Shinkara: The Success of The Last Story
The Last Story is XSEED’s most successful game ever. In this video Taylor discusses this, XSEED as a company, and the future of localizing games.
The Last Story
Players: 1 offline
Publisher: Xseed Ganes
Genres: RPG
Publisher: Xseed Ganes
Genres: RPG
Release Date: August 14, 2012
Developer: Mistwalker
MSRP: $49.99
Developer: Mistwalker
MSRP: $49.99
Take charge of a band of mercenaries and journey with them into an epic and cinematic adventure in The Last Story for Wii. Players will explore secret-filled locations scattered across Lazulis Island, the heart of a human empire and scene of an unfolding drama that will bring hostilities between two ancient races to a head. Among the band of mercenaries under your control is Zael, a warrior imbued with rare powers and intrigued by the notion of one day becoming an honourable knight. But as Zael and his mercenary friends reach the island’s capital city and find themselves drawn into official affairs, they discover that honour is one quality that can never be taken for granted.
Matsumoto: Wii U Controller “Will Likely Bring About Opportunities for JRPG Strategy.”
Posted By Robert G. about 9 months, 1 week ago
I'd introduce you, but all you need to know is in the bottom left-hand corner.
With the November release of the Wii U looming this fall, several questions still remain regarding the new Nintendo system specifically, how the control pad can be utilized for games on the console. At E3 this year, we saw it range from an extra character being played, to working as an inventory system, to offering touch-screen control for mini-games around the house, if the PR videos are to be believed. One market still untapped, however, is the RPG realm, and it may prove the most interactive of them all, at least in the opinions of designer Takuya Matsumoto.
Matsumoto, lead designer on the Wii exclusive The Last Story and a member of the Japanese game developer Marvelous AQL, had very kind words to say regarding the potential of the Wii U to push RPG’s forward in the organization of statistics, equipment, and other menu interfaces that are typically found in the general. In an interview with Siliconera, he had this to say:
Takuya Matsumoto on the Wii U Tablet Controller
“I feel that the Wii U’s interface, as with other tablet devices, works best for browsing and arranging information. One merit is the ability to use a touch screen to directly manipulate information, such as looking up a monster’s weak point or, like with a car’s GPS, as a tool to understand battlefield conditions on a sub screen. This special feature will likely bring about opportunities for deep research into JRPG strategy. Also, I think that things like saving information gathered during gameplay, adding to your own character’s memories and experiences, and sharing with other players via Wi-Fi and the Miiverse will become an experience typical to the Wii U.”
Matsuomoto’s current job at Marvelous AQL is no stranger to creating RPG’s, some of their current credits include Fate/Extra for the PSP, Rune Factory 4 for the 3DS, and are currently co-developing Soul Sacrifice with Keiji Inafune and SCE Japan Studio. Matsumoto also revealed Mistwalker has also expressed interest for developing more RPG’s for the Wii U, possibly owing some of this interest in the tablet controller and the possibilities for user interface and management being more efficient.
It is not hard to see the potential for the Wii U controller in the realm of RPGs. Many, in particular Japanese developed titles, tend to be “menu-heavy” and offer a myriad of statistics and battle interfaces to slog through in order to make an attack. Using the controller as the primary tool to make in-game conflicts more strategic and manageable would no doubt enhance the enjoyment of the role-playing experience, so the potential for RPGs to reach a new level of control is certainly there. The only question now is whether or not this prediction by Matsumoto will come into fruition once the Wii U is released in November. If anything, it will be interesting indeed to see the possibilities.
Source: Siliconera
The Last Story Review
Does this long anticipated RPG live up to expectations or is this one story all the poorer for the telling?
Shinkara: The Last Story
The Last Story is an all too appropriate title to potentially send the Wii out on a high note. Has Mistwalker created the Wii's swan song, or just more shovelware? Taylor lets you know in this episode of Shinkara! 
Shinkara: The Last Story
The Last Story is an all too appropriate title to potentially send the Wii out on a high note. Has Mistwalker created the Wii’s swan song, or just more shovelware? Taylor lets you know in this episode of Shinkara!
The Last Story Review
Does this long anticipated RPG live up to expectations or is this one story all the poorer for the telling?
Matsumoto: Wii U Controller "Will Likely Bring About Opportunities for JRPG Strategy."
Is the Wii U tablet controller perfect for RPGs? Takuya Matsumoto thinks it can be.
The Last Story Official NA Release Date Revealed, Pre-Order Bonus Detailed
What was almost the Lost Story for NA gamers now finally has an official release date.
Let's Play The Last Story
Sakaguchi’s latest fantasy is out in Europe a bit in advance. So let’s discover this gem with Benzaie !
