The Last Story: First details and first art concept revealed

[Omgwtfbbqkitten]

Destructoid - Mistwalker drops some spicy Last Story details

Mistwalker has today shared some new details for its upcoming Wii RPG, The Last Story. In the latest update, Hironobu Sakaguchi has talked about the various towns that populate Ruli Island.

The most interesting detail is how the inhabitants of each town will change their behavior periodically. Sometimes the changes will be dramatic, sometimes more subtle. Mistwalker intends to create a world that feels alive and encourages exploration, and the dynamic population is part of that. As for the design of the towns, the team has taken inspiration from France and Italy to create the architecture.

Each town is also going to be large. The game's producer laments how most towns in JRPGs these days feel too streamlined and full of dead ends, promising that the towns of Last Story are designed instead for a player to get lost in as they explore the many nooks and crannies. Random wandering is one of Mistwalker's overall goals.

I am really, really excited for The Last Story. Mistwalker seems committed to keeping the old school flavor of the classic JRPG, as evidenced by the sublime Lost Odyssey. As the Wii becomes home to more and more good looking RPGs, I'm glad to see Mistwalker contributing to the little waggle box. Should be an awesome ride!

Also, the music on the site is fucking beautiful.

[Fliegar]

Re: The Last Story: First details and first art concept revealed

little waggle box

That made me chuckle . But I agree, the music is very nice. I can't wait to hear more about the game, it sounds pretty interesting, and I loved Lost Odyssey.

[Feba]

Re: The Last Story: First details and first art concept revealed

the towns of Last Story are designed instead for a player to get lost in as they explore the many nooks and crannies.

oh fuck, please let this game be good.

[DakAttack]

Re: The Last Story: First details and first art concept revealed

Oh, it's a Wii game? Already forgot about it.

[TheGrandMom]

Re: The Last Story: First details and first art concept revealed

I am really, really excited for The Last Story. Mistwalker seems committed to keeping the old school flavor of the classic JRPG, as evidenced by the sublime Lost Odyssey.

Yep this is why I'm interested too. Lost Odyssey was a JRPG dream.

[Cheezeman3000]

Re: The Last Story: First details and first art concept revealed

Oh, it's a Wii game? Already forgot about it.

How can you say this after seeing the concept images? Or after reading about dynamic townz? DYNAMIC TOWNZ!

And who cares what system it's on? Based on what I've seen so far I'd buy this for any system.

[Omgwtfbbqkitten]

Re: The Last Story: First details and first art concept revealed

Oh, it's a Wii game? Already forgot about it.

Yeah, a traditional RPG made by the creator of Final Fantasy, who would want that? What does he know about making RPGs?

Wii's looking to have a pretty strong year in RPGs.

This week it got a game called Fragile Dreams, its a game that is bound to be overlooked, but unlike certain big name RPGs, it tells a more somber, mature story rather than a hamfisted, melodramatic one. Last month Wii got Shiren the Wanderer III, a rougelike.

At the end of March Sakura Wars makes its US debut on Wii and PS2, likely garnering more attention on the Wii side.

Monster Hunter Tri comes out late April. Arc Rise Fantasia comes in the months to come, too, its also looking rather nice.

Take those four and add Dragon Quest X, The Last Story and Xenoblade.

And this is before we even start adding RPGs from the DS side this year. DS got three big ones this month alone.

But couple the RPG releases with Nintendo's core releases - Mario, Zelda and Metroid all looking to happen this year - and I've got no regrets about having a Wii this year.

[jenova_9]

Re: The Last Story: First details and first art concept revealed

surprising they said nothing about the main character yet.

[Feba]

Re: The Last Story: First details and first art concept revealed

How can you say this after seeing the concept images? Or after reading about dynamic townz?

Easily, he's Dak.

[DakAttack]

Re: The Last Story: First details and first art concept revealed

Easily, he's Dak.

There's truth in this. If it doesn't spark an immediate interest, I do tend to completely forget about it. Names, birthdays, phone numbers, etc. Still, I've seen concept art before and the promise of "dynamic towns" doesn't mean much to me.

But of course, my real problem is that it's on the Wii, but I already have a place to discuss to Wii for now.

[Omgwtfbbqkitten]

Re: The Last Story: First details and first art concept revealed

surprising they said nothing about the main character yet.

Usually when a new IP comes around, they talk about the concepts behind it and the setting before delving into story or characters. It might not even have a fixed main protagonist for all we know.

Still, I've seen concept art before and the promise of "dynamic towns" doesn't mean much to me.

The only dynamic towns I've ever seen have been in Zelda: Majora's Mask, Shenmue and Elder Scrolls games before. With ES, it was more of a Day/Night only sort of thing. Either they were in the house or wandering just wandering around somewhere in the town.

MM and Shenmue's characters each had their own routines and schedules. MM had the advantage of only having three days that you looped back through, but Shenmue had schedules for the numerous NPCs in the game, some of whom were just there for atmosphere more than story. Same guy would stop at the noodle shop for lunch every work day, head home to a specific area of the town.

Persona 3 and 4 did similar things, people would be in certain places on certain days, either because of the story or schedules. They pretty much simulated nine-ten months out of a full year in those games.

With stuff like GTA or Saints Row, the NPCs are just randomly generated, they're cattle to cut down more than anything else. They have no home they'll return to or job they'll do from day to day. But in Elder Scrolls, each character has a name, role, professions and quests they could be tied to - kill them and certain quests won't be able to happen.

We can safely assume that The Last Story will have a Day/Night phase. You might see the town bakers and fishermen be the first to rise and get to work, then arrive the the town market hours later to sell their goods. So "dynamic towns" actually does mean something, it means they're adding a layer for realism not normally present in many RPGs. People have lives, they can do more than just stand in one place and spit out the same dialog over and over.

[TheGrandMom]

Re: The Last Story: First details and first art concept revealed

While I will admit that my Wii doesn't get nearly as much use as my other systems, I am an RPG fan and not a system fan. I'm more interested in games and how they can entertain me, the system is just the venue that delivers that entertainment. I still do use my Wii every day but when you have so many systems to choose from, some do get left behind.

[Omgwtfbbqkitten]

Re: The Last Story: First details and first art concept revealed

Destructoid - The Last Story is all about class divide

OK, first plot element revealed.

Class division.

Knights in this story are loved by the people, seen as the upholders of justice. In reality, its despised mercenaries (your characters) do all the grunt work. They want to be knights, but can't seem to garner the influence or respect they want and are hated by the people they've been hired to take all risks to defend.

[TheGrandMom]

Re: The Last Story: First details and first art concept revealed

Just reminded me of this:

[Lmnop]

Re: The Last Story: First details and first art concept revealed

Shenmue Fantasy XII!

I hope it takes place in a world called Ifarice.