Life is Strange

tok9

Man that is one ridiculously long decision tree!

Surprisingly I got through

without harming anyone

TetraxShard

Just finished the first episode there. Nice to have a more grounded game than Telltale's output of zombies, fairy tales, DRAGONZ and , er , whatever Borderlands is.

Very good overall. Some seriously good music at points. I love that Jose Gonzalez track that is on the hi-fi in Max's room (I think someone on the radio forum called it The Con Air Effect, deadly when it comes on at random). They use the rewind mechanic excellently, they make you feel guilt for every single choice, and the option to rewind is so tantalizing.

Was a bit weird with Chloe since I remembered her VA from another game, but it wasn't super obvious like say, Troy Baker or Nolan North. Turns out after a look at TV Tropes she was Cassie Cage in Mortal Kombat X.

Looking forward to playing the rest of the episodes that are out, then having a good cry when the wait is so long for the final episode.

J. Marston

Just finished the second episode there.

Man, that is probably one of the best instances in gaming of making you feel powerless. For two episodes I've been rewinding and seeing how different decisions play out and then it's taken away from at a crucial point.

Thankfully, I saved Kate though.

Edit: Nice touch too by the developers to mention support groups and how to contact them after the credits too.

J. Marston

Just finished episode 4. What the FÚCK?!

This game deals out gut-punch after gut-punch.

tok9

Looks like they are announcing Episode 5 release date today.

https://twitter.com/LifeIsStrange/status/645923485596950528

If they do, I really hope it's on or before the 29th as that's my last day before I get rid of the PS4 and head off. I'd love to complete this story first.

tok9

Aiming for a October 20th release date so that's me out

J. Marston

Played the first 4 episodes over the space of a few days a couple of weeks ago. Waiting another month is painful.

johnny_ultimate

Confirmed for October 20th. Fingers crossed it doesn't get lost in its own plot (think the teaser at the end of the last episode fell back on an overfamiliar reveal) and manages to tie everything together sensibly and intelligently:

https://twitter.com/lifeisstrange/status/651417313166684160

EoinMcLovin

Also the season finale for Tales from the Borderlands is out the same day as Episode 5

wyrn

I never copped that this is from the Remember Me devs. Nice.
Wasn't too gone on the first episode but I was sold by the second. Had the obligatory "WTF" moment at the end of the last one. Roll on the 20th!

MilesMorales1

Apparently there's already episode 5 spoilers around. Must not view......

wyrn

MilesMorales1 wrote: »

Apparently there's already episode 5 spoilers around. Must not view......

Thanks for the heads up. Only 4 days left before the storm hits

kunst nugget

Finished episode 4 at the weekend. Really didn't take off for me until midway through episode 3 - I persevered with it because I'd bought the season pass and I'm glad I did because the first two episodes were a bit tepid. The start of episode 4 was really well done but I wasn't entirely convinced by the end of episode 4. When I read about a big twist at the end, I guessed where it was going and tbh, it felt a bit cheap. Hopefully there's a good resolution to it.

tok9

Could someone post some non spoilery thoughts on ep 5 when you have completed it.

I need something to go off until I can play it next year.

kunst nugget

tok9 wrote: »

Could someone post some non spoilery thoughts on ep 5 when you have completed it.

I need something to go off until I can play it next year.

I'll post something up - it might be the weekend before I get to finish it off though.

MilesMorales1

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=usMneZLivTM

Few spoilers in there I guess.

wyrn

Very excited to wrap this up tomorrow. I kinda wish though I hadn't watched that trailer

MilesMorales1

I stayed up all night to play through episode 5, and it was so worth it, Don't Nod did it, they did a great episode 5 and a fantastic game.

kunst nugget

Downloading it now. Have a couple of hours off before an appointment so hopefully I can get stuck in to it today.

wyrn

It's just downloaded there and I am so tempted to play it

ERG89

wyrn wrote: »

It's just downloaded there and I am so tempted to play it

Why did they have to release this on the same day as Tales from the Borderlands.
This is getting played first later though. Looking forward to it especially after the Episode 4 ending.

kunst nugget

I played just over an hour of it this morning. Really enjoyable so far. Really making full use of her abilities in it.

MilesMorales1

Huge spoiler for episode 5

I sacrificed Chloe. I liked the kiss at the end. It wasn't some huge HEY THESE GUYS ARE LESBIANS thing, very understated, good stuff.

johnny_ultimate

I had feared the game would disappear up its own plot given the tired twist at the end of the last episode. But thankfully Episode 5 is something altogether stranger and more challenging.

