Japan is home to legendary games, some of which have never left the nation’s shores. Live A Live is a Super Nintendo-era RPG that lived and died exclusively in Japan. It earned a cult following, but publisher Square never released the title internationally—until now. Admittedly, the version of Live A Live now available on the Nintendo Switch is a radically overhauled remake, but it is the first time the title arrives in foreign territories. Despite its SNES origins, Live A Live is a shockingly clever and polished game, with fascinating combat mechanics, impressively varied gameplay gimmicks, and some excellent voice work and dialogue. Some gimmicks are better than others, and the combat has a lot of untapped potential that is never realized. Still, if you are a fan of games like Chrono Trigger or Octopath Traveler, Live A Live ($49.99) is a shockingly polished RPG that evokes the nostalgia of games of the SNES era, while still feeling modern and intuitive. Our Experts Have...
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.
Excellent visuals marry pixelated dioramas and classic sprites; Great voice work and dialogue; Engaging turn-based combat mechanics; Varied mechanics shake up gameplay every chapter
Some gameplay gimmicks are better than others; Combat never feels challenging; Protagonists are not very compelling