SNK's PERFECT Game! The Last Blade 2! SNK's 2D Arcade Weapons Based Fighting Game on Neo Geo Returns

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Well here we are! It's Neo Geo series time! Because damn it...it's my favorite retro gaming platform of all time and I've been collecting for the Neo Geo AES for years! As far as retrogaming collecting goes...it's not cheap, but don't forget...you can always get the 1:1 experience on MiSTer FPGA, which is how I am playing this now!
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Up next: The Last Blade 2! It's the spiritual successor to the Samurai Shodown / Samurai Spirit series from SNK and while it has a lot of similarities to that series it also stands on its own as one of the best 2D vs arcade fighting games on the Neo Geo AES / MVS. It is just THAT good! I do love a weapons based fighting game that still has a great sense of speed in the gameplay! After the initial episode on The Last Blade I got a TON of comments asking for a Last Blade 2 video...so here it is! You had better watch it lol
Its like King of Fighters meets Samurai Spirits with a bit of Fatal Fury in the mix!
And if you don't own a Neo Geo or a MiSTer...play it on Final Burn Neo...it emulates extremely well!
Questions? Comments? Just leave them below and I will do my best to answer each and every one of them!
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VGE
#neogeo #retrogaming #retrogamer #retrogames #arcade #fightinggames #fightinggame #arcadegames #arcadegame #gamingcommunity #gaming

[@RetroMoments]

A beautiful game that oozes character with tons of details! One the very best fighting games I've ever played.

[@VideoGameEsoterica]

It’s def in my top 5 for sure

[@TheShoe1990]

I love this game. It's like a more elegant & grounded take on Samurai Showdown.

[@VideoGameEsoterica]

It def has a more elegant presentation for sure

[@ViegasSilva]

The extra style of this game series is due to being inspired by the Manga/Anime Rurouni Kenshin, which in turn was inspired by Samurai Shodown.

[@VideoGameEsoterica]

which was in turn inspired by the Garfield comics!

[@ViegasSilva]

@@VideoGameEsoterica da fuck

[@VideoGameEsoterica]

Haha just messing with you. Said the first random thing I thought

[@gm9984]

​@@VideoGameEsoterica I'm still laughing

[@VideoGameEsoterica]

🤣

[@kosmosyche]

My favorite fighting game for NEO-GEO, along with Garou: Mark of the Wolves. And to think this is 1990 hardware these gorgeous graphics and animations were made for.

[@VideoGameEsoterica]

This is the height of 2D for me personally

[@kosmosyche]

@@VideoGameEsoterica Oh, no doubt.

[@VideoGameEsoterica]

Capcom CPS III was awesome too but I still think late gen Neo Geo was the best

[@anthonypimentel7218]

​@@VideoGameEsoterica I like both, can't decide on a favourite, I prefer SNK's stuff in many ways, but Capcom did an amazing job with the music for the Street Fighter 3 games, if only Garou had that quality of soundtrack, I dunno why but music in games makes a big difference to me. It's one of the reasons I love Streets of Rage so much j

[@VideoGameEsoterica]

The good thing is you don’t need to decide a fav

[@neocvera]

Beautiful masterpiece.

[@VideoGameEsoterica]

It certainly is a pretty game. One of the best on Neo Geo IMO

[@METR0lD]

Agreed. This game is legendary. Some of the best pixel art and animation out there, and the gameplay to go with it.

[@VideoGameEsoterica]

It’s the whole package no doubt

[@MySamurai77]

One day in the far off future archeologists will discover this game and marvel at how something so insanely beautiful and intricate could be made with such primitive tech.

[@VideoGameEsoterica]

Hell I think we marvel at what they pulled off in 2023 with that tech

[@MySamurai77]

@@VideoGameEsoterica It's hard to believe it's just a 16 - bit system released in 1989.

[@VideoGameEsoterica]

It really is. Wild just how much power and performance they could get out of it

[@TheOneFreakservo]

_'SNK's PERFECT Game!'_ *_Garou!! Mark...of the Wolves!_* It's all subjective.

