THE LAST BLADE 2
THE LAST BLADE 2
Game
Game2016
THE LAST BLADE
Developer SNK CORPORATION, Dotemu
The Last Blade is a 1997 fighting game developed and published by SNK for the Neo Geo arcade and home platforms. It was also ported to several home systems. A sequel, The Last Blade 2, was released in 1998. A second sequel, The Last Blade: Beyond the Destiny, was released in 2000. From Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0)
137 reactions from 2 sources (Steam reviews, Bluesky) · newest Oct 24, 2026 · last updated Oct 24, 2026 · How this works
Audience score
78
LovedLoved
60 positive · 17 negative
95% range 67–86%
| Source | + | − | = |
|---|---|---|---|
| Steam reviews | 60 | 17 | 0 |
| Bluesky * | 26 | 1 | 33 |
* shown, not counted in the score (label accuracy below our 85% bar or not yet audited).
Steam's own rating
Mostly Positive
69 of 88 reviews positive (all languages, per Valve)
What players are saying
79% recommend · 63 yes, 17 no
Counted from the reviewers’ own thumbs up/down on the 80 English Steam reviews we collected, not by the AI. Valve’s all-language rating: Mostly Positive (184 of 250 positive).
Players praise the game's classic fighting mechanics and aesthetic. [1][2][3] Many complain about poor port quality from DotEmu, citing performance issues. [4][5][6] Some recommend buying to support SNK and encourage future releases. [1][7][8]
Liked
Representative posts
- [4]
this is an extremely bad port on a reasonably good PC I get abysmally low framerate, and on this meh laptop it runs fine. The PC shouldn't matter as this is an arcade game from 1999 and runs perfectly on third party emulators. It won't even let me set me controls correctly, I constantly tap the key I want the control to be mapped to and it just DOESN'T WORK I don't understand what's wrong with it but I'm definitely …
- [1]
Despite the fact that DotEMU did yet ANOTHER BAD PORT JOB, HOW DO YOU GUYS KEEP GETTING WORK, The Last Blade on Steam is something I've been asking for ever since the first wave of SNK arcade classics getting re-released. Yes, the game is available for free on FightCade. Yes, The Last Blade 2 is overall a much better fighting game (despite no character specific stages and just how strong Zantetsu, Moriya, Washizuka, …
- [2]
THE LAST BLADE is a classic 2D fighting game that has endured the test of time thanks to its elegant mechanics, deep gameplay, and distinctive aesthetic. Originally released in the late 1990s by SNK, the Steam version brings this timeless title to modern audiences, preserving its fast-paced combat and intricate systems that reward skill and strategy. For fans of traditional fighting games, THE LAST BLADE offers a …
- [7]
Decided to pick this up after seeing the gameplay. I'm glad that the gameplay itself lived up to my expectations. The game is very fun and accessible for newbies to fighting games like me, and nothing is too complex but I can tell there's a LOT to master. As for the port, it's honestly bad. UI is ugly, it's a little annoying to have to look for your character every time you go to the commands list, and there's some …
- [3]
This is not just a game. It is a work of art!
Summarised from 34 of the 140 public posts collected about this game; every point cites the posts behind it ([n] opens the post) and the split is counted from the posts’ own ratings. Updated Oct 10, 2026. How summaries are made
RottenBot@rottenbot · automated account
Players who liked THE LAST BLADE talk about classic 2D fighting with deep mechanics and unique style; those who didn't talk about dotEmu port has performance and frame rate issues. Which matters more to you?
Critics, per Wikipedia
In Japan, Game Machine listed The Last Blade on their January 1, 1998 issue as being the most popular arcade game at the time. According to Famitsu, the Neo Geo CD version sold over 22,735 copies in its first week on the market. Rafael Fernández Barbero of Spanish magazine Loading gave the PlayStation port a positive outlook.
From the “Reception” section of Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0. Critic context only — not part of the audience score.
