Info about LIVE A LIVE:

Official game description:
LIVE A LIVE is Steam Deck Verified!
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LIVE A LIVE: Demo Version
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A demo version is available with save data transfer enabled through the “Steam Cloud”! Out of the seven chapters, the opening parts of the “Wild West”, “Twilight of Edo Japan”, and “The Distant Future” chapters can be played.  
In order to transfer your save data, please right click on the demo version on Steam, go to Properties > General, tick the following option, and create a save data slot with your progress on the demo version.”  
□ Keep games saves in the Steam Cloud for LIVE A LIVE: Demo Version  
Once the full game has been installed after this, you will be prompted to select whether to import save data from the demo version when the game is launched for the first time. You can also import it at any time from Settings in the title screen.  
\*In this game, you can play each chapter in parallel. If you choose to interrupt your gameplay on a chapter to play another chapter, you can save your progress for each chapter.
About the Game
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Purchase Bonus
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You will receive a LIVE A LIVE Legends Wallpaper as a free gift for purchasing the game. Thank you for your support!  
LIVE A LIVE, originally only released for the Super Famicom in Japan, is being revived on Steam! Experience this legendary RPG, brought to life in the same HD-2D visual style as OCTOPATH TRAVELER.  
Meet seven heroes, each with their own unique abilities and lives to live across different time periods. Experience their stories in any order you choose, uncovering shocking developments along the way:  
*   Prehistory: A tribesman comes of age in a world without words.  
*   The Wild West: A wanderer with a bounty on his head fights for his life.  
*   Imperial China: A kung fu master searches for a worthy successor.  
*   Twilight of Edo Japan: A shinobi undertakes an important secret mission.  
*   Present Day: A martial artist strives to become the strongest there ever was.  
*   The Near Future: A youth with psychic powers takes a stand against evil.  
*   The Distant Future: A newly built robot is swept up in a tragedy in space.
Featuring remastered music from original composer Yoko Shimomura and produced by Takashi Tokita (the director of the original game), this remake retains everything that players loved about the original while also being accessible to newcomers.

Release date: 27 Apr, 2023

Categories: RPG, Grid-based Combat, Single-player Story, Anthology Structure, Multiple Endings, Stealth Gameplay, Character Progression


- Hardware Profile: No data
Feature extractions:
- Community Price: No data
- Playtime Metrics: No data
- Time-to-fun: No data
- Player Archetypes: No data


Below are summaries of things people say about the game per category.
Each point is assigned a weight that represents how often it is mentioned across all reviews.
What players like:
- Unique Anthology Structure (weight 1): Players consistently praise the game's unique and innovative anthology structure, featuring multiple distinct mini-RPGs across different genres and time periods. This approach, especially for its original release era, is highlighted as a refreshing and trailblazing experience that keeps gameplay fresh and engaging.
- Engaging & Connected Stories (weight 0.62): The individual stories are well-received for their compelling narratives, distinct themes, and engaging characters. Players appreciate how these seemingly disparate stories ultimately tie together in a satisfying and often surprising manner, with the final chapter being a particular highlight.
- Excellent HD-2D Remake (weight 0.6): The HD-2D remake is highly lauded for its visual and audio enhancements, successfully modernizing the classic while retaining its charm. Players appreciate the gorgeous pixel art, improved graphics, and overall polished presentation, considering it one of Square Enix's best HD-2D efforts.
- Superb Music & Voice Acting (weight 0.32): The game's soundtrack, composed by Yoko Shimomura, receives widespread acclaim for its quality, memorability, and ability to enhance the mood of each chapter. The added voice acting in the remake is also frequently praised for its high quality and positive impact on the storytelling.
- Strategic & Fun Combat (weight 0.31): The combat system is frequently described as unique, enjoyable, and strategic, offering a refreshing alternative to traditional turn-based JRPGs. Its puzzle-like elements and varied mechanics across chapters contribute to a consistently engaging gameplay experience.
- Memorable Chapter Design (weight 0.13): Specific chapters are highlighted for their creativity and unique execution. The Prehistory chapter is particularly noted for its innovative textless communication and humor, while the Near Future and Far Future chapters are praised for their distinct atmosphere and memorable moments.

