- Publisher: Square Enix
- Release Date: Apr 27, 2023
- Also On: PC, PlayStation 4, Switch
- Critic score
- Publication
- By date
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PLAYSep 17, 2023A previously lost but influential RPG gem given the remake it deserves, with its varied protagonists and storylines adding up to a digestible epic unlike anything else. [Issue#28, p.86]
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May 10, 2023Live A Live offers a unique and joyful experience full of charming characters and fun mechanics that is totally worth experiencing. Its originality will captivate fans of RPGs and other genres alike. With superb storytelling and fantastic art, Live A Live should be considered as a top-notch RPG.
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Apr 26, 2023Live A Live was an essential on Nintendo Switch last year, and it sees an amazing glow up on PS5 with its boost to resolution, frame rate, and improved load times. While there isn't anything here that justifies a purchase if you played it before, newcomers will find a sublime JRPG in Live A Live on PS5, and I still hope it gets a physical release in the future.
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May 26, 2023Live A Live is a wonderful little gem from almost three decades ago. The remake accurately captures what a classic SNES RPG should look and feel like, and the modern additions make the game far easier to digest for newcomers. It’s highly experimental and oftentimes weird, yet it keeps that wondrous charm found in games like Terranigma, Secret of Mana, and Final Fantasy V. It’s whimsical when it wants to be and serious when it needs to be. While the pacing is a little off at times, and combat does grow a bit stale by the 15-hour mark, there is a lot to love about Live A Live, and any fan of SNES RPGs—or RPGs in general—should give the game a look. It’s a glimpse into the past with a modern touch, which is fitting for a game about living lives throughout time.
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May 12, 2023LIVE 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.
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Apr 24, 2023An 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.
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May 16, 2023If 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.
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May 8, 2023Live 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.
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May 4, 2023Live A Live is a unique JRPG that jumps to consoles with some huge improvements. 8 stories to live, 8 different gameplays although with the same bases and 8 different time settings, are the proposal of this title that was once lost in time. Those who wanted to try it and don't have a Switch can do so.
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Apr 28, 2023Live A Live is a piece of JRPG history, and the remake is the best way to play it. While there are a few obtuse puzzle and pacing issues, these are more indicative of the time it was originally released than the remake. If you don’t have a stomach for heavy story, maybe leave this one, but it's one of the better narratives you can enjoy.
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Apr 24, 2023Overall, 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.
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Apr 24, 2023Live 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.
Awards & Rankings
User score distribution:
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Positive: 12 out of 21
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Mixed: 3 out of 21
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Negative: 6 out of 21
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Apr 30, 2023
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Jul 25, 2023Beautiful remake of a classic. Interesting and fun battle system with so many nice characters. A must for fans of this genre.
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Jul 10, 2023