Reactions
60 of 137 · most liked firstDespite the fact that DotEMU did yet ANOTHER BAD PORT JOB, HOW DO YOU GUYS KEEP GETTING WORK, The Last Blade on Steam is something I've been asking for ever since the first wave of SNK arcade classics getting re-released. Yes, the game is available for free on FightCade. Yes, The Last Blade 2 is overall a much better fighting game (despite no character specific stages and just how strong Zantetsu, Moriya, Washizuka, and Mukuro are at high levels). But being able to support this game and vote…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →🔔NEW FIGHTING GAME: SAMURAI DOJO! Inspired by The Last Blade, this game is being developed by one person, Eyad Hussein. It started as a project part of 'Unreal Fellowship' program by Epic Games, with only 3 weeks deadline! The dev is planning to make this a full-fledged game!
neutral · AI labelView post →47 years ago today, SNK was originally founded as Shin Nihon Kikaku Corporation. The company is known for being the developer/publisher of various fighting game franchises such as Fatal Fury, The King of Fighters, Samurai Shodown, The Last Blade, Art of Fighting, etc.
neutral · AI labelView post →this is an extremely bad port on a reasonably good PC I get abysmally low framerate, and on this meh laptop it runs fine. The PC shouldn't matter as this is an arcade game from 1999 and runs perfectly on third party emulators. It won't even let me set me controls correctly, I constantly tap the key I want the control to be mapped to and it just DOESN'T WORK I don't understand what's wrong with it but I'm definitely getting a refund.
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →The Last Blade 2 Neo Geo MVS, 1998 SNK Happy Fighting Game Friday. Possibly my favorite fighting game. Achieves an aesthetic cohesion like no other. Has a dedicated parry button, so you know it means business. #crt #retrogaming #fgc
positive · AI labelView post →The Last Blade promotional artwork. Probably one of the lesser known SNK properties, this was a 2D weapons-based fighting game. It even got two sequels.
neutral · AI labelView post →Received key from the neogeo 25th humble bundle sale. Dotemu ruins another classic with their horrible and lazy porting. Game runs at 57 fps on my computer even though i have a fx8350 and gtx 670. Ui is barebones. Neogeo and mame emulators are better to play this game on no contest since they are free, offer better options and the game actually runs at the correct fps on the emulators. SNK needs to drop dotemu and either stick with codemystics for porting the old snk titles or give M2 a shot…
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →The Last Blade 2 came to Dreamcast 24 years ago (8/7/01) Needing no introduction, TLB2 is one of SNK's finest games, and a seminal Fighting-Game, in general - featuring technical footsie-based gameplay, and 2 Grooves; the console port adds a 3rd Groove, plus an unlockable Hanafuda Card minigame!
neutral · AI labelView post →I'm not sure what it says about my brain that the two fighting games I've played so far where I don't feel *completely* useless (just, like, 60% useless) are Soul Calibur, and now The Last Blade. Maybe the more deliberate pace and weapons focus. Idk.
neutral · AI labelView post →48 years ago today, SNK was originally founded as Shin Nihon Kikaku Corporation. The company is known for being the developers & publishers of various fighting game franchises, including Fatal Fury, The King of Fighters, Samurai Shodown, The Last Blade, Art of Fighting, etc.