Common complaints:
- Short Length & Lack of Depth (weight 0.74): Many players found the game's overall length too short for its price, leading to a lack of depth in story, characters, and world-building. This also contributed to a feeling of the game being underdeveloped, repetitive, and not worth the cost.
- Tedious & Shallow Combat (weight 0.71): The combat system is frequently criticized for being slow, tedious, and repetitive, lacking strategic depth. Players found battles boring, unbalanced (too easy or too grindy), and often feeling like a chore, especially in later chapters.
- Inconsistent & Shallow Stories (weight 0.51): The individual chapter stories are inconsistent in quality, often too short, and lack depth, making it difficult for players to connect with characters or their narratives. Some specific chapters (e.g., Prehistoric, Medieval, Near Future) were particularly disliked.
- Disappointing Remake Quality (weight 0.23): As a remake, the game is seen as disappointing, failing to address original flaws or implement modern design improvements. Many feel it's a 'half-baked' remake that relies too heavily on outdated mechanics.
- Grindy & Frustrating Endgame (weight 0.21): The final chapter is a significant pain point, often requiring excessive grinding and featuring obscure boss triggers. Players found it tedious and felt it negatively impacted the overall game experience.
- Immersion-Breaking Voice Acting (weight 0.08): The voice acting is criticized for not pronouncing the protagonist's name, which breaks immersion. Some players also noted a degradation in sound effects and felt the voice acting was generally unnatural or incomplete.
- Frequent Crashes & Bugs (weight 0.05): Several players reported frequent game crashes and bugs, with one critical bug preventing progression, rendering the game unplayable for some. This significantly hampered the overall experience.
- Unclear Stat Descriptions (weight 0.03): Players found the in-game descriptions for stats, skills, and attack types unclear, making it difficult to understand mechanics and optimize gameplay.

Gameplay feedback:
- Anthology of Diverse Short Stories (weight 0.48): The game is structured as an anthology of short, independent JRPG scenarios, each featuring a different protagonist, time period, and unique gameplay mechanics. Players can choose the order of these chapters, which typically range from 1 to 3 hours in length, with some exceptions.
- Accessible Difficulty, Slow Combat (weight 0.18): The game is generally not difficult and requires minimal grinding for most chapters, making it accessible even for non-RPG fans. However, combat can feel slow due to unskippable animations and frequent pauses, which might impact the pacing for some players.
- Grid-Based Tactical Combat (weight 0.17): The core combat system is a turn-based, grid-based tactical RPG with ATB elements, blending aspects of Final Fantasy Tactics and traditional JRPGs. While generally easy to understand, its depth is not fully utilized across all individual stories, becoming more prominent in the final chapter.
- Unlocking Final Crossover Chapter (weight 0.14): After completing the initial seven scenarios, a final, longer chapter unlocks, bringing all protagonists together for a climactic battle against a common foe. This chapter offers multiple routes and endings, requiring strategic character progression and potentially multiple playthroughs for full completion.
- Bakumatsu Stealth/Combat Options (weight 0.13): The Bakumatsu (Edo Japan) chapter offers a sandbox-like experience with options for stealth or combat (100-person kill or 0-person kill runs). It has hidden bosses and missable achievements, but some felt it lacked sufficient achievement support for its depth.
- Story-Driven, Less Gameplay (weight 0.05): Some players felt the game prioritizes presentation and plot over extensive gameplay, with certain chapters having more cutscenes and story progression than active combat or exploration, making it feel more like an interactive narrative.

Performance notes:
- Performance optimization needed (weight 0.03): Players report that the game exhibits subtle loading times and low GPU utilization, even on high-end hardware. This suggests potential optimization issues that could be addressed to improve performance.
- Platform-specific bug (weight 0.01): A specific bug is noted to be absent in the Nintendo Switch version of the game. This implies that a fix or different implementation exists on another platform that could be leveraged.
- High resolution and framerate (weight 0.01): The game is capable of running at 4K resolution and 120 frames per second, indicating strong graphical performance for players with compatible setups.

