View source for Software:Live A Live

{{Short description|1994 video game}}
{{Infobox video game
| title = Live A Live
| image = LiveALiveBoxArt.jpg
| caption = Super Famicom cover art showing illustrations of the seven lead characters.
| alt = A group of seven characters, drawn using different artstyles, are shown in a cream background behind the title logo.
| developer = '''Original'''<br />[[Company:Square (video game company)|Square]]<br />'''Remake'''<br />Historia<br />[[Company:Square Enix|Square Enix]]
| publisher = {{vgrelease|JP|Square}}'''Remake'''{{vgrelease|JP|Square Enix|WW|[[Company:Nintendo|Nintendo]] (Switch)|WW|Square Enix (PS4, PS5, PC)|}}
| director = Takashi Tokita
| designer = Nobuyuki Inoue
| artist = Kiyofumi Katō<br />Yoshihide Fujiwara<br />Yoshinori Kobayashi<br />Osamu Ishiwata<br />Yumi Tamura<br />Ryōji Minagawa<br />Gosho Aoyama<br />Kazuhiko Shimamoto
| programmer = Fumiaki Fukaya
| composer = Yoko Shimomura
| writer = Takashi Tokita<br/>Nobuyuki Inoue
| engine = Unreal Engine 4 (Remake)
| released = '''Super Famicom'''{{vgrelease|JP|September 2, 1994}}'''Switch'''{{vgrelease|WW|July 22, 2022}}'''PS4, PS5, PC'''{{vgrelease|WW|April 27, 2023}}
| genre = [[Software:Role-playing video game|Role-playing]], [[Software:Turn-based tactics|turn-based tactics]]
| modes = [[Software:Single-player video game|Single-player]]
| platforms = [[Engineering:Super Nintendo Entertainment System|Super Famicom]]<br/>[[Engineering:Nintendo Switch|Nintendo Switch]]<br />[[Engineering:PlayStation 4|PlayStation 4]]<br />[[Engineering:PlayStation 5|PlayStation 5]]<br />[[Software:Windows|Windows]]
}}

'''''Live A Live'''''{{efn|{{nihongo|{{IPAc-en|'|l|aɪ|v|_|ə|_|'|l|aɪ|v}}|ライブ・ア・ライブ|Raibu A Raibu|stylized as LIVE A <span style{{=}}"{{MirrorH}}">LIVE </span>|lead=yes}}}} is a 1994 [[Software:Role-playing video game|role-playing video game]] developed and published by [[Company:Square (video game company)|Square]] for the Super Famicom. A remake was published by [[Company:Square Enix|Square Enix]] in Japan and [[Company:Nintendo|Nintendo]] worldwide, releasing first for [[Engineering:Nintendo Switch|Nintendo Switch]] in 2022, and the following year for [[Engineering:PlayStation 4|PlayStation 4]], [[Engineering:PlayStation 5|PlayStation 5]], and [[Software:Windows|Windows]]. The game follows seven distinct scenarios scattered across different time periods, with two more unlockable scenarios linking the narratives together through the recurring antagonist Odio. Gameplay is split between exploration with story-specific twists, and turn-based combat played out on a grid.

Production began in late 1993, and was the directorial debut of Takashi Tokita. Tokita wanted to tell multiple stories within a single game, with each section drawing inspiration from different sources. Character designs for the seven main scenarios were handled by different manga artists. The music was composed by Yoko Shimomura as her first large-scale project after joining Square.

Reception of the game has been positive, with praise going to its unique gameplay and narrative mechanics, though its short length was faulted. The remake was praised by Western reviewers, particularly its overall design and redone graphics and music, though several noted gameplay elements that had aged poorly. Selling 270,000 units, the original release was considered a failure, while the remake sold 500,000 copies worldwide. Tokita's work on ''Live A Live'' influenced his later projects.

==Gameplay==
{{multiple image
<!-- Essential parameters -->
| align             = left
| direction         = vertical
| width             = 
| footer            = The battle system as seen in the Super Famicom original (top) and the HD-2D remake (bottom).
| image1            = LiveALiveBattle.png
| width1            = 200
| alt1              = In a battle arena themed after a roadway, the current player character readies a move against one of two enemies on different areas of the battle grid.
| image2            = Live A Live remake screenshot.jpg
| width2            = 200
| alt2              = In a battle arena themed after a dungeon environment, the current player character readies a move against the boss enemy on the battle grid.
}}
''Live A Live'' is a [[Software:Role-playing video game|role-playing video game]] in which the player takes on the role of eight different protagonists through nine scenarios.<ref name="LiveHome"/><ref name="LiveManual"/> While each narrative has the same basic mechanics, individual stories have unique gimmicks; these include the use of [[Software:Stealth game|stealth]], a lack of standard battles, or using telepathy to learn new facts to progress the narrative.<ref name="TechTell"/> With the exception of one scenario, the player character navigates themed environments, ranging from the overworld area to dungeon environments.<ref name="LiveManual"/> Battles are triggered differently for each scenario; some are random encounters, some have enemy sprites which can be avoided, while others are entirely scripted.<ref name="LiveManual"/>

The [[Software:Turn-based tactics|turn-based]] battle system is used across all scenarios, and features the player character and sometimes a party fighting enemies on a 7x7 grid, with characters able to move and perform actions such as attacking or using particular skills. Skills can be used without limit, though some take multiple turns to charge.<ref name="LiveManual"/><ref name="RetroReview"/> Some abilities imbue tiles with extra properties, such as healing a character or dealing elemental damage.<ref name="LiveManual"/> There are also different skill systems in place; there is gaining levels with [[Software:Experience point|experience point]]s, which unlocks new abilities, though in others character progression is locked behind story events. In one scenario techniques are learned through seeing an opponent use them.<ref name="LiveManual"/><ref name="DengekiRetro"/> Each character can also equip and use items, such as accessories to boost attack or items to recover health. If the player character, or party, is defeated, the game ends.<ref name="LiveManual"/>

