The Last Story is an all-new RPG being created exclusively for Wii by developer Mistwalker, which is headed up by none-other-than Final Fantasy-creator Hironobu Sakaguchi.
This is Sakaguchi’s first Wii project and the first new console game from the company following the Xbox 360 RPGs Blue Dragon and Lost Odyssey. They’ve also had plenty of DS RPGs including: ASH: Archaic Sealed Heat, Blue Dragon Plus, Away Shuffle Dungeon, and Blue Dragon: Awakened Shadow.
Although the game was first revealed back in 2009, we are only now seeing the first gameplay footage of the title via the Japanese trailer below. The game is also being created in direct collaboration with Nintendo.
The game is now nearing the end of production and is described by Sakaguchi as his “best project yet”.
The Last Story has a very unique battle system that is a hybrid of real-time action and command inputs. The battles use a cover system not unlike Western shooters like Gears of War, but mixes it with input commands that allow the user to pause the action and make party adjustments or input various Offensive or Defensive commands for their party.
“We wanted to make a new type of RPG battle, we wanted a system that merged real time battles with command selection, something that had an action feel but would also make you think. After much trial and error, we came to the current form.”
Plotwise, the game takes place on “Luli Island”, an island valley that is fortified with mountains on all sides and a single entry port. The ruler of the island seeks power through magical resources at the expense of the rest of the empire, which suffers from extreme decay and abundant poverty. However the town of Luli remains prosperous due to it’s abundant magic. However that magic begins to mysteriously attract monsters, eventually spiraling the once peaceful town into an unknown and scary fate.
Sakaguchi wants the world of The Last Story to be a place where “metal is scarce” and the sci-fi element is limited. He wants players to enjoy exploring the unique island, where they will be “bathed in the abundance of radiant sunlight.”
Here is the trailer for the beautiful RPG, which showcases both gameplay footage and movie scenes. All of which looks quite impressive. Hopefully the game will have some solid Western release details soon. For now it is Japan-only.