Live A Live Reviews
Overall, Live A Live emerges as a must-play title, feeling both wonderfully part of the golden era of Square RPGs, and as modern as other similar titles released today. There were some chapters that weren't quite as impactful as others, and the lack of a strong and continuous narrative might turn some players away, but Live A Live is a fantastic overall package that leaves you hungry for more at each turn. For both seasoned JRPG fans and players new to the genre alike, you won't want to miss Live A Live, as its comparatively short 20-hour playtime is always giving you something new, having you wishing that you had the chance to play it when it first came out.
Live A Live is a unique experience unlike any other currently seen in the gaming landscape, and looking past its few dated flaws it offers a player a special experience.
Don’t let its 30-year absence from the global market deceive you, Live A Live is a hidden gem on the Nintendo Switch.
Live A Live presents an interesting take on the JRPG genre, with seven separate stories to complete across wildly different genres. The premise deserves a lot of credit, as does its confident execution. However, some chapters are much better than others, and the combat isn’t quite strong enough to work as Live A Live’s central mechanic.
Back in the 90s it wasn’t an unusual sight to see a title region locked to its country of origin. Across both the US and Japan there were often titles released that never made their way to UK shores. However, there were also titles that never made it outside of Japan. This was primarily seen with an abundance of JRPG titles – with the biggest culprit being the then named SquareSoft. To be fair you can’t rest the blame onto the developer’s shoulders. Back in the day, the genre was seen as somewhat niche to Western markets, and it wouldn’t be until the arrival of Final Fantasy VII that the developer/publisher got its foot in the door with Western gamers.
It is always to be celebrated that we have access to releases that never left Japan. Also, despite being originally released in 1994, it is still able to show fresh and original gameplay mechanics today.
Review in Spanish | Read full review
Seven beautifully unpredictable genre stories, each designed by a different manga artist, are playfully rendered in this novel remake
The structure of this JRPG gives it its unique identity compared to many other games in the same genre, and the vast category of ideas, eras and topics that the game's stories go through help keep it feeling fresh.
Live A Live is an interesting game that will most likely excite some players while losing others. The unique stories are great for short bursts but the lack of investment may turn off some. Still I love that we live in an era when lost games can once again make a return. Live A Live is certainly not for everyone, but for those that it does hit it is sure to please. Maybe it would have been wise though to release this game a little further away from Nintendo’s biggest RPG franchise to give it some room to breathe.
Square Enix’s remake of Live A Live shows that even nearly thirty-year-old games can use narrative tricks to have a game shine brilliantly. Modern sensibilities, such as easier quest tracking and voice acting help widen its appeal, but the core experience remains outstanding after all these years.
This remake of Live A Live is a project that deserves to succeed, so this is one that JRPG fans at the very least should give a try whether they have already or not.
The remake of LIVE A LIVE is a triumph. This second life of the classic JRPG offers a varied, visually delightful, aurally flawless and narratively stunning experience. Despite stories with slightly different longevity and quality levels, this is a consistently excellent experience. Whether you're longtime fans of this genre or you're complete newbies, this is an easily recommended game, one of the best experiences Switch has to offer this year. Life is worth living with LIVE A LIVE!
Review in Portuguese | Read full review
Live A Live has been successfully adapted to today's consoles, both visually and in terms of gameplay, and has not lost any of its original spirit.
Review in Turkish | Read full review
Live a Live is a remake that we needed and the game itself needed to have.
Review in Greek | Read full review
Live a Live is an eccentric game that has been brought into the modern gaming landscape not just through its stunning pixel work but also with some modern features that make it a breeze to play through. Its unique structure was intriguing throughout, and the short, self-contained chapters throughout most of the game make for an easy pick-up and play experience.
The attention to detail in this game is a brilliant display of confidence. Every little bit of it triangulates and octagulates (100% accidental reference to the other Square Enix games mentioned above) and enchants the mind. Every bit of the experience is worth it. The question is often asked, ‘Are games art?’ Well, of course, they are—and 32 years ago this great example was released. Now, love and passion—by all those in Square Enix responsible—have given us a remake to be savoured. Live A Live gets the Thumb Culture Platinum Award.
It took almost 30 years to be able to experience Live A Live, but the wait was definitely worth it. Featuring a great, varied cast of characters and settings, the game is seemingly designed around keeping the player engaged by letting the chapters play out in the preference of the player. The remake with the HD2D technology has brought an already unique experience into the modern age, simultaneously paying homage to the era the game came from while also standing up to the most recent of JRPG titles. It an rpg well worth your time.
Even today, Live A Live feels fresh and different due to its unique story structure and it passes the test of time.
Review in Slovak | Read full review
At long last, Live a Live has received a new lease on life for the international audience it always deserved—and most importantly, it holds up brilliantly. With a stunning new coat of high-definition pixelated paint and plenty of quality-of-life enhancements, Live a Live feels just as daring and original today as it did in ’94. While this reimagining holds onto a few frustrating idiosyncrasies from the original release, the game as a whole emerges as something far more than a historical curiosity: Live a Live is still a compelling compendium of roleplaying adventures that dazzle in their diversity and unite into a remarkable sendup of its genre, leading to an experience that RPG fans deserve to live and relive.
Live a Live is just the right dose for those looking to escape the extensive RPG standards and live 8 different and relatively short experiences, to go along with the enhanced and most beautiful HD-2D visuals used in a video game to date. A Nintendo Switch exclusive title not to be missed!
Review in Portuguese | Read full review