The Last Blade 2
Katanas, cherry blossoms, and a melancholy no other fighter quite captures.
Coming soon to UsuArcade
Votes to bring it to the arcade: 0
In the meantime, head into the arcade and play the cabinets that are already there
- Year
- 1998
- Manufacturer
- SNK
- Players
- 2 players at once
- Genres
- Fighting games
- Decade
- '90s arcade games
In a sea of fist-fighting cabinets, The Last Blade 2 was something different. Swordsmen in late-1800s Japan, gorgeously hand-drawn stages, quiet and bittersweet music, and fights where a single mistake could cost you everything.
You didn't find it in every arcade, but wherever there was a multi-game Neo Geo cabinet, it became the go-to for players who took fighting games seriously. And those of us watching over their shoulders learned to appreciate every last-second deflect.
History
SNK released The Last Blade 2 on the Neo Geo in 1998, only a year after the first Last Blade. In Japan the series is called Bakumatsu Roman: Gekka no Kenshi, a nod to the Bakumatsu, the final years of the shogunate.
The sequel kept most of the original cast, brought in new fighters, and fine-tuned the combat. Over time it's earned a reputation as one of the best-looking and best-balanced fighters from SNK's golden era.
How to play
You get three attack buttons (light slash, heavy slash, and kick) plus a fourth button to deflect your opponent's strike. Nail a deflect at the right instant and your opponent is wide open for a counter, so reading the other player matters more than mashing.
Before each fight you pick a character and a style. Power is all about heavy hits and devastating specials; Speed makes it easier to string combos together. The big addition in the sequel is EX, which blends traits of both for players who want a bit of everything.
Fun facts
- In Japan the series is titled Bakumatsu Roman: Gekka no Kenshi.
- EX style, which mixes Power and Speed, is new to this second game.
- Fan favorites like Kaede, Moriya, and Akari return from the first game.
In the arcade
The Last Blade 2 isn't in the arcade yet. It's on the wish list, and you can hit “I Want to Play It” on this page to help it move up. Coming soon to UsuArcade if the community wants it.
Meanwhile, for one-on-one showdowns, Street Fighter II is already on the floor, and if you're craving that Neo Geo flavor, Metal Slug and Super Sidekicks 2 are ready to go.
Once The Last Blade 2 lands in the arcade, you'll be able to play it online two-player, each on your own phone or PC, in the same game.
FAQ
When did The Last Blade 2 come out?
1998, from SNK, on the Neo Geo.
How many players is The Last Blade 2?
Two players at the same time, head to head, plus single-player against the CPU.
What's the difference between Power, Speed, and EX?
Power boosts your hits and specials, Speed favors chaining combos, and EX, new in this game, mixes elements of both.
Can I play The Last Blade 2 on UsuArcade?
Not yet. Vote for it with “I Want to Play It”; in the meantime, Street Fighter II is available in the arcade.
