The Last Story (Wii)

[Johnny]

Sakaguchi's latest RPG came out in Japan a couple of weeks ago and I got my copy a few days ago and have been playing it quite a bit so thought I'd post a few impressions.

It's basically a very streamlined JRPG. No random battles, no potions, little magic, little to no grinding required, no world map, not many towns to visit and so on. That may sound to a lot of people like all the negative things about Final Fantasy XIII but personally I think it works well and the game moves a lot quicker as a result.

The main draw here is the battle system. Fights are in real time and, in keeping with the streamlined approach, all you need to do on the default auto mode is move the analogue stick towards enemies to attack. There are a couple of special moves that you learn as the game progresses but ultimately it's very straight forward.

With all the trimming down that has gone on, the game is, so far anyway in the 29 (of around 39 IIRC) chapters I have played, pretty easy. Despite that though it plays well and has a nice flow to it.

Not sure how many others will be playing this but if you own a Japanese or modded Wii and feel like playing a non-traditional JRPG then you can't go far wrong with this. Also have to mention the Uematsu soundtrack. Not as great as some of his classic and more well known OST's, but overall it is very good.

[TheLaughingMan]

Well, the way you say all that seems to make it even more simplified than FFXIII...
Are there even menus in there? Seriously from what you said the only thing to do is move your character in a linear path, press a button to move conversations (or is that also removed?) and point towards enemies in battle. :sweat: There must be something more to it.

But yeah, the game looked like more than this. Supposed to be very good, so i keep my hopes up. Ad i'm really hoping it sees a release over here, though being a Wii RPG i have some doubts...*crosses fingers*
Plus, it's Sakaguchi final game (or is it?!) and you can't (or very rarely) go wrong with a Uematsu soundtrack.

[Johnny]

Well, the way you say all that seems to make it even more simplified than FFXIII...
Are there even menus in there? Seriously from what you said the only thing to do is move your character in a linear path, press a button to move conversations (or is that also removed?) and point towards enemies in battle. :sweat: There must be something more to it.


Some of the boss battles require a bit more thinking but yeah, it's not really complex :/ Which is weird because the early talk/vids were making it out to involve a lot of strategy and so on.

As for menus, you mean in battle? You can bring one up which stops the action and lets you choose what each character will do but usually only one or two can cast magic so it's not really worth it.

[Zeether]

I really do hope this comes out here. Nintendo said there were "no current plans" but the sales seem to show it's doing quite well in Japan so I'm really crossing my fingers for it. The game sounds like a lot of effort but I think it would pay off, and I really don't want to mod my Wii at all. Plus the fact that Mistwalker's English Twitter account is talking about it seems to show that they have every intention of releasing it here.

[Johnny]

I really do hope this comes out here. Nintendo said there were "no current plans" but the sales seem to show it's doing quite well in Japan so I'm really crossing my fingers for it. The game sounds like a lot of effort but I think it would pay off, and I really don't want to mod my Wii at all. Plus the fact that Mistwalker's English Twitter account is talking about it seems to show that they have every intention of releasing it here.

Think you may have gotten this mixed up with another game as it has only sold 130k or so in its two weeks on sale which is very, very low. Yes, its a third party Wii game, but with the staff and hype, this should have done much much better.

Some NoE guy (from France IIRC) said a few weeks ago that its Western release definitely hadn't been ruled out so who knows. Although E3 looks like its only chance of a US/EU release announcement.

I'm adding this to Xenoblade and new entries in Nintendo series like Starfox and F-Zero in my Nintendo E3 11 predictions. Or pipe dreams.

[Zeether]

Even with the low sales there seems to be a pretty big fan demand for the game here, but I guess we will have to wait for E3 to see. It would suck immensely for it to not come out, because I do not want to rely on Wii hacking/buying a Japanese Wii to play a game due to Nintendo shooting down a potentially good release.

The game has done better at launch than Mistwalker's previous titles, so hopefully over time the sales will grow a little more.

At least they haven't ruled out a localization entirely.

[Johnny]

The game has done better at launch than Mistwalker's previous titles, so hopefully over time the sales will grow a little more.

At least they haven't ruled out a localization entirely.

The concerning thing is that they (their previous console games) were on 360 and this is on a console with a much bigger installed base. It also only did around 30k in its second week so it looks like a front loaded title and not one with legs.
It would be interesting to see how well it sold in the US and Europe.

On the localisation issue, its interesting that most, if not all, of the menus in the game are in English so it's a start :P

[Ryos]

Even with the low sales there seems to be a pretty big fan demand for the game here, but I guess we will have to wait for E3 to see.

