It's all in the mind! Let's play Live A Live

So what kinda moves does the Master have, anyway?

Agreed!

Actually, I ended up playing the game for myself a few months ago because of this LP, and except for one or two gripes (mecha chapter! *shakefist*) I loved it. I think it might be one of my favorite RPGs now; it's certainly one of the more unique ones I've had the pleasure of playing, at least.

Also, the Kung Fu chapter is my favorite one in the game, almost entirely because The Master's theme is fantastic; it's probably one of my favorite things Yoko Shimomura has ever composed. (I won't link to it because I'm assuming Epithet will do so later on, but trust me, it's awesome.)

Now that we've got some Healing Herbs (I'm sure we won't need those) and our first pupil, we should head into town.



But hey, let's fight another tiger first.



Xin Shan Quan's pupils tend to rely more heavily on ranged attacks than he does. She Xing Quan is an example of that.



Squirrel Kick is the only move of his that isn't melee-only, and it lacks the additional effects many of his other moves have.



Let's go!







Lots of bad stuff happening. Another NPC tells us that there are some nasty-looking dudes camped out further south.

Another tells us of a rumor about healing herbs in the forest, though he warns that it's crawling with bandits.





Oh…

I think…I'll be all right.

Thank you, great Master!

We go around helping the other plague-afflicted people.





Someone barges through…





And he runs off.



That was my grandson…

He's a nice boy, but he's been acting strange these days.



Who's this asshole?

Yuan: Okay…



Yuan: …





Ruffian: What'd you say?





You e-even made me m-mug my g-g-grandma!



Yuan: N-no! I don't want to be a loser!













Master: You believe yourself to be stronger than this boy, correct?

Ruffian: Well, duh!

Master: I beg to differ. You are much weaker than he.

Ruffian: The hell you talkin bout?

I'm the Tiger King, and this kid's just a spindly pile of bones!

Master: Power comes not only from the body. In my eyes, this boy has much strength indeed.



Master: You still don't get it, do you?

It's all about the mind!

Lao Hu Zhi Wu hits in an area and does a lot of damage, on top of a chance of causing paralysis. It's great.



These guys are chumps.







This old guy! He's… The Xin Shan Quan master!



F-f-forgive me!











…oh!





Remember that power doesn't just come from the body.

I didn't say anything!



That wasn't the point at all!

We'll probably be seeing him again. We've got another town to visit, though!

There's another urban area in the east. Let's check it out.



What's up with that?















FATMAN is too nimble for our restauranteur.





Fat Guy: b-but, I'm broke…



Owner: Oh, Master!

Owner: Well, that's settled! You! Give your thanks to the Master!

If you try this again, it'll be your arse over my fire!





Fat Guy: I…I'm not exactly smart, so nobody would hire me. But because I'm so big, I get hungrier than most people.





Fat Guy: Huh?





Fat Guy: ….

Master: Despite your weight, you are very agile! I am impressed.

Fat Guy: That's…probably because I have to run away so often.



Master: You will need to do some exercise, of course.





Master: What is your name?

Fat Guy: Sammo! Sammo Hakka!

Now let me at that foooooood!



That's…that.



It's hard to gather the materials, and it requires a lot of patience to cook.

A tragedy.



What's this?

Yuan: Master!

Master: I admire your courage.

I thought, perhaps, that you could become stronger without my aid.

Your mind is already fierce, and your will to become strong is great.

That is real power.





Yuan: Oh…It's Yuan. Yuan Jou.

N-nice to meet you, Master!







So, which one of his pupils is your favorite? I'm asking for NO REAL REASON.

This was by far my favorite chapter. Can we vote yet?

I vote for Sammo

I wasn't that wild about this game when I played it--the designers had very big dreams, but I'm not sure how well I think they executed them. That said, I think the Cowboy chapter was my favorite.

I made Sammo the chosen pupil the time I played this. I vote Li Kuugo this time around.

This is maybe my least favorite chapter, because a "balanced" approach to gameplay puts you at a disadvantage. I get WHY, but I was surprised when it happened.

I've never chosen Li Kuugo before. You should go with her this time.

I was going to wait until they actually start sparring to start the votes, but I don't see why not. I'll edit this update to reflect that.

