Life is Strange - So is this GameWhen I first stumbled upon Life is Strange, it was at a friend's house, at 2 AM, looking for things to do on PSN. We had exhausted all of our options, and needed something to sate our curiosity for an hour or two before we went to bed.
We found a demo for a game called Life is Strange. It was one of those episodic games, the kind that Telltale has been pushing out like crazy. Only this game wasn't by Telltale.
We gave it a play (it gave the entire first episode away, free!) and we played it all night. Yeah, we forgot to
sleep, because we were so captivated by the hook, the premise. If you could turn back time (even if only on a small scale) what would you change?
We both realized, there wouldn't be much in the way of branching paths. The game just couldn't be that deep.
Before we knew it, episode 1 was over, and we wanted more. Intrigued, we bought in, a rare case of a demo actually convincing us to do something.
Every time an episode would come out, I would go by his house, and we'd go through the new episode. This lasted until Episode 5, because I moved across the country. For a year, I wondered about Max's ultimate fate, and what was up with the hurricane approaching Arcadia Bay (Sorry, that's not really a spoiler if you've seen basically anything about the game, and even if you haven't, it's not much of a spoiler, since they flat out tell you about it right away).
Then I picked up a copy for myself (so I could stop being a cheap ass). Finally finishing the game, I can say what has been on the tip of my tongue for the past year and a half. Life is Strange is one of the most solidly underrated games ever.
Graphics - 9
Even though this is not a traditionally beautiful game, with ultra realistic graphics or high resolution shadow effects, the game is beautiful. It takes a unique art style, and absolutely owns it. The town of Arcadia Bay feels alive, without needing the ultra-realism to make us feel like it is. It has to do with the little touches, the little blotches of color in the tree, on the ground, and in the background, how the characters are presented being.
The character design is on point, and even though they don't spend a ton of time developing minor characters, you get to know who they all are, because they stand out in their own ways, for the most part.
The art style, especially in the latter three episodes are all masterfully done. I can't say why, without spoiling, but it definitely feels as it needs to feel.
Sound - 8
Similarly to the graphical score, this is going to stand out a bit to traditionalists. It's not a knock em out score that's going to set the world on fire, but it does what it is supposed to do. It gets you in the mood, puts you in the setting, and makes you feel at home.
The ambient music is actually so good, that I use some of the official soundtrack in the background at home, because it is so relaxing.
There are more intense scores, of course, and they fit when applicable, but they do a fantastic job of getting their general theme across.
Additionally, the character voices are pretty well done. I especially like the voice acting done by Derek Phillips (Mark Jefferson), it is perfect, and you have to play the full game to understand why he's such a great actor.
Addictiveness - 9
I stayed up at 2 AM, playing the glorified demo for this game, and forgot to
sleep. Over a demo. For an episodic game.
I shouldn't have to say much more than that, but I guess I have to. It ties into how well put together the story is (something most time-travel stories do not have), and how simple and clear the controls and gameplay are. They go with a less is more approach, and let you fill in the blanks in a way that doesn't feel condescending or handholding.
This is one of those games that I replayed the first four chapters of, just so I got my own personal experience in the 5th. Even though I knew the entirety of the story to that point.
Depth - 2
The biggest flaw with this game. Once you beat it, there's not a ton to do. Go back and take pictures? But if you played like I did, there will be very few you haven't taken. Ultimately, there's just not anything that will have you going back to places you've been.
There's only two possible endings, and most of the choices you make just don't matter. One ending is hilariously underwhelming, when there's an argument it should be canon.
Story - 9
Just play the damn game. I literally cannot say anything without spoiling major things, just because of how complex the story can get even at its most basic points.
Time traveling girl saves her best friend from dying, needs to save a town from a tornado, all while navigating the deceptive town of Arcadia Bay, a place steeped as much in darkness, as in light.
Have fun!
Difficulty - 1
No game overs, impossible to "die", and only one or two times does something happen that you can't rewind. Spoiler: It means absolutely nothing.
The controls are simple, the gameplay is simple. It also happens to be one of the easiest platinums you can get, if you care about trophies.
GRADING FOR LIFE IS STRANGE
Graphics - 10% (10% of 9 is .9)
Sound - 10% (10% of 8 is .8)
Addictiveness - 35% (35% of 9 is 3.15)
Depth - 20% (20% of 2 is .4)
Story - 25% (25% of 9 is 2.25)
Difficulty - 0% (0% of 1 is 0)
Total - 7.5
Despite a lack of depth, I'm bumping the game up to an 8, for providing a glitch free experience. I'm sure glitches exist, but screw it, this game is really good, and a 7.5 doesn't do it justice.
Overall - 8.0
Life is Strange is a criminally underrated game in some circles for whatever reason. The story is relatively unique and it handles chaos theory and time traveling better than most medias do these days.
Graphics
9 Sound
8 Addictive
9 Depth
2 Story
9 Difficulty
1
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