That's more because the Wii has like zilch RPGs. I'm hoping for a potential release since Xenoblade and it were pretty much why I bought the Wii, but eh, who knows...

[Senku]

It's basically a very streamlined JRPG. No random battles, no potions, little magic, little to no grinding required, no world map, not many towns to visit and so on. That may sound to a lot of people like all the negative things about Final Fantasy XIII but personally I think it works well and the game moves a lot quicker as a result.

I'm calling it now - If this gets localized, this game will get praised for what XIII got criticized about.

[Suwako Moriya]

It's basically a very streamlined JRPG. No random battles, no potions, little magic, little to no grinding required, no world map, not many towns to visit and so on. That may sound to a lot of people like all the negative things about Final Fantasy XIII but personally I think it works well and the game moves a lot quicker as a result.

I'm calling it now - If this gets localized, this game will get praised for what XIII got criticized about.

Not having played either FFXIII or this game, I would say that I fully expect you to be partially right. In the sense that what you say will at least be true in some cases. Not all of them, but some.

I speculate that not having played either game in question, but relying on both past history and noting one interesting aspects about opinions. In that they follow what I like to call the 1% different.

You can have in this case two games with the same basic over all structure and such. Yet that 1% difference will lead to one game being awesome and the other game being awful.

That 1% can be almost anything. A difference in graphical style. A difference in who is involved in making the game. Maybe one game has a character that appeals greatly to the person. So on and so forth.


While perhaps not as streamlined as either game in question, I have had experience various levels of streamlining stuff before in RPGs. From that experience I find streamlining to be a mixed bag.

It has the advantage of making the game go faster. Plus, depending on over all length, they make good games to play in between larger ones. It's also nice if you mainly focus on the story.

However there is the danger of a game being so focused on being streamlined that the game forgets that it's err you know supposed to actually be a game. Plus, there's always the gamble of whether or not the story will make up for it.

[Westlo]

After seeing this compared to MSG4 I'm not looking forward to it as much as I was, and by compared to MSG I mean long, stupid cutscenes that go on for hours before the final boss.

[Johnny]

After seeing this compared to MSG4 I'm not looking forward to it as much as I was, and by compared to MSG I mean long, stupid cutscenes that go on for hours before the final boss.

No idea where you read that as the game is nothing like that. Apparently the endgame gets quite long and the fight up to the final boss is lengthy, but during the rest of the game there are no really long cutscenes.

[Westlo]

After seeing this compared to MSG4 I'm not looking forward to it as much as I was, and by compared to MSG I mean long, stupid cutscenes that go on for hours before the final boss.

No idea where you read that as the game is nothing like that. Apparently the endgame gets quite long and the fight up to the final boss is lengthy, but during the rest of the game there are no really long cutscenes.

http://www.neogaf.com/forum/showpost.php?p=25902115&postcount=611http://www.neogaf.com/forum/showpost.php?p=25902115&postcount=611

It definitely doesn't. It tortures you with the most inane cutscenes ever for a solid 4 hours.

When you see a save point in the ENDING of the game, you know you're in for some shit.

It's not just that post, several impressions I've read and that one kinda just made me go all meh over the game.. just not that hyped for it now.. guess I'll still get it if it comes over, but after hearing nothing on Xenoblade...

[Senku]

After seeing this compared to MSG4 I'm not looking forward to it as much as I was, and by compared to MSG I mean long, stupid cutscenes that go on for hours before the final boss.

No idea where you read that as the game is nothing like that. Apparently the endgame gets quite long and the fight up to the final boss is lengthy, but during the rest of the game there are no really long cutscenes.

http://www.neogaf.com/forum/showpost.php?p=25902115&postcount=611http://www.neogaf.com/forum/showpost.php?p=25902115&postcount=611

It definitely doesn't. It tortures you with the most inane cutscenes ever for a solid 4 hours.

When you see a save point in the ENDING of the game, you know you're in for some shit.

It's not just that post, several impressions I've read and that one kinda just made me go all meh over the game.. just not that hyped for it now.. guess I'll still get it if it comes over, but after hearing nothing on Xenoblade...

Dear lord, never again. I am never playing another JRPG, I am fucking through.

That kinda killed his opinion for me.

"Yesterday" must have been this guy's last day to turn in their winning lotto ticket or something; 'cause I've never seen someone get this upset over long cutscenes.

We probably won't hear anything till E3 from Nintendo, if we do.

[Johnny]

It's not just that post, several impressions I've read and that one kinda just made me go all meh over the game.. just not that hyped for it now.. guess I'll still get it if it comes over, but after hearing nothing on Xenoblade...

