Live a Live

What to Know

Critics Recommend

Average Score

Total Reviews: 63

Play It

Live a Live is a beautiful remake of an overlooked classic. It’s unlike any other RPG you’ve tried before – and its short stories, in different eras, make each of its 9 chapters unique and distinctive.

Play It

Critics Recommend

Critic Reviews: 63

Critics Consensus

# Reviews: 63

Live a Live is a beautiful remake of an overlooked classic. It's unlike any other RPG you've tried before - and its short stories, in different eras, make each of its 9 chapters unique and distinctive.

Where to Play

** VSG may earn a commission for purchases using our links. Learn more.

Rate and Review

What did you think of Live a Live?

Player Reviews0 Votes

Critic Reviews for Live a Live

Critic Reviews

Score Distribution

63

Reviews

Average Score - 82/100

82%

Ranges

9/10

Rebekah Valentine (IGN)

Live A Live is a fascinating JRPG time machine that’s getting its dues at last thanks to a remake that brings out the best in its seven stories, strong combat, and unusual structure.

July 21, 2022 |

Full Review

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.

July 21, 2022 |

Full Review

Recommended

Edwin Evans-Thirlwell (Eurogamer)

9/10

Andrew Reiner (Game Informer)

We’ll never know how Live A Live would have fared in the U.S. back in the day. Flash forward nearly three decades, and I can’t recommend this revitalized relic enough. It’s that good. This is another must-play Switch RPG that entertains in ways I didn’t expect and kept me glued to the screen for well over 20 hours.

July 21, 2022 |

Full Review

Rebekah Valentine (IGN)

9/10 - (Read Review)

Live A Live is a fascinating JRPG time machine that’s getting its dues at last thanks to a remake that brings out the best in its seven stories, strong combat, and unusual structure.

Edwin Evans-Thirlwell (Eurogamer)

Recommended - (Read Review)

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.

Andrew Reiner (Game Informer)

9/10 - (Read Review)

**Read all 63 critic reviews on the desktop version of VSG.

Read the Reviews (63 total)

