We’ve Played Live A Live on Nintendo Switch - Is It Any Good?

[@kmcsciguy]

This 2D-HD style needs to be used more, it’s amazing. REALLY hoping they do a remake of Chrono Trigger in this style.

[@exzisd]

Between Live A Live coming out of relative region locked obscurity to Chrono Cross getting a proper port with the Radical Dreamer's content added in I think Square is likely working on an HD2D version of Chrono Cross and I'd expect it in 2023. It's all a guess and it could happen anytime, like Holiday 2022 at the end of this year, but Square has so many games at the moment and I think they want it to really have a bang to stand out. With Chrono Cross being hailed as the greatest RPG of all time and with it's millions of fans I think they will want to take the time to really make it the best they can. If anything I imagine they put out some of these games earlier to get better at HD2D and hone their development chops to see what works to build up to Chrono Trigger. I also think once Chrono Trigger drops it will probably eat away at a lot of potential sales they could have on titles like Chrono Cross and even Final Fantasy. It's a balancing act for sure but there MUST be a (edit*) Chrono Trigger* remake being developed or at the very least planned in some notebook somewhere as we speak. Square would be recalitrant not to bring Chrono Trigger to Switch; even a straight unchanged port would sell like hot cakes although I think people would like to see the new style as the original has been ported so many times from the SNES/Super Famicom to the DS, Steam, and iOS.

[@_Tzer]

Live a live Inspired chrono trigger in some mechanics and aspects but also shares sound effects.

[@Dustinisnotavailable]

110% agree with you on a CT remake in this style.

[@tanyacaberro2546]

The next title they should use it on is Bahamut Lagoon snes

[@Idiel96]

I also would like to see dq5 hd2d

[@DarkButz]

I never thought I'd see this game being remade, though it was always a silent wish of mine. I hoped that IF they remade the game they'd keep the 2D graphics but make them prettier, enhance the music and DON'T TOUCH ANYTHING ELSE. And it's literally what we're getting here. I was almost brought to tears when I saw LAL being remade, since it's my absolute favorite SquareSoft/Enix game. I only hope eventually it will come to other systems as well.

[@TheMetalGaia]

Excited to finally play it. I tried emulating it years ago but didn't get very far.

[@PunkRockPundit]

I'd love to see more classic SNES RPGs get the HD-2D treatment.

[@kylerobinson6102]

Yeah or form a fan-made modding community of some form EG Paper Mario and let the community get involved and re-make some old classics. How about a Capcom - Square Enix mash up with some old RPGs like Destiny of an Emporer in this art style?

[@McLort]

FFVI, or Golden Sun would look amazing in this.

[@McLort]

of course Golden Sun was kind of a fake 3d look?

[@ontosinabyss5950]

Cough, Cough, Mother 1-3, Chrono Trigger.

[@thejman5683]

Personally, I wished Xenogears would get the same treatment

[@markphillips8605]

I've played the Edo Japan part of the demo and loved it. I won't play any of the other stories on the demo because I want to save the experience for the game release. Pre-ordered of course 👍

[@barbwatchesyt4084]

Same :)

[@ace0135]

what kind of run did you do? I'm trying to do a pacifist run but that shit seems hard af

[@houlis121191]

All data transfers

[@Humskoold]

Yeah.. didnt the demo transfer into the game release?

[@lucsaguiar]

I played a fan translation with RetroAchievements turned on and it is one of the most unique RPG I have ever played

[@josephpiedmonte]

I had to grind in the shinobi chapter of the demo, there's really hard fights you can run into if you search for them - where I feel like you'd have to level up as you're seriously weak when you initially run into them. There's only one area where you can grind as there's enemies that actually reappear (and they give a ton of experience), so I feel like it was purposeful.

[@roninanwar]

Same. I did the kung fu chapter first and waltzed through it. I didn't realize the shinobi one would be so brutal. Also, I have no idea how the stealth works in that chapter.

