Last Battle

Last Battle is a side-scrolling action game, similar to its predecessor Black Belt. The player takes control of Aarzak (Kenshiro in the original Japanese), who fights his enemies with his punches and kicks. Aarzak can attack while standing, jumping and crouching, giving him a total of six basic attacks. In addition to his life meter, Aarzak has a power-up meter that gradually fills up as he defeats his enemies. When the gauge reaches a certain point (depending on the level), Aarzak transforms into a superpower that lets him perform quick punches and kicks for the rest of the level. In the levels of the game (with the exception of the boss fights and the maze stages), there is a time limit in the lower right corner of the screen. Unlike other time limits, when the limit is reached, the character is not killed immediately, but the player's life meter is gradually drained until the player finishes the level. The game is divided into four phases or chapters, each containing several levels. Upon completion of a level, the player is presented with a map showing the player's current position and the paths they can take. Most of the levels are linear side-scrolling sections, in which the player simply has to run from side to side while fighting any enemy that gets in his way. Other levels are dungeon mazes, in which the player must find the right path to the destination while avoiding traps. Throughout the game, the player encounters various allies that increase Aarzak's offensive or defensive power or replenish his health. There are also some direct encounters with bosses in the game. To complete a chapter, the player must eventually complete the levels in a certain order. Last Battle is also notorious among players for its high difficulty. The original Japanese version is based on the Fist of the North Star manga/anime. During the translation process, all references to Fist of the North Star were removed - similar to the predecessor Black Belt.