Outlet	Author	Score	Date	Quote	Read
Atomix	Sebastian Quiroz	90 / 100	07-25-2022	As a love letter to JRPGs, Live a Live is a game that no fan of this genre should miss. The remake makes masterful use of HD-2D, bringing new life to a game from almost 30 years ago.	Read review
Attack of the Fanboy	J.R. Waugh	4 / 5 stars	07-28-2022	While the game has problems typical of many JRPGs, it also has iconic qualities	Read review
But Why Tho?	Kyle Foley	9.5 / 10	07-26-2022	Live A Live is an absolute masterpiece, so much so that even the one chapter that frustrated me was still enjoyable once everything came together.	Read review
Cerealkillerz	Julian Bieder	8.6 / 10	07-21-2022	The 2022 iteration of Live A Live shows how remakes for games from the early 90’s should be done: a fresh coat of paint, a few quality of life improvments and Live A Live looks like a brand-new title that plays just as well. The story was, with a few minor drawbacks, so great that it still amazes today. It i is a love letter to old school RPGs and a recommendation for everybody who likes them.	Read review
CGMagazine	Preston Dozsa	9 / 10	07-21-2022	It’s been 28 years, but Live A Live finally gets its proper dues outside of Japan with an excellent remake.	Read review
Checkpoint Gaming	Luke Mitchell	7.5 / 10	07-22-2022	Live A Live is an incredibly unique and endearing adventure, with multiple engaging storylines and strong combat throughout. Some of its ideas are so forward-thinking and intriguing that it’s almost shocking that this was originally released almost 30 years ago. While it maintains some weird quirks reminiscent of the SNES era that it came from and the pacing can be a bit strange from chapter to chapter, the beautiful visuals and catchy soundtrack propel Live A Live into the modern era and gives everybody the opportunity to experience a classic RPG that has a whole lot of heart. I’m incredibly grateful I’ve had the opportunity to play it, and am left dreaming about what other hidden gems just like it might be waiting to be unlocked and shared with the world.	Read review
COGconnected	James Paley	72 / 100	07-21-2022	Although these are fairly bite-sized adventures, each one packs a remarkable punch. Every chapter works to distinguish itself from the rest of the pack, and it shows. While I can’t recommend each story with equal vigor, I am impressed with the total package. Sure, I would prefer fewer chances to soft-lock yourself. I’d also love to leave behind some of the level grinding. But the core gameplay loop is still fun. Between the wild stories, the engaging combat, and the incredible voice acting, Live A Live feels like much more than the sum of its parts. If you’re any kind of fan of classic JRPGs, you owe it to yourself to check out this game.	Read review
Cubed3	Sandy Kirchner-Wilson	10 / 10	07-26-2022	The intriguing and unique premise of Live A Live is a genuine hook for players from all walks of life. This game not only has a fantasy story worthy of a SNES era Square game but it also treads an extremely upto date line with it’s cool turn based combat and choice/morality systems. Players will be blown away by the content on show in this awesome RPG and it cannot be recommended enough. A great game turned masterpiece with this fantastic remake!	Read review
Daily Mirror	Eugene Sowah	4 / 5 stars	07-21-2022	Live A Live is a masterclass in how to remake a classic title that is being released in other territories for the first time.	Read review
DarkZero	Dominic Sheard	7 / 10	08-31-2022	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.	Read review
Destructoid	Chris Carter	8 / 10	07-21-2022	Impressive efforts with a few noticeable problems holding them back. Won’t astound everyone, but is worth your time and cash.	Read review
Digital Trends	George Yang	3.5 / 5 stars	07-21-2022	Live A Live is a high-effort remake from the presentation side, though the base game remains an uneven RPG experience.	Read review
Digitally Downloaded	Matt Sainsbury	5 / 5 stars	07-22-2022	I realise this is a pretty short review by my standards for the JRPG genre, but there really isn’t much else to say about Live A Live; this is a quirky and fundamentally experimental JRPG that in many ways remains out there on its own. The chapter-based approach to simple (but enjoyable) narratives that take place across time and space allows for an experience that is both varied and flexible. Throw in the most excellent application of HD-2D art for the remake, and the fact that this is the first time this game has had a formal release in the west, and Live A Live is an essential experimental title for the curious and those that enjoy playing things that are genuinely different.	Read review
Easy Allies	Brad Ellis	4 / 5 stars	08-04-2022	Live A Live is a delightful little RPG that’s thankfully gotten the second chance it deserves.	Read review
Eurogamer	Edwin Evans-Thirlwell	Recommended	07-21-2022	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.	Read review
Everyeye.it	Andrea Sorichetti	8.5 / 10	07-21-2022	Seeing the rebirth of a video game as important and influential as it is unknown to most (at least here in the West) is a feeling difficult to describe. Live A Live is a remake made almost impeccably and, above all, with great taste, between the magical touch of HD-2D and the original soundtrack by Yoko Shimomura appropriately rearranged for the occasion.	Read review
Explosion Network	Wil James	8 / 10	08-17-2022	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.	Read review
Game Informer	Andrew Reiner	9 / 10	07-21-2022	We’ll never know how Live A Live would have fared in the U.S. back in the day. Flash forward nearly three decades, and I can’t recommend this revitalized relic enough. It’s that good. This is another must-play Switch RPG that entertains in ways I didn’t expect and kept me glued to the screen for well over 20 hours.	Read review
Game Revolution	Jason Faulkner	4 / 5 stars	08-01-2022	Fortunately, it’s not a launch that’s 28 years too late. Live A Live is still full of charm, and the graphics and gameplay have been tweaked just enough to give it some modern touches. Hopefully, it’ll get the recognition it deserves alongside Square’s other classics.	Read review
GameSkinny	David Restrepo	5 / 10	07-29-2022	Live A Live takes too long to settle into its RPG groove, making it a missed opportunity on too many fronts.	Read review
GameSpew	Richard Seagrave	8 / 10	07-28-2022	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.	Read review
GameSpot	Heidi Kemps	8 / 10	07-21-2022	Live A Live is a beautiful remake of an overlooked classic that should not be missed by JRPG fans.	Read review
GBAtemp	Jakub Kowalski	9.5 / 10	07-30-2022	Quote coming soon	Read review
God is a Geek	Adam Cook	7 / 10	07-21-2022	Live A Live is a neat little curio that warrants a look, but there’s a huge variety in not just story, but the quality of the action as well.	Read review
