Live A Live, the upcoming HD-2D remake of a classic JRPG by Square Enix, just received a playable demo ahead of its launch next month. Revealed during today’sNintendo Direct Mini, the playable demo forLive A Livetakes players through three unique chapters, with all progress carrying over to the full game.
Live A Livewas announced in February of this year to the surprise of many JRPG fans. The original game was released almost 30 years ago for the Super Famicom and never saw a localized release in the west until now. After the success ofOctopath Traveler, Square Enix took it upon itself to remake some of its classic games using the same HD-2D art style that made 2018’sOctopath Travelerso beloved.Live A Liveis the first of these projects and will launch later this summer. Meanwhile, an HD-2D remake of 1998’sDragon Quest 3is currently in production.
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Ahead ofLive A Live’s July 22 release, fans can get their hands on the game early with a fully playable demo now available on theNintendo eShop. This demo takes players through the first three chapters of the game: Imperial China, Twilight of Edo Japan, and The Distant Future, each with a unique playable character. At launch, fans can transfer all save data to the whole game, which features a total of eight main scenarios. Not only that, but Nintendo has also released a 40-minute Treehouse forLive A Live, showcasing the game’s Wild West and Near Future chapters.
Square Enix’s upcomingLive A Livererelease makes some notable changes to the original Super Famicom version. Yoko Shimomura, the composer for the game, states thatLive A Livenow has an “easy to understand” approach to its gameplay and features a rearranged soundtrack. Also showcased duringLive A Live’s Treehouse playthrough is the fully voiced cast, which should be a welcome improvement for new audiences alongside theenhanced HD-2D graphics.
Live A Livelaunches soon and should hopefully open the door for even more Square Enix RPG remakes and remasters. The company has been on a streak of re-releases as of late, releasing classics likeChrono Cross, the originalFinal Fantasygames, and theSaGafranchise to modern platforms with a slew of enhancements. The subject of game preservation and accessibility is important to many fans, and hopefully,Live A Liveindicates that Square Enix is digging deeper into its back catalog and intends to make some of its hidden gems widely available for new audiences.
Live A Livelaunches on July 22 for the Nintendo Switch.
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