The 2022 remake carries over the basic gameplay from the original, though redesigned and updated for the new graphical style, and with some features intended for ease of play compared to the original.<ref name="FamRemake"/> Bars are added representing a character's health and "charge" time before their move is executed.<ref name="GSreview"/><ref name="RPGreview"/> Other additions include a sparkling effect over items and materials that can be gathered, a display showing a move's area of effect, and an optional radar system which shows the position of objectives on the map.<ref name="RPGreview"/>

==Synopsis==
''Live A Live'' is split into seven chapters, covering prehistoric, ancient Chinese, feudal Japanese, [[History:American frontier|Wild West]], present day, near future, and distant future eras. In each scenario, the protagonist confronts a powerful enemy whose name is or incorporates the word "Odio" (as each one is an incarnation of Odio, ''Hate'' in Spanish).<ref name="LiveHome"/><ref name="LiveComplete"/> After completing these scenarios, an eighth chapter set in the [[History:Middle Ages|Middle Ages]] is unlocked, which in turn unlocks a final chapter tying the narratives together.<ref name="LiveHome"/>

* '''Prehistory: The First''':<ref name="ChapterNames"/> The caveman Pogo is exiled by his tribe after rescuing and hiding Beru, a woman (who Pogo falls in love with) intended for sacrifice by a rival tribe to their dinosaur god, Odo. Pogo and Beru, helped by friendly members of both tribes, successfully kill Odo and establish peace between the tribes, which combine into one.
* '''Imperial China: The Successor''':<ref name="ChapterNames"/> The aging Shifu of the endangered Earthen Heart martial art chooses three disciples to inherit his skills. A rival school led by the ruthless Ou Di Wan Lee kills the two less experienced students. The Shifu and his surviving student defeat Ou Di Wan Lee and his students, with the Shifu sacrificing himself to empower his surviving student. The Shifu dies after this battle, and his student begins passing down his teachings.
* '''Twilight of Edo Japan: The Infiltrator''':<ref name="ChapterNames"/> Trainee ninja Oboromaru is sent by his master on a mission to rescue a politically important person and kill his captor Ode Iou, a daimyo who has made a pact with demonic forces to conquer Japan. Oboromaru defeats Ode Iou (who is in truth a demon) and rescues the man, who turns out to be Sakamoto Ryōma, who is helping to open Japan to the West. He offers Oboromaru to join him, the outcome being decides by the player.
* '''The Wild West: The Wanderer''':<ref name="ChapterNames"/> A wandering gunslinger called the Sundown Kid meets with the bounty hunter Mad Dog in an isolated town for a gun duel. The pair end up working together to liberate the town from the Crazy Bunch bandit gang, led by O. Dio. After defeating O. Dio, revealed to be a horse possessed by the dead of the Battle of the Little Bighorn, the Sundown Kid leaves the town having rediscovered the value of protecting others, with his final encounters with Mad Dog varying depending on player choice (either killing him or sparing him).
* '''Present Day: The Strongest''':<ref name="ChapterNames"/> Masaru Takahara wants to become the strongest person in the world, believing that defeating opponents in each fighting style would accomplish this goal. While Masaru succeeds, he is confronted by another fighter Odie O'Bright, who has been killing his opponents because he deemed them weak. Odie O'Bright challenges Masaru, who kills him using his combined learned abilities, becoming the strongest.
* '''The Near Future: The Outsider''':<ref name="ChapterNames"/> Psychic orphan Akira Tadokoro goes in pursuit of a biker gang called the Crusaders, seeking retribution for his father's death. Together with his friend Matsu, Akira pursues the Crusaders, learning that they are being used by the government to obtain sacrifices for an idol dubbed Odeo, which seeks to bring an enforced peace by assimilating all of humanity. Matsu−confessing that he killed Akira's father as the Crusaders' original leader−sacrifices himself trying to move the mech Steel Titan. With his powers, Akira uses the Steel Titan to destroy Odeo, ending the conspiracy for good.
* '''The Distant Future: The Mechanical Heart''':<ref name="ChapterNames"/> The cargo ship ''Cogito Ergo Sum'' is carrying a monster to Earth. Maintenance robot Cube ends up investigating the incident when the monster escapes and begins killing the crew, which, combined with fatal accidents, causes the survivors to turn on one another. The ultimate culprit is the ship's computer, OD-10, a furious AI who wants to curtail the crew's recurring antisocial behavior by wiping them out. Cube hacks and deactivates OD-10, allowing the survivors and Cube to arrive to Earth.
* '''The Middle Ages: The Lord of Dark''':<ref name="ChapterNames"/> After the knight Oersted defeats his friend Streibough in a contest for the hand of Princess Alethea of Lucrece, Alethea is kidnapped by subordinates of the Lord of Dark, having apparently returned. Oersted leads a party that includes Streibough to rescue Alethea. They defeat the Lord of Dark, revealed to be a lesser monster in disguise, but Streibough is apparently killed and Alethea remains missing. Back at the castle, Oersted is tricked by a magical illusion into killing Lucrece's king, causing its people to turn on him and denounce him as a demon. Escaping and with his party dead, Oersted discovers that a jealous Streibough faked his death. Oersted kills Streibough and finds Alethea, but she blames Oersted for Streibough's actions before killing herself. A despairing Oersted becomes the new Lord of Dark, taking on the name Odio.

