LIVE A LIVE (Switch) Review | Backlog Battle

[@kian26master]

Just glad I was able to beat the game in time for XC3. A good experience for RPG fans nonetheless!

[@BacklogBattle]

I'm glad to read this! 25 hours isn't all that bad, even if Xenoblade 3 was looming in the background!

[@kian26master]

@@BacklogBattle exactly. It was concerning me that Live A Live would have been a 60+ hour game. Glad that wasn't the case. Saving those for Xenoblade and then Soul Hackers 2 in August😜

[@TrippyMoak]

Took me bout 55 hours first go thru and Im at 70+ trying different teams

[@7783alfonso]

I had to pick up Live A Live gotta show these developers we want more remakes in this 2D HD style!

[@BacklogBattle]

Heck yea!

[@knowledgeseeker4614]

I simply bought both along with Fire Emblem Three Hopes and Triangle Strategy. All four games are entertaining and great.

[@Doors067]

Triangle strategy was underated but the battle style wasn't my jam

[@shabladooo]

can’t wait, going to buy both as physical copies and then have them for when i finally get through Triangle Strategy

[@BacklogBattle]

This is the right call! I have a feeling this game's going to be rare once the physical copies sell out!

[@colelucas6120]

@@BacklogBattle I've never touched the original LiveALive nor was I one for JRPG's often, but this game truly snuck into my heart with how charming it was with each story. I'm attempting to get all the endings as I hear it's worth the time to do so. Thanks for the fantastic review

[@BacklogBattle]

@@colelucas6120 you’re very welcome! I’m glad it struck a chord with you!

[@ZeNex74]

But thinking I need to have 13 sentinels in my backlog but xenoday incoming

[@BacklogBattle]

Tough decisions!

[@PabloClobares]

I loved the demo and the full game is just a breeze to play for me, an adult that has a huge backlog and limited time to play videogames. Your review is spot on, Alex. Thank you for all the hours of entertainment that you have given us! You rock!

[@BacklogBattle]

Thank you so much! I hope to keep with this pace for a long time!

[@ryantaylor3917]

Fantastic review! I love how emotive the character models are in this game, it somehow resonates more with me than say mo-cap. That's not to say I don't feel things when I see a performance through motion capture, I do, but something nostalgic stirs inside of me when I see a emotive sprite. Might be my age!

[@BacklogBattle]

Right? Just the way they move and are animated makes it so easy to take it all in, without sensory overload! I hope we can see more games in this style!

[@ty_sylicus]

I'm actually shocked and delighted that this exists at all in our modern day. Video gaming has really evolved into a diverse place in recent years with indie games and remasters bring us a ton of great experiences.

[@BacklogBattle]

Agree 100%! If anything, the Backlog Battle just gets more difficult as time goes by and more games come out! LOL

[@decusq]

I played the original fan translation back in 2002 and loved the game for how unique it was despite some of my frustrations with certain chapters. Now 20 years later, i've played and beaten the HD 2D remake, and i coulnd't be more overjoyed that this game exists in modern gaming. Chapters that used to frustrate me are so much more fun with the quality of life improvments of modern gaming when applied to classics such as these. This remake also added new mini games and story moments that might have been cut to save on time in the original version but I'm thankful their here. When i beat the game I literally cried during the final boss fight when the final blow was struck and watched the ending credits. This game is a unique marvelous Gem of JRPGs. I asked the Director Takashi Tokita in a tweet on his twitter account (wonderful man) "If this sells well could it be possible to make another game or a possible Live A Live series from it?" and he responded with "I hope so". This game could be the perfect medium Square-Enix needs to break in new talent. Bite sized 1-5 hour RPG episodes that push the JRPG genre with experimentation while cultivating new talent for the company. As it once did for the original teams setting up Takashi Tokita and Yoko Shimamura for greater things in the future. This is my hope too.

[@BacklogBattle]

You nailed it right in the head! I think it's about time that shorter RPGs come out! Yoko Taro's been exploring this with Voice of Cards, and as you said, it's a great way to cultivate new talent! More of this, please!

[@KalebAsmadi]

9:58, 11:58 The only real nitpick I'd give on this review is that the turn gauge was not in the original 1994 release of Live-A-Live. Turn order and charge times for skills weren't visible at all, so it was a learning curve. I am glad they added it in the remake, it gives you better control of the combat flow, and lets you pull off some fun/dumb things (such as killing the one Twlight of Edo Japan hidden superboss as soon as level 4, or even right away at 2 if you're willing to exploit the fact that enemies typically have to face you to launch attacks!)

[@BacklogBattle]

Thanks for clarifying this! I should’ve known given how I was watching footage of the old game to add to this video!

[@KalebAsmadi]

@@BacklogBattle It happens! Video making is an involved process, and forgetting details happens. We're all human, and I'd rather help clear things up!

