Live A Live

"What happens when Square gets a little too creative."

You've heard of Squaresoft, right? That wacky company that releases all sorts of RPGs, and generally ends up releasing a normal, but generally excellent product. Sure, they have some strange stuff, but Live A Live (along with another Japan-only game, Hanjuku Hero) represents Square at their most creative. The character designs, the stories, the everything of Live A Live will have you staring in amazement. Of course, this game was never released (legally) in English, but you'll never wonder why. Strange, unique, and disturbingly good, the game gives us all a reason to smile, laugh, and shake our heads.

Graphics 8/10
This game won't win any beauty contests, unfortunately. The visuals are decent, sure, but they get less impressive when you look at the year the game was made, 1994. This is the same year as Final Fantasy VI, an infinately better looking game. However, the characters are very well animated in battle, and show a suprising amount of detail. To accurately describe the graphics, outside of battle they're a touch better than Final Fantasy V, and in battle they're very good, but nothing breathtaking. Also, the areas are varied and all are designed very well.

Storyline(s)10/10
This game does the (near) impossible. It takes 7 seemingly unrelated stories, and combines them all in one game. From cavemen to a blatant rip-off of ''2001: A Space Odessey'', this game has it all. True, many of them are really unoriginal (suprisingly), but they're all so well written you won't care. And the medieval chapter has many shocking plot twists, and is certainly so original it makes up for the others. To tell you any more would spoil it.

Gameplay8/10
The battles are quite good. Instead of using a standard turn-based system, Square opted for a more Strategy/RPG style. However, in spite of character positioning in the random battles, they still move fast paced. You get many abilites, and the strategic placement is interesting and fun. Some chapters have a large emphasis on battles, and others do not. This is also a great idea. Each chapter plays differently, and feels different as well. Very good.

Sound8/10
When the game starts, you hear a high pitched voice saying ''Squaresoft''. That is the worst sound in the game. Every hit sounds accurate, the little level-up music is plain neat (and suitable for each character), and the music is very good. It isn't however, as good as some of the other music on the same console. It suits the game though.

Replay9/10
The storys are good, and the game isn't too linear. Plus, many of your choices actually effect how the game progresses.

Wierd stuff100/10
I mentioned it in the title, and now I'll just list some of the strage stuff in the game...
-Cavemen with lizards between their legs.
-Rampant Nudity
-People baking cookies for corpses
-breast-bouncing apes (with one male ape for all of them)
-liquid humans
-a giant chicken shaped robot (which is evil)
-a wierd old woman who follows you around trying to kiss you.
-...and so much you just have to see for yourself.

Basically, Live A Live is a game that one would not expect to be good. But it is. It is one of the best games Square ever made, both for it's originality and the game that backs it. You may not believe me, but just give it a shot, you'll be pleasently suprised.

Reviewer's Score: 9/10, Originally Posted: 01/12/02, Updated 01/12/02