Live A Live

Quibbles aside, This HD-2D is the best way to enjoy Live A Live, and has come a long way from the original SNES version - it feels like how the game would’ve been made had the means existed at the time. Both the English and Japanese voice talents lift the characterization and emotional impact of the game, and the narratives – while perhaps a little cliched – are a breath of fresh air with their unique approach to storytelling, design and play choices. That modern JRPGs can still take cues from this classic is testament to how timeless it is.

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.

Although it is more than 25 years old, Live A Live delights with charming narratives, solid gameplay, and a well-remastered presentation.

Live A Live is fascinating for JRPG fans of all varieties. For those who grew up in the 16-bit gaming era, it's a time capsule into a bygone age of video games. For those who just want a good JRPG, this is that, too. For those who want a collection of different stories, each with their own characters, aesthetic, and vision, Live A Live serves that function well. Finally, North American audiences will get a chance to experience this game that feels truly timeless.

If you’re a fan of quirky JRPGs, consider Live A Live a must-have. Each and every one of the stories offered up here is distinctive and interesting, keeping your attention held like a vice. Along with a fantastic combat system, and numerous improvements to the presentation of the overall package, we’re overjoyed that this title is finally available in the west. Only the occasional frustration brings it down a little, but they’re very much worth pushing through.

Live A Live is a beautiful remake of an overlooked classic that should not be missed by JRPG fans.

While the game has problems typical of many JRPGs, it also has iconic qualities - a subversive, resonant plot that overturns expectations of how a typical heroic journey progresses, and presents us with fallible protagonists who encounter and experience human loss in different ways. This is a refreshing take on a genre usually populated with idealistic heroes and ultimately happy endings, featuring a memorable battle system and killer soundtrack.

A stunning adventure unlike anything you've played before.

Last year saw the remake of Live A Live launch on Nintendo Switch, some 27 years after its original 1994 launch on the Super Famicom. This marks the first time the title has been made available outside of Japan, and now that it's coming to PS5 and PS4, we're happy to report that Live A Live is still a unique and ground-breaking experience.

“Live A Live is a high-effort remake from the presentation side, though the base game remains an uneven RPG experience.”

Live A Live takes too long to settle into its RPG groove, making it a missed opportunity on too many fronts.

While component tales and battles can be hit-and-miss, this elderly Squaresoft anthology is a wonderful testament to its genre's flexibility and range.