[@josephpiedmonte]

@@roninanwar, you can avoid nearly every battle using it.. even if someone sees you when you turn it on they will no longer see you. It's kind of pointless, unless it's more useful or needed later on. I also wasn't sure if the game was going to punish me later for killing everyone so I initially avoided battle but once I reached the end of that chapter I backtracked and killed everything.

[@robinmattheussen2395]

From my experience with the original, you normally don't need to grind unless you want to take out some of the secret bosses. In Oboru-maru's chapter that would Ryunosuke (the ghost samurai) and Iwama (the fish god). For just going through the story elements, I don't think you need to grind a single time in the entire game. Unless I'm misremembering. In fact, the game doesn't even provide a lot of opportunities to grind. There's like a spot here and there that you can use for backup, but really, you should be fine most of the time. It's a very easy game surprisingly. There are even two chapters that barely have any combat.

[@robinmattheussen2395]

@Science Bear I *think* the sword you can get from Ryunosuke is the same strength as well, no?

[@akesan2374]

@Science Bear There's none from killing everyone. That second sword is obtained when you kill Majin Ryonosuke (who is funnily enough present in the demo)

[@NekkoBlue]

Played the SNES version via fan translation years ago and I’m really excited to revisit it and to see friends play it for the first time

[@cordellriemer5177]

I played the entire demo of Live Alive and I love it

[@Ellerwind]

I played the demo and have ordered the game. I played a lot of octopath traveler (finished my main persons story and started on the others) so I had that vibe till combat. I wasn’t (and still kind of not) used to it. I will say this: The 3 paths you can play in the demo are kind of ‘no combat’, ‘very little combat’ and ‘rumble in the jungle’ (so a nice look at the game mechanics). Looking forward to playing the full thing (and having my demo saves go across)

[@leef2842]

Excited for this one. I have mixed experiences with JRPGs but this one looks really unique and not grindy, as well as really easy to go through in small chunks. I'm really looking forward to it

[@JMrealgamer]

I played the demo. I usually don’t do demos and just wait for the real game but when they said you could carry over data from the 3 chapters I played. I need more!

[@eligamerman]

I've been absolutely loving this HD-2D treatment ever since Octopath! Had so much fun playing the Live A Live demo, definitely going to pick up the game! Would really like to see FF6 and Chrono Trigger get the HD-2D treatment as well 🙏

[@jjkohler25]

I played so many RPGs in the mid to late 90s that I no longer play them. This is making me want to go back to playing RPGs again

[@3ngag3]

Fun fact: There's a special weapon you can get later in the game if you are able to beat Oboromaru's chapter without killing any human enemies outside of a few specific fights...at least in the SNES version. The remake can still throw you for a loop.

[@puxadinhodoluri]

This is the way to go in 16bit remakes. I'm playing it now and this game is amazing! Loving every minute of it.

[@rambo_ando]

It really should've been called Live A Live: Revived 😂 10/10

[@Kayla-ps2uq]

Relive A Live lol

[@rickweiss2793]

It’s funny how the video title said: it feels like a dream. This may come off as kinda weird, but having been playing jrpg’s for over 20 years now, in my dream state I’m even playing them and they are wonderful dreams! And Live Alive comes off as the type of game I play in my dreams. I hope it is as fun as these videos are showing it!☺️

[@karthick9552]

Imagine all the dragon ball z games on gba that could use a HD-2D remake, that would be absolutely sick!

[@SuperFireburger]

yaas

[@astroferret4700]

THANK YOU! I just downloaded this demo! Had I not seen this I would not have known about this

[@hallofgames77]

I played the demo and liked what I played so far. I may have to pick this one up

[@ccarbone3561]

I absolutely love HD2D games. I was hoping the combat was more traditional old school turn based that I never tire of, as I am not a fan of grid/strategy turn based games mainly because I am awful at them. That being said it seems to be solo and a simple grid. I will definitely give it a shot and buy if nothing for the graphics and hope that sales will help make SE remake chrono in this style.