[@VideoGameEsoterica]

Yes. They’ve got multiple “perfect fighting games”. That’s how good they were!

[@Witchboard1]

One of my favs on my cabinet.

[@VideoGameEsoterica]

It’s a banger for sure

[@Riz2336]

I've always been real impressed with the graphics on these fighters. Never really played them that much though, should put more time into them both

[@VideoGameEsoterica]

They look amazing in motion. Just so good

[@THELEGENDARYK2]

I actually first discovered this series for better for worse on Neo CD. It became my favorite and I now own it on CD and home cart, even though I can't really get my friends into it. I always play speed lol. There's also a quadi hidden Ex mode fighting style that's a hybrid between speed and power in LB2. But like I said I always play speed.

[@VideoGameEsoterica]

Can’t get your friends into it? Need new friends!

[@anthonypimentel7218]

​@@VideoGameEsoterica same here! I love my friends but not living near any of them ATM and can't get them to play online. In person is more fun IMO, been playing Garou, the Android version (with a controller) it has Bluetooth multiplayer! KOF 97 and 98 are great on Android too, also have Bluetooth

[@VideoGameEsoterica]

I get it. Always better local

[@xXspringsXx]

Its on sale right now on PS4 an this video diffently convinced me to buy it!

[@VideoGameEsoterica]

Enjoy it!

[@gm9984]

Jus did! I have thisngamebon dreamcast but haven't played in YEARS! beginner here on ps5 if anyone cares to play

[@Keith2XS]

Loved this game!

[@VideoGameEsoterica]

I’ve never met anyone who thinks it’s not an amazing game. Basically universally loved :)

[@anthonypimentel7218]

​@@VideoGameEsoterica I've never played it yet but you've convinced me to give it a go, great video dude!

[@ravagingwolverine666]

Nice retrospective. I just picked up two of the new 8bitdo Neo CD pads and used Last Blade 2 and KOF98 to test them out. I love them. The controllers and the games. The first Last Blade was the first fighting game I got into after I had been out of gaming for a while. I just love the gameplay system and the deflect mechanic. I enjoy it more playing the speed mode, but having that option is one of those great touches SNK was so good at. For a while, I only played Last Blade 1 because there are a lot of changes to part two and it was tougher than expected to jump in, but eventually I did and I love them both. There are certain things I still prefer in the first game, but now that I've played them back to back, I can tell there are some nice minor refinements in the way the second one plays. I think they made the command inputs a bit less strict for the sequel, among other things. It's funny to hear that you find LB2's boss to be among the least cheap of SNK's bosses, because that guy just curb stomps me most of the time on the default difficulty(4), and even level 3. On level 2, it's about right for me. On LB1, KOF97, and KOF98, I play on default, level 4 and have no problem with LB1's bosses, Orochi from KOF97, or Rugal from KOF98. I should say I think LB2 was made harder on level 4 than LB1 overall. I guess it's just one of those things where some bosses suit certain styles over others. I've been amazed at situations where someone would find something super hard and I'd find it easy, but also vice versa. But always great to hear people talk about these gems.

[@2bin]

Perfect in nearly every way, though I wish the backgrounds had more parallax scrolling for added depth.

[@VideoGameEsoterica]

I could see that

[@Charlie-Cat.]

Gotcha bro. Till next time. In the meanwhile, I'm looking forward to all your uploads and listening on what you have to say about Pigskin 621 A.D. in the near future. 8^)

[@VideoGameEsoterica]

Haha I’ll get to that one. I swear

[@ciaranmccarthy]

Pixel art perfection.

[@VideoGameEsoterica]

It really is

[@Charlie-Cat.]

Ah-Ha! The Last Blade 2. What a fun game this is for sure bro. Interestingly, Last Blade 2 was the game that I played first before the first installment and I purchased first for the AES as well VGE. Awesome work as always. Also VGE, thank you for posting this excellent video up on the Neo-Geo thread. Were going to enjoy it for sure. Anthony..

[@VideoGameEsoterica]

Wow you made it into the comments early today!