IMO one of the series great strength's - beyond it's endearingly earnest attention to detail and very relatable portrayal of teenage life - has been its deconstruction of the concept of choice. While it presents us with familiar video-gamey choices throughout, in a way the more moral conundrums and alternate realities Max is faced with the more things spiral out of control. Instead - and this is something Dontnod double down in episode 5 - the series is almost sadly reflecting on the impossibility of Max's power, how it's luring her and Chloe into a false sense of security. But really these things aren't reversible - bad things happen, and everybody has to deal with them, however messily. Grief is also a prevalent theme throughout: Chloe trying to deal with her dad's death, and Max desperately trying to help her friend cope with it. But again it's not reversible, and

the finale in particular is quite affecting in the ways it portrays various characters learning to cope with tragedy and loss

. And in Max's case it's also about growing up, and moving on, looking ahead, as painful as the can be.

The series struggled at times trying to marry its more fantastical, pulpier elements (end of the world, mass abductions, murders etc...) with the more down-to-earth character driven stuff. But for the most part I think they carried off the finale confidently. The

nightmare sequence

was artfully put together (them birds!) if rather hoary in some other respects (some serious Twin Peaks fans in Dontnod, it seems!), but it build up to a poignant climax that gave the final, heartbreaking 'choice' the weight it needed. The heart of the game is the Max and Chloe friendship, and focusing back in on that, without cheaply resorting to a neat, happy ending, was the right choice for the closing moments.

Plenty of quirks all in all, but taken as a whole Life is Strange is one of the most significant experiments in interactive storytelling yet. An over-reliance on clichés and crazy fantastical elements aside (not to mention quite a few moments of clunky scripting or dialogue), it happily boasts the sort of detailed characterisation and relationships we simply don't get in games. It's also significantly better put together than, for example, Telltale's many games - the music, art direction, pacing and performances here were on a totally different level. It's almost certainly the most satisfying and rewarding episodic titles I've played, and very much looking forward to what Dontnod do next - whether it's season 2 (given the 'thanks for playing Season 1' message after finishing this, that must be on the agenda) or something else entirely.

Also - how many of their literary inspirations did you recognise on the Gallery wall?

MilesMorales1

Well I mean

Max's journey and power is basically pointless by the end, depending on the decision you make anyway. I chose to save arcadia bay (although I'm apparently in the minority there) and in that sense, except for reconciling Chloe to her fate, in the narrative it was pointless.

kunst nugget

I loved some of the little touches in the game. Like the way Max is wearing a tshirt of a death's head moth when she's on the dark room - a nice little nod to the Silence of the Lambs.

ERG89

How long is the final episode?

johnny_ultimate

Maybe a little longer than other episodes. Around two and a half hours.

johnny_ultimate

kunst nugget wrote: »

I loved some of the little touches in the game. Like the way Max is wearing a tshirt of a death's head moth when she's on the dark room - a nice little nod to the Silence of the Lambs.

Without spoiling anything, make sure to look for the bonus photograph when you revisit the school later on. It's a brilliant little mechanical gag.

EoinMcLovin

won't get to play this until Friday so am using the Unspoiler chrome extension to spoiler tag any mention of Life is Strange on any websites including Facebook and twitter

J. Marston

Finished it. I was worried that they wouldn't stick the landing for the finale after the previous 4 excellent episodes but nope, it was brilliantly done.

Chose to sacrifice Arcadia Bay, it took me a good 10 minutes to come to that decision too! Probably the longest I've deliberated over a video game choice. I know it was the wrong decision, morally and all that, and the universe has it in for Chloe so who knows how much time it bought Max and Chloe but I wasn't going to kill her!

The hopping through time and dream sequences were also very well done.

I remember seeing this game at the start of the year and thinking "Looks like a load of teeny hipster nonsense" but I had nothing to play after Witcher 3 and gave it a go and now it's a toss-up between this and Witcher for my GOTY.

Kerplunk124

Just finished there.

I chose to sacrifice Chloe, loved that ending myself. Big Foals fan so when Spanish Sahara came on i was dooone hahaha. I've seen the save Chloe ending though and that honestly looked like a bit **** and to sacfrice her seemed to be the ''real'' ending?..All in all though the surprise hit of the year for me, would love a season 2 with a complete different cast but maybe with some cameos from a couple characters like Frank and HIS DOG

tok9

Seeing some great feedback. Looking forward to when I can play this... Otherwise I hope they put it out on vita and I'll double dip!

kunst nugget

Got around to finishing this last night. It really was an excellent way to wrap it up. I thought that the ending of episode 4 was a bit of a cheap shock as you knew that Max could just undo it with her powers but they really expanded on that and the consequences of her actions in a big way. It was a fascinating and surreal and it packed a hell of a punch. Thoroughly recommend it to everyone.

MilesMorales1

If they do a retail version I'll happily double dip.

kunst nugget

MilesMorales1 wrote: »

Well I mean

Max's journey and power is basically pointless by the end, depending on the decision you make anyway. I chose to save arcadia bay (although I'm apparently in the minority there) and in that sense, except for reconciling Chloe to her fate, in the narrative it was pointless.

I enjoyed that aspect of it.

