After working on Final Fantasy IV, one of Takashi Tokita’s other Super Famicom games was Live A Live. Perhaps similar to SaGa Frontier, this RPG has chapters you can play in any order. Each one takes place in a different time period. One scenario was modeled after kung-fu films where a martial arts master groomed three successors. Another episode takes place in the Wild West. Live A Live also had a prehistoric, Edo, sci-fi, and modern day stories.
The present day storyline was like Street Fighter RPG Lite. You played as a wrestler and picked opponents to fight from a character selection screen. There were no dungeons, just boss battles where the wrestler had a chance to learn special moves. Live A Live’s battle system is turn based, but you can also move around the battlefield. All characters – heroes and enemies – are on a grid, so each attack has a range parameter. When you finally get to the last area…. well I’d better not spoil that.
Live A Live was not released outside of Japan, but since Square Enix isn’t shy about remaking games I brought up the idea of a Live A Live remake when I spoke with Tokita. "Definitely, if the fans request it, I’d love to do that," Tokita replied. "In my experience, Live A Live’s omnibus style of multiple chapters was a learning experience and an element I brought over to [Final Fantasy IV:] The After Years. That’s why that game has multiple chapters, as well."
I then asked Tokita how would he design a Live A Live remake if he got a chance to create it. "Hmm… for the current market and times I think downloadable by chapter would be the best way to do it. And then, if you download all of them you can play the final episode."
"Please request it," Tokita said smiling and with a brief laugh. I told him I would bring the topic with the Siliconera readers. So, anyone interested in a remake of Live A Live?