[@ignignxkt]

My all time favorite fighter.

[@VideoGameEsoterica]

It’s a classic for sure

[@TizerisT.]

This game has aged very well !

[@VideoGameEsoterica]

So well

[@Charlie-Cat.]

Hahaha. Gotcha bro another one of my favorites like Garfield enjoys as well.. 8^) I have another Neo-Geo request to add to the list if interested VGE. Would you be able to do an upload regarding, "Top Players Golf"? It's one of my favorite titles for the unit, and I have a great story to add towards it for you and others to enjoy reading bro. Anthony..

[@VideoGameEsoterica]

Maybe in the future but this one was the last in the series

[@simonwoods2180]

It's a good one. SNK were always amazing at making games atmospheric. The games are a spectacle. I'm playing through Samurai Showdown III atm. Very tough.

[@VideoGameEsoterica]

III is def not an easy game. Fun one though!

[@simonwoods2180]

@@VideoGameEsoterica I love it. I just watch the demo a lot of times. Definitely top-tier.

[@VideoGameEsoterica]

Sega should bring back Ecco in VR. Underwater first person dolphin sim

[@simonwoods2180]

@@VideoGameEsoterica Sounds tiring. I always knew VR was the next big thing for gaming. Even more so than 3D polygons. PSVR2 looks great.

[@VideoGameEsoterica]

VR is always a fun time

[@slerched]

Only fighting game I ever spent the time to get good enough to beat it on Level 8 difficulty.

[@VideoGameEsoterica]

Must have taken a solid amount of time to do that on level 8

[@wildside4822]

Its as good as Garou

[@VideoGameEsoterica]

100% just different

[@andrewkartel545]

Me and my cousin learned this shit with no manual and got better. But all the extras makes me want to grab a cast. Terry for president or am I enough. Question how do I find anyone to burn these games im ready to get back on.

[@fraggle200]

Are we getting into the territory of you covering every Neo Geo game just by virtue of you making more and more Neo Geo content? I'm here for every last drop of it, if that's the case.

[@VideoGameEsoterica]

Nope. This was the last one. Something entirely new starts next week

[@fraggle200]

@@VideoGameEsoterica what??? Nooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

[@VideoGameEsoterica]

Time to change. Plus stats have been getting lower. It’s run it’s course

[@fraggle200]

@@VideoGameEsoterica well, i for one thought the series was great. Can't wait for what comes next.

[@ciaranmccarthy]

@@VideoGameEsoterica please revisit the Neo Geo again maybe in 6 months time. My favourite console.

[@kunka592]

It's great! I have the MVS carts of both games.

[@VideoGameEsoterica]

Always good for the collection!

[@simonwoods2180]

I got an amazing deal for my first MVS games. When i bought my arcade cabinet in 2004, I bought 5 games from Coinopxpress. They charged me only £16 for Last Blade, £25 for Metal Slug, and about £23 each for Samurai Shodown III and Samurai Shodown IV. The other game was KOF95. I paid about £25 for it.

[@VideoGameEsoterica]

Hell of a deal. Loose or kit?

[@simonwoods2180]

@@VideoGameEsoterica Loose. Metal Slug was a bit rough but label intact. Nothing terrible. KOF, Samurai 3 and 4 were in super condition. Last Blade had the serials scratched out. The prices made MVS collecting very addictive.

[@VideoGameEsoterica]

They were dirt cheap back in the day. Not so much now

[@TopRetroGames]

Super

[@VideoGameEsoterica]

Genuinely is!

[@srvuk]

One of the more visually entertaining too.

[@VideoGameEsoterica]

100%. Such a pretty game

[@Charlie-Cat.]

Hahaha. Yeah bro. I had a urge to have some microwave Lasagna early this morning. Perfect way to start my day right seeing your video to go with it VGE. 8^) Anthony...

