The Last Blade: Beyond the Destiny
{{Short description|2000 video game}}
{{use dmy dates|date=April 2023}}
{{Infobox video game
| title = The Last Blade: Beyond the Destiny
| image = The Last Blade Beyond The Destiny cover.jpg
| developer = SNK
| publisher = SNK
| designer =
| programmer =
| artist =
| writer =
| composer =
| engine =
| series =
| platforms = Neo-Geo Pocket Color, Nintendo Switch
| released = Neo-Geo Pocket Color{{vgrelease|JP|March 16, 2000{{cite web |last1=Romano |first1=Sal |title=The Last Blade: Beyond the Destiny now available for Switch |url=https://www.gematsu.com/2020/10/the-last-blade-beyond-the-destiny-now-available-for-switch |website=Gematsu |access-date=16 April 2023 |date=28 October 2020 |archive-date=16 April 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230416114908/https://www.gematsu.com/2020/10/the-last-blade-beyond-the-destiny-now-available-for-switch |url-status=live }}|EU|2001}}Nintendo Switch
October 28, 2020
| genre = Fighting
| modes = 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. The game was later re-released as part of Neo Geo Pocket Color Selection Vol. 1 in 2021.
Gameplay
Characters
{{main|The Last Blade#Characters}}
The Last Blade: Beyond the Destiny features 16 playable characters, nine of which are available from the start. 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.
{{collist|
- Akari Ichijou
- Hagure Hitogata{{efn|name=unlock|Unlockable character}}
- Hibiki Takane{{efn|name=unlock}}
- Hyo Amano
- Kaede{{efn|Also unlockable as "Awakened Kaede"}}
- Kaori Sanada{{efn|name=unlock}}
- Keiichiro Washizuka
- Kouryu{{efn|name=unlock}}
- Lee Rekka
- Moriya Minakata
- Okina no Genbu
- Setsuna{{efn|name=unlock}}
- Shinnosuke Kagami{{efn|name=unlock}}
- Yuki
- Zantetsu
}}
{{notelist}}
Reception
{{Video game reviews
| MC = 68/100 (Switch){{cite web |title=The Last Blade: Beyond the Destiny for Switch Reviews |url=https://www.metacritic.com/game/the-last-blade-beyond-the-destiny/critic-reviews/?platform=nintendo-switch |website=Metacritic |publisher=Fandom |access-date=16 April 2023 |archive-date=24 January 2025 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20250124053935/https://www.metacritic.com/game/the-last-blade-beyond-the-destiny/critic-reviews/?platform=nintendo-switch |url-status=live }}
| GSpot = 7.6/10 (NGPC){{cite web |last1=Gerstmann |first1=Jeff |title=Review - The Last Blade |url=https://www.gamespot.com/reviews/last-blade-the-review/1900-2545685/ |website=GameSpot |publisher=CBS Interactive |access-date=16 April 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040708225919/http://www.gamespot.com/ngpc/action/lastbladethe/review.html |archive-date=8 July 2004 |date=29 March 2000 |url-status=live}}
| IGN = 7.0/10 (NGPC){{cite web |last1=Nix |first1=Marc |title=Reviews - Last Blade |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2000/04/29/last-blade |website=IGN |publisher=Ziff Davis |access-date=16 April 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20000510122347/http://pocket.ign.com/reviews/11048.html |archive-date=10 May 2000 |date=27 April 2000 |url-status=live}}
| NLife = 7/10 (Switch){{cite web |last1=Massey |first1=Tom |title=The Last Blade: Beyond the Destiny Review (Switch eShop) |url=https://www.nintendolife.com/reviews/switch-eshop/last_blade_beyond_the_destiny |website=Nintendo Life |publisher=Hookshot Media |access-date=16 April 2023 |date=1 November 2020 |archive-date=16 April 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230416114908/https://www.nintendolife.com/reviews/switch-eshop/last_blade_beyond_the_destiny |url-status=live }}
}}
IGN said: "You can't go wrong with Last Blade, but you could go even more right with SNK vs. Capcom and Gals Fighters." 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. 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." 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." Hardcore Gamer called it "may be the finest-playing NGPC game available yet on the Switch".{{cite web |last1=Peeples |first1=Jeremy |title=The Last Blade: Beyond the Destiny Boasts More Neo Geo Pocket Color Thrills on Switch |url=https://hardcoregamer.com/features/articles/opinion/the-last-blade-beyond-the-destiny-boasts-more-neo-geo-pocket-color-thrills-on-switch/390874/ |website=Hardcore Gamer |access-date=16 April 2023 |date=30 October 2020 |archive-date=16 April 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230416114910/https://hardcoregamer.com/features/articles/opinion/the-last-blade-beyond-the-destiny-boasts-more-neo-geo-pocket-color-thrills-on-switch/390874/ |url-status=live }} Time Extension placed the game on its "Best Neo Geo Pocket Color Games" list.{{cite web |last1=McFerran |first1=Damien |title=Best Neo Geo Pocket Color Games |url=https://www.timeextension.com/guides/best-neo-geo-pocket-color-games |website=Time Extension |publisher=Hookshot Media |access-date=16 April 2023 |date=3 February 2023 |archive-date=3 February 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230203170309/https://www.timeextension.com/guides/best-neo-geo-pocket-color-games |url-status=live }}
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- {{moby game|id=/25269/the-last-blade-beyond-the-destiny}}
{{The Last Blade}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Last Blade: Beyond the Destiny, The}}
Category:Multiplayer and single-player video games
Category:Neo Geo Pocket Color games