October 28th 2024.
Life Is Strange: Double Exposure was a highly anticipated game, especially for fans who have been following the series for almost a decade. It brought back the beloved protagonist, Max Caulfield, from the original Life Is Strange, and promised a new story with new superpowers to explore. However, the game has received mixed reviews, with some calling it "hella disappointing."
The Life Is Strange series has always been a bit of an enigma, loved by some and criticized by others for its teenage dialogue, dramatic plot twists, and emotional soundtracks. In Double Exposure, Max returns to Caledon University, where her new best friend has been murdered. Ten years have passed since the first game, and Max's time-rewinding powers are no longer present. But she soon discovers a new ability: jumping between timelines, where her friend is still alive.
The series used to release episodes, similar to Telltale Games titles, but since the release of True Colors in 2021, the games are now sold as complete packages. However, the first two chapters of Double Exposure were available for early access, for those willing to pay extra. The game itself is almost twice as long as True Colors, but there have been reports of game-stopping bugs, leading to players having to replay sections.
The lack of marketing from Square Enix, the game's publisher, should have been a warning sign that this may not be the triumphant return that fans were hoping for. This is especially surprising since the game was developed by the same studio, Deck Nine, that created True Colors and the well-received Before The Storm.
The original Life Is Strange game was often compared to Telltale's The Walking Dead, but it was deemed superior in almost every aspect. The branching narrative, where players' decisions have consequences and affect the story and characters, was unmatched. And despite some cheesy dialogue, the characters of Max and Chloe were well-developed and relatable.
In the first game, Max had to navigate her new time-rewinding powers and unravel the mystery behind them. But Life Is Strange is not an action game; it's a game about choices, consequences, and empathy. The ultimate decision at the end was whether to save Chloe or the town of Arcadia Bay. In Double Exposure, players can choose to start the game with one or the other, but regardless of the choice, Chloe is not a significant part of the game, which has disappointed many fans.
The world of Caledon University is still a joy to explore, and the supporting characters are vibrant and diverse, making them the highlight of the game. This time, Max is not the only one with powers, and the game raises the question of what someone with less moral compass would do with god-like abilities. However, this plot thread is not fully explored, like many others in the game.
One of the most enjoyable moments in the game is when players can simply exist in the space, accompanied by the game's star-studded soundtrack. It feels like a throwback to the original game, complete with Max's beanie and angsty vibes. The song "Illusion" by Tessa Rose Jackson is a standout, but it also adds to the overall bleakness of the game.
While the supporting characters are well-established, it seems like the game doesn't know what to do with them. Some of the reactions and dialogue with Max are nonsensical and jarring, and it's hard to understand the characters' motivations. There are also moments where characters blow up at Max for her actions, but without a proper understanding of their relationship, it's difficult to make sense of it.
One of the biggest disappointments for fans who chose to sacrifice Arcadia Bay at the end of the first game is the absence of Chloe in Double Exposure. The game does not cater to those players and only offers small mentions and texts from Chloe, leaving fans feeling let down. The game focuses primarily on Max and her struggles with the consequences of her choices.
The introduction of Amanda, Max's potential love interest, has caused some controversy among Chloe purists. However, her voice actress, Samantha Bowling, does an excellent job of bringing her character to life. But unfortunately, her interactions with Max are limited, and her impact on the narrative is minimal.
Another character that seems to be underdeveloped is Vinh, leaving players unsure of his intentions and motivations. And in a strange turn of events, regardless of the player's choices, the game still pushes for a romance arc between Max and Vinh, leading to some potentially awkward scenes.
In conclusion, Life Is Strange: Double Exposure may not have lived up to the expectations of fans, but it still offers an enjoyable world to explore and well-crafted supporting characters. However, the game falls short in its execution of the main storyline and fails to properly address some significant plot points.
Life Is Strange: Double Exposure – a letdown that left fans disappointed.
It's been almost ten years since we last saw Max Caulfield in the original Life Is Strange game, and now she's back with a new story and new superpowers to explore. Life Is Strange has always been a unique series, loved by some and criticized by others for its cheesy teenage dialogue, dramatic plot twists, and emotional soundtracks. In Double Exposure, we see Max return to Caledon University, camera in hand, to solve the mystery of her best friend's murder. But this time, her powers to rewind time are gone, and instead, she discovers a new ability to jump between timelines where her friend is still alive.
When the series first started, each game was released in episodes, similar to Telltale Games titles. However, since the release of True Colors in 2021, the games have been sold as complete all-in-one packages. Double Exposure is almost double the length of True Colors, and although it's hard to say for sure due to a game-stopping bug, it seems to be around 20 hours long. This, coupled with the lack of marketing from publisher Square Enix, should have been a warning to fans that this may not be the triumphant return they were hoping for. Especially considering that the developers behind both True Colors and the excellent Before The Storm, Deck Nine, are also behind Double Exposure.
The original Life Is Strange game had a similar gameplay style to Telltale games like The Walking Dead, but it was considered superior in almost every way. The branching narrative, where your moral decisions shape the story and how characters respond, was well-crafted and the dialogue, although at times cheesy, made the characters of Max and Chloe relatable. In the first game, Max had to learn how to control her newfound powers, which allowed her to rewind time, and the consequences of her actions quickly became catastrophic. But Life Is Strange is not an action game; it's all about choices, consequences, and empathy. And it all culminates in a final decision to either save Chloe or the town of Arcadia Bay.
In Double Exposure, players have the option to choose which ending they want to continue with, but regardless of their choice, Chloe is not a significant part of the game. This has understandably upset many fans, as the world of Caledon University is a joy to explore, and the supporting characters are vibrant and well-developed. This time around, Max is not the only one with powers, and the game raises the question of what someone with less moral integrity would do with god-like abilities. However, this plot thread, along with many others, never feels fully explored.
One of the highlights of the game is the 'reflection' scenes, where players can simply exist in the space accompanied by the game's star-studded soundtrack. It feels like a nod to the original games, complete with Max's signature beanie and a healthy dose of teenage angst. The track "Illusion" by Tessa Rose Jackson is a standout, but also incredibly bleak.
Although Double Exposure does a decent job of introducing and developing the supporting characters, it seems unsure of what to do with them. There are moments where their reactions and dialogue with Max seem nonsensical and out of place. Some characters get angry with Max for her actions, but without a solid understanding of their relationship, it's hard to gauge the gravity of their responses.
Life Is Strange: Double Exposure – Who is Vinh?
The decision to remove Chloe from the game and break up the dynamic duo has caused quite a stir among players who chose to sacrifice Arcadia Bay in the first game. If you're one of those players, be warned that the game does not cater to your choice. The few texts and social media posts from Chloe, along with scattered mentions, are the only nods to her character. This game is solely focused on Max and the consequences of her decisions in the first game.
It's understandable that fans who were devoted to Chloe may be hesitant about Max's new love interest, Amanda. However, it didn't take us long to warm up to her. Her voice actress, Samantha Bowling, does a fantastic job of portraying Amanda as both cool and vulnerable, and we wish we had the chance to get to know her better in the game. Unfortunately, she only appears in short interactions that have little impact on the overall story.
Vinh is another character that seems strangely underdeveloped, as if the creators weren't sure what to do with him. Is he a good guy? What motivates him? Even the game itself seems unsure. And in a move that we haven't seen since Cyberpunk 2077, romance is almost unavoidable, regardless of the choices players make. Max will flirt with Vinh, and even other characters will comment on it, potentially leading to some awkward scenes depending on your choices.
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