[@VideoGameEsoterica]

for me its coffee...because Tuesday's are slightly less bad than Mondays haha

[@PopeTheRevXXVIII]

I just rebought this for Dreamcast and I'm 99% sure the copy I got from Estarland was my original copy based on how the Spinecard was placed. I love how that version has 1 button supers. I also have it on PS2 with the first game and on Steam. Some of the best music SNK ever produced and one of the most playable rosters in any fighter.

[@VideoGameEsoterica]

it was really the high point of these types of fighting games from SNK

[@PopeTheRevXXVIII]

Those final Neo Geo games pushed it beyond what it was capable of. Between Noise Factory music and the sprite work in this, Garou and the final Kofs

[@VideoGameEsoterica]

It’s so interesting to compare something like the original Fatal Fury against Garou. Like the fact they are on the same system is just wild

[@PopeTheRevXXVIII]

It was possible for Neo Geo games to go up to 1gig in size and they never reached that. Any Giga shock game used that tech. So it's possible even more was possible

[@VideoGameEsoterica]

I would have loved to have seen it happen

[@dalelumina3]

this is one of my favourite fighting games, but the left stick not working when i emulate it in redream is extremely inconvenient and for some reason it only happens with snk games... street fighter and soul calibur work perfectly 🤔

[@VideoGameEsoterica]

Not working? That’s weird

[@dalelumina3]

@@VideoGameEsoterica yeah idk either

[@VideoGameEsoterica]

A real mystery scoobs

[@supercaveman]

Been saying this for years. Last Blade 2 might be better than Garou.

[@VideoGameEsoterica]

They are diff enough as to really be two sides of the same coin though

[@p0mf47]

use ex mode

[@SiincereARC]

Firstly, You're a fine young man for making this video. Keep it up. Secondly, never face a skilled player that chooses speed. that person will wipe you off the proverbial face of this planet. Thirdly, SNK doesn't get enough props. They dropped The Last Blade 2, KOF 98, RBFF2 and Garou within a 3 year gap while also secretly working on SamSho V. All of them being different game styles from each other with high levels of detail, replicability and just very fleshed out games.

[@VideoGameEsoterica]

They were def on a hot streak

[@corsegerspwnd]

This is the b e s t

[@VideoGameEsoterica]

It really is a straight up classic

[@smashmash2714]

im sorry but snk engines of last blade 2 and sam sho4 are way above and beyond of street fighter , so much better to play for funsies and also more beautiful

[@VideoGameEsoterica]

I’d agree but I let everyone have their opinion haha

[@beefquiche]

I'm likely alone on this one, but throughout my whole life Ive been frustrated with arcade attract-modes. It takes 3 minutes or more to see 15 seconds of gameplay. It has *never made any sense!!!!!* Why don't they just show the game? It looks f'ing amazing. Let the game sell the game! Rant over

[@VideoGameEsoterica]

Hahaha I love attract more stories and non-gameplay so I’m on the opposite side of the fence here

[@sandamfox]

I don't know if it is because I'm getting older, but now I think Samurai Shodown 3 is prettier than the last blade games, and the best looking snk game (mostly the atmosphere). Offcourse Last blade wins on the gameplay department, specially the combo madness that is speed mode. Also love how Hibiki is getting more and more accustomed to the deaths of her opponnets after every fight in arcade mode. Beautiful visual storytelling

[@VideoGameEsoterica]

Yes the little details here and there really add to the overall vibe for sure.

[@kunka592]

Samurai Shodown 3 is my favorite in the series, though it seems most people prefer the other games in the series. I agree that game looks ridiculously good.

[@VideoGameEsoterica]

2 is my personal fav

[@sandamfox]

​@@VideoGameEsoterica I will never understand the fascination of americans with samsho2 (is not like it was the most played arcade fighter there in the 90's or anything. SF2 was). In presentation, Samsho 3 and 4 are miles better than 2, and in gameplay, SamshoVspecial is one the best fighting games ever made. I wish samsho2019 wasn't inspired by 2, but all japanese fighting games now are made with the FGC in mind.

[@VideoGameEsoterica]

Just kinda “hit”. I mean sometimes the technically “best entry” isn’t the one everyone loves the lost