also known as Bakumatsu Roman Daini Maku - Gekka no Kenshi - Final Edition
Sega Dreamcast
🇬🇧
Reviewed in 2001
82
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✪ Reviewed on December 28, 2025
76
A 2D versus fighter dripping with style, with gorgeous Japanese art and katanas that sing. The combat stays demanding but wildly rewarding once the rhythm clicks. A real treat for fighting game lovers.
Your verdict
Category
Fighting1 player12+
Description
Bakumatsu samurai clash in this American port of SNK's 2D fighting game. Published by SNK, released in the United States in January 2001. 2D fighting game with Bakumatsu-era samurai, lunar magic system, enriched scenes and portraits. US edition.
Last Blade 2, The - Heart of the Samurai review
MAX
Art direction
★★★★★
"Iconic"
4/5
Music
★★★★★
"Excellent"
2/5
Story
★★★★★
"Classic"
Inked linework, woodblock prints set in motion and samurai animated with rare finesse: the aesthetic draws on traditional Japanese painting. Dusk-lit backdrops and moonlight effects feed a striking end-of-an-era melancholy. This hand-drawn elegance remains a peak of 2D fighting.
Gameplay
"Excellent"
Fun
"From the very first minutes"
Addictiveness
"Captivating"
Difficulty
"Balanced"
Lifespan
"Average"
Technical info
💾0,28 GB📅01/01/2001
Published by SNK
Last Blade 2, The - Heart of the Samurai (Dreamcast) price, value & rarity
The Last Blade 2 Heart of the Samurai is the only official Western release of Bakumatsu Roman 2 on Dreamcast, distributed by SNK in the US in a very limited print. Exceptional collector value: one of the rarest Western SNK 2D titles, and the US sleeve carries an artwork different from the Japanese version. A central piece for US SNK collectors.
Is Last Blade 2, The - Heart of the Samurai still worth playing in 2026?
Often overshadowed by King of Fighters, this second Last Blade remains one of SNK's most beautiful 2D fighters. Brushed animation, a melancholic soundtrack, and a clever choice between power, speed and deflect give every sword duel a singular flavour. Final Edition rounds out the roster and unlocks aerial combos. Anyone fond of old school versus play will find an elegance here that very few modern releases match, provided they accept a deliberate pace.
