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Last Remnant Review - OXCGN takes a look at Square Enix's possible fall from grace.

December 07, 2008 in Reviews comments 25

OXCGN Staff writer Steve Sutton takes a look at Square Enix's latest outing, The Last Remnant. Giving you a solid review on a game many thought would or could be great, but is it?

Steve is a solid JRPG fan from way-back, so he has a deep understanding of various forms of the genre' . . does he like it ? is it what is needed for the genre' ? and have Square Enix managed to step up to the table with this one ?

So please do slip over to the site and check out the review and many great pics from the game.

The pedigree of titles Square Enix have developed is incredible. They and their separate entities are considered the premier Japanese Role Playing Game (JRPG) developers on the market. So with great anticipation I booted up my copy of The Last Remnant, but what ensued can only be described as the ‘fall from grace’ of Square Enix.

In terms of the story, The Last Remnant is certainly capable of holding its own against other recently released JRPG’s. The young protagonist, Rush Sykes, is your typical melodramatic male teen, furiously devoted to those he loves, especially his sister.
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Most recently commented on by on Dec 9, 2008

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  • 0
    Storm Dec 8, 08
    I actually nabbed this off Amazon because they knocked $30 from the price, heh. Haven't played it yet, shame it's rated average, but meh who knows, maybe I'll like it.
  • 5
    Miss Razz Dec 8, 08
    I hate to say it, but Square just don't make classics any more.Simple as that. Take away the "Final Fantasy" from the box, and you take away the hype. Without the hype, people see a game for what it really is.

    The majority of Square Enix's recent games seem to rate from average to good, but there don't seem to be any more show-stoppingly brilliant titles that leave both gamers and reviewers raving. People are still holding on for the hope that Square Enix bring out something fantastic, but if FFXIII and FFvsXIII both fail then I imagine a lot of fans will see that as the end of Square Enix. Well, the end of their golden years anyway.
    • 1
      RabidChinaGirl Dec 8, 08
      quote Gothic Girl
      I hate to say it, but Square just don't make classics any more.Simple as that. Take away the "Final Fantasy" from the box, and you take away the hype. Without the hype, people see a game for what it really is.
      Couldn't have said it better myself. I thought of picking up Last Remnant despite the mediocre reviews, but Mass Effect just bumped it off my list of games to buy cheap.
      • 1
        kik36 Dec 8, 08
        You ladies need to give The World Ends With You on the DS a go. Square Enix is definitely floundering but seems they still have a few tricks up their sleeve. Excellent game for a new IP that ISN'T Final Fantasy.
        • 0
          Storm Dec 8, 08
          Agreed. The World Ends With You is without a doubt SquareEnix's best of this year.
        • 0
          Zerpent Dec 8, 08
          Yeah TWEWY is a really good game. They've had a couple of nice hits on the DS, which is nice since I love my DS.
    • 0
      Final Blade Dec 8, 08
      I'm going to disagree, I think the fans taste isn't what it used to be. It's like nothing is ever good enough, and always make excuses why the game isn't good. Sorry Roz, this isn't meant directly at you, its just a general statement, but I really believe its not SE, its the fans taste that's change. With this said, the game is fine, I really don't understand the whole problem with LR other then a few glitches and frame rate problems. Like FF12, in its own rights is a fantastic game, I just didn't like key aspects. But I still found some very indeed enjoyment out of the game. Not on par with FF10, but hey for what it does it was a success.
      If this is how RPG fans are going to be, I might as well right off the genre right now since nothing is EVER good enough. Sure SE titles aren't like FF10,9,8,7 but I honestly dont' believe it will ever match any of those. Maybe FF13 and Versus cause It's looking good. But you could also blame the lack of competition on the genre as a whole. SE was the only ones making games, now Level 5 is out making some RPG's and the people who made LO and BD will probably spark something great. But I doubt it.

      Anyway, Matt Addison likes the game and he's one of the big RPG fans here, so I'll take his word its a very good game.
      • 0
        Immortal Kaim Dec 8, 08
        From what I have played and from reading the review, the game is still worth a play, 6.8 isn't exactly terrible.

