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Play Overview
Live A Live (1994) is a remake of the 1994 game released only in Japan, it's a fighting role-playing game where you play seven characters across time in unique stories. In each, you defeat enemies in tactical turn-based fights where each attack has a distinct area of effect, complete side quests, and interact with characters. It feels like seven different stories until the ending, which sees all the characters brought to one point in time for a final battle.
In each story, you play a different character, from a trainee ninja in ancient Japan to a robot in the Space age. As you play through them in whichever order you choose, you defeat enemies in fights which take advantage of each character's fighting style, complete side quests and missions for the various characters you meet, and upgrade your character with new weapons and abilities. In each setting, you are working to defeat a different version of Odio (Ode Iou for the ninja, OD-10 for the robot, for example), the main villain of the game. After completing the individual stories, Odio draws all the protagonists into one point in space and time, where you fight against him one final time.
Combat is turn-based and played on a grid. Each turn, you move to a new square and then launch an attack or use abilities. Each protagonist's attacks are themed around their timezone and character; for example, the cowboy only uses long-range attacks because he uses a gun. Each also has unique abilities outside the battlefield; the ninja can sneak around enemies to avoid them entirely and the caveman can sniff out enemies' whereabouts. These differences in the seven chapters help each one to remain distinct as a standalone adventure.
The result is a branching game where each character feels unique and important and culminates when they are pulled together for the grandiose final act. Tactical turn-based combat and unique powers for each character allow each segment to remain distinct but still part of a larger whole. The fun lies in learning how best to use each new character through experimentation and practice, and finally mastering each is hugely rewarding.
Our examiner, Ben Kendall, first checked Live A Live 2 years ago. It was re-examined by Ellen Robertson and updated 7 weeks ago.
In each story, you play a different character, from a trainee ninja in ancient Japan to a robot in the Space age. As you play through them in whichever order you choose, you defeat enemies in fights which take advantage of each character's fighting style, complete side quests and missions for the various characters you meet, and upgrade your character with new weapons and abilities. In each setting, you are working to defeat a different version of Odio (Ode Iou for the ninja, OD-10 for the robot, for example), the main villain of the game. After completing the individual stories, Odio draws all the protagonists into one point in space and time, where you fight against him one final time.
Combat is turn-based and played on a grid. Each turn, you move to a new square and then launch an attack or use abilities. Each protagonist's attacks are themed around their timezone and character; for example, the cowboy only uses long-range attacks because he uses a gun. Each also has unique abilities outside the battlefield; the ninja can sneak around enemies to avoid them entirely and the caveman can sniff out enemies' whereabouts. These differences in the seven chapters help each one to remain distinct as a standalone adventure.
The result is a branching game where each character feels unique and important and culminates when they are pulled together for the grandiose final act. Tactical turn-based combat and unique powers for each character allow each segment to remain distinct but still part of a larger whole. The fun lies in learning how best to use each new character through experimentation and practice, and finally mastering each is hugely rewarding.
Our examiner, Ben Kendall, first checked Live A Live 2 years ago. It was re-examined by Ellen Robertson and updated 7 weeks ago.
Kids not old enough for this yet? There are lots of games similar to Live A Live. Here are some similar younger-rated games:
Play Style
Benefits
This game is good if you want to:
Age Ratings
Rated for younger players in the US. Rated ESRB TEEN for Blood, Crude Humor, Fantasy Violence, Language and Suggestive Themes. As players progress through each chapter, they can engage in turn-based tactical combat against enemies (e.g., dinosaurs, robots, ninjas). Players select weapons and attacks (e.g., magic spells) to defeat enemies on grid-based fields. Battles are highlighted by impact sounds, cries of pain, and mild explosions. Some sequences depict additional acts of violence and blood: a wounded character spitting up blood after a fight; a woman impaling herself with a knife; a character bleeding out on the ground. The game contains some suggestive material: moaning sounds after two characters enter a cave; a hay bale shaking, implying sexual activity; a character designed with slight breast-jiggle effects; a corpse pile with depictions of partially exposed buttocks. The words "sh*t" and "a*shole" appear in the game.
Skill Level
10+ year-olds usually have the required skill to enjoy this game. Still, it's important for parents and guardians to consider the maturity required to process the game content. Combat is turn-based so there is no need for quick reactions or timings, but the game is still fairly challenging, and players should be able to cope with losing fights repeatedly.
Costs
Live A Live
 | Switch | - | ||
 | PC | - | ||
Game Details
Release Date: 02/09/1994, updated in 2023
Out Now: PC and Switch
Skill Rating: 10+ year-olds
Players: 1
Genres: Fighting, Role-Play (Adventure and Narrative)
Accessibility: 0 features documented (Tweet Developer )
Components: 2D Side-On and Pixels
Developer: Square Enix (@SquareEnix)
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