[@76golong73]

Great review as usual! The HD2D graphics look gorgeous, the newly orchestrated score sounds fantastic, and I'm intrigued by the gameplay and story. Like you, I dig the animations as well. Even though I never played the original, the whole package hits me right in the nostalgia. But, I'm replaying Tokyo Mirage Sessions right now plus my family pulled me back into Genshin Impact, so Live A Live will have to wait for awhile. As I always say: So many games, so little time!

[@BacklogBattle]

It's so well done, especially if you consider how much of the game from 1994 was retained! Really amazing game!

[@MrDarksol]

To everyone who's been excited about this game I hope you'll all have A-blast playing it. Me on the other hand I'm more excited for Xenoblade Chronicles 3 literally tomorrow but this game really doesn't look that bad. I like the pixel art and how beautiful it is. Music is just as good as Yoko Shimamura's usual work and the gameplay is different enough to be unique. Overall, a nice review as always Alex and now I want a rerelease of Parasite eve 1!

[@BacklogBattle]

Thanks for your input as always! I do think this game is going to be super rare in its physical release though. I don't think it'll get any reprints.

[@MrDarksol]

@@BacklogBattle Yeah a game that wasn't out originally in the States but now is and it is niche, it screams a rare physical search.

[@citrusnx8283]

Great review! I love how you talked about the game, and then suddenly goes "everything I have said can be said about the original too. Here's the new remake stuff"- That's so brilliant! As for the game, I haven't got it or tried the demo. Looks fun though.

[@BacklogBattle]

It's definitely a non-traditional JRPG, but that's its biggest charm!

[@Matthew7772005]

I really appreciated this review for the history of the game and your great insights on the gameplay in the various chapters. I tried a little of the demo but stopped because I wanted to just play the game the way I wanted. I started with the prehistory first for example. I really love the game so far.

[@BacklogBattle]

That’s great to hear! And I’m glad you appreciated the small history behind it! I think knowing that is important to appreciating the game as a whole, as it just adds to the value of what you’re experiencing

[@Matthew7772005]

Completely agree. Thanks.

[@ChrisX_212]

Good job for not spoiling THAT one. Get those new players surprised. You know the one.

[@spiritdancer36]

Great video, in comparison to the other videos I have watched on Live A Live you definitely did the best for me personally getting across what makes this game unique and special. I will be playing this at some point. It won’t be for a while as I have to finish the 2 other games I am playing, and I won’t lie that XC3 takes precedence for me, but my goal is to play it within the year.

[@BacklogBattle]

Thank you so much! That's a big compliment, given how there's so many other videos out there talking about it! I hope that you enjoy the game when you finally get to it! It's definitely one of my favorites of the year!

[@shaneaycock9306]

I've just finished the main chapters and I'm currently on the Dominion of Hate! I'm a huge sucker for time travel, and I think the way it's presented in different chapters is great. Everything has it's own unique narrative, and it's inspired me to write a story similar to this one.

[@BacklogBattle]

I won't expand on what you said for fear of spoilers... but now, you're getting why I mentioned Chrono Trigger in the review 😉

[@shaneaycock9306]

Sorry about that!

[@shaneaycock9306]

But do you want to hear what I have in mind?

[@JustJulyo]

I'll probably get a copy when it goes sale I'm one of those that will be playing Xenoblade Chronicles 3

[@kirbymaster5]

Everybody will cite Street Fighter as the inspiration for the Present Day chapter, but I see a lot of inspiration from Punch Out and Mega Man too.

[@youthnando]

I would play this instead of Xenoblade But my backlog is full atm So i gotta keep the battlling my backlog :3

[@BacklogBattle]

Nooooo

[@johnofthewired]

i remember playing this year ago on emulator and loving it, however, i could see why it was never released in the west in the SNESs days. i dont think people were as excepting of RPGs and different systems back then as they are now

[@dixel2047]

Heckin love this game so happy I found it

[@Regorsnas]

I will play it when it comes to SteamDeck

[@BacklogBattle]

Hope it eventually comes out for it!

[@MugenLord]

Loved every bit of this game and we need more videos like this to spread the word. Even though I did a video review I can't help but to make another video expressing how much I love it.

[@BacklogBattle]

It's definitely one of a kind, and going to be rare when it comes to physical copies!

[@MugenLord]

@@BacklogBattle Yea people better grab it while they still can.

[@HybridAngelZero]

Thankfully, a local store seems to be keeping Live A Live in stock (though all their copies sold out day one) I'm def gonna be picking it up after I grab XC3

[@BacklogBattle]

Nice! Did you pick it up? Collectors seem to be on the hunt for this game!

[@HybridAngelZero]

@@BacklogBattle Sadly not yet. My local store sold out the day it came out. Hopefully, that's a good sign and the game will sell well and get more than one print run xD

[@dragowolfraven3806]

I have Live a Live and I enjoy the game.

[@d_shuffles]

Im really into the idea of this game and looking forward to playing it! .. after Xenoblade 3 haha. This was a good video intro and overview of the game!

[@BacklogBattle]

Glad to have informed you of it! Good luck with Xenoblade 3!

