Live A Live

Live A Live is a role-playing game originally released by Square for the Super Famicom in Japan on September 2, 1994. Directed by Takashi Tokita, it differs sharply from a conventional single-protagonist RPG: its opening structure is divided into separate scenarios set in radically different eras. Players can choose among chapters set in Prehistory, Imperial China, Twilight of Edo Japan, the Wild West, the Present Day, the Near Future, and the Distant Future. Each chapter has its own protagonist, tone, mechanics, supporting cast, and visual influence. The Prehistory chapter follows Pogo, a caveman searching for the kidnapped Beru. Imperial China centers on the aging kung fu master Earthen Heart Shifu, who must train successors. Twilight of Edo Japan stars the shinobi Oboromaru and lets players infiltrate Odawara Castle through combat, stealth, or avoidance; it is notable for its optional zero-kill approach. The Wild West chapter has the drifter Sundown Kid defend Success Town from the Crazy Bunch alongside Mad Dog. In the Present Day, Masaru Takahara fights a succession of martial artists in a tournament-like format. The Near Future follows Akira Tadokoro, a telepathic delinquent confronting the Crusaders and a giant robot called Buriki Daioh. The Distant Future occurs aboard the cargo ship Cogito Ergo Sum, where the maintenance robot Cube becomes involved in a tense science-fiction mystery. After the initial stories, a Medieval chapter becomes available. Its hero, Oersted, is chosen as a champion, journeys with allies to rescue Princess Alethea, and faces the demon lord Odio. This portion recontextualizes the earlier chapters and leads into the game’s final conflict, in which the player can gather heroes from different periods. Odio and related forms of that name connect the scenarios’ antagonistic forces. Live A Live used a grid-based battle system in which characters move around a small arena and employ attacks with different ranges, directions, charge times, and area effects. Several scenarios deliberately bend RPG expectations: the Wild West emphasizes preparation, the Present Day removes exploration, and the Distant Future largely avoids standard battles. The original version was never officially released outside Japan during the Super Nintendo era. Square Enix announced an HD-2D remake in 2022, featuring remade graphics, voiced dialogue, rearranged music, and a newly recorded theme song, “Go! Go! Steel Titan,” sung by Hironobu Kageyama. The remake launched for Nintendo Switch on July 22, 2022, and later arrived on PlayStation consoles and PC in 2023.