In the final chapter, "Dominion of Hate", Odio draws the seven protagonists—Pogo, the Shifu's student, Oboromaru, the Sundown Kid, Masaru, Akira and Cube—to Lucrece, to his time, to confront them about the foolishness of their heroism. The player chooses which of the protagonists to play as. Choosing Oersted begins a scenario where he fights each hero using their respective Odio incarnations, either  wiping out humanity and living in a world devoid of life or obliterating the universe in a final devastating attack if he loses. Choosing any other protagonist has that character assemble and lead the party to a final battle with Odio's true form after Odio condemns them as selfish and hypocritical. The party can either kill Oersted, trapping them in Lucrece forever; or spare him, leading to final battles with each form of Odio, which a reinvigorated Oersted describes as the physical incarnation of hatred. In the remake (provided the player recruited all playable characters at least once), Oersted's hate manifests into a demon called Sin of Odio that fights the seven heroes and overwhelms them, but Oersted breaks free with the party's help and destroys the fiend. A repentant and dying Oersted sends each protagonist back to their time period and their happy lives, warning them that enough hate can create another Lord of Dark.

==Development==
''Live A Live'' was developed by Development Division 5 of [[Company:Square (video game company)|Square]], noted as creators of the ''[[Software:Final Fantasy|Final Fantasy]]'' series.<ref name="LiveGame9"/> The game was the directorial debut of Takashi Tokita, who had previously worked in a designer role for ''[[Software:Hanjuku Hero|Hanjuku Hero]]'' and ''[[Software:Final Fantasy IV|Final Fantasy IV]]''.<ref name="TokitaInterview"/> The original concept was born from the desire to make an RPG where players could experience multiple standalone stories at once, contrasting against ''Final Fantasy'' where smaller stories served a grand narrative arc.<ref name="TokitaInterview"/><ref name="LiveGame4"/>  The production was made possible by the expanding storage capacity of the [[Engineering:Super Nintendo Entertainment System|Super Famicom]] ROM, with the aim being for players to be able to complete each section within a day.<ref name="FamQA"/> Several staff members, including designer Nobuyuki Inoue and lead programmer Fumiaki Fukaya, had worked on either ''Hanjuku Hero'' or the ''Final Fantasy'' series.<ref name="LiveGame9"/><ref name="Login"/> Active production began in December 1993, though the entire development including early planning lasted one and a half years.<ref name="Login"/> It was produced for the Super Famicom's 16-megabit cartridge.<ref name="LiveGame2"/>

Tokita had difficulty adjusting to his role as director, particularly as he could not be as hands-on with the graphical elements as he had been for ''Final Fantasy IV''.<ref name="FamA"/> Except for menus and battles, Fukaya was responsible for all the game's programming.<ref name="LiveGame9"/> Tokita put an equal amount of effort into each world design.<ref name="FamB"/> Many of the world suggestions came from other members of staff, with Tokita choosing what he thought were the best.<ref name="FamA"/> The first world created was the Middle Ages edition, which informed both the wider narrative and the gameplay design.<ref name="FamQA"/> The scenarios originally had a graduating difficulty scale, but Tokita abandoned this so players could tackle the scenarios in any order they wished.<ref name="FamA"/> Inoue was responsible for the battle system design, wanting to make a strategic experience which Tokita described as "real-time shogi".<ref name="LiveGame9"/><ref name="FamA"/> Another goal was to evolve the standard gameplay of RPGs at the time.<ref name="FamQA"/> One idea of Tokita's that was rejected involved not displaying hit points, but having the character physically act like they had been injured or look weakened as they took damage instead.<ref name="UntoldLive"/> Once production finished, the team split up to work on other projects within Square.<ref name="LiveGame9"/>

===Scenario and art design===
A notable feature of ''Live A Live'' were the artists brought in to design the lead cast of the seven main sections. The artists were Yoshihide Fujiwara ("Imperial China"), Yoshinori Kobayashi ("Prehistory"), Osamu Ishiwata ("The Wild West"), Yumi Tamura ("Distant Future"), Ryōji Minagawa ("Present Day"), Gosho Aoyama ("Twilight of Edo Japan") and Kazuhiko Shimamoto ("The Near Future").<ref name="LiveHome"/><ref name="OSTliners"/> This was possible due to Square's publishing ties with Shogakukan, who was associated with those artists.<ref name="TokitaRemake"/> Additional character artwork, including designs for the "Lord of Dark" narrative, was done by Kiyofumi Katō of Square.<ref name="OSTliners"/><ref name="Live4G"/> Further in-game graphics were designed by Yukiko Sasaki, who worked as a map designer on ''Final Fantasy IV''.<ref name="Login"/> Sasaki encountered difficulties with the graphics, struggling to design the Edo Japan scenario and needed to cut elements such as telegraph poles from Present Day scenario.<ref name="LiveGame9"/> Having multiple character designers was not in the original plan, but emerged to complement the "omnibus" storytelling.<ref name="LiveGame9"/> This style of having one artist in charge for each world was unusual for Square, who previously had a single graphic designer in charge of all art direction.<ref name="Login"/>

Fujiwara was known for his work on the martial arts manga ''Kenji''. For the Imperial China protagonist's female student, Fujiwara deliberately went against stereotypes of martial arts heroines with large breasts, drawing her with a "tighter" figure.<ref name="LiveGame4"/> Shimamoto was originally going for an anime-styled design for his characters, but changed it to one based on traditional manga when he saw the other designers' work. Akira's partner Matsu was physically based on actor Yūsaku Matsuda. Ishiwata based the protagonist of the Wild West on the cowboy figures portrayed by Clint Eastwood.<ref name="LiveGame3"/> Aoyama designed Oboromaru very quickly, and at Tokita's request based Ode Iou's design on the Japanese warlord Oda Nobunaga.<ref name="LiveGame1"/> Tamura was in the middle of her work on ''Basara'' when she was approached about the project, and it was her only work in video game character design.<ref name="TamuraBlog"/> Katō designed the sprites of the Middle Ages cast based on templates from the ''[[Software:Final Fantasy|Final Fantasy]]'' series, with Oersted being directly based on the Warrior of Light.<ref name="FamQA"/>