Behold, The Last Story: Director's Cut Trailer
As The Last Story just begins hitting store shelves in the UK and Europe, Nintendo has released one final trailer co-directed by none other than Hironobu Sakaguchi, the game’s director, himself.
Wii's The Last Story Headlines Nintendo's Direct Broadcast
Nintendo held a live online broadcast earlier today in which they released a bevy of news, including the fate of the long desired North American release of the highly anticipated Wii RPG The Last Story.
The Last Story European Release Date Confirmed
The Wii exclusive RPG will be released in Europe on February 24th, 2012.
Matsumoto: Wii U Controller "Will Likely Bring About Opportunities for JRPG Strategy."
Is the Wii U tablet controller perfect for RPGs? Takuya Matsumoto thinks it can be.
The Last Story Official NA Release Date Revealed, Pre-Order Bonus Detailed
What was almost the Lost Story for NA gamers now finally has an official release date.
Behold, The Last Story: Director's Cut Trailer
As The Last Story just begins hitting store shelves in the UK and Europe, Nintendo has released one final trailer co-directed by none other than Hironobu Sakaguchi, the game’s director, himself.
Wii's The Last Story Headlines Nintendo's Direct Broadcast
Nintendo held a live online broadcast earlier today in which they released a bevy of news, including the fate of the long desired North American release of the highly anticipated Wii RPG The Last Story.
The Last Story European Release Date Confirmed
The Wii exclusive RPG will be released in Europe on February 24th, 2012.
The Last Story Sells Out In First Day
If Nintendo needed any kind of proof that Mistwalker’s The Last Story would be an instant hit, this would be it.
Shinkara: The Last Story
Posted By Taylor Hoyt about 8 months, 1 week ago
Shinkara: The Last Story
The Last Story is an all too appropriate title to potentially send the Wii out on a high note. Has Mistwalker created the Wii’s swan song, or just more shovelware? Taylor lets you know in this episode of Shinkara!
Follow Taylor on Twitter: @TaylorsShelf
Original Art: Ririkuto
Opening and credit songs: Incompetech.com
Logo design: @PyreHavoc
The Last Story Review
Does this long anticipated RPG live up to expectations or is this one story all the poorer for the telling? Shinkara: The Last Story
The Last Story is an all too appropriate title to potentially send the Wii out on a high note. Has Mistwalker created the Wii's swan song, or just more shovelware? Taylor lets you know in this episode of Shinkara!-
September 08, 2012 at 01:45pm
I think it says a lot about the Wii that we have to use words like “Reason to dust off” when talking about it. *sigh* I feel like I got duped by Nintendo again when I bought it.
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September 08, 2012 at 03:20am
nice review and very soulful. i like it. but Shinkara in your history lesson about the company Mistwalker you left some very vital information. even though Hironobu Sakaguchi and Nobuo Uematsu are the biggiest draws of this game for many players, its the other staff of Mistwalker that make it even more awesome. Mistwalker was origonally formed from most of not all of Sacanoth (later named Natalus)game studio. their the ones that made great cult favorites like Kodelka on the PS1 and the Shadow Hearts series on the PS2. if you played the game Last Odyssey and Shadow hearts before it, you will notice some hints of the game mechanics similar between those two.
on a final note i would like to make a request from you to make a review of the Kodelka and Shadow Hearts series. they are really great games and deserve to be known more by gamers everywhere. i hope you take my request to heart and i can’t wait for you next video.
peace
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September 07, 2012 at 11:11pm
Nice overview! It certainly looks good, and it has been greatly hyped. I don’t know if I’d call it quite a swan song as there are surprisingly a couple of other Wii games coming down the pike, but it probably is the last great JRPG on the system. As far as swan songs go, I think that honor will probably go to the Kirby collection. True it’s not an original game per se, but it is a great way to go out with a bang.
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September 07, 2012 at 10:54pm
Great game! I picked it up on a whim at the local Gamestop and I played it through for several hours straight. I would have to agree with a lot about what you said Taylor. BTW, I thought you were no longer a contributor to BT.
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September 07, 2012 at 10:13pm
This is an interesting game. I never was into final fanasty games (squaresoft or square-enix) or any kind of RGPs. This could be my proper introduction by the same man who brought final fanasty.
Perhaps I’ll give a thought of purchasing. This gotta be fun. Thanks for the review Taylor.
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September 07, 2012 at 06:46pm
Hey glad to see the views go up for this video. The game itself and these videos deserve the praise they get.
I saw this also linked on twitter by Xseed which was really cool.