neutral · AI labelView post →Disclosure: I was given a review-copy for the purposes of review supplied by a formerly associated review-group I fell out of touch with under the user, Redhill. If you grew up during the late '90s and the start of the new millennium, then the name SNK has little to no bearing on you as much as other fighting-games, and that’s a shame. History has often forgotten games not because they lacked quality but they were behind the times, and The Last Blade was most certainly an aging, though as…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Today marks 25 years of an underrated (and gorgeously animated) fighting game classic as SNK's The Last Blade 2 debuted on the NEO GEO on November 25, 1998
neutral · AI labelView post →Fun, different and no stranger to some hilarious translation errors. Do not ask me why this game was chosen over the much more popular and overall superior The Last Blade 2. Still it is nice to see the first game get some appreciation. Expect the usual DotEmu port problems but I will recommend this because it is very functional and never gave me bad frame rates in the couple of hours I played and it is a game. I apologize once again for lack of experience with online play but given the…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →More scanlines from this game 🌕🍁 The Last Blade 2 SNK - 1998 Sony BVM A20 CRT 🟥🟩🟦
neutral · AI labelView post →If you want to find the nostagic feelings when playing arcade fighting games, this is definitely the game you should buy. Just purchase today, ans I'm pleased with it. though, I hope the game can run a little bit smoother like KOF 2002 UM. Hopefully they will come up with the update patch soon. Waiting for Last Blade 2 and Garou to be released soon.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Decided to pick this up after seeing the gameplay. I'm glad that the gameplay itself lived up to my expectations. The game is very fun and accessible for newbies to fighting games like me, and nothing is too complex but I can tell there's a LOT to master. As for the port, it's honestly bad. UI is ugly, it's a little annoying to have to look for your character every time you go to the commands list, and there's some bugs and crashes. Fingers crossed that they'll address the issues, but even if…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →MEGA MAN LEGENDS MY GOAT! CERTIFIED HOOD CLASSIC! I tell folks that Legends is the only consistently good Mega Man subseries lol I love the gameplay and vibes of those games As for SamSho, I think The Last Blade is the better samurai fighting game but I think V Special and VI are fun!
positive · AI labelView post →Needing no introduction, The Last Blade 2 is one of SNK's finest games, and a seminal Fighting-Game, in general - featuring technical footsie-based gameplay, and 2 Grooves; the console port adds a 3rd Groove, plus an unlockable Hanafuda Card minigame, which reflects the games Bakumatsu setting!
neutral · AI labelView post →Up the street from my house growing up there was a 4-slot NEO GEO cab. Spent all my quarters playing Super Sidekicks, The Last Blade 2, Samurai Showdown II, & Metal Slug. @3mill.bsky.social helped me customize a broken one when he was younger. Emulation frontend = attractmode.org #neogeo #retrogames
positive · AI labelView post →If you see this, post 4 fighting game mains Duck King (Fatal Fury) Minakata Moriya (The Last Blade) Jedah Dohma (Vampire Savior) Tachibana Ukyo (Samurai Shodown)
neutral · AI labelView post →Another disappointment from DotEmu. Game runs choppy with frame skipping and the music is out of synch where in some instances two themes are playing at the same time for an extended period of time. Stick to the games ported either directly by SNK or CodeMystics.
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Bought to support my fav weapon based FTG. Also unlike the Humble Bundle Neo Geo 25th Anniversary version, you can remap buttons! Can't wait for the release of Last Blade 2 (and other classic SNK FTGs) on Steam.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →I have been asking for more SNK Playmore games for a long time. I actually just asked them to put the second The Last Blade on Steam yesterday. I love this game and would love to see more SNK Playmore games on Steam. This is a must buy if you like good old fashion fighting games with really unique Super Moves and characters. I LOVE THIS GAME!
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Apropos of nothing, here is a link to my actual, pre-social media website. Featuring a complete retranslation of the complete game text of The Last Blade.
neutral · AI labelView post →Random Game Saturday! This is the Special Edition of the Dreamcast port of The Last Blade 2 - it's a Japanese copy, which features a hidden Hanafuda mingiame, featuring unique art of the game's roster, depicted as traditional Japanese woodblock paintings!