The scenario was co-written by Tokita and Inoue.<ref name="LiveComplete"/><ref name="LiveGame9"/><ref name="Inoue"/> As with his other work, Tokita drew inspiration from the tone and dramatic moments of the manga ''Devilman''.<ref name="TokitaInterview"/> He also based its structure on ''[[Software:Dragon Quest IV|Dragon Quest IV]]'', with the script emulating the style of anime and manga.<ref name="TokitaNintendo"/> The Prehistory story drew inspiration from the manga series ''First Human Giatrus'', while the Wild West narrative was based on climactic scenes from classic Westerns including ''Shane''. The Near Future story made several references to classic mecha manga and anime. Along with its references to classic martial arts films, the name of the protagonist in the Present Day narrative was made up of kanji symbols taken from the names of four famous wrestlers. The Distant Future narrative was inspired by ''2001: A Space Odyssey'' and ''Alien''.<ref name="LiveComplete"/> Cube's name, created by a member of the development staff, was a reference to Stanley Kubrick.<ref name="TamuraBlog"/> The Middle Ages story paid homage to ''Final Fantasy'', with the relationship between Orstead and Streibough mirroring that between Cecil Harvey and Kain Highwind.<ref name="LiveComplete"/> Tokita was concerned about creating the Middle Ages story due to its similarity to the ongoing ''Final Fantasy'', ''[[Software:SaGa|SaGa]]'' and ''Mana'' series.<ref name="FamQA"/> The final chapter and its selectable lead protagonists emulated the freedom of choice present in ''[[Software:Romancing SaGa|Romancing SaGa]]''.<ref name="LiveComplete"/> Inoue created the recurring gag character of Watanabe, a normal man who suffers misfortune in each era, to represent the normal people who die during each scenario.<ref name="TokitaRemake"/>

===Music===
[[File:Yoko Shimomura.jpg|thumb|150px|right|Yoko Shimomura served as the sole composer for ''Live A Live''; it was her first job after joining Square.<ref name="ShimomuraB"/>]]
The music was composed and arranged by Yoko Shimomura.<ref name="OSTliners"/> After writing music for [[Company:Capcom|Capcom]] on multiple projects including ''[[Software:Street Fighter II|Street Fighter II]]'', Shimomura moved to Square in 1993, fuelled by the wish to compose for RPGs.<ref name="ShimomuraB"/> ''Live A Live'' was Shimomura's first major RPG composition, and her first job after arriving at Square.<ref name="OSTliners"/> Her only previous work on RPGs was minor work on ''[[Software:Breath of Fire (video game)|Breath of Fire]]'' prior to leaving Capcom.<ref name="ShimomuraB"/> As with the rest of the game, Shimomura's music reflected the different eras in which the narrative was set.<ref name="LiveGame9"/> The main theme appeared multiple times through the score in arranged versions, an idea shared by both Shimomura and Tokita.<ref name="ShimomuraA"/> Shimomura wrote the score on a [[Engineering:PC-9800 series|PC-9800 series]], then ported it into the Super Famicom sound environment.<ref name="FamReleaseInterview"/>

The boss theme "Megalomania" was written to be frenetic and exciting. For the motif of Odio, Shimomura used a simulated pipe organ, incorporating it into "Megalomania" to reference its recurring threat.<ref name="ShimomuraA"/> The music for the Middle Ages period was the most difficult for Shimomura to write, though it was among the first asked for by Tokita. Upon hearing of her struggles, ''Final Fantasy'' composer Nobuo Uematsu offered to help. Writing the score for the Middle Ages became easier once the theme "Overlord Overture" and battle theme "Dignified Battle" were completed.<ref name="FamQA"/> The music for the Captain Square minigame in the Distant Future scenario was deliberately written to evoke the chiptune style of NES and early arcade titles.<ref name="ShimomuraB"/>

A soundtrack album for the game was released in August 1994 by NTT Publishing.<ref name="AlbumA"/><ref name="AlbumB"/> The album was reissued on iTunes in July 2008 as one of the first releases from "Square Enix Presents Legendary Tracks", a series of rare album re-releases.<ref name="AlbumReissueA"/> A physical re-release was published by Square Enix's music label in May 2012.<ref name="AlbumReissueB"/>

In 2008, the tracks "Birds in the Sky, Fish in the River" and "Forgotten Wings" were included on ''Drammatica: The Very Best of Yoko Shimomura'', a compilation of the composer's work at Square Enix.<ref name="Dramatica"/> Remixed and karaoke versions of "Kiss of Jealousy" and "Megalomania" were released on the 2014 compilation album ''Memoria'', which also featured tracks from Shimomura's work with Square.<ref name="Memoria"/> "Birds in the Sky, Fish in the River" and "Megalomania" were later released in 2015 as [[Software:Downloadable content|downloadable content]] for ''[[Software:Theatrhythm Final Fantasy: Curtain Call|Theatrhythm Final Fantasy]]''.<ref name="SongDLCa"/><ref name="SongDLCB"/> Also that year, a tribute concert was held in Kichijoji at Club Seata, featuring performances by multiple musicians including Shimomura, and guest appearances from the game's staff including Tokita.<ref name="LiveConcert"/>

==Release==
''Live A Live'' was released on September 2, 1994.<ref name="LiveHome"/> Originally meant to be released in Japan before ''[[Software:Final Fantasy VI|Final Fantasy VI]]'', delays occurred in ''Live A Live''{{'}}s production and the release order was reversed.<ref name="UntoldLive"/> Prior to release, Tamura created a prequel manga to the Distant Future scenario, later noting that she drew the manga without Square's permission.<ref name="LiveComplete"/> The game was re-released through Nintendo's Virtual Console for [[Engineering:Wii U|Wii U]] on June 17, 2015.<ref name="LiveVirtualA"/> A Virtual Console port to {{wipe|Nintendo 3DS}} was released on November 28, 2016.<ref name="LiveVirtualB"/> The release was prompted by fan demand for the title, and then-publisher [[Company:Square Enix|Square Enix]] had to get permission from the guest illustrators before the re-release could happen.<ref name="LiveVirtualA"/> Characters from ''Live A Live'' were featured in 20th anniversary crossovers with the mobile games ''Holy Dungeon'' and ''[[Software:Final Fantasy Dimensions II|Final Fantasy Legends: The Space-Time Crystal]]''.<ref name="Live4G"/>

