An island fortress, a band of broke mercenaries, and a world quietly running out of life.

This is the profile of a game you hold on to. On the desert island pick, The Last Story lands ahead of 92% of titles, though that number rests on very few votes and needs confirming. Rediscovery follows at 88%, the controller feel too, and the art style ahead of 81% of games. It all fits: a tactical action RPG built to be lived once. The tension sits elsewhere. On fun, the kind that costs you a night, it only beats 16% of games. And connection lands right in the middle, which is strange for a title people dream so much of experiencing again. You admire the journey, you don't cling to it enough to come back.

Next to the big Japanese RPGs of its era, it plays a shorter, more directed score: less grind, more staging. A game you pass through, not one you live in.

So, who is it for? For you if you love RPGs that tell their story fast and well, with sharp combat and a strong visual identity. Much less so if you want the game you keep relaunching without ever tiring of it.