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September 07, 2012 at 07:30pm
I missed the Xseed tweet! Thanks for sharing that. Very cool stuff ^__^
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September 07, 2012 at 04:06pm
I currently playing through Last Story. I haven’t went that far into it yet. (about 2 gameplay hours)
I adore the voice acting so far and personally I love it when a RPG put story and combat mechanics as a priority.
Sure the hide button can get annoying in combat but I got used to it.
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September 07, 2012 at 11:56am
I dare you to review a game that has been long forgotten:
Eternal Eyes.
A TBS game that is about puppets and stuff.
But overall great review!
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September 07, 2012 at 12:07pm
I actually have that game! I may take you up on that dare one day =)
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September 08, 2012 at 12:47am
Hey, if we’re suggesting games here… ever play Opoona? It’s like, the forgotten Wii RPG, but it quickly rose the ranks to become one of my top 10 favorite video games of all time after I played through it (not favorite RPGs, but favorite *games*). It’s a hard game to pin down because there’s nothing else quite like it, and it doesn’t give the strongest first impression, but if you stick with it you’ll find one of the deepest, most well-constructed and immersive game worlds ever to appear in any Japanese RPG. I wrote a full review of the game on GameFAQs, and would recommend checking it out if you’re at all interested.
All I know is, any game world that’s so detailed as to have its own fully realized ART HISTORY, complete with unique movements and popular figures within those movements, is a game deserving of some love.
Also, it has puppies. Crazy, crazy amounts of puppies. Who can ride around on hoverboards.
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September 07, 2012 at 09:25am
Regarding the complaint about there being very little color in this game … Maybe you should have mentioned the option of changing the colors of your characters, Taylor? The player has many different options, actually, such as changing the color of one’s torso, breeches, upper armor, leg armor, boots. I toyed with this option myself, but in the end I changed very little. I thought the characters looked better in black, especially since they’re supposed to be sneaky and all …
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September 07, 2012 at 11:04am
I was mainly referring to the environments with that comment. If you look at the clip that starts at 3:10 it’s almost completely brown and beige, devoid of any color variety.
I hear what you’re saying though. The character customization is pretty substantial, to my surprise.
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September 07, 2012 at 04:06am
Wait a just a second… Mistwalker is producing RPGs called “Last Story” and “Conclusive Tale”. I CANNOT be the only one thinking it’s no coincidence that both of those games have titles which just happen to be literal thesaurus-synonyms with “Final Fantasy”. XD
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September 07, 2012 at 01:12am
You know, if the Wii-U is backwards compatible, I might actually buy it just for this game and Xenoblade Chronicles.
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September 06, 2012 at 11:14pm
Even though I currently have all of 0$ I’m glad this game is getting good reviews cause I was really rooting for Project Rainfall to get these game.
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September 06, 2012 at 04:09pm
Huh…I think you’ve convinced me. This may be the first JRPG I will have picked up in years.
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Shinkara: The Success of The Last Story
The Last Story is XSEED’s most successful game ever. In this video Taylor discusses this, XSEED as a company, and the future of localizing games.
Shinkara: The Last Story
The Last Story is an all too appropriate title to potentially send the Wii out on a high note. Has Mistwalker created the Wii’s swan song, or just more shovelware? Taylor lets you know in this episode of Shinkara!
Let's Play The Last Story
Sakaguchi’s latest fantasy is out in Europe a bit in advance. So let’s discover this gem with Benzaie !
Will the Wii U’s second screen be used for item and equipment menus? Yes.
Should it be? ABSOLUTELY NOT. Particularly for RPGs. For the last generation and a half RPGs have struggled horribly with offering choices to players during cinematics or interacting at all with NPCs, and principly this is an interface fault. Cramming your options into a tiny subtitle bar? Maybe 4 options, and in Dragon Age or Mass Effect, I seldom liked any of the choices. DA:2 was alright, but of the games I’ve played, only FF: XIII-2 didn’t make me feel like I was breaking the fourth wall to give a decision.
The Wii U tablet, though, means these decisions can be made in real time without a cinematic intruding into gameplay.
That, and I think most RPGs spend too much time fiddling with menus.
I think Spoony mentioned this in one of his E3 videos and I’m inclined to agree. The WiiU tablet would be perfect for RPGs, even if it’s a lazy way of simplifying user interface.
So in other words it turns your TV into the DS’s top screen and the tablet acts as the bottom screen. Mind blown.
I don’t remember who said it originally, but I know JewWario loves quoting it: “The Wii U doesn’t have a ‘tablet’: it’s a DS, with the top screen snapped off and sits as your TV” or something to that effect. It’s still a great way of looking at it, and one I hope developers for this console can realize to their full potential.
I just hope it means the Wii U will have a DS player attachment.