Live A Live

"And they say there is no game better than Final Fantasy....."

This is simply one of the best RPG that was created by Squaresoft. Sure it is no fantasy, but if you can get a chance to play any 'old-school' RPG, this is your choice..

Story: 10
What can i say about the story? No, is not about saving the world. Basically there are 9 chapters to this game. Which are :Feudal Japan, Modern, Science-Fiction, Western Frontier, Medieval, Prehistoric, Kung Fu, Near Future and the Final Chapter. Each short chapter happen in different time period. There is one 'main-character' in each chapter, they met friends on their journey. Now Unlike Saga Frontier (a game that have lots of chapters to), you can't use other main-characters from other chapters. At 'The Final Chapter', you get to choose 4/7 of those main-characters to use in that chapter. The best thing about this RPG is probably the 'story-system'. In games like FF, they tell you exactly what do, but in Live A Live, you need to 'think' about what to do next, etc..

Gameplay: 9
When it comes to challenges, this game got them. Once you learn all of your character's attack, that's when the game is started to get easy, but it it almost impossible to learn all the attack in their 'own' chapter. The control is easy learn. You will learn it in less than 15min.

Music: 10
Well, this game have the best VG music you will ever see. The music just simply change when you are in different situation. Unlike other games you have play, the music that this game use is actually 'suitable' for what's happening in the game. The music are also composed by Yoko Shimomura. She composed lots of VG game music. (Parasite Eve's in a example)

Graphic: 10
Yes, this is no Final Fantasy.. but what do you expect from a year 1994 game? Nope, there is no 3rd anime/CG in here. But you know what they say ... ''Excellent Graphic doesn't make a game, a Storyline dose''

Replayability: 10
Although this is a long game, but there are lots of different path you can choose from in each chapter, however, whichever path you choose will give you the 'same' ending. I have been playing this game for 6 years already, because when I played it, there is no faq on this. Now i have finish this game 3 times already. Now that i am writing this review and listening to the mid for this VG, it makes me want to play again..

Overall: 10
Live a Live could be 1 of the most underrated game in Square, since not much people even know about this game. If you want a hard and challenging rpg, get this one, what makes you think i played this game for 6 years? i didn't get to finish my 'first-time' until the 3rd year. If you are a Old school gamer, this game is a must try, get a emu if you have to.. If you think Final Fantasy are masterpieces, think again...

Reviewer's Score: 10/10, Originally Posted: 12/13/01, Updated 12/13/01