Lost In Translation/Last Blade 2, The

About The Game
The Last Blade 2 is an arcade video game.

Much-acclaimed swordplay fighter with 16 selectable characters and one end boss. Another SNK triumph!

Additional Technical Information
Players : 2

Control : 8-way joystick

Buttons : 4

=> [A] Weak slash, [B] Strong slash, [C] Kick, [D] Repel

Trivia
Released in November 1998.

This game is known in Japan as "Bakumatsu Roman Dai Ni Maku - Gekka no Kenshi : Tsuki ni Saku Hana, Chiri Yuku Hana" (translates from Japanese as 'Bakumatsu Romance Episode II - Swordsman in the Moonlight : The Flower That Blossoms In The Moon, The Flower That Turns To Dust').

Kojiroh Sanada is a homage to an ancient Chinese legend about a girl disguising herself as her father (the same story was also used in the Disney movie Mulan).

Lee Rekka is a homage to the Cantonese hero, Wong Fei Hung.

Akari and Juzoh are the comedic relief characters in the Gekka series : If Akari is fighting someone other than Juzoh, Juzoh can be seen next to the elephant. If Akari is fighting Juzoh, Akari's three friends (Hijiri Nanase, Aoi Yahata and Shizuka Kujou) can be seen next to the elephant. If Juzoh is fighting someone other than Akari, Akari can be seen with her friends.

Pony Canyon released a limited-edition soundtrack album for this game (Bakumatsu Roman The Second Act Gekka no Kenshi - Flowers Blooming on the Moon, Flowers Scattering on the Wind - PCCB-00350) on 18/12/1998.

Updates
In the original (Japanese) version of Last Blade 2, each of the 3 modes is described by one kanji : Chikara (red), Waza (blue) and Kiwame (green). Chikara means 'strength', Waza 'skill' and Kiwame 'extreme'.

These 3 modes were made into 'Power', 'Speed' and 'EX', respectively, for their English release.

However, one case where the modes were literally translated remain.

If you look at the English 'How To Play' intro in Last Blade 2, you will see 'Strength and Skill' where they should have said 'Power and Speed'.

A slight mistake in the English renaming, or a tribute to the Japanese and therefore correct, names.

Play As Kaede From Last Blade
Highlight Kaede at the character selection screen, then press C(x9), B, C(x4). You must input the correct button sequence in LESS THAN FOUR SECONDS! - A sound will confirm correct code entry.

Play As Kouryu
Highlight Kaede and press C(x10), B(x5) and C(x5). You must input the correct button sequence in LESS THAN FOUR SECONDS!

Hagure Hitogata Appearance
Highlight Akari at the character selection screen, then press C(x8), B(x9), C(x4). You must input the correct button sequence in LESS THAN FOUR SECONDS! - A sound will confirm correct code entry.

Naoe Kotetsu Appearance
Highlight Shigen at the character selection screen, then press C(x5), B(x10), C(x2). You must input the correct button sequence in LESS THAN FOUR SECONDS! - A sound will confirm correct code entry.

Time Attack Mode
Insert a coin, hold A+B+C+D and press Start.

Unlock EX Mode
At the mode selection screen, highlight Speed and press C(x6), highlight Power and press B(x3), highlight Speed and press C(x4). You must input the correct button sequence in LESS THAN FOUR SECONDS!

Ending Variation
If you get enough fatalities/decapitation kills with Sogetsu before the last boss, his ending will be in full color instead of the usual brown tinted color.

Contest?
If you finish the game in one credit, a password is given to you (The Password is 'Elephant'). This password can be entered in the official LB2 Internet page. This contest was available between 11/1998 and 04/1999.

Series

 * 1) The Last Blade (1997)
 * 2) The Last Blade 2 (1998)

Voice Actors

 * Hyo Amano:
 * Akio Ohtsuka


 * Genbu no Okina:
 * Shigehumi Nakai


 * Akari Ichijou:
 * Mayuko Omimura


 * Kaede:
 * Kouji Suizu


 * Shinnosuke Kagami:
 * Makoto Awane


 * Juzoh Kanzaki:
 * Taison Ohya


 * Lee Rekka:
 * Jun Hashimoto


 * Moriya Minakata:
 * Jun Hashimoto


 * Mukuro:
 * Monster Maetsuka


 * Shigen Naoe:
 * Enma Ito


 * Kojiroh Sanada:
 * Satomi Nakatani


 * Setsuna:
 * Takaya Yamauchi


 * Hibiki Takane:
 * Kyouko Hikami


 * Keiichiro Washizuka:
 * Katsuyuki Konishi


 * Yuki:
 * Hazuki Nishikawa


 * Zantetsu:
 * Ohtomo Ryuzaburo


 * Kouryu:
 * Koji Ishii

Ports

 * Consoles :
 * SNK Neo-Geo CD (1999)
 * Sega Dreamcast (2000, "The Last Blade 2 - Final Edition")
 * Sony PlayStation 2 (2005, "NeoGeo Online Collection Vol.2 : Last Blade 1 & 2")