• Platform: Nintendo 64
• Release Date: May 28, 1999
• Similar Games: MechWarrior (Super NES), Virtual On (IBM PC Compatible), MechWarrior (IBM PC Compatible)

Game Description

Last Legion UX is the first Mech Combat title to arrive on the Nintendo 64, but unlike many of the more "technical" games based on the idea on the PC, Konami have aimed more at the action fan. In fact this KCEO product shares more similarities to Sega's Virtual On and Virtual On 2 than the Mechwarrior series.

Unfortunately as an import title, it is probably wise to mention this title is very hard on the Japanese text. On top of the story mode being based in entirely Japanese characters, the menus and interfaces are also based in Japanese and therefore it will be difficult for non-Japanese speaking importers. Anyway, this is a one on one action mech fighting title where a player will take on either a computer controlled mech or human controlled mech to the death in a battle de royal set in a small, restricted outdoors location. Each mech is armed to the teeth with primary weapons, special weapons designed as a characteristic for each mech, shields selected by yours truly, lock on systems to make sure the next missile will hit its target and finally the important hover technique to help mechs boost to the air and glide to hopefully what is more safe ground.

Players choose from six instantly selectable mechs but a total of sixteen exist in total. These mechs are rated in guard, leap, hit rate, recovery, speed, shot, direct and jump. Mechs include Omnibus, Plasma equipped with his specialty Remote bombs, Blade with his Laya mine, Blaze equipped with Plst C-Bomb, Spider with a 3 way bomb and Harden with torpedo missiles. Other mechs include Weputtygzn, NL-PR, V-Bee, Amphibian, Bezebalou, Grandjupe and Ghobus. Players can also choose their mechs main weapons and shields from a large range of pre-selected choices for each mech.

Levels include the Fire Circle, Volcano, Bulwar, Float Castle, Waterfall and Labyrinth providing a simple yet picturesque fighting locations to do battle in. The game is also split into various modes including Story (quest mode filled with a Japanese text story line), One Player (arcade mode for a single player), Two Player (head to head with a friend) and the general Options and Ranking. Last Legion UX also supports memory card and force feedback devices like the Rumble Pak. ~ Brad Penniment, All Game Guide

Review: Enjoyment

An enjoyable title despite the slow down and overwhelmingly bad design in areas. ~ Brad Penniment, All Game Guide

Review: Overall

Last Legion UX is in many ways, Hudson's response to Sega's brilliant Virtual On series. And for good reason too considering both games are not only based on mech combat but are also sloped towards the simpler, more action crazy fan base than most other titles in the genre. No matter what, Last Legion UX is a rather generic in design import, that is made even worse by the incredible amount of Japanese text in the game.

It is painfully obvious that third party developers are becomingly increasingly terrible at developing good looking titles on the Nintendo 64, maybe it is written into the contract but still 3rd party developers are well behind the standard set by Nintendo and Rare, and Last Legion UX is no exception. The small and extremely linear levels are generally well detailed with some nice effects especially in the volcano, but they do seem to have that linear sparse look that has plagued the Nintendo 64. The mechs themselves look ok graphically but the design is about as boring as could be imagined, as there really is no great distinction or originality in any of the mechs. Another factor to mention is despite the ok effects, is that the game really does suffer frame rate wise due to this, in fact while the game is never as smooth as you would like; slowdown is quite often experienced during close up hectic battles.

Audio wise, once again there is nothing really that special to talk about. General sound, explosive and heavy on the bass sound effects, on top of the generally cheesy and half-witted video game melodies that are as common on the Nintendo 64 as the top selling title being published by Nintendo.

Sega's arcade brilliance certainly shone through with Virtual On, an arcade one on one mech combat title that took the Saturn and Arcades by storm. Last Legion UX is in many ways a similar title, but unfortunately Hudson are not quite Sega when it comes to arcade titles. One point worth mentioning is the control, as the mechs are really quite enjoyable to control with two weapons, a target locking system, the ability to hover and dashing capabilities all adding up to an immense feeling of power behind a tonne of metal.

Another plus is the distinction between weapons and shields as Last Legion UX allows its player to choose from not only various shields and general weapons, but also each mech is assigned not only special attributes but also a special weapon according to the mechs specialty. This somewhat eases the titles disastrously boring mech design, but unfortunately can't make up for the levels that are quite honestly far too sparse and unspectacular to even be considered average.

Last Legion UX is not an awful action packed mech combat title, but it certainly does have some limitations under what otherwise is a pretty solid title. On top of this, the story mode (the bulk of the long term value) is completely in Japanese text as are the menus meaning that it does take a while to get to know what those switches in the option menu actually do. ~ Brad Penniment, All Game Guide

Review: Graphics

Pretty basic really, badly designed mechs with sparsely used scenery and all too much slowdown for my liking. ~ Brad Penniment, All Game Guide

Review: Sound

Again, nothing special with the same generic sound effects and general video game music. ~ Brad Penniment, All Game Guide

Review: Replay Value

Without the story mode (unless you can read fluent Japanese), the game is rather lacking in the long term. ~ Brad Penniment, All Game Guide