[@RockEsper]

Don't worry, I'm not much of a strategy game player either, but I really enjoy Live A Live's combat. It's much simpler but still has plenty of fun decision making.

[@NorbertRoche]

Great hands on!! Love the fact that this game was previously made. Didn't knew that. Made a search and found it!! Will start playing it on SNES before official Switch release in order to know it and make the comparisons with the demo!! Thanks!!! 🙌🙌🙌

[@travistorline812]

Really looking forward to this one! Only a few more weeks of waiting left.

[@skelebruh3075]

It looks great and all, but how are they charging $60 for it?

[@KVR020]

How not?

[@neliros]

Gosh I've been soooo excited for this game ever since it was announced. I never played the original and I'm already in love 💕!!!

[@AshHayBrax]

This game is very very good. I don't want to spoil it for those who hasn't play it.

[@dodopurpura]

there is something story wise that unify the stories?

[@Jrock3891]

This game loooks fantastic!

[@AegixDrakan]

I gave the demo a spin and it's just like the SNES game that I rememver playing the fan-translation of... Only now the combat feels much tighter and more clear instead of the wonky mess of the original. And it looks super pretty, with better localization and VA to boot. I'm really looking forward to the game coming out. :D

[@ketogenicknowledge245]

How many units can you control at once?

[@KinID]

Its voice acting alone when playing oboromaru demo was amazing. Reminds me of triangle strategy and game of throne because of that "my lord" thing.

[@knuclear200x]

Currently playing the SNES version in anticipation of this

[@grahf24]

Can't wait for it to be released... I can finally understand the story with the english release.

[@Cookiedon15]

I played the fan translation sometime before the remake was announced. It was a tough game and I didn't know what I was doing. But I'm looking forward to playing this one.

[@TheGenomario]

Same dude I can't wait

[@JayTor2112]

The thing that usually stands out on these modern pixel based games, is when they use smooth looking fonts liek this, they should use pixellated fonts to match the look of the game.

[@zovinchen3281]

Dayum, that "Warm-a-live" sounds really legit

[@graciaman]

I didn’t know people still said “acrost” when trying to say “across”

[@aintgotascooby]

Is there a specific way to play this game? As in like which chapter to start with and stuff? Like I feel I'd probably play it in order of the time unless there is a preferred order :3

[@MJ-oi6ul]

Did you always not rate games or is this new?

[@Norel_Nieves]

Game is already out, does it get better later on ?

[@kylerobinson6102]

It's gonna be a possible pre-order for me guys - that game looks dope!

[@JacaboBlanco]

Is it any good? Of course it is. It's incredible

[@benjaminmartin2922]

atmosphere looks unique BUT i found the controls really not that great. Characters are floating and dont move precisely in diagonals. I feel some kind of input lag here.

[@BigBossCQCLegend]

I Really Love the Demo and want to Buy This Underrated 💎

[@Psysium]

I don't normally correct pronunciations because it doesn't really matter, but since Edo is historical it feels a bit bad to hear it mispronounced - it's eh-doh, not ee-doh. If you want an easy way to remember, think teriyaki yoshi. The letter i in both of those is ee, whereas the e is the eh. (I'm sorry, I hope this doesn't come across as rude!) Really looking forward to trying this game out, this graphics style is incredible.

[@TuPhonez4Free]

Didnt know this was out in japan in 94. Also started this demo last night. gonna play some more tonight. i like the story modes in this game and demo.

[@CommanderZaktan]

Fun fact: Live A Live inspired Toby Fox for not only to make Megalovania (which he was going to use Megalomania, but decided to make his own), but also possibly the Twilight Edo chapter for Undertale's Pacifist or Genocide route

[@d0lvl0]

CAPTAIN SQUARE! Can't wait. This looks so incredible

[@johnflapper]

I think I'm going to like this one, since I loved Octopath Traveller but came to a halt when the level jumped up and now I just have to grind exp. If this doesn't have that grind, I'm in

[@garfreeek]

I currently finished all the first chapters, and now I'm getting to the point where I need to grind. Was it the same place for you?