neutral · AI labelView post →ℕ𝕖𝕠𝔾𝕖𝕠 𝕞𝕒𝕜𝕚𝕟𝕘 𝕒 𝕔𝕠𝕞𝕖𝕓𝕒𝕔𝕜... 𝕒𝕟𝕕 𝕚𝕥'𝕤 𝕘𝕣𝕖𝕒𝕥! Hello again friends! My writing is pretty rusty since I haven't done any reviews for a while. This time I'm bringing you The Last Blade, a Fighting 2D game from the Neo Geo era... If I were to bring back then gather all the cents I put in the Arcade machine of this game back in the day, I'd quite frankly be a millionnaire by now. Anyways, the plot goes like you'd expect: Rich guy gets a hold of an artifact, uses it…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →The last blade is a unique fighting game series made by SNK back in the arcade days, sadly it appeared that DotEmu took the role of porting this game to PC and i probably don't need to tell you how bad DotEmu's ports are, but let's talk about the game the gameplay is very simple, you have a roaster of 12 characters, 3 attacking buttons and 2 defensive mechanics which are the universal guarding and the dodge button which you probably not gonna use much. the gameplay is limited in term of…
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →It's not Last Blade 2 and it's not Samurai Showdown. It is still a solid game with solid mechanics. My hope is that adding this game to Steam and seeing decent sales with it will bring a higher possibility of King of Fighters XIV on Steam.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Fighting Classic, what's not to like? A must own for retro fighting fans!
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →when i start game,Launches in vertical mode,have tried to change several ways no luck,Don't recommend buying.
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →This game is too hype for words. Play it. Slice your friends in half.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →If I was in charge of fighting games I’d make another game in The Last Blade series.
positive · AI labelView post →Great game, bad port. Avoid dotemu.
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Putting my chips on The Last Blade. I feel like its a game where if you just frankly discuss what these games are (even if you're not a hater about it) it will kind of break the illusion some people have in their heads.
neutral · AI labelView post →The only thing better than this game is its sequel.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →The Last Blade is a 2D weapon fighting game that takes place during the Bakumatsu era. In addition to being able to deflect attacks, players can also select between Speed and Power types for the game's character roster, enabling different combo opportunities.
neutral · AI labelView post →Absolutely awful framerate and performance. Such a shame, as I love the game, but I have an incredibly powerful computer and it just runs like heck.
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Okay, I think this is finally ready to go. I'm still working on additional things to add (like the drama CD), but here's my retranslation of ALL in-game text in The Last Blade. Please have a look and let me know if you see anything out of the ordinary.
neutral · AI labelView post →THE LAST BLADE is a classic 2D fighting game that has endured the test of time thanks to its elegant mechanics, deep gameplay, and distinctive aesthetic. Originally released in the late 1990s by SNK, the Steam version brings this timeless title to modern audiences, preserving its fast-paced combat and intricate systems that reward skill and strategy. For fans of traditional fighting games, THE LAST BLADE offers a rich experience that balances accessibility with depth, making it both…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Maybe this is just a bad port, but the frame rate jumps around pretty often on the Steam deck. For a fighting game - that made the controls feel unresponsive and the whole game seemingly clunky. This isn't a huge game, so there is no reason there shouldn't be a flawlessly smooth experience. With so many good fighting games on steam, I sadly cannot recommend this one.
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →76. The Last Blade 2 Currently my favorite SNK fighting game, this one did extremely well with my friend group, second only to 3rd Strike! Stunningly gorgeous and mechanically deep, yet also easy to grasp even if you're new. The high damage, parry option, and large hitboxes make every match tense!
positive · AI labelView post →This is not just a game. It is a work of art!