The notion that you can't escape fate - no matter what she did, she couldn't save Chloe and every time she tried the consequences became even more dire. It was really well handled, I thought.

I chose to save Arcadia Bay but I'm going to replay and save Chloe to see what happens.

kunst nugget

Kerplunk124 wrote: »

Just finished there.

I chose to sacrifice Chloe, loved that ending myself. Big Foals fan so when Spanish Sahara came on i was dooone hahaha. I've seen the save Chloe ending though and that honestly looked like a bit **** and to sacfrice her seemed to be the ''real'' ending?..All in all though the surprise hit of the year for me, would love a season 2 with a complete different cast but maybe with some cameos from a couple characters like Frank and HIS DOG

What a perfect song choice for the funeral.

wyrn

I started it last night but didn't want to fly through it. Dying to read all the spoilers

sheep?

Just finished it there and I was

quite upset over the decision I made to Sacrifice poor Chloe. Great ending, with no cherry sucking, ice cream filled syrupy option.

Very nice work from DONTNOD, and when I try to think about games I like that handle story well, I'll be thinking of this.

It's far from perfect, with some clunky dialogue in particular, but really looking forward to what they do next.

ERG89

Finished it this morning.

Chose to sacrifice Chloe even though I hated it I knew it was the right thing to do. Weird that a game like this made me think of the Scarecrow sections in Arkham Asylum. I wish there was more after the story which is a good complaint. I chose to hug Warren so I don't know where he and Max are. Did they ever 'Go Ape'. I like that when you are tripping out you got weird texts from Rachel Amber and even Pompidou. They say at the end thanks for finishing Season 1 of Life is Strange so I am hoping it means a season 2. With a new setting. Like True Detective except not being a disappointment

For anyone on the fence. BUY IT!
All 5 episodes are available so there are no excuses now.

sheep?

Just playing through E5 again there to get the photos I missed.

That backwards scene has a couple of great things I overlooked on the first playthrough. Like taking the reverse photo of the skeleton by opening your journal. Or the txt message from Jefferson:
"?eifles nmaddog eno in nrut ot ti si drah gnikcuf woH"

ERG89

1 week later this song is still stuck in my head

tok9

The soundtrack in this game is so good. It might be the best licensed soundtrack for a game. Not that it has the best music of any game but it fits the tone so well.

Adding that to my Spotify!

johnny_ultimate

The music was probably my favourite aspect of the game - or perhaps more precisely how Dontnod used music to create an atmosphere and contemplative moments. Using hip indie tracks to score emotional moments is no more nuanced than your bog standard teen movie, yet it's sadly telling that in a gaming context it still seems bizarrely revelatory. It's refreshing that Life is Strange takes so many 'time outs' to offer up some lyrical visual direction matched with a moody, emotive score. Much more than the game's trite thriller elements or the crude chaos theorising, it's the smaller, more understated moments that helped the series feel like something fresh and unusual.

J. Marston

Agree on the soundtrack, fits the game perfectly. Been listening to it non-stop over the last week.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1SK_17K-5sM

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vrXpFh2IHZY

Even the title screen music is great.

J. Marston

Sequel confirmed. Excellent.

Dontnod co-founder Alain Damasio revealed as much during this French interview, stating that—according to Reddit's translation—"I worked as a script doctor on Life is Strange developed by the studio DONTNOD and I will participate on Life is Strange 2 later".

We've known that Dontnod wants to do a second season/sequel for a while now, with co-Game Director and Art Director Michel Koch stating that they'd probably use an all-new cast if there were to be a follow-up.

http://www.pcgamer.com/life-is-strange-2-confirmed-by-dontnod/

Just finished this myself over the weekend. I enjoyed it but was left a bit deflated by the ending. Well not so much the ending itself, it was obvious to me it would go along those lines but..... no specific spoilers here but will tag it

given how much you impact on the rest of the story with your choices the end coming down to an A or B choice unaffected by anything else you did was unexpected and disappointing.

ERG89

www.eurogamer.net/articles/2015-11-12-life-is-strange-to-receive-a-limited-edition-retail-release
Waaaaaaaaannt

lawlolawl

ERG89 wrote: »

www.eurogamer.net/articles/2015-11-12-life-is-strange-to-receive-a-limited-edition-retail-release
Waaaaaaaaannt

Yeah, i don't usually rebuy games, especially ones that i have digitally, but this is getting bought.

It's more to support the devs and show that i would like to play more games like this.

In a year of traditional blockbuster sequels it turns out that the episodic indie adventure game about a teenage girl was easily GOTY. It reminds me of the year that Deadly Premonition came out and pooped on everything else i had played that year by being infinitely more compelling.

I actually find myself thinking about LiS a good bit still and that is unprecedented because i've been playing games since the C64 days and had become a bit jaded with the entire industry.

J. Marston

Would like a physical copy of the soundtrack so I'll probably get this too.