The JRPG that NEVER Left Japan! - Live A Live

Channel:

Peter Bytes

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Published on July 29, 2022 4:15:02 PM ● Video Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lX-ThsuyyQ4

Game:

Live A Live (1994)

Duration: 5:19

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42

Live A Live was a JRPG released in 1994 that never actually left Japan. We missed out on an official English release... Until now. Square Enix have decided to remake Live A Live with a modern 2.5D pixel art style...

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00:00 - Live A Live
00:53 - Storytelling
01:40 - Unique Mechanics & Eras
03:13 - Octopath
03:39 - 2.5D Visuals
03:59 - Combat
04:40 - Recommendation

The question is, does Live A Live hold up today? The original game wasn't considered worth bringing to the rest of the world nearly 30 years ago, can it really be that good? Rumours are it was originally planned to be in English, but through interviews Squaresoft revealed they didn't believe it would be successful due it having a lower graphical quality compared to other popular titles at the time.
I've loved going back and discovering classics that I originally missed out on like Chrono Trigger, and after just finishing Live A Live for the very first time, I now understand why this has been remade for a new audience, I can confirm this game is great. We really missed out on a something here.

Live A Live is a series of 8 little stories each with their own protagonist and antagonist, ranging from playing a Ninja in feudal Japan to a robot on a spaceship in the far future. Each story is between 40minutes and 3 hours long. I'll be honest, with first impressions I was kind of dreading the look of some of the stories, like playing the caveman Pogo or the old Chinese man Shifu, but these actually ended up being entertaining and the most heartfelt stories. Every single one of these 8 stories is at least good. Live a Live excels at storytelling and it's character writing. I say that but In the "caveman" era with Pogo, there actually isn't any dialogue, the cavemen haven't developed a proper language yet. But despite that Squaresoft still managed to craft a really entertaining and charming story without the use of words or dialogue.

One of the reasons I was so engaged with each story was that most have unique mechanics. The fighter Masaru enters fighting tournaments and can learn abilities from enemies. Akira has psychic powers and the ability to read people's minds. Oboromaru is trained in ninjutsu and stealth. Pogo can sniff out and smell nearby treasures and animals, then craft equipment and tools through combining materials. Sundown the cowboy is all about looting and setting up traps to fight off bandits that will seige a town at sun rise. The Earthen Master Shifu is looking to pass on his legacy and he has the ability to teach and train others. There's Cube the maintenance robot, I don't want to spoil anything about his adventures on the spaceship transport freighter - but it is surprisngly awesome and you're best playing this one blind. While the final stories play a bit more like a traditional JRPG, it's where all the stories connect together for an epic conclusion.
I really was hooked and engaged in every single story, Cube's story set in the far future might be my favourite, the addition of voice acted dialogue helped me connect with the stories and characters ****AUDIO*****, but I did also really enjoy Masaru's story too, it's just a short but sweet fighting tournament, there's a unique interface to it like you're playing a fighting game. And I love trying to learn the opponents special attacks then using them to exploit the weaknesses of other fighters as you work your way up the ranks. it's really upbeat and a complete change of pace from other stories with awesome battle music.

So 8 characters, each with their own story, if you're a big JRPG gamer that might sound familiar, because there's very similar concept in a more modern Square Enix title - Octopath Traveller, which is also about 8 characters with 8 stories. I've got to be honest, I prefer Live A Live out of the two games, I felt a lot more engaged and connected to my characters from start to finish, and each character and story felt a lot more unique being in a different time period too.

I've also went back and played some of the original Super Nintendo version for reference. The biggest obvious stand out difference is the 2.5D pixel art style, I'm a big fan of this style. 2D Sprites in a 3D world looks great but the lighting effects illuminating the world and characters really takes the visuals to the next level, they're goregous.
I hope Square Enix consider going back to remake more of their older games in this art style, Final Fantasy VI is top of my Wishlist.

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