Review: Life is Strange Episode 2

Much has changed since we first encountered Max Caufield, a shy photography student at the prestigious Blackwell academy. As we open to dust dancing through the suns rays shining through her dorm window as she slumbers peacefully, we know a lot more is about to happen.

Kate Marsh, a quiet and reclusive student at Blackwell has recently become the star of a viral video in which she performs certain “acts” with a group of boys from Blackwell Academy. While this becomes the talk of the town amongst students, Max is also learning to control her powers, decipher her strange vision about the destruction about to befall her small town, and avoid the dangerous Nathan Prescott. A character who proves that there is nothing more dangerous than a rich “star student” with wealthy parents and a lawyer.

ss_dc4879bb7a8305411f089fc4fb9a605d1881a862Adventures with your delinquent best friend of old, Chloe Price, also take place in the latest installment of Life is Strange. We are given the opportunity to meet Chloe’s mother, and learn a great deal more about Chloe’s relationship to the recently missing Rachel, as well as gaining a few hints as to what may have happened to her. As one of the deepest and liveliest characters in the game, her appearance brings with it laughs and exciting antics as always. In a show of quality character building, players really get the sense that they know Chloe, I was even able to guess her reaction to a few of Max’s texts in game.

Out of Time has taken a much darker and somber turn, which has served to really solidify the players choices and make every click of the mouse feel meaningful. At times, characters lives literally hang in the balance, every event hinging on your choices. Life is Strange has taken a stab at some very real and concerning issues currently taking place in High School and College settings, from violence, to sexual assault, to suicide, and revenge porn. Each topic is handled with sufficient gravitas and handled ever so carefully. At no point does the player feel these elements were added for shock value, and with expert voice acting, real pain can be felt. With this empathy comes a connection to characters that adds even more weight to your choices.

One of my favorite things about Max is that she is a female hero, yet she doesn’t need to overcome being female. She is never compared to men, never once do you hear the comparitive words “…for a girl”. At the same time, her gender is never denied or washed away. The player will follow her through a range of emotion, from sad and scared, to downright angry and fearless. Players are not forced to be attracted to her in order to care about her, her personality will cause players to genuinely wish to follow this character. The range showcased by Life is Strange in terms of gender representation, diversity, and the incorporation of real life issues, is something that really needs to continue in games.

1423231325817Gameplay in episode 2 does not depart very far from the original. Players can still rewind time at will, but at times there is a price. In Out of Time, we see that Max indeed has a breaking point, limitations to her powers. After using her rewind ability too many times, her nose begins to bleed and she becomes faint. This adds another dimension to the seriousness of the episode and a lingering question packed with fear, “What if her powers give out at the worst possible time?”. Many of the choices made in this episode also have immediate consequences, rather than nebulous ones as in its predecessor. You will almost immediately feel the consequences of your actions, and they will undoubtedly ripple in future episodes.

Aside from these changes, the usual fare remains the same. The world around you is filled with clickables and clues, allowing players to dive as deep as they choose into the backstory of this carefully crafted world. Conversations play out naturally, with fun writing and excellent voice acting from the entire cast. My one complaint remains the same however, wanton and rampant use of slang. With such fluid writing, moments like these feel cheap and seem as though the game’s writers thought “that’s how the kids talk today, don’t they?”.

As always the musical accompaniment to your adventures in Arcadia Falls serves to compliment your experience.The score has become a huge reason for looking forward to the next installment. As I put in my earbuds and began Out of Time, a smile spread across my face as I was greeted with the familiar tone that has really given this series its own identity. Listening to the somewhat grunge-y and indie sound, you are transported back to your angst and rebellion filled teenage years. The mellow soundtrack also helps to create the calm and sleepy feeling of a small town.LifeIsStrange-2-2-2015-8-27-28-PM-149

At times, Life is Strange Episode Two suffers an identity crisis. Segments feel a bit too much like they are trying to be more like a stereotypical game than an interactive narrative experience. These moments stand out starkly from the rest of the title mainly due to how organically the narrative flows. Forced gameplay moments become jarring and give the sense that dev’s said “Okay lets place some gameplay here”. Another issue that really bothers me is that I get the itching feeling a forced romantic relationship is eeking it’s way into a story that can survive without it. Max’s friend Warren seems to pursue her endlessly, despite my every choice to turn him down and push him away. I understand that from a writing standpoint, giving a character a romantic interest creates a greater amount of risk, and a weakness in a hero. But after refusing to interact with Warren all episode, I felt cheated when he “makes a move” later on. I sincerely hope this is not a trend moving forward.

I have come to adore Life is Strange, both due to some subtle similarities it has to Kingdom Hearts(perhaps some of Square Enix’s influence), Remember Me, and because of its own charming identity. Every facet about it feels thoughtfully crafted, and thougtfully put together. From the setpieces and locations, to the games score, to the colorful characters I cannot get enough of, this title is a labor of love and it really shows. It is also a hallmark of what games can be, and how they can portray serious issues in a sufficiently serious manner, even if the word “game” is in the name. I look forward to seeing even more from Dontnod Studios.