Welcome to a complete beginner’s guide to Live A Live, newly reimagined in gorgeous HD-2D. This cult classic JRPG, originally released on the Super Famicom in 1994 and previously exclusive to Japan, is now poised to reach a global audience—and with it comes a truly one-of-a-kind experience. Part Final Fantasy, part Octopath Traveler, part choose-your-own-adventure novel, Live A Live dares to break the mold at every turn.
If you’re new to the game or returning to it after many years, this guide will prepare you for its quirks, its charm, and its unconventional design philosophy—while offering some real talk about what makes it both fascinating and, at times, frustrating.
A Game of Many Lives, Many Styles
The heart of Live A Live lies in its structure: you begin by choosing from seven unique protagonists, each with their own standalone chapter. These range from prehistoric cavemen to medieval knights, modern-day fighters, wild west bounty hunters, and even futuristic sci-fi heroes.
Right from the beginning, you’re handed the freedom to play through these chapters in any order you like. There’s no wrong choice, but be warned—each chapter has its own tone, mechanics, and sometimes wildly different gameplay loop. One may feature turn-based battles and dungeons in a traditional RPG sense, while another feels more like a stealth-based mission or even a horror-themed mystery. One chapter even functions like a fighting game. The diversity is part of what makes Live A Live so memorable, but it also makes navigating it quite a challenge.
The playtime varies widely as well. Some chapters can be wrapped up in under an hour, while others may take four or five. Each is essentially a self-contained mini-game—small in scale, big in personality.
Expect the Unexpected: Crafting, Level Caps, and Lack of Gold
Live A Live refuses to let you fall into standard JRPG habits. In most chapters, gold doesn’t exist. Instead, you’ll find systems like crafting to acquire items and gear. In some scenarios, towns and shops are nowhere to be found. Even the level system is subdued—each character caps out at level 16, and most chapters are comfortably beaten around level 7 or 8.
This limits grinding and forces you to focus on your environment and the tools you’re given, rather than trying to brute-force your way through encounters. It’s a refreshing change, though it may take some getting used to.
And while the game seems linear in that you must complete all seven chapters, the order is entirely up to you. This allows you to shape your journey and choose which tone or setting you want to dive into first.
Battles With a Twist: Strategy Over Power
The battle system is another departure from the norm. Fights take place on a 6×6 grid, with movement, positioning, and spatial awareness playing a crucial role. Each character (and most enemies) occupies one or more tiles depending on size and strength. Knowing where to place your party is often more important than which abilities you use.
Enemy attack patterns vary based on position. Stand in front of a dinosaur’s mouth? Prepare to be bitten. Get underneath a heavy foe? You might get trampled. But position yourself behind them? You may find a safe spot to chip away at their health. This makes each battle a small puzzle rather than a stat-check.
And while some light grinding may be necessary, don’t expect to reach high levels. The battle system emphasizes strategic thinking over raw numbers, and level caps are in place to prevent power-leveling through the game.
The Downside: Obscure Progression and Sequence Triggers
Now for a word of warning: progression in Live A Live can be obtuse—especially in the original version. You’re often required to talk to NPCs in a specific order to unlock the next story sequence. Not just any order, but a sometimes bizarrely specific one, like NPC H, then B, then Q, then P, then F. It’s not merely annoying—it can halt progress altogether.
One moment you may be stuck in a room full of people, unable to leave—not because you haven’t explored, but because you didn’t talk to person number 17 after person number 12. And it’s not just confined to one area. Some chapters require precise sequences across multiple locations.
For many players, this led to relying heavily on guides during their first playthrough. It’s an unfortunate blemish on an otherwise engaging experience. One can only hope that the remake introduces quality-of-life features—perhaps visual cues or dialogue indicators—to reduce this headache. A small change like a star over the next relevant NPC would go a long way toward accessibility without compromising challenge.
Secrets, Save Systems, and Replayability
Despite its flaws, Live A Live is packed with charm and hidden depth. Many chapters contain secrets, optional bosses, rare items, and even light Easter eggs. Thankfully, the game allows you to save at any time, making exploration a more forgiving and inviting experience.
After completing a chapter, you’re free to return to it later—but note that you’ll have to start from scratch. Progress isn’t preserved between replays, though this reset allows you to explore different outcomes or paths without consequence.
Final Thoughts: A Flawed Gem With Unmatched Ambition
Live A Live is a unique blend of genres and storytelling styles. It’s bold. It’s strange. It’s sometimes frustrating. But above all, it’s unforgettable. Few games dare to experiment with their structure the way this one does, and the result is a deeply memorable—if occasionally maddening—experience.
If you’re coming into the HD-2D remake expecting a standard JRPG, recalibrate your expectations. Embrace the experimental format, prepare for a little trial and error, and enjoy the creativity of each story.
Hopefully, the modern version smooths over the rough edges while preserving the game’s wild heart. Either way, if you stick with it, Live A Live offers something you won’t find anywhere else.
So, what chapter will you start with first?
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