Square Enix has just announced that the incredible remake of their 1994 Super Famicom masterpiece, LIVE A LIVE, is coming to new systems. I reviewed the Nintendo Switch version of the game last year, and I still fully believe that by the end, it’s one of the best JRPG stories ever told, containing Square Enix’s best villain. That’s all I’m willing to say, as anything else will spoil the impact. These new versions look to have made the already fantastic art even better. With 4K and 60 fps support, these will be gorgeous. I can already see improved lighting, special effects, and a clearer picture in the announcement trailer and screenshots.
In LIVE A LIVE, players take control of one of seven different protagonists with differing gameplay, stories, and styles. My personal favorites include the Near Future chapter, a loving homage to the super robot genre, and the Present Day chapter, where the gameplay takes on the stylings of a 1-on-1 fighting game. Also included is a soundtrack by the legendary Yoko Shimomura, the same composer behind Kingdom Hearts, Super Mario RPG, and Parasite Eve. It’s always great to see games like these getting into the hands of more players.
There’s a demo available for all systems that let you play the intro for three of the game’s many chapters if you’re on the fence about LIVE A LIVE. And save data carries over to the complete game. Still not convinced? Check out my review, linked above, and give it a shot. Go in completely blind. LIVE A LIVE is available now on Nintendo Switch and will launch on April 27th, 2023, for PlayStation 5, PlayStation 5, and PC via Steam. Right now, a 20% pre-order discount is in effect for all platforms, making the game USD$40. Don’t miss it at that price.
Big fan of Square’s other classic JRPG series? We have a lovely Pop Up Parade figure of Edea from Bravely Default available now.