Recommendations:
- Highly Recommended JRPG Experience (weight 0.57): The game is highly recommended, especially for fans of JRPGs and those looking for a unique or unconventional experience. Many consider it a classic and a must-play, even comparing it to other highly regarded titles in the genre.
- Best for Retro JRPG Fans (weight 0.12): The game is particularly recommended for players who enjoyed the original or are fans of classic Square Enix retro games and the HD-2D pixel style. New players or those expecting modern RPG conventions should be cautious, as it offers a very particular and historical experience.
- Play First Without Guides (weight 0.02): Players are advised to complete the game at least once without guides to fully experience the narrative. However, using a guide is recommended for subsequent playthroughs or to find hidden elements, especially in the final chapter.
- Request More Classic Remakes (weight 0.02): Players express a strong desire for Square Enix to continue remaking classic RPGs, citing Live A Live's success as a positive indicator for future remasters.
- Don't Quit After First Story (weight 0.01): If a player dislikes one of the initial stories, particularly the first one, they should not quit the game. The game's anthology structure means other chapters might appeal to them more.
- Try the Demo (weight 0.01): For those undecided about purchasing the game, trying the demo version is recommended as a good way to gauge interest.
- Consider Disabling Voice Acting (weight 0.01): Some players who are not fond of the voice acting might prefer to play the game with the voice volume turned off.
- Watch Original Medieval Chapter (weight 0.01): One specific piece of advice suggests watching a video of the original version of the game either before or after completing the Medieval chapter.

Other player notes:
- Influential HD-2D Remake (weight 0.25): The game is a significant remake of a 1994 Super Famicom RPG, notable for its unique anthology structure and influence on modern titles like Octopath Traveler and Undertale. Its HD-2D visual style is highly praised, with players hoping for similar remakes of other classic Square Enix SNES RPGs.
- High Completion Rate & Engagement (weight 0.17): Many players, including those new to the game, found it highly engaging and achievable, with numerous reviewers completing all achievements. The game's design makes 100% completion relatively easy and accessible, encouraging players to fully explore its content.
- Price Sensitivity Noted (weight 0.07): Several players purchased the game at a significant discount, indicating that the full price might be a barrier for some. This suggests that sales can strongly influence purchase decisions and perceived value.
- Varied Player Backgrounds (weight 0.04): Based on limited feedback, some players are first-timers to the game, while others draw comparisons to other JRPGs like SaGa Frontier. There's also a general sentiment about the evolution of Japanese games since the 90s.
- Mixed Feelings on Extra Content (weight 0.02): The additional battle content after the final boss was perceived by some as an unnecessary addition, though others appreciated the extra content. This suggests mixed feelings about post-game additions.