[@johnflapper]

@@garfreeek exactly the same. Haha. I found one cool item that gives a character a 2nd class, so with 4 of those, you could have all 8 skills in battle with 4 characters, so I'm thinking about looking that up, just to have something to do besides grind in place

[@garfreeek]

@@johnflapper that's what I did! I just explored, tried to find the next towns so I could warp to them and searched for those shrines!

[@finalsurvivor1]

A 0 Kill run of the Edo Japan chapter is really the only time you'd need to do a lot of grinding, and that's entirely optional. A few of the other chapter may make you grind a little bit, but it isn't bad at all.

[@krausewitz6786]

I don't recall ever having to grind in Octopath. If anything I felt mostly over-levelled. Are you sure you're doing it right?

[@joearnold6881]

So it’s like a bunch of unconnected short stories? I think I’ll play Triangle Strategy first, or instead. I haven’t gotten to that yet.

[@MarkusFFFF]

Is this 30 or 60 FPS?

[@Starcat5]

I played the fan translation back in the day. ****** yeah I'm getting this game! Woo!

[@exzisd]

I think this remake will be a nice melding between a stylistically expanded HD2D world between time periods like a hybrid of the things Octopath Traveler/Triangle Strategy did right and a more concise and varied story and characters. Seems like it will be a hit and likely a game people will want to collect for the Switch though I don't expect sales to explode immediately I think it will have constant interest in the way other Square RPGs tend to have. Between Chrono Cross AND Live A Live on Switch (not to mention all the dozens of other Square games) it seems as if it's only a matter of time for a Chrono Trigger remake or port. I think they would likely bring Chrono Trigger into the HD2D art style as well though with it being such a beloved game that many, inclduing myself, hold dearly like (Resident Evil 4 and Link's Awakening)...it will be interesting to see how Square would handle the visuals for Chrono Trigger. Would they have the original game or an uprezzed version of the original with quality of life features like the DS and mobile ports, or would it be just a remake in the HD2D engine. I'd love to have both and be able to Switch between them like you can change art styles in Wonderboy as well as Dragon's Quest 11. Although both would be great there's know history to suggest Square would do such a thing but even if we just got a remaster of Chrono Trigger in HD2D I would be over the moon with hype. I predict Square will announce and drop Chrono Trigger on Switch either late 2022 or Fall-Winter 2023. Chrono Trigger is a good winter game in it's cozy world and fantastic soundscapes.

[@skeletankmcgraw7343]

After playing some of the demo my biggest worry is that the battles seem like a very shallow afterthought.

[@thaivue8120]

agreed, i do not really like the battle systems, wish it was more like octopath

[@jostafro4967]

Awesome review! Or I guess recap. I’ll end up getting this game. Thanks for making this video

[@JakeTaco83]

I was really wishing the combat was more like Octopath or Chrono Trigger, but Ill try the demo at least. I want them to keep making more like this. 16 bit era is my favorite

[@SliderFury1]

I almost glazed right over this one but it looks really cool. Also, Parasite Eve needs a remake.

[@flikkie72]

I agree with everyone else who said that this style should be used for allll the other jrpg remakes!

[@jatats7743]

There's no more than 3 character chapters that I'd be really interested in playing through. And there's more than a few that I know I'm not going to be into, so I'm going to wait (for a change) past all the hype and bot comments etc etc...

[@justinwilson4349]

I played the demo yesterday and from what I have played I had so much fun playing my favorite so far is the edo period and imperial china

[@PortableMediaReviews]

Is this game anything like Super Mario RPG?

[@BlindGardener]

I didn't like octopath traveler but this looks very promising.

[@oscar1012]

Why's that?

[@alexbiersner3350]

I am also curious to hear your thoughts on Octopath. For me, it was visually stunning and the music was phenomenal. But I couldn't get into the story of the first charter I picked (the fighter that has his village attacked or something). I don't know if I picked the right char ter to start off with, and seeing that I wouldn't get a good party started right away really threw me off.