So far we have:

Li: 2
Yuan: 0
Sammo: 1

Sammo all the way

If we're voting now, I'll vote Li.

I'll help the popular vote stay popular: Li.

No no no no no. I've already seen Li. Let's change it up.

Also people he's a jolly fat guy how can you say no it's like Jack Black was in your game how can you say no

I'd rather vote for yuan, but Li.

Li because if you don't choose her the final chapter becomes a complete sausagefest

Yuan, if only because he seems like the one who would most be chosen if this weren't interactive.

Li won! This choice won't come into play for a little while.









Let's eat before doing anything else, Master.



Sammo: Aww….



Li: Hmph. You two had better not be wimping out on me.





Li: Right then, let's do it! I'll take you on!

Master: Li…

Okay, but don't go easy on me. My joints aren't that stiff yet!











This skill reduces a bunch of stats, including Speed and Con. Handy.





Li: Da…mn!

Sammo: Me! Me!











Monkey Fist sends the user back a space after the attack. I don't know why I'm using it here.



Lion Hand, on the other hand, pushes the target back. Much better in this situation.





SAMMO SLIME has appeared





Sammo: Mm…Mmph…

Master: Give me your best shot! Try to kill me!













Paralysis + damage is always nice.

This could be…Quite a lot of fun.



I certainly didn't expect this…

It's been a long time since I've been so physically exhausted, but this doesn't feel too bad.

It's a good tired.



Sammo: Is…Is dinner ready yet?

Master: You're…still hungry?

Next time: MORE FIGHTS

This will be a lesson in endurance.

The air up here is very thin. You may have some difficulty, but you will improve faster.



This is where your votes come in. Li gets two sparring sessions to everyone else's one.





Long Hu Liang PoWan debuffs a whole bunch of stats. There's a chance of getting their speed, con, int, level, and I believe power as well.



Sammo has a lot of area attacks. He takes more hits than the other pupils, too.



Fight in air this thin and you'll grow tougher than mountain scrub.





The master is experienced enough that it's hard to so much as hit him.





Long Hu Liang Powan gained!

Keep an open mind and you'll learn a lot.

His pupils actually pick up moves they get hit with when they level up after sparring. They'll start coming up with their own unique attacks later.







That's Li's first round done.

For the second round, I Lao Hu Zhi Wu her to death, and she picks that up.

(You won't be seeing it in her repertoire later since my emulator ate all the screenshots of the training bit and I had to redo it.)

She also gets an extra 5 vitality from the second match.



How was it? Tough, yes?

Li: Hmph…

I-it wasn't…that hard…



Li: You jerk…I don't need any help.

Sammo: No, no no!



I-I have to be kind to girls.

Li: You…called me a girl?

Ha…

Hahaha!



This scene: Who knows.



Sammo: Agility…I don't like this one?

I thought that was your strong point?

Yuan: Sure is hard to move around out here.

Li: Hah! This place is like home to me!

Or at least it used to be...





Kicks to the face teach you valuable lessons.



Spin spin spin spin…





For that you get another kick to the face.



And another! Squirrel kicku!



Only by getting kicked in the face can you truly master facekicks.

Learn to move through this brush and you'll be as nimble as a tiger.





Yuan picks up facekicks as well.

Li's first bout ends without incident.



I try to get her to learn Lion Hand from the second



But she ends up with facekicks as well.

She tried getting me with Lao Hu Zhi Wu in the second bout as well, but it missed.







Hmm? Where's Yuan?







Yuan…

Hehehe…



From this moment forward, you will obtain power by fighting directly with me.

Li: Yer asking for it, Gramps!

Sammo: Can we have more food after we train?

Master: This time…I will not hold back against any of you!

Yuan: …Oh no!





A firm stance…a fierce strike…This is LION HAND.

By this point his pupils can actually take out a fair amount of HP. They hit more reliably too.





Fight with all your strength and more will come.

Yuan's match ends fast.



Li lands a Long Hu Liang PoWan in her first match.



Squirrel Kick is a little redundant on Li since she has attacks the hit the same range. Oh well.





Worry not…

You were just…stronger than I'd thought.

Hehe, looks like I overexerted myself.







And everything was great forever.

Hahahaha. It sure was.

I dunno, I played in the woods a lot as a kid and I'm still pretty clumsy. If only grandpa had kicked me in the face more often!