Eh, there's a good 15-20 hours before that point though that are perfectly enjoyable. I will admit that I'm at the stage now where bosses are starting to be recycled and it's a little frustrating but I don't regret getting the game at all.

Depends on how much you want to play it I guess. Assuming it comes to the US, you could wait until it hits the bargain bin.

[Zeether]

Even with the cutscene issue I'd still play it if it came out here, and the US release may fix whatever problems the Japanese version had. It sounds like the poster on GAF is just one disgruntled person out of a few.

The game apparently didn't do so hot in its third week, but I'm still holding out for an announcement at E3.

[TheLaughingMan]

I never understood people who whine at long/lots of custcenes and even bother to play JRPG's and MGS...

It's like if i'd hate shooting guns yet i still buy all the Halo/CoD/Gears titles...:rolleyes:

[Suwako Moriya]

Dear lord, never again. I am never playing another JRPG, I am fucking through.

That kinda killed his opinion for me.

"Yesterday" must have been this guy's last day to turn in their winning lotto ticket or something; 'cause I've never seen someone get this upset over long cutscenes.

To be honest, I can actually understand finding four hours of cut scenes in a row to be a bit excessive. Also, the longer cut scenes last the more time real life can interrupt you.

At the very least, I would hope such a game would allow the player to pause. And wouldn't have a problem with being left dormant for awhile.. It's situations like that making pausing important.

At the same time, that comment you quoted in bold says everything for me. Unfair as it may be, such dramatics don't exactly give me much motivation to take an opinion into account.

Still, I guess it depends on how you look at it. A highly positive reaction to four hours worth of cut scenes. A highly negative reaction to four hours worth of cut scenes. A middle of the road reaction to it.

None of those possible reactions would change the fact it's four hours of worth cut scenes. Assuming the people reacting are being factual and not either exaggerating or downplaying things.

[Suwako Moriya]

I never understood people who whine at long/lots of custcenes and even bother to play JRPG's and MGS...

To be fair, the following needs to be kept in mind. First, that long is a relative term. A person fine with a thirty minute straight cut scene might find a two hour one to be pushing it a bit.

At the same time, we need to remember that not all JRPGs are about being bombarded with long cut scene after long cut scene. Some RPGs like to keep them short and using them sparingly. Or to put it another way.

A scenario has you do A, B, C, D, and finally E. With one game, you might only have a cut scene at points A and E. Those will be short. Yet another might want you to have a long cut scene at every single point.


Another issue with long and short is that there is a thing about perception. It might be easier to sit through an interesting thirty minute cut scene than to sit through a boring ten minute cut scene.

[TheLaughingMan]

To be fair, the following needs to be kept in mind. First, that long is a relative term. A person fine with a thirty minute straight cut scene might find a two hour one to be pushing it a bit.
Well yeah. But are there even any 2 hours cutscenes existing? Much less 4 hours...:rolleyes:

Well, maybe MGS4 (still haven't played it) but that would be it. People are way overblowing this. Even FFXIII, people were crying about hour plus cutscenes one after another...i don't think there's any cutscenes topping 30 minutes, even then, not even close.

At the same time, we need to remember that not all JRPGs are about being bombarded with long cut scene after long cut scene. Some RPGs like to keep them short and using them sparingly. Or to put it another way.

That's a good point. You have your Atlus/NISA lower-budget or plenty others with short/sparse cutscenes. Then you have your Sakaguchi/Square etc titles that do have long cutscenes aplenty. But shouldn't someone who play these games know what they're getting into at this point?

Another issue with long and short is that there is a thing about perception. It might be easier to sit through an interesting thirty minute cut scene than to sit through a boring ten minute cut scene.

Another good point. I'd agree that a boring/emotionless/generic cutscene can appear much longer that it is and good ones can fly by even if they're long.

[Suwako Moriya]

Well yeah. But are there even any 2 hours cutscenes existing? Much less 4 hours...:rolleyes:

To be honest, I can't think of any. At the same time however, I haven't exactly been keeping track. It's mostly a case of random numbers for emphasis.


People are way overblowing this. Even FFXIII, people were crying about hour plus cutscenes one after another...i don't think there's any cutscenes topping 30 minutes, even then, not even close.

Not having played FFXIII, I can only speak in general terms here. The idea that some would exaggerate and claim that the cut scenes are longer than they actually are does not surprise me. Heck, I'm sure it happens in other areas as well.

Although I have to admit I almost hope someone will put this supposed 4 hour cut scene up on for example, youtube. Just so I can see for myself how long it really is. I speak of Last Story of course.



