94 August 2012 BTM downtimecomputergames The Last Story (Wii) RATING: WHAT IS IT? While the mainland of the Empire faces both conflict and the slow creep of the dying land, there is one region that continues to prosper — Lazulis Island. A young mercenary Zael comes to the island in the hope of finding more work but ends up obtaining a mysterious new power. This Japanese role-playing game for the Wii console from Hironobu Sakaguchi lets you take charge of a band of mercenaries and journey with them into a sprawling cinematic adventure. GRAPHICS: It’s safe to say that The Last Story is not like the usual roleplaying games from the Far East; the graphics aren’t stiff. The settings you see can be used to your benefit. Those walls are there to hide behind; bridges and pillars can be broken down. There are too many intricate details in the design aspect alone; it is no wonder that this is one of the best-looking games in the Wii world. Even with so much going on, the focus on each element is faultless. GAMEPLAY: The one thing that a role-playing game relies on is its characters. If there isn’t a solid story, there is just no direction to go to. The Last Story has mastered this impeccably. The multiplayer option is a welcome feature that makes the game more interactive. The gameplay might feel a little light for hardcore gamers, but it’s a pleasant journey nonetheless. It also evades what is dreaded of these genres — long-windedness. The professionalism behind its creation oozes out of each level. Darksiders II This epic journey propels Death, one of the four horsemen of the Apocalypse, through various light and dark realms as he tries to redeem his brother, War. Darksiders II features a dramatically larger world, complete weapon and armour upgrades and more challenging enemies than the original. The Secret World This game can be distinguished by its setting alone. With nine years in its development stage, the detailing is almost tiresome. An advantage is that you aren’t bound by class; all skills and abilities are available to every character. There is room for improvement. Spec Ops: The Line You better be prepared for pain, scars and tough decision if you want to get out of this alive. The multiplayer option is relatively disappointing, a hollow experience, you could say. This is one of those games where it’s all about you and nothing else. GAME OF THE MONTH Battle of Wits There is the expected stint in dungeons and the occasional wars in alternate universes. However, we’re smitten by an intriguing Japanese role-playing game. VERDICT: It’s been a while since we checked out a Wii game; we love this one.
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