The Last Blade: Beyond the Destiny

Although The Last Blade: Beyond the Destiny is an excellent little thing, one must keep in mind that it is still a 2001 handheld fighting game, and very much of its time. On its original hardware, it was heaven-sent, but on your Switch you might be somewhat disappointed if you're going in blind. For SNK aficionados and Last Blade fans, it will delight purely on historical value, but those with no experience of the Neo Geo Pocket or the SNK library will likely feel better served buying the actual arcade ports of Last Blade 1 and 2, which are also available on the eShop. To that end, this is a better bet for fans, collectors, and those enamoured by gaming curios. It's dinky, it's charming, and it's a testament to the craftsmanship of old SNK. And, while imperfect, it plays like The Last Blade should. For certain gamers, that will be more than enough.

This action packed fighter will surprise fighting game fans and retro fans alike. The Last Blade: Beyond the Destiny jumps from the year 2000 on the Neo Geo Pocket Color all the way to the year 2020 on Nintendo Switch. Originally only available on SNK's short lived handheld game console, Beyond the Destiny is a port of the arcade's The Last Blade and The Last Blade 2. This is an awesome fighter that deserves to be played.

Regardless, this will be a must for those that enjoy a good fighting game, but the price might be a bit steep for a re-release to some. In the end, it’s at least a nice reminder that SNK has always released a solid experience when it comes to fighting games and doesn’t seem to stop doing so in the years to come.

If you have nostalgia for portable fighters then The Last Blade: Beyond the Destiny will be a welcome addition to your Switch library.

Although I still get a kick out of seeing these Neo Geo Pocket Color games on the Nintendo Switch, some fare better than others. THE LAST BLADE: Beyond the Destiny is my last choice. The combat's a little too sluggish, the presentation a little too uneven, and the overall package a little too dated. I'd check out one of the prior NGPC releases instead.

undefined.The usual bells and whistles are here, including a digitized manual, different NGPC skins, and a rewind feature. As in the previous games, there's a distinct lack of a moves list, so you'll have to resort to repeatedly opening the manual, writing things down, or going to GameFAQs. 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. The Last Blade is fun, and another good NGPC game to add to your list.

THE LAST BLADE: Beyond the Destiny gives you a lot of game for a small $5.99 price tag. It will take you quite a few hours to grind out all the unlockables, and the mini games are always fun to pick and play for a few minutes. The graphics and sound are top notch, but most importantly, the game is a ton of fun to play. While I think some folks will be turned off by its retro look, gameplay is king here. I think fans of the series and folks that love fighters will find a lot to love here.

The Last Blade: Beyond the Destiny is a simplistic but thoroughly enjoyable fighter that makes the most of its unlockables, visuals, and soundtrack.

The Last Blade: Beyond the Destiny was a Neo Geo Pocket Color fighting title and is the newest addition to the collection of Neo Geo Pocket Color titles being relaunched on Nintendo Switch. Based on the arcade SNK The Last Blade, we will find a version super deformer quite competent, and that as a big surprise will be able to mutate in its second installment based on unlockables. A curiosity that we must try.

The Last Blade: Beyond the Destiny is a portable version of the fighting series that manages to adapt its main characteristics in a smaller package. The combat system is surprisingly deep, and many interesting mechanics make the battles exciting, even with some limitations in the controls and the rhythm. In addition to being technically great, the game has a lot of content to unlock, which encourages exploring all modes. The Switch version offers reasonable, if somewhat limited, options. In the end, The Last Blade: Beyond the Destiny is one of the best titles in Neo Geo Pocket Color lineup and also a remarkable retro fighting game.