Prior to its Nintendo Switch release in 2022, audiences outside of Japan had never had the chance to play Live A Live and its eightfold adventure. However, this has all changed with the recent re-release - which is now making its way over to PlayStation consoles and PC, giving fans who missed out 29 years ago the chance to play something quite unlike what they've maybe played before.

Thankfully we got the opportunity to play the PS5 version of Live A Live in advance, and it's a treat for RPG fans who have been eating well after the likes of Octopath Traveler 2. 

• Looking for another great turn-based game? Check out our glowing review of Octopath Traveler 2 here.

Eight distinct stories

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While the notion of eight paths has become more commonly attributed to games like Octopath Traveler and even Romancing SaGa these days, Live A Live approaches the split narratives in an incredibly intriguing way.

Not only are each of the game's chapters completely distinct from each other - taking place in varying time zones from pre-history to the distant future - but they also each act within their own isolated genre.

Pre-history for example is a more standard party-based RPG - albeit with no dialogue outside of grunts - whereas Present Day is completely detached from the typical RPG format, offering instead a Street Fighter-esque tournament complete with a fighter select screen.

This extends beyond these two specific examples too, with some chapters offering non-linear stealth action, and others forgoing combat entirely to focus on more complex narratives.

This results in a game that not only has something for everyone but also one that is constantly reinventing itself - providing something new at every turn even with its comparatively short runtime. There are one or two chapters that perhaps aren't quite as fluid as the rest, but overall Live A Live is a wonderfully concise and surprisingly cohesive package that will appeal to both genre veterans and beginners alike.

Griddle me this

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What does stay consistent through the eight paths however is the combat, with a grid-based system that keeps each battle interesting. Offering a hybrid system between asynchronous ATB and small grids akin to TRPG titles, meaning that you'll have to manage your positioning and your turns wisely.

Furthermore, each character that you play across the eight chapters has its own unique move set that you build up over the short playtime, meaning that you always feel a sense of growth as you play your way across the various time zones.

While it might perhaps seem a little overwhelming to start - especially for players relatively unfamiliar with turn-based combat as a genre - it is rather easy to pick up, yet still leaves plenty of room for those who want to master the system.

There's always that feeling of risk as you move across the gridded battlefield, each step allowing your opponents to inch closer to their turn. Do you shift next to them and perform your most powerful attacks, or chip away from the safety of a few squares away?

Furthermore, you must also be mindful of your enemy's long-range attacks too, as Live A Live very much rewards those who are able to decipher the attack layouts of each foe. Adding that extra layer to the ATB system still feels reinvigorating nearly three decades later, and is a true testament to the game's strength overall.

HD-2D does it again

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I do feel a bit like a broken record saying this so much, but it really is amazing to see what the HD-2D style can do to revitalise 16-bit SNES titles. Completed in partnership with the ever-excellent Team Asano who pioneered the style with Octopath Traveler, Live A Live preserves the beauty of the original within a fresher shell.

As has become a trademark of HD-2D at this point, the backgrounds and lighting are both stunning, adding so much atmosphere to each scene as you pass through. This shines particularly well in Live A Live due to the shifting time periods and settings, allowing you to see the variety and breadth that the art style can really show off.

The Verdict

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Overall, Live A Live emerges as a must-play title, feeling both wonderfully part of the golden era of Square RPGs, and as modern as other similar titles released today. There were some chapters that weren't quite as impactful as others, and the lack of a strong and continuous narrative might turn some players away, but Live A Live is a fantastic overall package that leaves you hungry for more at each turn.

For both seasoned JRPG fans and players new to the genre alike, you won't want to miss Live A Live, as its comparatively short 20-hour playtime is always giving you something new, having you wishing that you had the chance to play it when it first came out.

4/5

Reviewed on PlayStation 5. Review code provided by the publisher.