The Live A Live HD-2D remake will be breaking its exclusivity status for Nintendo Switch and launch on the PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, and PC via Steam on April 27, 2023!
Pre-orders for the game are currently available with a 20% discount on Steam for all users, and on the PlayStation Store for PS+ subscribers. A playable demo for the game will also be available on both platforms that feature the first parts of the three separate Eras featured in the main game.
The PlayStation and Steam Versions of the game will also feature a lavish collectors edition that features new exclusive merchandise from the Nintendo Switch release. The Live A Live Collectors Edition II not only contains the base game but also a special Streighbough design T-shirt, a mini acrylic stand set, a special design sticker set, a tote bag, an official illustration art book, and an exclusive manga “Super!! Live A Live: The Near Future Era” by Kazuhiko Shimamoto.
The normal release of the game still adds extras, with the PS4/PS5 version owners being able to redeem a custom theme for their home screen and a special wallpaper given to Steam version owners.
▍About Live A Live Remake
Live A Live was originally released on the Super Famicom 29 years ago, only in Japan, with no English localization for the longest time. the JRPG title slowly gained cult classic status outside of its home country, thanks to a fan translation patch that was among the earliest widely-shared complete community patches for a video game.
Live A Live has (yet again, exclusively in Japan) also been previously re-released through the Virtual Console service on the Nintendo Wii U and 3DS in 2015 and 2016, respectively.
Players play through eight different chronological eras, each with its own unique stories and plot points. Sprawled out through different stages of eras, players will uncover an evil force that entwines the fate of the eight protagonists.
The remake most notably sports a graphical aesthetic known as “HD-2D”, defined by Square Enix as a visual format that combines retro Super NES-style character sprites and textures with polygonal environments and high-definition effects. Popularized by the developers’ original JRPG title, Octopath Traveler, the style has been incorporated into the original sprites of Live A Live, giving them a dramatically original presentation.
The remake also sees a complete overhaul to its soundscape, with voice acting for the main and important characters being included (for Japanese & English!), alongside a holistic reimagining of the soundtrack by the original game’s composer, Yoko Shimomura.
