I got this game a while ago while waiting for Octopath 2, and holy hell, It has DECIMATED my expectations.
First of all, I love anthology-style media where each part follows a different set of characters and story (for the most part). That is essentially the whole concept of this game, and it is so much better for it. It’s hard nowadays to finish these gigantic sprawling RPGs with 100+ hours of content. But having these self-contained chapters where each is peak fiction in its own right is so much more digestible.
Of course, like Octopath and its sequel, this game is cruising on that whole HD2D, and it is beautiful. I don’t know if it always quite reaches the heights of Octopath, but in some spots, it straight up surpasses it. I was particularly floored by something at the opening of the Near Future Chapter that really shows just how much passion, love, and talent they put into this remake. If you’ve played this game, you know exactly what I’m talking about.
And I would be insane not to talk about the *music*. It is literally the best RPG music in my recent memory. Which, granted, I have very poor memory but STILL. I have been listening to [Megalomania](https://youtu.be/QSwEXTR1FIg) for days. **IT SLAPS MAN**
I swear, I love this project.
If you haven’t yet tried this game and you have even a drop of interest in RPGs, pick it up. You will not regret it. Probably.
Edit: Just completed the Final Chapter and True Ending and man…what a finale. A fantastic ride from start to finish for me. I don’t think I’ll forget about this game.
by Ishpersonguy
29 Comments
how do you pronounce live a live?
Ohmygod
I got the physical on Christmas, still haven’t got around to it, this may have bumped it up on the list
Yeah, it might be my #1 GOAT right now. It’s really good.
I found the demo kind of boring, but I’ll give the game a shot
[deleted]
Yeah, it’s stellar. Super glad they remade it, hope it’s a sign of things to come.
I liked it but I didn’t finish the final chapter. I had a pretty good idea as to how it would end so I just decided to move on. Near Future chapter was easily the best. I really loved all the characters in that chapter.
I agree with you that the anthology style works well for this game and I really want to see more games try an anthology style approach.
Glad to hear those positive thoughts on the game. Bought the physical game some time ago and it’s been sitting on backlog.
Currently, Octopath Traveler 2 is taking up all my game time and is fantastic, but your thoughts may have just bumped up this game on my next play through.
DECIMATED
Your title made me laugh, because it is exactly in the last two chapters when my opinion of the game started to drop.
POV: Kill a Kill but reverse
I highly suggest you pick up chained echoes.
If you have a DS Radiant Historian is another one
Live A Live was phenomenal. Can’t believe we never got it til now after playing it through. Though that’s kinda better since the HD-2D treatment was perfect. The standard on how to approach that type of remake.
It’s a very experimental title. Developers tried all sorts of things I would never expect from a JRPG. Probably the closest game to it would be Saga Frontier or even Octopath Traveler to a lesser degree. I would love to see another anthology style RPG similar to it.
And yes, Megalomania slaps. Slaps so hard, it was the inspiration for the [Undertale’s Megalovania](https://youtu.be/wDgQdr8ZkTw). The only mistake they made was for some reason they wrote a new final boss theme that replaced the amazing Battleissimo.
I waited a while to play it but started it recently and it really is *so* ambitious in such a great way. I especially love the structure which is very friendly to smaller gaming sessions and the overall shorter length. Its hard to believe its from 1994
The only knock against it is combat is ‘easy’ but I dont care at all the overall experience is so great and its filled with charm. I dont really play RPGs for that
Would love to see a sequel (in some ways the octo series feels like a spiritual successor) since there are some really good ideas here. I feel anyone whos even remotely interested in RPGs should check it out
Found the demo of the ninja guy extremely tedious and boring. Ended up closing it and uninstalling after about maybe 1-2 hours.
How is the full game different?
Kakdjfjfkkska I’m getting it as a birthday present in two days, please no spoilers
Honestly I started this recently and I haven’t had much fun with it. I’ve done the boxing guy and I don’t get exp anymore from beating it… and now I am doing the caveman story and its boring..
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Does it get better?
RPGs are my favorite genre of game but I thought it was a bunch of fragmented mini side experiences that didn’t really develop into doing anything exceptional.
I dropped it after the Prehistory, fuedal Japan, and Kung Fu story.
I loved it because each chapter is really its own short game, and so it was easy to play in the few hours i have each day before work instead of picking up a larger game and taking forever to play through.
Only thing i didnt like was the final chapter, because its just an open world that immediately guides you to the final boss. If you just follow the orange flag on the map it takes you straight to the boss. You need to spend time grinding and doing each characters optional dungeon in the open world first, because youll want the equipment and will need to be a decently high level if you want to beat the boss for the good ending.
Loved the Cowboy chapter, it was my favorite. Theres a secret ending to the Cowboy chapter too, unlocked by doing something specific for the final battle. I wont spoil it, but that secret ending feels much more fitting if you ask me
I wasn’t a fan of the final chapter. Felt too samey.
It reduced your expectations by one tenth?
You haven’t gotten to the final chapter? That is the best part of the game. It only gets better.
I really like the game, and the way the characters express stuff within the confines of an old school JRPG’s grid movement and limited animation potential, but I do feel like there’s far too much of that “in game cinematic” stuff.
Nearly every NPC has a lengthy routine to play out when you talk to them. Feels like it, at least.
My only gripe so far, and it’s not wholly a gripe because I sort of get charmed by the odd one here and there. At least there’s an auto-progress feature, which leads me to think that back in the day these things might have waited for player input to progress. Eww.
Hopefully Bahamut Lagoon and Treasure of the Rudras can escape the hell of Japanese exclusivity as well. Then we’ll have all the Squaresoft SNES classics all properly localized.
Big JRPG fan but I couldn’t disagree more.
This game for me just did nothing for me. It was overly easy like a lego game. There was almost no strategy whatsoever or need to level up at any point. The graphics just felt like octopath but lazier like they looked at the switch and thought well this is the best we can do.
The ending / final chapter section I was hoping would improve the game but playing as the enemies was just repetitive and boring.
“Who am I..? Isn’t it obvious? IM A LOCAL BUSINESS MAN!!”
I’m just as far as you! I’m loving it as well! It’s gorgeous as well!