Until 2022, ''Live A Live'' remained exclusive to Japan.<ref name="TokitaRemake"/><ref name="LiveLocal"/><ref name="GPro"/> A rumor reported by ''GamePro'' was that the title was originally planned for an English release.<ref name="GPro"/> In an interview with the magazine ''Super Play'', Square localization staff member Ted Woolsey said that its overseas release was unlikely due to its low graphical quality compared to other popular titles at the time.<ref name="SuperLive"/> A fan translation was created by noted online translation group Aeon Genesis.<ref name="LiveLocal"/> Speaking in later interviews, Tokita felt that his experience with ''Live A Live'' helped solidify his directing and storytelling.<ref name="TokitaInterview"/><ref name="LiveInfluence"/>

===Remake===
[[File:Live A Live Switch Box Art.jpg|thumb|150px|right|Updated character artwork for the remake, drawn by Naoki Ikushima.]]
On the subject of a remake, Tokita said it would depend entirely on fan demand.<ref name="LiveRemake"/> He later revealed that multiple attempts at a sequel or remake had fallen through over the years. After joining the [[Company:Square Enix|Square Enix]] team developing ''[[Software:Octopath Traveler|Octopath Traveler]]'', known for its "HD-2D" graphical style which blended sprite art with 3D graphics, Tokita was inspired to remake ''Live A Live'' using the graphical style of ''Octopath Traveler''. The remake was made possible because Square Enix had been in talks over licencing from Shogakukan since the original's Virtual Console release.<ref name="TokitaRemake"/> Square Enix president Yosuke Matsuda had himself voiced a wish to remake older titles using the HD-2D design, and ''Live A Live'' was at the top of a list of proposed titles.<ref name="HD2Dfam"/>

Work on the remake began in 2019, with development proving challenging due to the COVID-19 pandemic and preserving the variety of playstyles. The remake was co-developed by Square Enix's Team Asano, and Japanese developer Historia.<ref name="TokitaRemake"/> Tokita acted as producer, while Shun Sasaki of Historia worked as director, with much of the staff being young and unrelated to the development of the original version. Sasaki expressed disbelief when approached about the remake, but accepted as many staff members were fans of ''Live A Live''.<ref name="FamReleaseInterview"/> It was built using [[Unreal Engine]].<ref name="LiveUnreal"/> The UI and sound effects were updated, and the gameplay was rebalanced.<ref name="TokitaRemake"/> It also saw gameplay additions of in-game radars and maps.<ref name="FamRemake"/> The character designs were redrawn by Naoki Ikushima.<ref name="TokitaRemake"/>

Shimomura returned to orchestrate and arrange the soundtrack.<ref name="TokitaRemake"/> The original MIDI sound files had been lost, so the score had to be "copied" from the original, with her feeling pressure due to the soundtrack's popularity among fans.<ref name="FamReleaseInterview"/> The Near Future chapter also included a vocal version of the theme "Go! Go! Buriki Daioh!", performed by Hironobu Kageyama.<ref name="FamRemake"/> Known for performing ''Dragon Ball Z'' opening theme "Cha-La Head-Cha-La", Kageyama also recorded an English version for the Western release.<ref name="LALtheme"/> The lyrics were taken from a 1994 Famitsu competition where readers sent in lyrics for the song.<ref name="FamRemake"/> Voice acting for main and important characters was included with the cast being chosen by Tokita based on his initial concepts for what the characters would sound like.<ref name="TokitaRemake"/> Voice actor Tomokazu Sugita, a fan of the original game, appeared in roles across all the time periods.<ref name="FamRemake"/>

The remake was released on July 22, 2022; Square Enix published the game in Japan, while [[Company:Nintendo|Nintendo]] published it in the West. In Japan, it comes in both a physical and digital version, and a Collector's Edition from Square Enix's website. The Collector's Edition includes a model of the Buriki Daioh mech designed by Shinamoto, a themed board game, a soundtrack collection with booklet, and a shoulder bag.<ref name="RemakeAnnounced"/><ref name="FamRemake"/> A demo covering the opening chapters of the Imperial China, Edo and Far Future storylines, with progress being transferrable into the main game, was released in Japan on June 28.<ref name="Demo"/> A soundtrack album, containing the same tracks as featured in the Collector's Edition, was released in Japan on July 27.<ref name="FamRemake"/> Square Enix released ports for [[Engineering:PlayStation 4|PlayStation 4]], [[Engineering:PlayStation 5|PlayStation 5]] and [[Software:Windows|Windows]] on April 27, 2023. A demo similar to the Switch version was published alongside the ports' announcement.<ref name="LivePSPC"/>

==Reception==
The original release of ''Live A Live'' sold 270,000 copies in Japan, which at the time was considered a failure compared to the company's ''Final Fantasy'' releases.<ref name="UntoldLive"/> Tokita attributed the low sales to its release as a new project competing against entries in established series.<ref name="TokitaRemake"/> Between July and September 2022, the remake sold 500,000 copies worldwide, with over 140,000 units being sold in Japan.<ref name="RemakeSales"/>

