Last Hope is a single-player side-scrolling shoot 'em up video game for the Neo Geo AES, Neo Geo CD, and Dreamcast systems. It was developed by Germanindie developer NG:Dev.Team in 2006. While the Neo Geo version was self-published, the Dreamcast version was released by RedSpotGames in January of 2007 as an unlicensed title. In 2009 the Dreamcast version received a reprint in the form of a director's cut called Last Hope: Pink Bullets which addressed several gameplay-related issues. A Neo Geo version of Pink Bullets was released in February of 2011.
Story
An evil empire from another galaxy is heading towards Earth. Barely 24 hours beforehand, they had penetrated the last line of defense in Earth's galaxy, the Arsion Laser Belt. Millions of innocent people perished in outer space colonies. 70% of earth's fleet was destroyed during first contact. Intelligence reports six days until their arrival. Conventional weapons cannot stop them. The last hope is in your hands: The Z-42 Warpstar. Warp into their territories and destroy their leader before they reach Earth.
Releases
July 10, 2006: NG:Dev.Team produced 60 Units of the game for Neo Geo and sold it directly via their website. January 30, 2007: RedSpotGames published 2500 Units of the game. May 3, 2007: The Limited Edition of Last Hope was released with 500 vinyl-styled compact discs containing the soundtrack. November 19, 2007: NG:Dev.Team produced 500 units for Neo Geo CD. September 4, 2009: NG:Dev.Team produced 1000 Units of Last Hope: Pink Bullets, which were distributed Internationally by RedSpotGames. As a response to criticism regarding the game's difficulty, NG:Dev.Team released an updated version titled Last Hope: Pink Bullets for the Dreamcast on September 19, 2009, with a Neo Geo version releasing on February 21, 2011. This edition features improved on-screen visibility in comparison to its first print due to the titular pink bullets, as well as various other features to make for a more accessible gameplay experience with an emphasis on scoring.
Pricing
Since only 60 copies of the Neo Geo AES version were ever produced, and were only available for purchase directly from NG:Dev.Team, this is an extremely rare and collectible title. Due to the low availability and high cost of producing the cartridges, the game was sold for €550. In contrast, the Dreamcast version sells for $40, and the "Limited Edition" with bundled soundtrack CD was sold for $80. Van Basilco and Play-Asia were the only online stores approved to sell Last Hope for the Dreamcast. The Limited Edition was limited to only 500 units and is already a highly sought after item. It sold out 5 days after the release day and currently prices up to $259.
Reception
Comparisons were drawn to "old school" shooters like R-Type and Gradius, but especially of Pulstar, with its "tactical" gameplay and pre-rendered backgrounds and sprites. The game has been criticized for featuring very hard to distinguish enemy-bullets which are almost the same color as explosions/debris. Some reviewers have commended Last Hope as technically impressive for Neo Geo standards, while others focus criticism on gameplay issues. The Neo Geo CD version of this game features higher visibility due to pink colored bullets, which are better to distinguish between explosions/debris. In response to the criticism, Last Hope: Pink Bullets was released in 2009 for Dreamcast. The ratings range from 54% to 80% or second best score "good"
