You’re caught in a conflict between two tribes, but everyone communicates through grunts, gestures, and images that pop up in dialogue boxes. The prehistory section (called “The First”) features a wide field with random encounters, which itself feels like a precursor to the open-world games that’d come far later, especially when you use your hero Pogo’s strong sense of smell to sniff out enemies or items. Live A Live plays with a staggering variety of story and gameplay genres, culminating in a cosmic-scale final chapter that unites all of our heroes against a demon king. Live A Live feels more experimental and less immediately likable by comparison, but any Chrono Trigger fans out there will find a lot to love in these tightly packed stories - doubly so if they’re also fans of Octopath Traveler, which takes a similarly anthologized approach to story structure. Takashi Tokita, who also directed Chrono Trigger, directed both the original and this remake. Various artists designed the lead cast for each section as well. Live A Live features seven stories, each with its own unique protagonist and setting.

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