With an average score of 29/40, the four ''Famitsu'' reviewers enjoyed the game's variety, but found the graphics lacking compared to other Super Famicom titles of the time.<ref name="FamReview"/> In its review, Micro Magazine's publication ''Game Criticism'' lauded the attempt at its omnibus storytelling style and use of popular manga artists, but ultimately felt it lacked substance and heavily criticized the final chapters and "imbalance" between the mature narrative and low-difficulty gameplay.<ref name="GameCritic"/> ''Retro Gamer'' lauded both the omnibus narrative and battle system, but felt that the title was too short; the magazine concluded that the game was a "one-of-a-kind experience"<ref name="RetroReview"/> Jenni Lada, writing for website ''GamerTell'', included the title in a list of the best Super Famicom titles exclusive to Japan, praising its variety compared to other titles for the platform.<ref name="TechTell"/> In 2011, ''GamePro'' included it on the list of the 14 best JRPGs that were not released in English, adding that "rumor has it the game was originally slated for a US release, making its absence here sting all the more".<ref name="GPro"/>

===Remake===
{{Video game reviews
| MC = NS: 81/100<ref name="MCNS"/><br />PC: 85/100<ref name="MCPC"/><br />PS5: 83/100<ref name="MCPS5"/>
| EuroG = Recommended<ref name="EuroReview"/>
| Fam = 33/40 (NS)<ref name="FamReviewRemake"/>
| GI = 8/10<ref name="GIreview"/>
| GSpot = 8/10<ref name="GSreview"/>
| IGN = 9/10<ref name="IGNreview"/>
| NLife = 8/10<ref name="NLifeReview"/>
| NWR = 7/10<ref name="NWRreview"/>
| rev1 = ''RPG Site''
| rev1Score = 8/10<ref name="RPGreview"/>
}}

The remake met with a "generally favorable" reception according to review aggregator website ''Metacritic'', earning a score of 81 points out of 100 based on 97 reviews.<ref name="MCNS"/> Critics focused praise on the graphics and audio design together with the redone musical score, praising its faithful reproduction for first-time Western players and variety of settings and narratives, with complaints mainly stemming from by-then archaic mechanics carried over from the original and lack of character development in its chapters.{{efn|''Famitsu'',<ref name="FamReviewRemake"/> ''Eurogamer'',<ref name="EuroReview"/> ''Game Informer'',<ref name="GIreview"/> ''GameSpot'',<ref name="GSreview"/> ''IGN'',<ref name="IGNreview"/> ''Nintendo Life'',<ref name="NLifeReview"/> ''Nintendo World Report'',<ref name="NWRreview"/> ''RPG Site''.<ref name="RPGreview"/>}}

The ''Famitsu'' reviewers were again positive, praising the remake's faithfulness to the original alongside the HD-2D conversion, with the main complaints being a lack of noticeable changes or maps for navigating levels.<ref name="FamReviewRemake"/> ''Eurogamer''{{'}}s Edwin Evans-Thirlwell described the remake as "essentially Sidequest: The Game", enjoying it for the most part and noting its variety as a positive, though noting a lack of empowered female characters.<ref name="EuroReview"/> Andrew Reiner, writing for ''Game Informer'', was very positive about the remake and recommended it to genre fans, with his one complaint being pacing issues with some chapters,<ref name="GIreview"/> Heidi Kemps of ''GameSpot'' praised the game's subversion of genre and gaming tropes, citing it as a game that had aged well and benefited from the remake.<ref name="GSreview"/>

''IGN''{{'}}s Rebekah Valentine described the remake positively as a time capsule showing the experimental style of RPGs of the time, noting the variety within the story and battle system and extra content tied to the overarching narrative.<ref name="IGNreview"/> Alana Hagues, writing for ''Nintendo Life'', enjoyed her time with the remake despite some vague directions in the latter half of the game, additionally praising the localization for convincingly mimicking accents from each time period and location.<ref name="NLifeReview"/> Paige Chamberlain of ''RPG Site'' called the remake the best way to experience the game due to its translation and added features alongside the graphical upgrade, noting that the overall narrative was simple yet engaging and fun.<ref name="RPGreview"/> ''Nintendo World Report''{{'}}s Jordan Rudek was less positive than many reviewers, lauding its release in the West after so long exclusive to Japan, but finding its design archaic enough to impact his enjoyment.<ref name="NWRreview"/>

==Notes==
{{Notelist}}

==References==
{{Reflist|30em|refs=

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<ref name="ShimomuraB">{{cite web|url=http://www.ga-core.net/special/sp005_3_2.php|script-title=ja:ゲームミュージック＆アニメ専門店 ga-core - ジーエー・コア -|language=ja|page=2|website=GA-Core|date=2009-05-20|access-date=20 June 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090614030021/http://www.ga-core.net/special/sp005_3_2.php|archive-date=2009-06-14|url-status=dead}}</ref>

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<ref name="AlbumB">{{cite web|url=http://nttpub.co.jp/vbook/list/detail/330.html|script-title=ja:ライブ・ア・ライブ オリジナル・サウンド・ヴァージョン|language=ja|website=NTT Publishing|access-date=20 June 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20000309013829/http://nttpub.co.jp/vbook/list/detail/330.html|archive-date=9 March 2000|url-status=dead}}</ref>

<ref name="AlbumReissueA">{{cite web|url=https://img.inside-games.jp/article/2008/07/11/30202.html|script-title=ja:SFCの名作RPG『LIVE A LIVE』、サントラをiTunesでリリース|language=ja|website=Inside Games|date=11 July 2008|access-date=20 June 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200620123246/https://img.inside-games.jp/article/2008/07/11/30202.html|archive-date=20 June 2020|url-status=live}}</ref>

<ref name="AlbumReissueB">{{cite web|url=https://store.jp.square-enix.com/item/SQEX_10308.html|script-title=ja:【再発盤】ライブ・ア・ライブ オリジナル・サウンドトラック|language=ja|website=[[Company:Square Enix|Square Enix]]|access-date=20 June 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190629103225/https://store.jp.square-enix.com/item/SQEX_10308.html|archive-date=29 June 2019|url-status=live}}</ref>