[@darkdragonmedeus705]

Fantastic review. It may not be what consider the best video game/JRPG of all time (Chrono Trigger takes those cakes IMO and many agree), but it's important to note that Chrono Trigger, Octopath Traveler, and others wouldn't really exist had it not been for Live A Live. Each and every chapter just feels so unique with Twilight of Edo Japan and Near Future being my favorite of the original 7 chapters (Excluding two more that fall into spoiler territory) due to both my love for Japan in general, the hardcore tactics and play style of the former, and the Cyberpunk Anime inspired story telling of the latter. I wish I could have gotten this game 7 months ago but I was tied up with a lot of IRL stuff at the time. My least favorite chapter by process of elimination is Prehistory; which honestly tends to be the foil chapter. Half the community considers it one of the strongest while the other half considers it one of the weakest but most if not all seems to at least consider it good. But one thing that's consistent is that from my experience, most people who consider it the strongest tend to be people who consider Live A Live subpar with RPGs due to them not liking the gimmicks of every other chapter. Likewise, the people who consider it the weakest like myself more so put it at the bottom due to process of elimination. It's a good chapter and probably recommended to be the chapter 1, but it has little to nothing gameplay wise to make it stand out as different to other RPGs. It was just a chapter with simple exploration and combat, and while the silent story was cool, the plot admittedly felt more like a Flintstones episode where as every other felt like tributes to some of the greatest movies of all time. Likewise, my two favorites + Distant Future also tend to be the opposite. Some people outright hate the Edo Japan chapter due to it being "Too hard" and consider that one of the big reasons for not loving Live a Live to the fullest. Or same with Distant Future having 0 combat save the boss and optional arcade game. And for Near Future, some people knit pick the washing hands or sitting on toilets, but I didn't mind those. I also actually really like Akira's characterization in that one. But all in all, Live A Live will forever be one of the most unique games ever made as well as one of the most underrated JRPG gems of all time. And the Switch remake is simply a master-piece through and through.

[@TheTekSone]

huh, you are supposed to decide one or the other? Oh, I got them both. Especially since you can finish Live A Live in a few days and then sink in with Xenoblade Chronicles 3.

[@BacklogBattle]

A lot of people did!

[@joeknight2689]

I played the demo and I liked it. I plan to eventually get it. I’m hoping there will be an eventual release of Chrono Trigger on the Switch. I haven’t played it since the SNES. The only way I could play it now is on my phone, and I don’t to play it that way.

[@Doors067]

F,**k that i choose both!! Yes when im attached to the characters the 3d style sprites do more for me then animated characters because im attached. The voice acting is key

[@aliveuntilthend7359]

I enjoyed Live A Live , initially I had thought that the game was going to be a lot longer. That is really my only complaint, I feel it was way too short. Oh well.

[@BacklogBattle]

Mostly a product of the era it was from, hence why it’s that short!

[@DavJoestar]

It looks very fun I would love to play it without a doubt

[@BacklogBattle]

I think you'll enjoy it, as long as you expect to be playing a game from 1994 despite its looks!

[@aaronglazer4173]

I absolutely love this game. The original was fun but sloppy - this is excellent.

[@BacklogBattle]

Glad you think so! It’s one of my favorite games of the year!

[@aaronglazer4173]

@@BacklogBattle I don't play a ton of new releases, but I bought three switch games this year and LOVED all 3: this, 13 Sentinels, and Triangle Strategy.

[@Pumba424]

I am currently working through fire emblem 3 houses for the first time but I desperately want to finish the first 2 xenoblade games before playing the 3rd. I did pick this up however and hope to get to it this year

[@JamesBantz]

Probably good that you picked it up. I think physical copies will become rare.

[@Pumba424]

@@JamesBantz that’s one of the reasons I went ahead and got it cause I was thinking the same thing.

[@JamesBantz]

@@Pumba424 Which house are you playing on Fire Emblem? Also regarding Xenoblade I'm not sure if 3 is related to others but I played 2 first then 1 and I didn't feel like I missed out on anything.

[@Pumba424]

@@JamesBantz I’m with the blue lions rn. That was a really hard choice but I’ve been happy with my choice so far. Only about 10 hours in. I know they can stand alone. I may play the xenoblade games out of order because I think 3 looks really good but I plan on playing them all regardless so I figured might as well go in order.

[@theFado96]

"Live" A Like

[@ZeNex74]

Ordered and cancelled after demo. Looks great but game play I wasn't so sure. Its no triangle strategy . May try again

[@Mad_Mally]

Everybody is saying that this game is great, but I got it and I'm extremely disappointed. I found it very boring and simple. Xenoblade 3 is way better in my opinion

[@BacklogBattle]

Thanks for sharing! While I do think people should play it, I also offered a caveat that it’s not something that is traditionally what we might expect JRPGs to be. And I totally get where you’re coming from too, especially coming from Xenoblade 3, which has a plethora of things to do and things to discover.