Long ago, the world was filled with Remnants - mysterious artifacts from an ancient civilization. But as time passed, the powers of the Remnants began to shift the world's balance. As the rift widened between those who ruled and those who were ruled over, a new era dawned: one of countless frays brought upon the world by those enslaved by their own lust for power. A thousand years later, the journey of one young man begins... Imagine a vast, war-torn battlefield, scarred by years of conflict. Countless enemies surround the player, who is backed up by his own army. Threatened by numerous foes and saved in the nick of time by allies, players feel the true tension of a soldier on the battlefield. In The Last Remnant, as many as seventy units duke it out at once in fierce yet beautiful battles...

The Last Remnant is a Japanese role playing game which is set a thousand years after mysterious artefacts, known as Remnants, are discovered across the world. providing incredible power, they soon find themselves under the control of the covetous few, shattering the world’s delicate equilibrium. The people are divided into those who rule and those who are ruled over. The onset of war seems inevitable.

You pick up the game, a thousand years later, playing Rush who lives with his sister, Irina, on the remote island of Eulam. Eulam is a place far removed from the ceaseless battle for control over the Remnants which rages on the mainland. However, one day your peaceful life is shattered when Irina is abduction by a mysterious group of soldiers. You set off after them, ill-prepared for the evils of the outside world but determined to find your sister at any cost.

The game was originally released on the Xbox 360 last year. The PC edition is noticeable different, and a much better gaming experience - mainly due to the fact that a lot of the bugs have finally been laid to rest.

The battle system, while still somewhat flawed, is much more fluid than on the Xbox 360 version. While there's little use for the battle system at the start of the game, over time you'll appreciate its intricacies the further you progress - until you are engaging in huge battles, thanks to the game’s command system which allows 70 units to engage in a bloody fight to the death.

The combat system allows you to recruit soldiers into 'unions' which need to be assigned various formations in order for them to alter their attack, defence, and magical statistics. While in battle you can chose commands including attack, melee skills, magic skills or revive.

This is an interesting, if slightly flawed, turn based role playing game that offers something a little different for fans of the genre who think they've seen it all.

7

Nick Smithson