Live A Live

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Fandom
Name: Live A Live
Abbreviation(s): LAL
Creator: Takashi Tokita
Date(s): September 2, 1994
Medium: Video Game
Country of Origin: Japan
External Links:
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Video game fandom
NameLive A Live
Japanese nameライブアライブ
Abbreviation(s)LAL
Developer(s)Squaresoft (original)
Historia (Remake)
Publisher(s)Square (original)
Square Enix
Nintendo (Remake)
Reveal dateOriginal: 1993
Remake: February 10, 2022
Release dateSuper Famicom:
September 2, 1994 (Japan-only)

Switch:
July 22, 2022

PS4, PS5, PC:
April 27, 2023
Platform(s)Super Nintendo Entertainment System (original)

Nintendo Switch
PlayStation 4
PlayStation 5

Windows PC(Remake)
Genre(s)Eastern RPG
External link(s)Official Website (Japanese)
Official Twitter (Japan)
Steam Page
Nintendo
Square Enix page
Related articles on Fanlore.

Live A Live is a omnibus role-playing video game developed by Squaresoft before its merger into Square Enix. It was initially a Japan-only release on the Super Nintendo Entertainment System, with a English fan translation before a remake was announced and released worldwide. This game also served as famed composer Yoko Shimomura's Square Enix debut.

Overview

The game starts out with seven chapters of different settings that can be played and replayed in any order. Once all seven are complete, an eighth chapter is unlocked, completing said chapter afterwards gives the player a choice to decide the fate of everyone.

Characters

Protagonists

  • Oersted: The protagonist of the unlockable Middle Ages chapter, a knight from Lucrece who sets out to rescue the princess from the demons. He is central to the game's plot as a whole, and would appear in several Gacha game collaborations.
  • Akira Tadokoro: The protagonist of the Near Future chapter, a bishounen psychic orphan who later pilots the mecha Steel Titan (Buriki Daioh), complete with its own theme song.
  • Sundown Kid: The protagonist of the Wild West chapter, a gunslinger on the run.
  • Masaru Takahara: The protagonist of the Present Day chapter, a mixed-martial artist who learns the techniques of his opponents in order to become the strongest.
  • Pogo: The protagonist of the Prehistory chapter, a caveman who falls in love. Can only speak one word.
  • Oboromaru: The protagonist of the Twilight of Edo Japan chapter, a shinobi on a rescue mission.
  • Cube: The protagonist of the Distant Future chapter, a robot recently built on a spaceship. Can't talk, but is considered to be very expressive.
  • Earthen Heart Shifu: The protagonist of the Imperial China chapter, a dying old master of a kung fu technique.

Earthen Heart Disciples

  • Hong (Sammo) Hakka: A former food thief who can potentially inherit the technique.
  • Lei Kugo: A former forest bandit who can potentially inherit the technique. She is the only female protagonist of the game.
  • Yun Jou: A former unwilling underling to a street gang, he can potentially inherit the technique. An example of a hard worker, as he willingly trains himself late at night.

Party Members

  • Beru: A scantly-clad cavewoman and Pogo's love interest, meant as a sacrifice for the Kuu Tribe's god. Possesses a very powerful singing move.
  • Zaki: A handsome warrior from the Kuu Tribe who wears nothing but a lizard for a loincloth.
  • Gori: A gorilla who is Pogo's loyal sidekick, despite arguments. Has a Muttley-esque laugh.
  • The Prisoner: A certain historically famous man who Lord Ode kept prisoner.
  • Mimic Mammet: A karakuri puppet that copied Oboro's appearance. Known as O-robo due to the fan translation.
  • Mad Dog: A bounty hunter and Sundown's long-time rival.
  • Kenichi "Lawless" Matsui (Matsu): Akira's big brother-figure and best friend. Biker, chef of the taiyaki stand, local hero.
  • Taroimo: Formerly a turtle who was revived into a robot with mad science.
  • Captain Square: A game-within-a-game superhero.
  • Hasshe: The jaded former hero of Lucrece, who had slain the Lord of Dark before.
  • Uranus: An old priest who was Hasshe's partner in demonhunting.
  • Streibough: A wizard and Oersted's friend.

Notable NPCs

  • Tsugumi: A kunoichi who gives a infinite-use healing item (after her second attempt) if all human women are spared up to this point.
  • Annie: A barmaid who calls out the townsfolk for letting the Crazy Bunch steal from them.
  • Seishi Moribe: A koppo master whose techniques are well-known by players for their usability.
  • Taeko: The caretaker of the orphanage.
  • Doc Tobei: A scientist who runs an antique store.
  • Kato Yoshiyuki: Cube's creator, who treats them like a son to him.
  • Corporal Darthe: A military man who loathes robots.
  • Princess Alethea: The damsel in distress of the Middle Ages chapter.

Antagonists

  • Odo (pronounced O-D-O): The Kuu tribe's "god", the last dinosaur.
    • Kuu Tribe Leader: The man who was responsible for the sacrifices to Odo.
  • Ou Di Wan Lee: The leader of the Indomitable Fist.
    • Chan, Lin and Xian: The female elite of the Indomitable Fist, a reference to Final Fantasy IV's Magus Sisters.
  • Iou Ode: A shogun who plans to spark war to take over Japan.
  • O.Dio: The leader of the Crazy Bunch.
  • Odie O'Bright: A murderous monk.
  • Odeo: A false god worshipped by three corrupt government officials.
  • OD-10: An AI gone rogue.
  • Odio: The Lord of Dark and the final boss.

Fandom

  • Some fans of the game call themselves "Live A Livers".
  • Fan chapters within eras of history the game hasn't touched have been conceptualized.
  • Indie game dev and composer Toby Fox referenced the boss theme "Megalomania" in his signature track "Megalovania". His games' main focus was on the pacifism vs. genocide gameplay, akin to Twilight of Edo Japan chapter. He would later have a interview with Shimomura.

Fandom Holidays

A day of each was dedicated to drawing fanart of one particular character, mainly on their IQ/Special Attack value.

  • 2nd: Oersted Day, the central character himself.
  • 19th: Matsu Day, the Taiyaki guy and big brother figure to Akira.
  • 24th: Mad Dog Day, Sundown's rival.
  • 25th: Masaru Day, the guy who wants to be the strongest.

Shipping

The only canon couple by far is Pogo x Beru.

The most popular overall ship worldwide is generally agreed to be Sundown x Mad Dog (SunDog, キドマド, マドキド). Other popular ships are Oersted x Streibough (OerBow, オルスト, ストオル) and Lei x Akira (AkiLei, アキレイ).

Westside Fandom Anti-Shippers

While the Japanese LAL fandom is generally accepting of shipping any of the characters together, for the rest of the world its frowned upon, in one of the most toxic examples. The most vilified ships in the Westside fandom often have to do with Akira (not helped by the fact that none of the characters' ages are officially revealed), most notably Matsu x Akira (MatsuAki, 松アキ), Oersted x Akira (OruAki, オルアキ) and those who selfship with Akira, to the point that it's acceptable for them to falsely accuse proshippers over committing pedophilia and threaten their lives. However, some Westside fandom antishippers have followed accounts on Twitter with fan content/ships they dislike.

Fanworks

Note that most fanworks are made before the remake's release.

Notable Playthroughs

Original Version

Fanfiction

Fan Comics

Fan Music

Fan Animations

Fan Games

External links

Fan communities and archives

Fan pages and sites

Resources

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