Overview
Live A Live is an HD-2D remake of the 1994 Super Famicom role-playing game developed by Square Enix and Historia and published by Square Enix, released in 2022. I played it on Nintendo Switch.
The original game never came out outside Japan: this remake is its first official release in the West.
Story and world
The game is split into several chapters, each with its own character. Each character comes from a different era: prehistory, Imperial China, Edo-period Japan, the Wild West, the present day, the near future and the distant future. These chapters can be played in any order you like.
The game is a gem: every character gets a good storyline.
Without spoiling anything, the very last scenario has some incredible twists. It's a change from the usual stories, and the game is gripping.
Gameplay
The combat system is enjoyable: battles take place on a grid, with squares for positioning, attacking, etc. Each technique has its own range, and character positioning matters as much as the attacks.
Each chapter also has its own mechanic, which keeps the experience varied from one character to the next.
Graphics and music
The remake adopts Square Enix's HD-2D style, already seen in Octopath Traveler: pixel art sprites in 3D environments with modern lighting effects.
The soundtrack is by Yoko Shimomura, and the remake adds voice acting.
Verdict
A gem, with a good storyline for each character, an enjoyable combat system and a final scenario with incredible twists. Honestly, I can only recommend it.