Live A Live

"What's better than a lizard for a loincloth?"

Live A Live sadly never made it to America, but a recent translation has allowed Square fans to see one of the more obscure SNES RPGs. I was truly surprised when I played this game, by the depth of the plot (which goes far beyond each individual chapter), the balanced and challenging gameplay, and the odd humor. There's no doubt in my mind that this game deserves a 10.

Story: 9/10

Basically, this game takes you through seven short RPGs, or chapters. They are all rather familiar stories, yet they are all very well done, containing many hidden jokes and surprises. There is a large amount of variation in the chapters; one may have next to no fighting and the next nothing but battles. After the seven chapters are completed, an eighth becomes available.

The eighth chapter begins as a classic medieval RPG, but an interesting twist brings you in contact with the other Live A Live protagonists (to go into more detail would spoil it). This ties the original seven chapters together, allowing you to use up to four of the main characters from earlier in the game for the final chapter. Or, you could even use the hero from the eighth chapter, allowing you to end the game in a completely different way.

Gameplay: 9/10

The battles take place on a grid, adding range as a factor to the standard RPG battle system. Each character you control has five regular equipment slots, five accessory slots, and a large selection of abilities. Battles never get boring, as you have many more options than ''Attack'' or ''Magic''. Abilities don't use magic points, but each has its pros and cons so one ability never dominates. There is at least a reasonable level of difficulty in each chapter in a normal playthrough, and if you want some added challenge, there are some difficult mini-bosses.

The battle system does have its problems. Instead of giving each unit on the battlefield its own opportunity to move, each side is given equal opportunity to move. So if a lone character faces a large group of enemies, it's not too big of a threat, because they will have a pretty much equal number of turns. Sometimes this is the only thing saving you from death, especially in the Captain Square mini game. Also, the enemy AI isn't terribly smart, as it often will unnecessarily move or use an inferior attack in a certain situation. The AI also can’t see the area of effect when using its attacks, so it will have to target your characters directly. Still, the AI is at least competent, which is more than you can say for some other strategy games.

In addition to the battle system, each chapter has enough variety to keep things fresh. For example, in the prehistoric chapter you have the ability to combine items to get powerful equipment. Also, the battles aren't completely random; you get to sniff out the location of the enemy. These small differences keep the gameplay from getting stale.

Some of the secrets in the game are a bit arbitrary (hmm...maybe I'll talk to this rock exactly 100 times then inspect the rest of the map...), but that's a common problem in RPGs, and I suppose it can be forgiven. It's just a shame when you absolutely need to look in a FAQ to find a secret.

Graphics: 7/10

Outside of battle, the graphics are very similar to other early SNES RPGs, and in battle the characters are given a bit more detail (enough detail to actually require censoring during certain attacks). It’s not exactly great for its time, but it fits the settings very well.

Music: 10/10

The music fits the mood of each chapter perfectly. The boss music in every chapter is just amazing. There is a sound test feature where you can listen to music from chapters that you have already completed.

Sound: 6/10

The sound doesn't really stick out in this game, but it doesn't get on your nerves either. It's just your basic thwack, boink, and slash.

Silliness: 10/10

Although this game doesn't need quirky humor to keep it from being bland, it goes that extra mile. When there's a character that wears a lizard on his crotch, you know you're playing a quality game. I'd give more examples, but it's more fun if you see them for yourself.

Not all the humor is this overt. The atmosphere itself in some chapters is comical, most notably the prehistoric chapter.

Replay Value: 8/10

There are a few secrets in each chapter, plus in many chapters that require different paths, so at least three complete playthroughs are required to fully enjoy the story. Even when playing through this game a third time I noticed subtle humor and references that I didn't catch before. There are also at least four endings. Some of the more tedious parts will not be looked forward to, but for the most part you'll have a great time going through this game again.

Final Score: 10/10

It's very rare to find a game with great gameplay and an enjoyable story without getting too serious. Since you're never stuck in one style of gameplay for too long, the game never loses its ability to entertain, while the similarities are strong enough to keep you interested in the game as a whole. If you like RPGs, Strategy RPGs, or wearing panties on your head, this game will certainly leave you satisfied.

Reviewer's Score: 10/10, Originally Posted: 03/08/02, Updated 03/08/02