Divergent Duality- Last Rebellion Review

Recent release Last Rebellion puts this theory to the test. With dialog that shifts between fervent and flippant, cutscenes constructed with still images, and a deficiency of role-playing requisites (everything from side quests or outfitting your character with stat-enhancing armor and weapons has been purged), the title relies upon its combat to ensnare players. While some adventure aficionados may turn their nose up at the game’s spartan exterior, hard-core RPG fans may find Last Rebellion’s conflict compelling enough to warrant a playthrough.

The crux of title’s narrative emanates from an imbalance in two diametrical forces. Formival, the god of life, has brought to many creatures into existence, going so far as to revive a band of malevolent demons. Witnessing a perilous paroxysm in the beast population, humans seem the assistance of the Goddess of Death to eliminate the evil epidemic. The deity bestows two types of conquerors to cleanse the realm of vile villains: Blades, dual welding swordsmen who can destroy the physical bodies, and Sealers, who have the ability to secure a foe’s shameful soul.

The backstory grants Last Rebellion an intriguing premise- players control dual protagonists, who share a common pool of hit, magic and chain points. In execution both the reluctant hero (Nine), and the spunky prodigy (Aisha), must work to complement each other, lending the title a tinge of dyadic tension. Strategic-minded players will want to develop one of their characters into a physical striker, while turning the other protagonist into a magic-attack specialist as both traits are required to dispatch the game’s numerous foes.

When navigating the overworld, players will inevitably encounter wandering adversaries. Coming into close proximity with an opponent transports players to the combat screen, where gamers can ‘stamp’ a selection of each rivals body parts. Each type of creature has its own sequence, which players can exploit for damage-deal combos. Luckily, Last Rebellion provides partial clues to the ideal succession, grants the pursuit a subtle Mastermind-like feel. Once one of the characters marks foes, the other can conjure a magic spell that will target all the stamped appendages. Once dispatched, enemies can be mined for magic points and must be sealed, otherwise they may revive themselves.

With a wealth of variables to maintain, skirmishes require more resource management than a typical RPG. Players that are too aggressive with their stamping can easily run out of chain points, and have to wait for their powers to slowly recharge, leaving them in a potentially perilous situation. While CP charging posts litter region maps, access to the columns can be dangerous, as roving foes will pursue the player with infuriating determination.

Although Last Rebellion’s load screens and creatures are well drawn, the title suffers from a drab stiffness. Players accustomed to vibrant cutscenes, with dynamically animated characters will likely be disappointed with the game’s static drawings. While the game’s main characters are well vocalized, some of the performances presented by minor characters vary in quality, contributing to the game’s modest aesthetics.