Life Is Strange: Episode One - Review

Title: Life Is Strange

Platform(s): PlayStation 4, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, Xbox One, PC

Release Date: January 30, 2015

ESRB: M

Life Is Strange is a game that stands on its own, if only because major jock games are only interested in shooting things and don't understand the delicacies of real art. At least, that's what this interesting episodic indie game by developer Dontnod would have you believe as it throws countless references to artists and unheard-of musicians your way during its first episode. Life Is Strange is a visually striking game that consistently charms its players and coaxes them into relating with its characters. Its slow pace and emphasis on exploration may not appeal to everyone, but for those willing to forgive a story that hasn't quite found its wings yet and a game with sometimes questionable mechanics, Life Is Strange's first episode will offer a fun tale that hints at being something much more. Like most teenagers, the game has potential to be great, it just hasn't found its way yet.

The first episode of Life Is Strange, called “Chrysalis,” introduces us to main character, Max Caufield. Caufield is a very shy girl who has just returned to her hometown of Arcadia Bay, Oregon, to attend Blackwell Academy for Photography. Taking place only a few weeks into her first semester, Caufield is up against the popular kids as well as the pressure of living up to her potential with her camera and scholarship. Things get bizarre for Caufield when she witnesses the murder of her best friend, Chloe, and yet is inexplicably able to reverse time in order to save her.  As things get more and more complicated within the town of Arcadia Bay, it seemingly falls onto Max to sort everything out.  With an uneasy future hanging in the balance, Max must uncover the town's dark secrets and put old demon's to rest. 

The story of Life Is Strange has enough layers to be intriguing, but by the time the credits roll on this first episode, it just feels as though it hasn't yet hit its stride. The interpersonal interactions between students at Blackwell feel honest and believable, as if these are conversations and struggles real teenagers would have and would think were important. Kids often use teenage slang that sounds cheesy and yet make these people feel more honest. I found myself walking around campus talking to as many kids as possible, soaking in all the different personalities I could. But, the overarching tale involving time travel and murder doesn't offer enough in this first episode to feel like I'm hooked in, even with the obligatory cliff-hanger at the end. There's an emphasis on character development in “Chrysalis,” that seems to say that players need to know as much as possible about these people before the story really takes off within later episodes.

The world of Life Is Strange is best described by the word, “vibrant.” The game feels almost as if you are playing a water color painting. Autumn in Arcadia Bay pops off the screen and it's worth it to take time to look around the environments, relishing in a game that uses a diverse color pallet rather than just gray and brown. Taking influence from indie movies, there is a film-grain look to the game that gives it a unique and intimate feel. Character models look great, having the same water color look as the world, though it's about 50/50 in the acting department with some being really good and some being cringe-inducing. Something I did find to be very distracting was that character mouths did not move in sync with what was being said, and often times they didn't look like they were moving much at all. I found myself constantly staring at these mouths that looked stretched thin and unable to move in any natural way or shape.

Life Is Strange employs both an original soundtrack by Jonathan Morali, from the French band, Syd Matters, as well as licensed music that add to the over-all atmosphere and mood of the game. When Max slips in her headphones to cancel out the noise around her or plays music over a stereo, you are put into her head and share in her emotions. A scene that really stands out as especially potent due to the soundtrack has Max exploring a house, simply in search of tools, as the song “Santa Monica Dream,” by duo, Angus and Julia Stone plays. Without giving too much away about the story, this follows a scene where Max deals with the unfamiliarity of being with some one after many years of absence from their lives and trying to reestablish a connection. The use of a song about the different paths of lives puts you in Max's shoes to understand what conflicting emotions she must be feeling about her reintroduction to this person.

It's not enough to say that Arcadia Bay feels lived in. Rather it feels inhabited by these different personalities. Max's dormitory caters to her individual interests and likewise for other characters. A lot of time has been taken to make it feel as though these kids are truly their own person with their own interests, styles, and mannerisms. Max is not a strong lead, but she is self-aware and while she is not popular, she is passionate about her interests. She is an unlikely hero, easy to relate to for those who may be outcasts themselves. I think later episodes will develop her into a fan favorite as she speaks to and for the people just like her.

Gameplay in Life Is Strange is based around exploration and is far more slow-paced than many gamers may be used to. Exploring every inch of the world is encouraged and approaching an item/person of interest prompts different choices you can make in action/conversation, which are tied to different button options. Like other heavy decision based games, Life Is Strange's choices offer drastically different outcomes. For example, do you make fun of the girl who bullied you a scene prior or do you comfort her when she herself is embarrassed in front of her friends? Each choice will have a different outcome and it is up to you to deal with the possible ramifications. The outcomes of your choices may often result in violent or damning consequences, so it is important to put thought into what you are going to do or say in Life Is Strange.

Once Max is aware of her ability to control time, you as the player are given the choice to go back in time at any point. This can be used to try to avoid an impending doom or to change the choice you have made if you feel your outcome may have negative connotations. Out of this came one of my biggest qualms with Life Is Strange. Max has inner-monologues with herself when decisions are made and will say whether or not she thinks a choice was right or wrong. She will further go on to remind players that she can reverse time and change her choice and the outcome of what she has done. This really takes away from the weight and potency of being torn between two choices. If you make a choice and you hear Max tell you that maybe you should reverse time and change what you did, instinct tells you that you've done something wrong and you need to fix it. I did my best not to use this redemption as a crutch during my playthrough and when I made a choice, I tried to stick with it. I recommend other players do the same as it is rewarding to make the choices you believe are right. I think the ability to reverse time is used well during other points in the game, like when it is employed during action segments. But I think the temptation to reverse time whenever you think you have made the wrong choice really takes away from the importance of thinking before you make a possibly game-altering choice.

Life Is Strange has set itself up to be something really special in later episodes. It is a unique little game that sets itself apart in style and presentation, taking the “Indie” in “Indie Game” to heart. Time will tell if the game lives up to its potential set in this first episode. But I think as of “Chrysalis,” it's off to a good start. I can only hope that in later episodes the game's story can really get off the ground and accomplish what is seems to want to do, which is be a moving story about friendship and what it feels like to be alone in the world. Life Is Strange hasn't left the gate swinging, but it is unique enough to hold players interest enough to check out later episodes as it blossoms into something far better.

7 out of 10

Very Good. This game is worth playing, but it may have unforgivable issues that hinder it from cracking the top three. It may be a fun game in the moment, but also may be forgettable in the end.