Live A Live Reviews
If you enjoy retro and at the same time want something unique that is not quite common even nowadays, Live A Live will definitely offer you that. Some periods of the game are more fun, others less so, but overall it's still a very good game after all these years. And the PC port is successful, although the controls could have been a little more refined.
Review in Slovak | Read full review
While Live A Live wouldn’t have been the first game I would have picked to get the HD-2D treatment, I am certainly glad to see this underappreciated gem finally get the respect it deserves, while full 3D remakes certainly have their place some games are just better conveyed it that old school art style and Live A Live is no exception.
Live A Live is a testament to creativity, perseverance and preservation. To see a giant company like Square-Enix spare the time for a game released nearly 30 years ago on one platform in one region? We need to shout from the rooftops about it. Seeing a team revisit such a hidden gem all these years later and knock it out of the park in nearly every way? We need to be celebrating. Live A Live is such a unique experience that even its era-specific missteps are worth forgiving. RPG fans of all levels, walks of life, and interests: Live A Live will transport you through time, in more ways than you'd expect.
With fantastic art, beautiful music, and a wildly experimental concept, LIVE A LIVE is a wonderful remake that feels like taking a time machine back to the golden era of RPGs.
LIVE A LIVE is an excellent example of a historical RPG that needed a remake in order to be better appreciated by the public. With a well-executed and intriguing structure, albeit relatively shallow due to its short duration, the title needs to be played by fans of the genre.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review
Live A Live delivers where a remaster should. The visuals feel like a modern but faithful reinterpretation of classic pixel art, the music is as essential as ever, and the combat still holds weight. Elements of the storytelling and presentation are dated, and I would have liked to have seen some new content or bonus behind-the-scenes features, but despite all that, Live A Live remains a fun JRPG that is essential for fans of the old classics and their retro trappings.
Live A Live uses creativity and courage to build an RPG like no other. Instead of a single plot, the game is made up of numerous mini-stories, each with its own ideas and concepts. The variety of themes is one of the highlights, making it difficult not to appreciate at least some of the tales. Furthermore, the battle system is inventive and unique. The retro atmosphere oozes charm with the HD-2D visuals and the excellent soundtrack. The remake of the title released for the SNES in 1994 is technically impeccable, but perhaps too stuck in the past. The stories lack depth, the chapter structure is too basic and the RPG systems could be better worked on. Other than that, combat is unbalanced, sometimes being trivial, sometimes being too difficult. At least the pace is agile, with a modest length compared to other RPGs. Furthermore, Live A Live is worth checking out, mainly for its bold attempt to experiment and try to be different.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review
If I didn't express my enthusiasm for Live A Live correctly with the account above, let me just sum it up. Perhaps it's a good thing that Live A Live never came out in Europe in 1994, because this remake has made me want to enjoy the genre again. It's a great game and a must for anyone with even the slightest interest in the genre. There are some lesser aspects, such as the combat, and some scenarios are a bit less than the others. Although that again depends on each person. The conclusion, however, is well worth the journey.
Review in Dutch | Read full review
LIVE A LIVE is downright fun for RPG fans. Each chapter is uniquely different, the characters are interesting, and the soundtrack is energetic. The map system may be too experimental, though. Still, it’s a satisfying adventure to enjoy over and over again.
If you’ve been salivating for a new old-school RPG on modern consoles, Live A Live is a proper treat. The selection of stories you play are lovely and varied, the beautifully upscaled look of the game brings details to vibrant new life, and there is a lot of retro arcadey goodness in here to bask in. Furthermore, the shortness of each individual story makes each of them easy to play without feeling overloaded or that you’re missing something. Live A Live can get tricky, its grid-based battle system is a little passe, and it isn’t the most awe-inspiring remake you ever saw, but it’s a lovingly crafted revitalization that will please anybody with a fondness for old-school JRPGs.
Live A Live makes an impressive case as to why classic RPGs are not to be forgotten in time. The vignette style of storytelling brings an epic scale to an otherwise modest and sometimes unevenly paced narrative. The HD-2D visuals and recomposed soundtrack are standouts in what is already a stellar package that all RPG fans need to play.
It’s great to see Square Enix reach into their past and allow a new generation to experience some of its best titles. While there are some negatives to Live A Live, such as weak combat and bite-size adventures, these quirks work in portable versions favors. This version loads slightly faster, so many performance quirks are part of the software. Since this isn’t quite a complete remake, the differences are marginal at best.
Live A Live is a captivating anthology of short JRPG stories with diverse settings and unique gameplay mechanics. Remade in HD-2D, it offers an engaging grid-based combat system and a fantastic soundtrack. Despite some complexity and convoluted storylines, the game's multiple endings and quality-of-life improvements provide a satisfying experience for classic JRPG fans.
Live A Live is an incredibly fun turn-based RPG that holds up well after nearly three decades. The Octopath Traveler type HD-2D graphics look superb, but it's the eight heroes with different mechanics that really hooked me. Whether on PlayStation, Nintendo Switch or PC, anyone with even a cursory interest in RPGs needs to check out this game.
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.
This re-release makes Live A Live shine brilliantly on modern consoles and PC all thanks to the game's breathtaking pixel art and unique storytelling that have proven it can stand tall even after more than 28 years. It's a game that should be experienced by every turn based fan
Review in Arabic | Read full review
I absolutely adored Live A Live from start to finish with its beautiful presentation, enthralling soundtrack, engaging combat system, and plentiful short stories. From light-hearted adventures to heart-breaking tragedies, nearly every story in this game had me invested in their well-written plots and characters. This game is a must-have for any JRPG enthusiast whether they’re a newcomer or a stalwart fan of Square Enix’s 16-bit era titles.
An excellent remaster of an excellent game, Live A Live influence can be spotted in many titles to this day, and most people may have never even heard of it. After 30 years, consumers can finally enjoy one of the most unique and compelling JRPGS from the SNES area.
LIVE A LIVE is a gorgeous 2D-HD experience that combines modern with classic pixel visuals. With multiple chapters to select featuring their own story and characters, along with a variety of genres, there is so much here to keep you busy, this is a must-play RPG!
Live A Live is an incredibly interesting and unique JRPG experience. With lovely HD-2D graphics and numerous main characters, it's hard not to compare it to the likes of Octopath Traveler, but it really is a completely different kettle of fish. Live A Live is a varied thrill ride that still impresses all these years later, and while the combat does struggle to live up to the rest of the adventure, the game does a fantastic job of tying all of its intriguing, individual stories together. It's a history-hopping journey we'll be thinking about for quite some time.