobuo Uematsu in November 2006. The company publishes video game soundtracks and original albums on disc and digitally through iTunes...
label. A promotional soundtrack titled "The Last Story Premium Soundtrack" was released with certain offers of the game in Japan.
On December 27, 2010, The Last Story was given its first look through an event planned by Nintendo. During the event, the theme song of the game titled "Toberu Mono" was also revealed; "Toberu Mono" is composed by Nobuo Uematsu
Nobuo Uematsu
is a Japanese video game composer, best known for scoring the majority of titles in the Final Fantasy series. He is considered as one of the most famous and respected composers in the video game community...
and is performed by Kanon
Kanon (singer)
Kanon is a Japanese singer and song-writer born in Tokyo, Japan on March 9, 1980. She is signed to Sony Music Japan International.Her latest mini album, My Road ~ Songs for Guin Saga was released on August 26, 2009. Her fifth album planned to be released on March 31, 2011 as she stated on her blog....
.
Reception
The game received a score of 38/40 in FamitsuFamitsu
is a line of Japanese video game magazines published by Enterbrain, Inc. and Tokuma. Currently, there are five Famitsū magazines: Shūkan Famitsū, Famitsū PS3 + PSP, Famitsū Xbox 360, Famitsū Wii+DS, and Famitsū Wave DVD...
magazine, with two critics giving the game 10/10 and two giving the game 9/10. The Last Story topped the Japanese charts, with 114,722 units in its first week - which also includes sales of a version that comes bundled with a Wii system. The UK's Edge Magazine gave the game a score of 8/10 in their April 2011 issue (#E226). Bordersdown gave it a score of 8/10, praising the story, system and voice acting, whilst noting its simplicity.