Live A Live (Switch) Preview

For a long time, I had heard people talk about a spectacular JRPG called Live a Live. Some conversations about the game came up as I played Octopath Traveler, and for years, I had been told that I needed to play the 1994 classic. Now with the Remake, available on Switch, PC, and PlayStation consoles, I decided to give it a try.

This will not be a full review, simply because I haven’t finished the game, and a game as unique as this one provides so many unique experiences across its gameplay that doing a full review after only playing a few hours wouldn’t be fair. For example, in Live a Live, there are seven chapters to start, each focusing on a different time period.

However, each time period takes a different approach to gameplay. Some are closer to the classic JRPG style (such as the first I played, Prehistory), and others have very little combat at all, such as the Distant Future chapter. Each chapter adds or removes gameplay elements and sometimes changes gameplay style entirely.

I found myself really enthralled by Live a Live, especially regarding its remake. The character designs are well done, and the pixels are surprisingly expressive, even for a game originally created in ’94. In the Prehistory chapter, there is no spoken dialogue, as you are playing a caveman in a world of cave-people. However, “dialogue” and directions are expressed through comical text and thought bubbles.

This unique twist on what would normally be an afterthought in other games immediately caught my attention. Other chapters have voiced dialogue, and all the chapters have a beautiful soundtrack that shows just how much of a beautiful experience Live a Live is, even after all this time.

I’m sure I will do a full review once I have finished the game, but for now, I can tell you that if you are interested in a unique RPG that shows a lot of heart, Live a Live is wonderful. Also, if you are an RPG fan looking for something a little different, then Live a Live can scratch that itch as well.