Guardian	Tom Regan	4 / 5 stars	09-08-2022	Seven beautifully unpredictable genre stories, each designed by a different manga artist, are playfully rendered in this novel remake	Read review
Hardcore Gamer	Chris Shive	4 / 5 stars	07-26-2022	Live A Live is one of the most unique games we never got to play in 1994.	Read review
Hey Poor Player	Andrew Thornton	4 / 5 stars	08-01-2022	It’s hard for me to fault Live A Live too harshly for its ending, though. I’d have been perfectly satisfied if it had simply been seven separate stories, and each of these is well worth playing through even after all these years. There’s so much creativity and joy present that anyone interested in class RPGs owes it to themselves to give it a try.	Read review
Hobby Consolas	Alberto Lloret	80 / 100	07-21-2022	‎Live a Live does not fit into any canon. Although it’s an RPG, it’s not like others you’ve tried. Its short stories, in different eras, make each of its 9 chapters like a separate game. Too bad they are short and don’t go too deep. But if you expect something with the classic ninth flavor, here you will find it. And very beautiful.‎	Read review
IGN	Rebekah Valentine	9 / 10	07-21-2022	Live A Live is a fascinating JRPG time machine that’s getting its dues at last thanks to a remake that brings out the best in its seven stories, strong combat, and unusual structure.	Read review
IGN Italy	Andrea Giongiani	8.7 / 10	07-22-2022	A thirty years old JRPG that manages to appear younger and have fresher ideas of many contemporary games. A true gem that would be a shame not to play.	Read review
Impulsegamer	Ben Veress	3.6 / 5 stars	08-09-2022	Live A Live is a truly unique product of its time that still stands out in the competitive field of role-playing games today. After playing, it makes sense that it would be lauded to this day for its subversive takes on JRPG gameplay elements and its multiple narratives. What’s most charming about how experimental the game is, is that it is not a subversion due to cynicism over the genre, but a love for its potential.	Read review
Kotaku	Isaiah Colbert	Recommended	07-27-2022	And without giving anything away, Live A Live culminates towards a powerful conclusion that will have its time-spanning heroes living on in your memory long after its credits roll…for the ninth time.	Read review
Luis Alamilla	Luis Alamilla	8.5 / 10	07-30-2022	Live A Live is a piece of JRPG history and this remake makes it the most accessible way to play while still improving upon what made it so remarkable for its time. The branching narrative structure continues to be interesting while the updated visuals and audio presentation, make it a worthwhile modern take on a remarkable idea. Those that grew up playing it are sure to find something new to enjoy and experience while those that missed out on it like me, will surely understand why veterans were so excited when this was announced.	Read review
Merlin’in Kazanı	Samet Basri Taşlı	85 / 100	08-18-2022	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.	Read review
Metro GameCentral	GameCentral	7 / 10	07-22-2022	The 1994 original has some unfortunate flaws, that this remake doesn’t try to fix, but in terms of graphics, soundtrack, and sheer invention this is one of the best Japanese role-players of any era.	Read review
MonsterVine	Spencer Legacy	5 / 5 stars	08-04-2022	Live A Live is genuinely one of the most ambitious RPGs to have come from Square Enix. I’m truly glad that the world can now experience this gem, as it offers a unique experience that is tough to find anywhere else. If you dig RPGs but want something different and creative, I implore you to give Live A Live a shot.	Read review
Niche Gamer	Fingal Belmont	9 / 10	07-29-2022	Live A Live is one of the greatest RPGs ever made. Fans of Chrono Trigger will definitely want to check this out and even if you played the original, this remake offers some new additions and adjustments that make it more enjoyable than ever. It is too bad that the localization was bungled in some areas, but this will only affect those who are intimately familiar with the original intent.	Read review
Nintendo Life	Alana Hagues	8 / 10	07-21-2022	Live A Live has been well worth the long wait. This remake reintroduces an influential, unique JRPG to the wider world with aplomb, with a cacophony of different gameplay styles, music, and visuals that somehow hang together beautifully. Despite looking like Octopath Traveler and perfecting the HD-2D visual style, you’d do well to remember that this is still a Super Famicom RPG, with many of the frustrations that come with ‘90s RPGs still intact in this remake. Still, we admire that Square Enix decided not to change too much with this remake, instead delivering an authentic and faithful update to the game that the majority of players outside Japan missed nearly three decades ago. This is a piece of gaming history we have loved getting to experience for the first time.	Read review
NintendoWorldReport	Jordan Rudek	7 / 10	07-21-2022	It’s enjoyable, quirky, awkward, and frustrating: sometimes the price of being unique is alienation. If it was Live A Live that allowed Takashi Tokita and his work on Chrono Trigger to soar, then of course it was worth it. In this present day chapter, for my money, I’m looking ahead to the next Square remake.	Read review
Oyungezer Online	Sabri Erkan Sabanci	9 / 10	07-28-2022	Live A Live is a gem that has been lying in Square Enix’s archive for years and has finally been made available to everyone.	Read review
Paste Magazine	Jackson Tyler	10 / 10	08-02-2022	Live A Live still has it. Takashi Tokita led a young team of fans at Historia, Inc. to create a version of a classic as vibrant and exciting and crucially unique in Square’s catalog today as it was in 1994. Released between Final Fantasy VI and Chrono Trigger and passed over for translation due to its technically less impressive sprite work compared to its flagship siblings, it shines today as the celebration of a cult classic, with a worldwide legacy and influence as an important milestone in an entire alternate history of RPGs. Live A Live is the exact opposite of the unique masterpiece that’s so good it ruins other games: it is a heartfelt tribute to everything there is to love about the RPG format, and will leave you invigorated and excited not just to play more RPGs, but to watch more Kung Fu movies, more Westerns, more classic Sci-Fi. If you’ve even a passing interest in the genre, it is simply a must play.	Read review
PCMag	Gabriel Zamora	3.5 / 5 stars	07-21-2022	Live A Live delivers a gem of a JRPG from a lost generation. It’s a nostalgic blast from the past with enough modern innovations to keep the experience fresh and engaging.	Read review
Polygon	Chris Karnadi	Recommended	07-21-2022	But most importantly, Live A Live feels biblical in its attempt to tie all of human history into one narrative. But as much as Live A Live admirably tries to tell a story as vast as any game has ever told, time and time again, its characters are too flimsy to hold the weight.	Read review