Emotions:
- Satisfaction (weight 0.29): Players felt satisfied by the game's overall high quality, including its unique anthology structure, engaging combat, and well-executed remake features like improved graphics and voice acting. The epic and moving finale, along with the nostalgic value for original fans, also contributed significantly to this positive feeling.
- Disappointment (weight 0.14): Disappointment stemmed primarily from the game's perceived high price relative to its content, the short and sometimes shallow nature of individual stories, and issues with combat depth or pacing. Some players also felt let down by the remake's failure to address certain 'inhumane' or outdated mechanics from the original.
- Admiration (weight 0.1): Admiration was frequently expressed for the game's innovative and unique structure, particularly its varied chapter designs and experimental gameplay. The high quality of the HD-2D art style, phenomenal soundtrack, and excellent voice acting in the remake were also major sources of admiration, solidifying its status as a classic.
- Frustration (weight 0.09): Frustration arose from 'anti-human' or outdated game mechanics, such as frequent random encounters, tedious grinding in later chapters, and slow combat animations. Game-breaking bugs, lack of modern quality-of-life improvements (like speed-up options), and inconsistent pacing also contributed to player annoyance.
- Excitement (weight 0.07): Players experienced excitement due to the game's unique concept, its varied and engaging chapters, and the way its diverse stories ultimately converged. The high quality of the HD-2D enhancement, cool combat, and the overall 'awesome' gaming experience, especially for those discovering it blind, generated significant enthusiasm.
- Appreciation (weight 0.06): Appreciation was shown for the remake's 'love-filled' execution, respecting the original while adding significant quality-of-life improvements and modernizing graphics and audio. Players valued the game's unique concept, its availability outside Japan, and the evident care put into its creation, recognizing it as a 'gem'.
- Joy (weight 0.05): Joy was derived from revisiting the game, especially for those fulfilling a childhood desire to complete it, and from the high quality of the remake. The game's humor, varied and fun chapters, and the overall positive and 'delightful' playing experience contributed to a sense of happiness.
- Enjoyment (weight 0.04): Players found enjoyment in the game's overall experience, particularly its unique chapter-based structure and the variety of scenarios and gameplay mechanics offered. The compelling individual stories, tactical combat, and the way the narratives intertwined also contributed to a fun and engaging experience.
- Boredom (weight 0.02): Boredom was primarily caused by slow combat animations, repetitive gameplay, and perceived 'meaningless text' or 'walls of text' in the story. Some players found certain chapters uninteresting or felt the pacing was too slow, leading to a lack of engagement.
- Surprise (weight 0.02): Surprise came from the game exceeding expectations, particularly regarding its diverse stories, unexpected plot twists in specific chapters, and the quality of the remake's additions. The unique elements, such as network battle segments in the SF chapter, also contributed to this feeling.
- Nostalgia (weight 0.02): Nostalgia was felt by players who had experienced the original game as children or who appreciated its '90s roots and unique creativity. The remake's ability to retain the qualities of the Super Famicom version while modernizing it evoked a strong sense of past gaming experiences.
- Curiosity (weight 0.01): Curiosity was sparked by the game's experimental and unique structure, especially considering its original release year. The diverse and sometimes 'strange' themes across its multiple stories, along with its 'crazy ideas,' made players interested in exploring its depth and replaying chapters.
- Amazement (weight 0.01): Amazement was expressed for the game's overall quality, particularly its technical aspects, stunning visuals, impressive sound design, and captivating music. The fact that such a high-quality and innovative game originated on the Super Famicom further amplified this sense of wonder.
- Minor frustration (weight 0.01): Minor frustration arose from quality-of-life issues such as the inability to sort items, occasional slowdowns, and the presence of Denuvo. Some players also found the game a bit too easy or repetitive at times, with unclear triggers for progression.
- Love (weight 0.01): Love for the game stemmed from its unique approach to implementing various historical and thematic elements, with players expressing deep affection for the SNES original and the remake's improvements. This emotion often transcended specific reasons, indicating a profound connection.
- Gratitude (weight 0.01): Gratitude was expressed for modern conveniences like the ability to save anywhere and, significantly, for the game's release on Steam, making it accessible to a wider audience. Players also showed appreciation for the efforts of the Live A Live development staff.
- Criticism (weight 0): Criticism focused on various flaws in the remake and the game's overall design and mechanics. This indicates a general disapproval of certain aspects of the game's implementation or core systems.
- Confusion (weight 0): Confusion arose from the game's departure from typical JRPG conventions, leading players to describe it as 'something else altogether.' This suggests that its unique structure and mechanics were not immediately intuitive for some.
- Dislike (weight 0): Dislike was specifically directed towards the Prehistoric chapter, particularly its 'grunting' dialogue. This indicates a strong negative reaction to a particular segment of the game.
- Emotional connection (weight 0): Players felt an emotional connection due to the game's impactful ending and its ability to fulfill a desire for well-designed RPG experiences. The game resonated deeply, evoking strong feelings and a sense of profound engagement.}