<ref name="LiveConcert">{{cite magazine|url=https://www.famitsu.com/news/201510/02090039.html|script-title=ja:あの世で、俺にわび続けろ！20周年を超え実現した『ライブ・ア・ライブ』のトーク＆ライブイベント"LIVE・A・LIVE・A・LIVE 吉祥寺篇"をリポート|language=ja|magazine=Famitsu|date=2 October 2015|access-date=20 June 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200605165609/https://www.famitsu.com/news/201510/02090039.html|archive-date=5 June 2020|url-status=live}}</ref>

<ref name="Dramatica">{{cite web|title=Drammatica: The Very Best of Yoko Shimomura |url=http://www.square-enix.co.jp/music/sem/page/drammatica/list.html |website=[[Company:Square Enix|Square Enix]] |access-date=11 June 2008 |url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080523233113/http://www.square-enix.co.jp/music/sem/page/drammatica/list.html |archive-date=23 May 2008}}</ref>

<ref name="Memoria">{{cite web|url=https://www.jp.square-enix.com/music/sem/page/memoria/|script-title=ja:memoria! / 下村陽子25周年ベストアルバム|language=ja|website=[[Company:Square Enix|Square Enix]]|access-date=20 June 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190511012641/https://www.jp.square-enix.com/music/sem/page/memoria/|archive-date=11 May 2019|url-status=live}}</ref>

<ref name="SongDLCa">{{cite web|url=https://square-enix-games.com/en_US/news/theatrhythm-thursday-19-02-2015|title=Theatrhythm Thursday – 19/02/2015
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<ref name="SuperLive">{{cite magazine|url=https://archive.org/details/Superplay_Issue_23_1994-09_Future_Publishing_GB/page/n13/mode/2up|author=West, Neil|title=Fantasy Quest|magazine=Super Play|publisher=Future Publishing|issue=23|date=September 1994|page=17}}</ref>

<ref name="LiveInfluence">{{cite web|url=https://www.siliconera.com/whats-difference-making-final-fantasy-now-20-years-ago/|title=What's The Difference Between Making Final Fantasy Now And 20 Years Ago?|last=Hawkins|first=Matt|website=Siliconera|date=18 October 2013|access-date=20 June 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200111151956/https://www.siliconera.com/whats-difference-making-final-fantasy-now-20-years-ago/|archive-date=11 January 2020|url-status=live}}</ref>

<ref name="LiveRemake">{{cite web|url=https://www.siliconera.com/anyone-want-a-remake-of-live-a-live-well-aside-from-the-games-creator/|title=Anyone Want A Remake Of Live A Live? Well, Aside From The Game's Creator|last=Yip|first=Spencer|website=Siliconera|date=25 March 2011|access-date=20 June 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131001170508/https://www.siliconera.com/2011/03/25/anyone-want-a-remake-of-live-a-live-well-aside-from-the-games-creator/|archive-date=1 October 2013|url-status=live}}</ref>

<ref name="TokitaNintendo">{{cite video|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D_YCru_yxzo|author=[[Company:Square Enix|Square Enix]]|date=2022-08-22|script-title=ja:『#ライブアライブ』HD-2Dリメイクへ至る28年 プロデューサー時田貴司【#スクエニの創りかた】|medium=Web video|publisher=[[Company:YouTube|YouTube]]}}</ref>

<ref name="TokitaRemake">{{cite magazine|url=https://www.famitsu.com/news/202202/10250530.html|script-title=ja:『ライブアライブ』HD-2Dリメイクの新要素や変更点を時田貴司氏に訊く。何度も続編やリメイクにトライし断念、浅野チームに合流してついに実現|language=ja|magazine=Famitsu|date=10 February 2022|access-date=10 February 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220210133018/https://www.famitsu.com/news/202202/10250530.html|archive-date=10 February 2022|url-status=live}}</ref>

<ref name="FamRemake">{{cite magazine|url=https://www.famitsu.com/news/202205/20262145.html|script-title=ja:『ライブアライブ』“リメイク発売記念生放送”本日20時より配信。時田P＆下村陽子氏＆ペンギンズノブオが実機プレイを披露！|language=ja|magazine=Famitsu|date=2022-05-20|access-date=2022-05-27|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220520091524/https://www.famitsu.com/news/202205/20262145.html|archive-date=2022-05-20|url-status=live}}</ref>

<ref name="FamReleaseInterview">{{cite magazine|url=https://www.famitsu.com/news/202207/22268996.html|script-title=ja:『ライブアライブ』時田P、佐々木D、楽曲監修下村陽子氏にインタビュー。「ぜひ最後のエンディングまでお楽しみください！」（時田）|language=ja|magazine=Famitsu|date=22 July 2022|access-date=22 July 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220722164650/https://www.famitsu.com/news/202207/22268996.html|archive-date=22 July 2022|url-status=live}}</ref>

<ref name="LiveUnreal">{{cite web|url=https://unrealengine.jp/unrealfest/west2022/program/003/|script-title=ja:「ライブアライブ」28年前の作品をHD-2Dで蘇らせる挑戦|language=ja|publisher=[[Company:Epic Games|Epic Games]]|access-date=2023-03-30|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221019220255/https://unrealengine.jp/unrealfest/west2022/program/003/|archive-date=2022-10-19|url-status=live}}</ref>

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<ref name="RemakeAnnounced">{{cite web|url=https://www.gematsu.com/2022/02/live-a-live-hd-2d-remake-announced-for-switch|title=Live A Live HD-2D remake announced for Switch|author=Romano, Sal|website=Gematsu|date=9 February 2022|access-date=9 February 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220210135453/https://www.gematsu.com/2022/02/live-a-live-hd-2d-remake-announced-for-switch|archive-date=10 February 2022|url-status=live}}</ref>