Press Start	James Mitchell	8 / 10	07-21-2022	Live A Live leverages a fantastic visual overhaul with an already compelling and inventive narrative structure to offer an RPG experience like no other. It’s aging for sure – the slower nature of the turn-based battles and some strange logic to get the story moving – but it’s such a unique experience that any RPG fan owes it to themselves to try.	Read review
RPGamer	Ryan Costa	4.5 / 5 stars	08-22-2022	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.	Read review
Saudi Gamer	Unknown	8 / 10	07-24-2022	Live A Live is worth a try for everyone who owns a Switch and loves RPG games with a multi-role system and contains an innovative and wonderful story with a fun and simple fighting system, but needs to think about every step you take, do not expect it to be a revolutionary game, but it is worth every minute of your time, especially for the scarcity of this	Read review
Screen Rant	Scott Baird	3.5 / 5 stars	07-21-2022	Live A Live aims to tell nine different stories, with very different protagonists and settings, all within a short period of time. The jack of all trades approach means that some chapters are fantastic and others can drag. It tries to do a lot of things at once, some of which work and some that don’t. Luckily, the good parts outweigh the bad, and Live A Live is a great pick for fans of classic JRPGs, so long as they expect an occasionally bumpy ride.	Read review
SECTOR.sk	Michal Korec	8 / 10	07-25-2022	Live-a-Live is well polished old title with new production values. But after all these years, it is refreshing experience with different time eras, chapter and heroes leading to solid finale. If you are ready for RPG all-in-one, it will show you how good games last.	Read review
Shacknews	Ozzie Mejia	8 / 10	07-21-2022	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.	Read review
SomHráč.sk	Karel Šír	80 / 100	08-11-2022	Even today, Live A Live feels fresh and different due to its unique story structure and it passes the test of time.	Read review
SpazioGames	Gianluca Arena	8.2 / 10	07-21-2022	Live A Live is short and sweet, a surprisingly modern twist on JRPGs that Square and Nintendo luckily decided to bring back from the dead. it won’t probably win any award for its narrative and surely there are far more vast and deep JRPGs out there, but this is nonetheless a very good choice for japanese role playing games lovers.	Read review
The Games Machine	Danilo Dellafrana	7.8 / 10	07-21-2022	Live A Live tries to do many things, but not all of them live up to the same standard. The overall narrative is satisfying, but the stylistic discrepancy between its various adventures, combined with a certain underlying simplicity, makes the game a short adventure lacking depth, but admittedly exciting when it gets into the right gear.	Read review
The Outerhaven Productions	Todd Black	4 / 5 stars	07-27-2022	Live A Live is an RPG that was reborn with new life and vigor, and it shows. It’s a solid RPG that weaves all sorts of unique mechanics, stories and genres into one package that is very special indeed.	Read review
TheSixthAxis	Reuben Mount	9 / 10	07-21-2022	Live A Live is hands down one of the most interesting games I’ve experienced in a while. A neat little package made up of completely disparate elements, it shouldn’t work but it does. Add in some truly clever gameplay mechanics, the gorgeous HD-2D visuals and phenomenal soundtrack, and you have a game I would urge any JRPG fan to play.	Read review
ThisGenGaming	Justin Oneil	9 / 10	07-29-2022	Live A Live is a beautiful remake of a cult classic JRPG and one that any fan of the genre should take time out to play. The HD-2D visuals are superb throughout and along with the musical score, helps to make each time period feel distinct. I loved playing through each character’s story and seeing how the game would surprise me next even if all of them weren’t as memorable as certain others. Live A Live has certain things that hold it back a little due to the era it was originally made in but those few nitpicks aren’t enough to dissuade me from wholeheartedly recommending it to any JRPG fan out there.	Read review
Twinfinite	Rebecca Stone	4.5 / 5 stars	07-21-2022	I implore anyone who enjoyed JRPGs of the 90s, especially the ones by Square itself, to give Live A Live a try. It’s filled to the brim with variety, humor, and interesting narratives. It may not be perfect or surpass your childhood favorites, but fans of the genre will find a place in their hearts for it nonetheless.	Read review
Unboxholics	Γιώργος Πρίτσκας	Recommended	08-18-2022	Live a Live is a remake that we needed and the game itself needed to have.	Read review
VG247	Alex Donaldson	Recommended	07-21-2022	I want to be clear. These caveats and other elements of the game combine to mean that, no, Live A Live isn’t quite as good as either Final Fantasy 6 or Chrono Trigger. Even with that said, however, it does feel like it belongs alongside them. It feels monumentally important, wonderfully clever, and full of a gleeful energy that’ll make the heart of any old-school RPG fan swell. Top marks on this website doesn’t mean it’s a perfect game; it just means we recommend playing it absolutely unreservedly – and such is the case here.	Read review
Video Chums	Mary Billington	8.1 / 10	07-21-2022	LIVE A LIVE kept me excited for what the next chapter would entail with each one boasting unique characters, settings, and gameplay so it’s a perfect game for anyone who relishes variety. I just wish each chapter was fleshed out with more depth and unique elements.	Read review
Wccftech	Nathan Birch	8 / 10	07-21-2022	Live A Live is a fascinating lost piece of gaming history that offers up an impressively-varied cinematic saga well ahead of its time, although a slide into more traditional JRPG tropes in its third act diminishes some of what makes the game special. Live A Live is an unpredictable journey worth experiencing, but like life itself, it may leave you feeling a bit worn down by the end.	Read review
WellPlayed	Nathan Hennessy	7 / 10	07-22-2022	Repetitive combat and exploration pad out this wonderfully remastered cult JRPG experience that falls just short of a recommendation.	Read review
Worth Playing	Chris “Atom” DeAngelus	9 / 10	07-26-2022	Live A Live is the ideal way to experience a cult classic game. It maintains or improves on everything that made the original game distinct while polishing it enough that some of the more dated design elements don’t detract from the whole. It’s a weird, quirky, and distinct JRPG that to this day is unlike anything else on the market. It won’t be for everyone, but if you’re a fan of JRPGs, then you owe it to yourself to give it a shot. What other game can you have a cowboy team up with a caveman and the pilot of a giant robot?	Read review
ZTGD	Ken McKown	7.5 / 10	08-23-2022	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.	Read review

