More

    Live A Live Review – A Re-Rerelease Brimming With Life

    Living the Life on PS and PC.

    Live A Live is a glorious and modern remake of the classic Square Enix Super Famicom game released in 1994 only in Japan; the original game shares the same name as the remake. Live A Live is a unique RPG where you play separate chapters piecemeal. The player is really given a spread, as each chapter has a different aesthetic, theme, story, and gimmick. If Square Enix’s Final Fantasy series is their anthology series, Live A Live is their anthology game.

    Alive on PlayStation and PC

    The Nintendo Switch original version was already pretty great. It was the original version of this remake after all. It is built on Unreal Engine using the graphical style Square Enix pioneered with their title Octopath Traveler. A style dubbed HD-2D. The style uses a mix of modern lighting and effects combined with traditional pixel sprites and lo-fi assets. This art style creates scenes that are like a finely crafted diorama with nostalgic pixel art cutouts. Sounds great, right? If the Switch version already offered this game that continues a line of games with this revolutionary art style then what do these new ports have to offer? Well, Switch isn’t exactly the best kit of hardware for running Unreal Engine-powered games. It sure CAN do it. Other machines just do it BETTER.

    So what exactly do you get with the new PlayStation and PC versions of this game? Well PS4 can run the game at 1080p resolution and 60 frames per second. That’s already a tidy upgrade. Cleaner art and a smoother presentation. The PS5 version cranks this up to a full 2160p or 4K resolution. The fps is still 60. I do think it could have been neat to have a 120 or uncapped VRR option or something. The PC version of course is variable; meaning it can be lower fidelity than the Nintendo Switch version or higher fidelity than the PS5 version.

    The visuals just POP so much more in higher resolutions and framerates. Yeah, the (probably)720p 30fps visuals on the Switch looked good, but now they look UNREAL. Effects look so clean, Sprites look so crisp, and the environments resemble dioramas. All of that meshes with the rock-solid 60 fps to create, simultaneously, an amazingly smooth presentation and an incredibly responsive game feel. Nothing beats the perfect feeling of menu navigation with an unhindered 60 fps. Who says RPGs don’t need to be 60 fps?

    Live A Live

    A Timeless, Era-Spanning Story(s)

    Each story can be enjoyed on its own, but they even have their own small connections that swell and swell all the way up to the conclusion of the game. The game wants you to enjoy each individual morsel on its own and then later reflect upon the game as a full-blown sample platter. Trying each piece on its own and then viewing it through the lens of an entire whole is interesting.

    There are multiple endings to the game. There are 3 distinct game endings that involve player choice and a touch of determination. Along with those are some optional endings and events sprinkled throughout the chapters. You can really experiment and try things at your discretion. The ample save slots, autosave feature, and bite-sized chapter size is basically begging you to mess around. I personally really enjoy the small micro-endings you can get in the Twilight of Edo Japan chapter.

    I don’t want to spoil aspects of the story(s). Many of them are simple or have only a couple of things going on due to their length, which is honestly a boon. This is due to each chapter being able to focus or try new things amongst each other. Brevity mixes with variety quite well in this case. Many of the stories had me so invested that they gave me actual chills. The Imperial China chapter is a favorite of mine due to the pure emotion it exudes. Only the True Ending journey during the final chapter can compete. The twists and characterization of that section are nothing short of immaculate to me.

    I can see the length of each chapter or some of the themes not connecting with certain players. That may be the only point of this game that can get weird to discuss. I know I personally get a lot of enjoyment from every chapter. However, I have a close friend who didn’t vibe with certain chapters. That’s okay! I think that’s one of the most unique traits of Live A Live. The Grab Bag nature of the game lends itself to a pick-up-and-try nature. Think of a box of chocolates; you may love every piece or only a few, but you should try them to find out. A piece you may not enjoy could very well enhance your next one. You can also see it as “Be a big kid and eat your greens! It’s good for you!” If you don’t like the greens, please try them. It’ll be a growing experience!

    Unique Grab Bag of Variety

    One of the first things you’ll notice about Live A Live is how each chapter has a different look and feel to it. You have many different time periods whose stories also take place in different locations. That already diversifies the game exponentially, however, the presentation style also reflects this. The Far Future chapter is more story-driven than most of the others, with a focus on its plot and tone. It has one required battle! It seriously has a unique focus in that regard! The Prehistory chapter doesn’t even have spoken dialogue. Hope you like pantomiming and grunts! Yes, they really do go all in on this concept. Each chapter even has a completely different main character designer. I don’t think I can emphasize enough just how cool this is. Design decisions like that allow the philosophy of anthology to really seep in.

    The variety doesn’t end with the style and presentation of each character’s story. The gameplay features gimmicks and alterations per chapter; allowing for a supremely immersive experience. Masaru, the main character of the Present Day chapter, can learn skills from his opponents to expand his combat repertoire. The Wild West chapter combines planning, exploration, and a time limit to create a tense and engaging chapter. The final chapter itself is an event, so be sure to check everything out and revel in it.