<ref name="LALtheme">{{cite web|url=https://www.rpgsite.net/news/12781-live-a-live-introduces-the-eras-of-the-wild-west-the-middle-ages-the-near-future-and-twilight-of-edo-japan-in-new-trailers|title=Live A Live introduces the eras of The Wild West, The Middle Ages, The Near Future, and Twilight of Edo Japan in new trailers|author=Torres, Josh|website=RPG Site|date=20 May 2022|access-date=20 May 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220520220519/https://www.rpgsite.net/news/12781-live-a-live-introduces-the-eras-of-the-wild-west-the-middle-ages-the-near-future-and-twilight-of-edo-japan-in-new-trailers|archive-date=20 May 2022|url-status=live}}</ref>

<ref name="LivePSPC">{{cite web|url=https://www.rpgsite.net/news/13974-live-a-live-launches-for-playstation-4-playstation-5-and-steam-on-april-27|title=Live A Live launches for PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, and Steam on April 27|author=Vitale, Bryan|website=RPG Site|date=2023-03-30|access-date=2023-03-30}}</ref>

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<ref name="RemakeSales">{{cite web|url=https://www.gematsu.com/2022/09/live-a-live-remake-shipments-and-digital-sales-top-500000|title=LIVE A LIVE remake shipments and digital sales top 500,000|author=Romano, Sal|website=Gematsu|date=2 September 2022|access-date=2 September 2022}}</ref>

<ref name="RetroReview">{{cite web|url=https://www.retrogamer.net/retro_games90/live-a-live/|title=Live A Live|last=Andrej|first=Lazarević|website=Retro Gamer|date=23 April 2010|access-date=20 June 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140710051335/https://www.retrogamer.net/retro_games90/live-a-live/|archive-date=10 July 2014|url-status=dead}}</ref>

<ref name="GPro">{{cite magazine|url=http://www.gamepro.com/article/features/218274/the-14-best-unreleased-jrpgs/ |title=The 14 Best Unreleased JRPGs |magazine=GamePro |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110728180418/http://www.gamepro.com/article/features/218274/the-14-best-unreleased-jrpgs/ |archive-date=28 July 2011 |url-status=dead}}</ref>

<ref name="TechTell">{{cite web|title=Important Importables: Best SNES role-playing games|first=Jenni|last=Lada|publisher=Gamer Tell|date=1 February 2008|url=http://www.gamertell.com/gaming/comment/important-importables-best-snes-rpgs|access-date=11 September 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080220025758/http://www.gamertell.com/gaming/comment/important-importables-best-snes-rpgs/|archive-date=20 February 2008|url-status=dead}}</ref>

<ref name="MCNS">{{cite web |url=https://www.metacritic.com/game/live-a-live/critic-reviews/?platform=nintendo-switch |title=Live A Live for Switch Reviews |website=Metacritic |access-date=28 April 2023}}</ref>

<ref name="MCPC">{{cite web |url=https://www.metacritic.com/game/live-a-live/critic-reviews/?platform=pc |title=Live A Live for PC Reviews |website=Metacritic |access-date=10 August 2023}}</ref>

<ref name="MCPS5">{{cite web |url=https://www.metacritic.com/game/live-a-live/critic-reviews/?platform=playstation-5 |title=Live A Live for PlayStation 5 Reviews |website=Metacritic |access-date=5 May 2023}}</ref>

<ref name="FamReviewRemake">{{cite magazine|url=https://www.famitsu.com/games/t/45551/reviews/|script-title=ja:ライブアライブ(Switch)のレビュー・評価・感想情報|language=ja|magazine=Famitsu|access-date=21 July 2022}}</ref>

<ref name="IGNreview">{{cite web|url=https://www.ign.com/articles/live-a-live-review-live-laugh-live|title=Live A Live Review: Live Laugh Live
|author=Valentine, Rebekah|website=IGN|date=21 July 2022|access-date=21 July 2022}}</ref>

<ref name="EuroReview">{{cite web|url=https://www.eurogamer.net/live-a-live-review-a-games-worth-of-occasionally-excellent-always-intriguing-jrpg-side-stories|title=Live A Live review - a game's worth of occasionally excellent, always intriguing JRPG side stories|author=Evans-Thirlwell, Edwin|website=Eurogamer|date=21 July 2022|access-date=21 July 2022}}</ref>

<ref name="GIreview">{{cite magazine|url=https://www.gameinformer.com/review/live-a-live/sizzling-short-stories|title=Live A Live Review - Sizzling Short Stories|author=Reiner, Andrew|magazine=Game Informer|date=21 July 2022|access-date=21 July 2022}}</ref>

<ref name="GSreview">{{cite web|url=https://www.gamespot.com/reviews/live-a-live-review-live-laugh-love-live-a-live/1900-6417919/|title=Live A Live Review - Live, Laugh, Love Live A Live|author=Kemps, Heidi|website=GameSpot|date=21 July 2022|access-date=21 July 2022}}</ref>

<ref name="NLifeReview">{{cite web|url=https://www.nintendolife.com/reviews/nintendo-switch/live-a-live|title=Live A Live Review (Switch)|author=Hagues, Alana|website=Nintendo Life|date=21 July 2022|access-date=21 July 2022}}</ref>

<ref name="RPGreview">{{cite web|url=https://www.rpgsite.net/review/13065-live-a-live-review|title=Live A Live Review|author=Chamberlain, Paige|website=RPG Site|date=21 July 2022|access-date=21 July 2022}}</ref>

<ref name="NWRreview">{{cite web|url=http://www.nintendoworldreport.com/review/61018/live-a-live-switch-review|title=Live A Live (Switch) Review|author=Rudek, Jordan|website=Nintendo World Report|date=21 July 2022|access-date=21 July 2022}}</ref>

}}

==Further reading==
* {{cite web |last=Lane |first=Gavin |title=Poll: So, How Do You Pronounce 'Live A Live'? |url=https://www.nintendolife.com/features/poll-so-how-do-you-pronounce-live-a-live |work=Nintendo Life |date=16 July 2022}}


[[Category:Role-playing video games]]
[[Category:Science fiction video games]]
[[Category:Virtual Console games]]
[[Category:Windows games]]

{{Sourceattribution|Live A Live}}