If you don't own The Last Blade... you can go to hell. Look, that might seem a little dramatic, but I only say it because I care. SNK is responsible for 11 of the 10 best 2D fighting games of all time, and The Last Blade 1 and 2 are right at the top of the list. They don't take up the 1st and 2nd spot, nor are they tied for number 1. They simultaneously occupy the same space at the same time at the top of the heap. Don't worry if that doesn't make sense, just trust me. It's science. This series is a bit slower paced than most games in this genre, but the depth of the gameplay is unmatched. There is an interesting cast of characters to chose from with a wide variety of weapons and fighting styles. You then pick between two styles, "Speed" for faster more offensive play and longer combos, and "Power" for more defensive play with slower moves that do greater damage. Either way playing defensively will generally get you farther here, reading your opponent and waiting for an opening. Music is minimal with most battles scored with ambient nature sounds, but what few tracks are present are quite good. All of this taking place in some of the most beautifully animated backgrounds to ever grace a 16 bit game. Seriously though, you have no excuse. GoG and Humble Store have this game with no DRM, but if that is just too much freedom for you to handle, you can get it on almost any other distribution platform or console. And if you're a purist who really wants to part with some cash, you can throw down a couple hundred for the MVS cart. Either way, please add The Last Blade to your game library. This, the second one, or both. I mean really, what else are you doing with your life?