    Funnily enough, the sheer amount of ability and movement variety directly correlates with the variety on display for the story and aesthetics. Change and Variety are the cornerstones of Live A Live‘s identity and it oozes out of every crack and crevice. The combat is simple with some quirks. There are interesting ways to incorporate strategy with your movements and attacks. 

    Live A Live

    Lively Battles

    The battle system is easy to learn while making sure to keep the player on their toes. Battles take place on a grid, with monsters and attacks that span multiple tiles. Utilize Area of Effect abilities, traps, items, and smart movement to guide your characters to victory.

    The remake brings in handy Wait Time bars that help you plan your strategies to an even higher degree. Keep an eye on your foes to avoid their potent attacks and dish out your own powerful skills at the perfect time. Some could argue that this change makes the remake easier, but I believe that leaving less guesswork to the player makes them consider strategy on a deeper level.

    When I first played this game I thought that the attack ranges and grid patterns were strange. They definitely are. However, working within these constraints forces you to make interesting movement and placement decisions. The Present Day chapter introduces this concept well, as you slowly learn moves with different ranges and even counters.

    One of the most fun and interesting things in RPGs for me is figuring out the ‘puzzle box’ of a battle. Let me clarify; I’m referring to when you try to figure out a quick or optimal way to clear certain, repeat, encounters. What makes it addictive in Live A Live specifically is the grid-based movement. Doing the perfect inputs and then pulling off the right attack feels awesome. In some encounters, I’ll move around to do a fake out or to reset an enemy’s Wait Bar just so that I can perform a big attack that wipes out as many of my foes as possible. 

    Live A Live

    Conclusion of the Live

    Live A Live is a timeless classic in my eyes. It’s as innovative and interesting as many of the genre juggernauts. Get sucked in and invested in stories that span generations and genres. An awesome premise is tied together with fun gameplay and the wonderful HD-2D art style. Personal taste can determine whether or not you enjoy a certain chapter’s gimmicks, however the bite-size of the chapters guarantee you won’t be unsatisfied for long.

    The PS5 version is the best console version of the game featuring high-resolution visuals and smooth 60fps gameplay. Yes, that makes a stark difference as everything looks crisp and feels sublime. The PC port is of course variable depending on your hardware, meaning that it could fall in line with the Nintendo Switch version or exceed the PS5 version. The PS4 version also boasts superior framerates and resolution to the Switch version.

    Live A Live

    Another Live?!

    I really would like another Live A Live game. Another entirely different cast with new time periods, new gimmicks, and new twists. I think that this type of game fills a completely different niche than something like the Ocotpath Traveler series. I also believe that combat would be vastly improved in a sequel. It’s not bad here, but I am curious as to what an evolution of the system would look like, as Live A Live is still a Super Famicom game underneath this new shiny and slick veneer. Good thing some of the greatest masterworks of the medium of video gaming are indeed Super Famicom games.

    Disclaimer: Square Enix provided Final Weapon with a PlayStation 5 copy of Live A Live for review purposes.

    Live A Live Review Related Links

    Buy the game on PlayStation or PC! The Nintendo Switch version is still a great time as well!

    SUMMARY

    Live A Live is a timeless classic in my eyes. It’s as innovative and interesting as many of the genre juggernauts. Get sucked in and invested in stories that span generations and genres. An awesome premise is tied together with fun gameplay and the wonderful HD-2D art style. Personal taste can determine whether or not you enjoy a certain chapter’s gimmicks, however the bite-size of the chapters guarantee you won’t be unsatisfied for long. The PS5 version is the best console version of the game featuring high-resolution visuals and smooth 60fps gameplay. Yes, that makes a stark difference as everything looks crisp and feels sublime. The PC port is of course variable depending on your hardware, meaning that it could fall in line with the Nintendo Switch version or exceed the PS5 version. The PS4 version still boasts superior framerates and resolution to the Switch version, as well.
    Payne Grist
    Payne Grist
    Payne is a huge fan of JRPGs. SQUARE ENIX owns his heart, especially their 'FINAL FANTASY' series. He is currently studying various mediums of art and Japanese.

    Latest articles

    Related articles

    Live A Live is a timeless classic in my eyes. It’s as innovative and interesting as many of the genre juggernauts. Get sucked in and invested in stories that span generations and genres. An awesome premise is tied together with fun gameplay and the wonderful HD-2D art style. Personal taste can determine whether or not you enjoy a certain chapter’s gimmicks, however the bite-size of the chapters guarantee you won’t be unsatisfied for long. The PS5 version is the best console version of the game featuring high-resolution visuals and smooth 60fps gameplay. Yes, that makes a stark difference as everything looks crisp and feels sublime. The PC port is of course variable depending on your hardware, meaning that it could fall in line with the Nintendo Switch version or exceed the PS5 version. The PS4 version still boasts superior framerates and resolution to the Switch version, as well. Live A Live Review - A Re-Rerelease Brimming With Life