That's a good point. You have your Atlus/NISA lower-budget or plenty others with short/sparse cutscenes. Then you have your Sakaguchi/Square etc titles that do have long cutscenes aplenty. But shouldn't someone who play these games know what they're getting into at this point?

Well, even with experience in playing RPGs, there is only so much you can know ahead of time. That being said, it is true that people should be prepared to accept the idea that some cut scenes may be on the longer side and not be shocked they exist.


Another good point. I'd agree that a boring/emotionless/generic cutscene can appear much longer that it is and good ones can fly by even if they're long.

On a related note, there's also the idea of the following. Some types of scenes might warrant being a bit longer. While other cut scenes are probably better off being shorter. There's also the idea that sometimes only a single event happens and other times several events happen in the same scene.

[Kouji Tamino]

I never understood people who whine at long/lots of custcenes and even bother to play JRPG's and MGS...


Yes, because long and numerous cutscenes were always a staple of JRPGs.

[Fencedude]

I never understood people who whine at long/lots of custcenes and even bother to play JRPG's and MGS...


Yes, because long and numerous cutscenes were always a staple of JRPGs.

They have been for a long time. And there are plenty of older games which, while they didn't have long cutscenes, did have very, very long dialog only events.

[Zeether]

I never understood people who whine at long/lots of custcenes and even bother to play JRPG's and MGS...


Yes, because long and numerous cutscenes were always a staple of JRPGs.

They have been for a long time. And there are plenty of older games which, while they didn't have long cutscenes, did have very, very long dialog only events.
And it was a PITA before they introduced a skip button since dying and going through them all over ate up a lot of time.

[Ryos]

And it was a PITA before they introduced a skip button since dying and going through them all over ate up a lot of time.

On an unrelated note, I found out recently that Too Human has a lot of unskippable cutscenes. Urgh. I don't care how darn awesome your cinematics are, I shouldn't have to watch them if I don't want to because I'm replaying the game or died.

I suspect the poster's gripe may be a bit of hyperbole though because there were folks who said that the Xenosaga series was more watch than play. While those games WERE heavy on cinematics, you still played more than watched.

[Kouji Tamino]

I never understood people who whine at long/lots of custcenes and even bother to play JRPG's and MGS...


Yes, because long and numerous cutscenes were always a staple of JRPGs.

They have been for a long time. And there are plenty of older games which, while they didn't have long cutscenes, did have very, very long dialog only events.

While I personally have no problem with them and quite like them, I can definitely see why people that have grown up with video games are growing weary of an increasing frequency of cutscenes that exist solely for the purpose of showing off, some of which can last up to 20 minutes. I mean, when a cutscene is followed by another cutscene, surely there's room for complaint.

[Suwako Moriya]

I suspect the poster's gripe may be a bit of hyperbole though because there were folks who said that the Xenosaga series was more watch than play. While those games WERE heavy on cinematics, you still played more than watched.

It's been awhile since I played those games, but your comment begs the question. When considering the game play to cinematic ratio, how do we treat the game play part of the ratio?

Are we only counting the portion of game play that we're required to do to advance the story? Or are we also counting things like doing side quests, messing around in towns, fighting extra battles, etc?

There's a difference between going straight to the next dungeon to advance the plot in question vs taking a detour to gain some items and such. Because of this, how much game play one will get out of a game will be dependent on what they do.

[Johnny]

People are way overblowing this. Even FFXIII, people were crying about hour plus cutscenes one after another...i don't think there's any cutscenes topping 30 minutes, even then, not even close.


Seriously. I really doubt that it's a continuous 4 hour cut scene. It's GAF, so a huge amount of hyperbole and exaggeration has to be expected. I'm near the end and the recycled bosses are annoying, but I can't see how a 4 hour cut scene is going to happen anytime soon here.

[Zeether]

Coming on the heels of the announcement that Xenoblade Chronicles had a domain registration is...a domain for TheLastStory.com. (http://gonintendo.com/viewstory.php?id=155110)

I think this is a good sign.

[Ryos]

Coming on the heels of the announcement that Xenoblade Chronicles had a domain registration is...a domain for TheLastStory.com. (http://gonintendo.com/viewstory.php?id=155110)

I think this is a good sign.

Sweet, this is the second most eagerly awaited Wii game for me.

[Johnny]

Coming on the heels of the announcement that Xenoblade Chronicles had a domain registration is...a domain for TheLastStory.com. (http://gonintendo.com/viewstory.php?id=155110)

I think this is a good sign.

From what I read elsewhere, that domain was registered way back last year so in that instance, nothing has changed. However, with Xenoblade getting a EU confirmation and probably a US one very soon, it would be a good time to announce The Last Story for a Western release.