At their E3 2019 press conference, Square Enix announced that The Last Remnant: Remastered is not just coming to Nintendo Switch, but is already available for digital purchase on the system today.
Their announcement came in the form of a brief trailer showcasing gameplay of the cult classic, which features an “enthralling story, countless characters and [an] intricate battle system.”
The JRPG—Japanese Role-playing Game—first released exclusively on the Xbox 360 back in 2008. Players found themselves in the role of Rush Sykes, who leads an “unlikely band of friends” to find and rescue his sister. Along the way, they discover Remnants, ancient artifacts that bestow mysterious powers upon whoever wields them. The game allows players to explore the overworld as Rush and control multiple groups of characters in turn-based battles—a system challenges players to strategize accordingly.
The Last Remnant: Remastered first released in December 2018 for the PlayStation 4. By releasing it on the Switch, Square Enix gives players the chance to experience the game either at home or out on-the-go, thanks to the Switch’s hybrid abilities.
In a press release, Square Enix outlined some key features in the remastered version:
- Beautifully enhanced graphics enabled by Unreal®Engine 4, allowing for a more immersive and captivating adventure
- UI (user interface) updates to make it look and feel better than ever before
- Over 100 hours of gameplay
- A unique morale system that changes the outcome of battle
- An intricate battle system where commands change depending on the status of allies and enemies
Square Enix also released an online featurette going behind the scenes of the development of the game, called “Inside The Last Remnant: Remastered.” The ten-minute video features interviews with some key members of the development team, such as Hiroshi Takai (director), Akitoshi Kawazu (executive producer/writer), and Yusuke Naora (art director).
The Last Remnant wasn’t the only franchise to see a remaster announcement at Square Enix’s press conference, as they also announced Final Fantasy VIII Remastered coming to PC and consoles sometime in 2019. They also discussed their upcoming Marvel’s Avengers game, due to release in May 2020.