Reviews// The Last Story

The Last Story has, as with last year’s Xenoblade Chronicles from Monolith, been granted a full English localisation. Full of regional colloquialisms and ill-advised attempts at humour this proves a mixed blessing. Though the script is sometimes competently written, the delivery is largely poor.

A patronising narration, seemingly aimed at children, sits at odds with some of the adult topics and language featured. Throw in an enthusiastic but - let’s be kind – variable voice cast, often the effect is like an episode of some fantasy Hollyoaks. Occasionally, where the story has something to say and the stronger performers are united a higher level is attained, but for the most part the result is wince-inducing.

Sakaguchi’s underlying theme is well-meaning if over-told: war is bad and destroys the world. Friendship and love are what are important. Be nice to the planet. Power corrupts, violence breeds violence, revenge is bad but acting selflessly is good. People from other lands might look different but really they are just like us - it’s their leaders, keeping them oppressed, who are to blame for conflict.

There is some more interesting stuff buried in there, particularly if you visit the Lazulis Castle library where concepts of the war on terror and WMD proliferation are lightly explored in text, and to some extent this also plays out in the main story where, in the face of literal intercontinental warfare (in which two warring nations’ lands become mobile battleships), Zael autonomously attempts to invoke a unilateral disarmament policy.

The presence of music composer Nobuo Uematsu will excite many. His score is extremely easy on the ear and often happily reminiscent of his work on the Final Fantasy games. However, I would suggest that the soundtrack lacks a truly outstanding, awe-inspiring piece which will live beyond the game. The main theme, which appears in several forms, including a closing song, is a fine piece, but nothing here quite threatened to send shivers up my spine. Overall the music complements the events on screen well.

Visually the game is a mixed bag. A subtle palette is employed, making certain areas and atmospheric effects outstandingly pretty, while other locations are somewhat bland and forgettable.

Character models and textures vary wildly from the well defined, distinctive leads via the so-so menagerie of monsters down to the rough-looking NPC knights. The frame rate sometimes dips in larger areas. Although the game handles the extraordinarily busy battles impressively, with up to something like twenty units in play the screen can, at times, become an incomprehensible mess of multicoloured, clipped polygons as enemies surround the player camera and explosions of magic from multiple sources intersect.

Diverting online combative and co-operative modes are included, although whether or not they have any sort of future remains to be seen. Phantasy Star Online and Monster Hunter fans may find these intriguing, if extremely limited by comparison.

I enjoyed my time with The Last Story though I did not find it inspirational. 44 chapters (including several optional side quests) took me 26 hours to play through and opened up a New Game Plus. While ultimately I was disappointed with the narrative for a game with such a title as 'The Last Story', this streamlined, condensed take on the JRPG was a smooth and pleasant ride.

Simply keeping my weapons and armour up to snuff meant that progress never stalled and, bar a few sags in the yarn, a nice pace was maintained. A playable, well put-together game but one lacking the magic of its superior ancestors.

Pros:
+ Highly enjoyable combat
+ Embraces progression within the genre
+ A good heart

Cons:
- Some dire voice acting
- Some terrible dialogue
- A bit easy for JRPG fans?

SPOnG Score: 8/10