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Stutters and slowdowns, seriously? 20-year old emulators have been running this game better than this so-called official port. The game doesn't recognise certain keys (for example, S and D) when I try to remap the inputs; certainly it's also an option to play it on my X1 controller but playing fighting games on the keyboard has been hardwired into my brain, and I cannot play them any other way. This is such a pathetic disgrace... just buy it on sale then play it on Kawaks to avoid any copyright…
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →GREAT NINJA #RETROGAMES Ninja Master's (Arc) ADK's 1996 Neo Geo fighting game with a typo in its title got overshadowed by many others like it. It's a decent alternative to Samurai Shodown and The Last Blade and quite underrated. You can both brawl empty hand & use weapons. #gaming #videogames
neutral · AI labelView post →It's a solid fighting game. I have one major complaint though: the versus mode is PvP only, no 1P-vs-COM match. You can only play single player through story and time attack mode. And training mode is barebone. With 80% discount, it's not bad.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →The Last Blade is surprisingly understated for a fighting game, with a moody soundtrack and battles that sometimes forego background music entirely. The combat is fairly basic as far as 90s arcade fighters go, but it's quite satisfying, especially the repel mechanic. It makes for a very tonally distinct fighting game experience. However, the port job here isn't great. Although it does have its fair share of bells and whistles (multiple difficulty options, training, online multiplayer, etc.),…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Boy this arcade used to eat my quarters. The Steam version is a pretty sweet deal. Leaderboards, low system requirements, controller support, online multiplayer... GOG.com now carries The Last Blade, which is exactly like the Steam release but is also DRM-free. Best bet is to buy The Last Blade at Humble Store for $5 and get the Steam key with it. Mac and Linux users are out in the cold as of this review. But, the Humble Store version includes Mac and Linux installers and has no DRM.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →I really wanted to like this game as I grew up with Samurai Showdown and other Neo Geo fighters, unfortunately not the case here. UI was not appealing to me and for me I would have preferred to have the boss characters selectable from the start in the fighter menu.
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Love this game. I have fond memories of playing this back in the day. plays very well, but there isnt much to do apart from versus and arcade mode. menus are a little awkward to navagate. Great game and is well worth its 10$ i paid, but maybe wait till Last Blade 2 releases on steam for larger fighter roaster, a better menu interface, and hopefully more features. 7.5/10
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Very much similar to the later Samurai Shodown titles this game follows in it's footsteps as a spiritual successor, or rather a game based at a later date than SS with an entirely different cast of characters.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →I adore The Last Blade series 😻 It doesn't need a remake or a new game or anything like that. Just those two on the Neo Geo, and the NGPC version are perfect little games that will remain all time classics <3
positive · AI labelView post →The Last Blade series (especially the sequel) is widely considered to be quite sad and melancholic due to its tragic storyline and bittersweet ending . While it is a fighting game, the narrative depth focuses on themes of loss, sacrifice, and the unfairness of life during the Bakumatsu era of Japan. Why I like and recommend this one so much? Well you better sit back and chillax, let me explain it thoroughly. The game's tone is reinforced by its artistic presentation. Especially the stages…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Game: The Last Blade Kaede defeats Shikyoh Kaede: "こっちの話を聞こうとしないからだ" The official English is "I'm not interested in this conversation." Most of this game ain't that bad, but wow. Should be something like "This happened because you wouldn't listen to me." Ah, 90s SNK. Such dweebenheimers.
neutral · AI labelView post →Slightly Recommended. 7/10* Its a meh game, and im not saying its bad, just its regular, good for play some old classics, but not really a big deal, the pixel art its really good, the combat and controls are good, even the animations are good, cool thing it doesn't have any drm or 3rd party account logins, so that's great, im glad that snk its better in this aspect compared to capcom which is adding drm to their old classics. But i really prefer to be playing any kof game any day of the week.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →The Last Blade is a 2D weapon fighting game that takes place during the Bakumatsu era. In addition to being able to deflect attacks, players can also select between Speed and Power types for the game's character roster, enabling different combo opportunities.
neutral · AI labelView post →Well here’s my first @ you. Thank you for the incredible blog series! I found it through your post on The Last Blade NGPC which I was researching at the time. Such a cool game!
positive · AI labelView post →My dad had a NEO GEO and this on here really brings me back. Still one of my personal favorites, over Samurai Showdown at this point for me.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Please buy this game if you want to play a fighting game with a friedn. This is the deadest game on Steam, and I really don't know why. You will never EVER find someone online because as of posting this, my friend and I have actually been the only 2 people playing for the last month. If you like Street Fighter 3 third strike, this game is a must. It's fantastic, and it's a shame that no one plays it.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →terrible Frame Rate
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →A greate classic arcade game , i hope SNK release The Last Blade 2, Garou and Samurai Shodown next.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →
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