The Last Blade: Beyond the Destiny

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The Last Blade: Beyond the Destiny
The Last Blade Beyond The Destiny cover.jpg
Developer(s) SNK
Publisher(s) SNK
Platform(s) Neo-Geo Pocket Color, Nintendo Switch
ReleaseNeo-Geo Pocket Color
Nintendo Switch
October 28, 2020 [1]
Genre(s) Fighting
Mode(s) Single-player, multiplayer

The Last Blade: Beyond the Destiny is a fighting game released by SNK in April 2000 for the Neo-Geo Pocket Color handheld system. It is the third game in The Last Blade series. The European release was subject to a recall when SNK ceased all foreign operations a month later, making it one of the rarest English language titles in Neo-Geo Pocket Color's library. [2] The game was later re-released as part of Neo Geo Pocket Color Selection Vol. 1 in 2021.

Contents

Gameplay

The game features a story mode, a survival mode, a time attack mode, and a training mode. Points are earned through gameplay, which can be spent in the in-game gallery to unlock artwork, playable characters, minigames, and equippable boosts. [3]

Characters

The Last Blade: Beyond the Destiny features 16 playable characters, nine of which are available from the start. [2] This includes every playable character from the arcade release of The Last Blade 2 , with the exceptions of Juzoh Kanzaki and Mukuro, who are playable only in unlockable minigames; and Shigen Naoe, who is fully absent.

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Unlockable character
  2. ↑ Also unlockable as "Awakened Kaede"

Reception

IGN said: "You can't go wrong with Last Blade, but you could go even more right with SNK vs. Capcom and Gals Fighters." [5] Jeff Gerstmann of GameSpot called Beyond the Destiny "a good fighting game, with more options and features than you'd expect from a portable fighter" but recommended to get SNK vs. Capcom: The Match of the Millennium instead. [3] Nintendo Life called the Switch port "[...] an excellent little thing, one must keep in mind that it is still a 2001 handheld fighting game, and very much of its time." [2] Nintendo World Report said of the Switch port: "Being able to play with a friend on a single system is nice, though, although The Last Blade won’t give you the multiplayer mileage than Smash Bros. does." [6] Hardcore Gamer called it "may be the finest-playing NGPC game available yet on the Switch". [7] Time Extension placed the game on its "Best Neo Geo Pocket Color Games" list. [8]

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References

  1. 1 2 Romano, Sal (28 October 2020). "The Last Blade: Beyond the Destiny now available for Switch". Gematsu. Archived from the original on 16 April 2023. Retrieved 16 April 2023.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 Massey, Tom (1 November 2020). "The Last Blade: Beyond the Destiny Review (Switch eShop)". Nintendo Life . Hookshot Media. Archived from the original on 16 April 2023. Retrieved 16 April 2023.
  3. 1 2 3 Gerstmann, Jeff (29 March 2000). "Review - The Last Blade". GameSpot . CBS Interactive. Archived from the original on 8 July 2004. Retrieved 16 April 2023.
  4. ↑ "The Last Blade: Beyond the Destiny for Switch Reviews". Metacritic . Fandom. Archived from the original on 24 January 2025. Retrieved 16 April 2023.
  5. 1 2 Nix, Marc (27 April 2000). "Reviews - Last Blade". IGN . Ziff Davis. Archived from the original on 10 May 2000. Retrieved 16 April 2023.
  6. 1 2 Miller, Zachary (6 November 2020). "The Last Blade: Beyond the Destiny (Switch eShop) Review Mini". Nintendo World Report. Archived from the original on 16 April 2023. Retrieved 16 April 2023.
  7. ↑ Peeples, Jeremy (30 October 2020). "The Last Blade: Beyond the Destiny Boasts More Neo Geo Pocket Color Thrills on Switch". Hardcore Gamer. Archived from the original on 16 April 2023. Retrieved 16 April 2023.
  8. ↑ McFerran, Damien (3 February 2023). "Best Neo Geo Pocket Color Games". Time Extension. Hookshot Media. Archived from the original on 3 February 2023. Retrieved 16 April 2023.
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