** Learn more about how to become a MetaMeter-approved Critic.

Game Info

Game Description / Storyline:

Previously unreleased outside of Japan, the RPG game Live a Live is releasing on the Nintendo Switch system in the HD-2D style! Seven different stories featuring different protagonists, time periods, and gameplay styles await. In The Wild West, a wanderer with a bounty on his head fights for his life. In the Twilight of Edo Japan, a shinobi undertakes a secret mission. Experience these tales in any order you choose—the adventure is yours to control. What other stories will you uncover on the horizon…?

RELEASE DATES:

DEVELOPER(S):

PUBLISHER(S):

GENRES:

SERIES/FRANCHISE:

GAME MODES:

GAME ENGINE:

DLC:

BUNDLED IN:

DIRECTOR(S):

PRODUCER(S):

DESIGNER(S):

PROGRAMMER(S):

ARTIST(S):

WRITER(S):

COMPOSER(S):

LINKS:

AGE RATING:

Detailed Information

GAME MODES:

GAME ENGINE:

DLC:

BUNDLED IN:

DIRECTOR(S):

PRODUCER(S):

DESIGNER(S):

PROGRAMMER(S):

ARTIST(S):

WRITER(S):

COMPOSER(S):

Developed by Square Enix. All titles, content, brand names, trademarks, logos, artwork, and associated imagery are trademarks and/or copyright material of their respective owners. © All rights reserved.