The Last Spell is a tactical roguelike RPG for Nintendo Switch. Set in a fantasy world filled with goblins and magic, it follows a group of warriors fighting hordes of zombie-like creatures for the survival of humanity. Sounds like a lot? that’s right!
An in-depth story unfolds via an introductory cutscene befitting a Tolkien plot. In this desolate world, new magic has evolved. Initially used to bring peace, the innate lust for power and control naturally led to chaos and destruction. Long-term use of this magic has led to the rise of huge armies of the undead. He has only one solution. A final spell powerful enough to wipe out all magic. eternally.
Your role is to guard the group of mages who brew this final concoction. You control three random her heroes and must defend your base from hordes of monsters around you. Gameplay takes place on an isometric playing field featuring a grid-based layout. At the center of this area is a base, where mages vigorously develop potions.
The Last Spell has two distinct phases made up of periods of day and night. This helps keep things interesting and gives the game a nice balance. During the day you are protected from pesky monsters, so feel free to update your base. You can use the previous night’s earnings to build or repair walls and gates. You can also upgrade your warriors and purchase items from the shop.
Nights, on the other hand, are much more stressful. This is when your base is under attack. The monster’s only goal is to overcome the warriors and reach the sorcerer hiding inside. It is turn-based and uses a point system for movement. You can spend these action points however you like by moving, attacking, or helping your allies.
Visually, The Last Spell works well, featuring dark and brooding graphics that suit its content. The soundtrack is a highlight, with guitars blaring in the background among more medieval tunes. It works well and keeps the adrenaline pumping as you play.
I have mixed feelings about the user interface.There are many things going on, such as many. In fact, it can be a little overwhelming at first, and casual gamers can quickly become frustrated. I stuck with it and eventually it made sense. On the plus side, there are helpful popups to guide you, which I really appreciate. Again, it takes some getting used to.
For example, to accept a menu option you need to press the X key instead of the A button normally used. Also, accessing certain menus requires the minus button (which is tedious to find and press all the time) multiple times, and the left stick is used to move between options within the menu. ZL and ZR guide action points in combat. It all falls into place in the end, but it’s never intuitive and can be a bit daunting with so many options. I play in handheld mode, so I’m glad this version includes touchscreen controls.
Overall, The Last Spell is a complex but fun tactical RPG. With the ability to build and level up components, there’s a lot to do here. There’s a lot to understand, especially in the beginning, but there’s also a lot of fun (and fear) if you keep at it.