        I still think everyone should play it, some will be able to get through the technical flaws other will not. In all honesty though, the game was released 6 months to soon.
        • 0
          Final Blade Dec 8, 08
          True, but i'm waiting for the PS3 version and hoping it will fix the little issues the 360 version has. But I'm still excited about it.
  • 0
    Immortal Kaim Dec 8, 08
    Yeah, it is sad to see the once mighty Square-Enix, reduced to shovelling out mediocre RPG's...

    Hopefully FFXIII will be the resurgence.
  • 2
    Bale Fire Dec 8, 08
    If both FFXIII and Versus fall flat I'm done with the franchise, and probably Square Enix as well.
  • 2
    Steelspawn Dec 8, 08
    Looks like I will be giving this a miss. Gothic Girl nailed it right on the head. They aren't classics anymore.
  • 0
    Godem Dec 8, 08
    Square have declined since FF12... if FF13 doesn't redeem the company, i dont think there is much hope left for the company
  • 0
    Darknet Dec 8, 08
    I don't usually listen to reviewers that much. But when just about every single reviewer hates the game then I'm turned away from it. I really wanted to play it and love it.

    Though I hear it has potential to be great and is hurt by it just simply being unfinished.
  • 0
    Cruxis Mana Dec 8, 08
    That's what happens when you let your small development team off the leash.
  • 2
    Koloth Dec 8, 08
    You know, everyone blames Square for failing. But I blame us the gamer for failing Square. Or rather perhaps we should blame both. Every company is going to have a few hits and a few misses. But despite all of Square's misses many gamers bought the games anyway simply because they had the Square logo on them.

    Now as a game company if you see a positive result as far as profit goes what do you care if the reviewers are complaining? The public clearly let their opinion be known with sales. They sold we bought. And seeing that people will buy just about anything with their logo on it they didn't bother to try and get better. Instead they decided to pump out more mediocre games. And why not if there is profit to be had?

    It creates a vicious cycle because we keep hoping for more from SE and they keep seeing high profits and don't care to give any more. Maybe, just maybe we have to drive them to the brink of bancrupcy again to get another gem like Final Fantasy. They seem to do their best work when they think they have nothing left to lose.
    • 0
      Storm Dec 8, 08
      Yeah but what are the odds of that happening? It's not so much the U.S./Europe gamers as it is the Japanese ones. They feed off SquareEnix games, in other words, they love JRPGs. How many Japanese gamers bought a 360 for Infinite Undiscovery? Tales of Vesperia? A good amount for just one game.
      • 2
        Koloth Dec 8, 08
        Well, Square found their niche and they know it. Final Fantasy saved the company from bancrupcy. Final Fantasy 7 was their best selling game ever. Of course they are going to milk the JRPG cash cow. It is their bread and butter.

        But it isn't just the Japanesse. They make up a rather small percentage of the gaming market. There are plenty of gamers in the US and Europe that are buying the logo rather than the game. And we all suffer for it.
  • 0
    Zerpent Dec 8, 08
    I hope that SE realizes that they need FFXIII and vXIII to be hits. They certainly seem to be careful to put enough time into the games to really finish them, rather than to just ship them too early. I personally can't wait until vXIII arrives.
  • 0
    ryu750 Dec 8, 08
    Ever since square enix got off of the turnbased game system they have been CRAP!
    • 1
      Cruxis Mana Dec 8, 08
      Technically, FFXII was still turn based.
      • 0
        Immortal Kaim Dec 8, 08
        Do we know how the battle system will work in FFXIII though?
        • 0
          Final Blade Dec 8, 08
          FF13 developers are the ones responsible for FF10, so it will be the same old ATB or something along those line, and we all know those devs helped make the old games great. FF13v are being made from the KH dev team and Nomura.
      • 1
        Koloth Dec 8, 08
        "Technically" it was an action based combat system with turn based elements. Which is what made it suck. It couldn't decide what it wanted to be.
    • 0
      kokushishin Dec 9, 08
      (This was supposed to be a reply about the turn-based regurgitation) What exactly was wrong with FFIV's time battle and Secret of Mana's ring?

      I'm also pretty appalled that a "JRPG" veteran doesn't know how to deal with team commands that have been around since... Dragon Quest.

      It's frankly embarrassing to an RPG fan these days.

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