[@BlindGardener]

@@oscar1012 I spend probably between 15 and 20 hours in the game, I was doing every side quest I found. I very much enjoyed the music and the cities looked very good. Things I didn´t like: The overworld wasn´t very appealing to me, it was basically walking in a straight line. Not a big deal though. A big deal to me was though, how the story progression feeled. I started off with the mage guy and thought the story was quite nice. Nothing special but good enough. Then I went to the Winter CIty and played the first chapter of Ophelia. It was a bit boring and generic as it gets but whatever. I did not feel a connection between the 2 Characters but in my head it still made sense that they might team up. Next Character was the thief and here it really did not make any sense to me why the religious polite girl and the mage who had just solved a crime involving theft should help a shady guy to break into a mansion and steal some orb. Here I realized that there is no effort to connect the stories in an interesting way. Next stop was the forest and while I enjoyed the are, the story again was so basic and generic as it gets. I was really ready for a chapter 2. No more low stakes opening chapters please. Thus I went for Ophelias chapter 2, I guess it was just the closest Stop. And what happened? A necklace was stolen! A NECKLACE. That was the story. I didn´t care to continue anymore then. I reatarted again 6 months later and still I could not progress much farther even though I tried to hurry a bit with the opening chapters. Maybe the story gets really good later but 20 hours is just too long for me to wait for something interesting to happen.

[@peste4592]

this just have the look, they are not even the same thing

[@oscar1012]

@@peste4592 its the same developers innit?

[@zachgoodrich6100]

I played and beat the demo of Live A Live last month and really enjoyed it! I might buy the full game if the reviews are good!

[@whome6020]

maybe i'm a sucker, but i would buy Chrono Trigger and ALL of the 16 bit Final Fantasies, not to mention Front Mission, in 2D-HD, no questions asked lol

[@ToniGVK]

I want a Pokemon game with these artistic direction and graphics.

[@GameGengo]

Oh man I can't wait to get my hands on this

[@dragowolfraven3806]

I can't wait for Friday. I love Jrpgs.

[@yyyyuhzm6829]

Does anyone know if it will release physically in Europe

[@jenscee7679]

It’s definitely coming to the UK physical (my order is in). Usually that means it’s localised into French, German, English, Spanish and Italian

[@yyyyuhzm6829]

ok tysm

[@Kragehul]

Did they really review Live A Live game? All the characters/chapters are definitely connected and there is a chapter where they all work together!

[@MicacoGames]

Suikoden 1 and 2, Chronotrigger... Gives us more remakes like this

[@silverchunk]

It looks great. I am playing the Edo Japan chapter. It’s a bit hard. I forgot how unforgiving old games were. It’s very easy to die. I do wish it was easier to restart instead of the overlong game ending sequence. At least your health returns between encounters. I won’t be buying it though beautiful as it is. Maybe when it gets a bit cheaper?

[@yetitheeduardo]

This looks dope. I wish Pokémon just did this instead. Kept the original style art and built upon it like this

[@cameronlodor6985]

Chrono Trigger would be amazing but no game deserves the HD-2D treatment like Terranigma does

[@queenmarsia]

i played the original, it was a 6/10 game to me, its likely still a 6/10 game

[@TheTekSone]

Never played it, love the look, have the game preordered.

[@LilStJames-dm7yc]

I hope it sells very well

[@TheLedzeppelinrocknr]

I hope they bring Xenosaga with graphics like that

[@ninjachicken8939]

WHY DO YOU KEEP SAYING THE TITLE WRONG. You're living a life. Live A Live. Living someone’s live.

[@finalsurvivor1]

The pronunciation used here is the official pronunciation. Both the Direct and Tokita himself used it.

[@RoziKino]

I get hard thinking of Chrono Trigger in this graphic style

[@johnnycastro7733]

Is this from the same people who did octopath travelers

[@Vock94]

My dream is a new mainline Pokémon game in 2D-HD

[@drowningin]

I love classic JRPGs and love the HD2D games, but idk I didn't like that demo. The game felt cheap in a way I can't put my finger on. You know in a high budget game navigating, the menu sounds just everything feels "tight" and in cheap budget $1 games they feel cheap and loose? The game felt like the second 😭 I guess I will wait for a sale cuz I was really excited previously

[@infamousbird323]

I'm definitely picking up this game.

[@alexinabox6931]

This really does look fantastic, I'll pick it up. Not before Xenoblade 3 though.

[@MissBubbles]

I can't get over how beautiful this game looks 🥲

[@evang9935]

Hoping for HD2D remakes of Chrono Trigger, Final Fantasy 6 and Breath Of Fire 1-3.

[@coreyphillips6153]

But is it pronounced live a live or live a live?

[@reed1645]

July seems like a busy month for jrpgs. Xenoblade 3 and Digimon Survive plus there's soul hackers 2 next month. It might be hard finding time for Live A Live as well if i'm honest.

[@makasete30]

Well, for me and I would guess many others, it’s a hard time finding time for Digimon and souls hacker. Live A Live was released when Squaresoft were at their height. That’s enough for me to download it and see how it matches up to FF6 and CT- the best RPGs from that era. Xenoblade 3 is also a definite buy - though it makes me wish they would remaster Xenogears….

[@DTOSX666]

To be fair, Live A Live is ~25 hours. Presumably much shorter than Xeno 3 and Soul Hackers 2! A shorter game to play in-between, for me.

[@reed1645]

@@DTOSX666 that's fair but for me I think I can't do too many jrpgs at once. There's also stray dropping this month as well which looks pretty cool. Live A Live does look really interesting but I wish it released a little earlier in the year.

[@Psych0boost]

Definitely picking this up

[@RonnyLive19881]

I am super interested in this game but releasing it so close to Xenoblade 3 is a mistake. They should have held onto this one until September or October.

[@KVR020]

Why? You can just buy it later right?

[@RonnyLive19881]

@@KVR020 sure I can and will but will everyone else? I’ve seen titles fail due to a poor launch window with bigger titles over shadowing them. Hopefully both games can perform great! I just see 2 100+ hour JRPGs and most people will make a realistic decision and buy one at launch. Launch figures matter when lining up further projects like possible 3D-2D Chrono Trigger or FFVI.

[@deepvibez]

You said final fantasy VI, but showed a final fantasy III box…

[@James-gj8rn]

I have the demo but i've not played it yet, i'm busy with Xenoblade Chroniclees Definitive Edition at the minute

[@James-gj8rn]

@AUSSIEMAN Xenoblade Chronicles? yeah i absolutely love it :)

[@listministries]

Chrono Trigger might be better as a HD 2D remake unless fans can handle a FF7 like remake. Thoughts?

[@krausewitz6786]

The FF7 "remake" is an abomination. Please let them not do that to Chrono Trigger.

[@QTJoe]

is it live alive or live alive?

[@alexiere]

Apparently it's Life a Life.

[@KVR020]

@@alexiere no it isn’t hes pronunciation is just not right

[@Bigboss-fr2kg]

100% buying this on day of release, especially if I’m still signed off work 🙄

[@sirownzalotgaming3025]

Remake Pokémon blue and Pokémon red in this style

[@ChronoKatie]

God I am so excited for this! But I should really try out that really obscure Chrono Trigger game first.

[@DWDrums123123]

Tried the demo and it crashed lol

[@NYCJoeBlack]

Now, if Square-Enix can give the “Live A Live treatment to games like Final Fantasy VI (III on SNES) and Chrono Trigger for the Nintendo Switch, I would then be in JRPG heaven‼️

[@soccerzz5]

Dragon Quest games

[@BobbyHo2022]

i'd buy right away for 29.99 not full price.