It might seem hard to believe, but the original Life is Strange released nearly 10 years ago. Max Caulfield is finally back as the lead for Life is Strange: Double Exposure. I’ll admit the first installment is one of my favorite games of all time, as it pulled on my heartstrings with its captivating plot, moral dilemmas, and enduring, realistic character dynamics. It was, quite honestly, a breathtaking adventure that left a big impression on me. There have been a few Life is Strange games since then and, although they all have their own admirable traits, I wouldn’t go as far as to say any of them surpassed the original. Life is Strange: Double Exposure doesn’t provide the same emotional rollercoaster, but it’s still a decent installment in the series.
It feels like Deck Nine is aware Life is Strange: Double Exposure‘s audience has grown up, and the tone of the overall plot has a far more serious vibe to reflect this. The story picks up a decade after the events at Arcadia Bay. When we last saw Max, she decided to hit the road and travel the world, pursuing her passion for photography. Eventually, she gets scouted for work at Caledon University and settles into her new life in the sleepy town. But that all changes on one fateful winter night when Max discovers that her new best friend Safi has been killed, sparking a murder mystery. Not too long after, Max realizes she has gained a new power called pulse, allowing her to see an alternate world where Safi is alive. She can hop between these paradoxical timelines. Determined to discover what truly happened that night, she uses her newfound abilities to try and uncover who is responsible.
The narratives in the Life is Strange games are usually the titles’ strong suit. However, Life is Strange: Double Exposure had a glaring problem from its inception. Max and Chloe’s interpersonal dynamic was one of the key aspects that got us invested in the story and is a big reason why the original ending is so memorable. As a reminder, at the end of the first game, you are presented with an ethical dilemma clearly pulling inspiration from the trolley problem thought experiment. When arguably no decision is (supposedly) right or wrong, how do you create a story where the events in the new game hold true no matter which ending you picked in the original? This is a tricky balancing act and it would be challenging to make everyone happy, but I think the solution Nine Deck came up with works well.
In the opening chapter, Max is asked a series of questions, and you can pick what happened in her past. (Like if Max and Chloe were friends or childhood sweethearts.) This is an excellent way to inject your interpretation of previous events into the story. Depending on your answers, this will be reflected in the world. If you pick the reality where Chloe is dead, Max will often have melancholic internal monologues where she reflects on their connection and the time they spent together. On the other hand, if you opt for the decision of Chloe being alive, you will soon discover that the pair have broken up and been separated for some time. Both of these scenarios feel uncomfortably realistic and immediately showcase the more mature tone.
One of the first things I noticed while playing was how well this sequel nails Max’s character. Her mannerisms and how she talks are absolutely spot on. She may be a full-fledged adult now, but she is still the adorable nerd we once knew and has no problem delivering her sarcastic (sometimes cringy) anecdotes to situations. I felt like I was getting reacquainted with an old friend again and, if anything, think I got to know Max better as a person this time around.
In true Life is Strange fashion, at different parts of the story, you will be presented with scenarios where you can pick different actions to take, leading to the famous line, “This action will have consequences.” Seeing all the potential outcomes is interesting, but just like Life is Strange: True Colors, I wish some decisions had more implications for the overarching plot. Only a handful felt significant. The first chapter is a little bit on the slower side, as Deck Nine reintroduces us to Max and the gameplay mechanics. At the end of Chapter 2, there is a huge revelation that changes the whole discourse of the story, and that’s when the ball starts rolling.
My biggest critique of Life is Strange: Double Exposure is that Max and Safi only have a handful of scenes together. Max finds out her new best friend is alive in a different reality and then barely interacts with her, which feels really off. I wish we could have seen more layers of their friendship together, as there is good chemistry between these two characters. Having more scenes together would have also made some of the later moments in the game more impactful, as there are some jaw-dropping twists within the story, but I felt they don’t have the emotional climax they should.
For the most part, Life is Strange: Double Exposure stars a decent range of characters. Nearly everyone has their own secret agendas and motivations for acting in specific ways, which should keep you intrigued as you discover what is happening. Safi and Moses are the standout new additions by far, and you can feel their genuine connection with Max. My least favorite characters were Vinh and Amanda, who are ironically characters Max can romance. I found them uninteresting and didn’t feel like they were as fleshed-out as other characters.
When Max is not confronted with dialogue options, she must explore the campus and the surrounding areas while solving environmental puzzles to advance the story. This puzzle-solving process involves using the pulse power and jumping between the two contrasting worlds. Sometimes, you may have to talk to a particular version of a character to gain vital information or pick up items like keys to then use in the other reality. The puzzles are straightforward, and each one seamlessly weaves into the story.
Life is Strange: Double Exposure is also the most gorgeous game from the franchise so far, and it sounds lovely too. The characters also look great, and Max’s new design is superb. It feels true to her character. I thoroughly enjoyed traveling through all the locations, with my favorite being the snowy campus at Caledon University. It was stunning to look at. The music in all the Life is Strange titles is always exceptional, and Life is Strange: Double Exposure doesn’t disappoint. The tracks match the mood Deck Nine trying to portray at all times, intensifying those tender and important interactions. The best moments in the game would simply not be the same if the beautiful soundtrack did not accompany it.
It’s worth mentioning that I encountered a few performance issues on PC, though these were mainly frame rate drops. I noticed problems initially in a few scenes in Chapter 2, but it was nothing too detrimental to my experience. But in the first ten minutes of Chapter 5, the frame rate dramatically dropped. That did take away the kick from an impactful moment, which was a bit of a shame. Hopefully, this is something Deck Nine can address with a future patch.
Life is Strange: Double Exposure would always have high expectations projected onto it, as the original is perhaps one of the best emotional and narrative-driven games out there. The sequel might not be on the same level as its predecessor, but there are a lot of admirable qualities here. It’s great to see Max Caulfield return to the series, as she is genuinely an exceptional character. I really enjoyed the overall story, and there are some phenomenal twists along the way which you may not see coming. However, I wish Max and Safi had more scenes together, because it would have meant those impactful moments would have carried more weight. As long as you accept that Life is Strange: Double Exposure will not provide the same emotional whirlwind adventure as other entries in the franchise, you will have a good time.
Life is Strange: Double Exposure will be available for PS5, Xbox Series X and PC on October 29, 2024. There’s no release window for the Switch version yet.
When Max Caulfield finds her friend Safi dead in the snow, she tears open the way to a parallel timeline. Here, Safi is still alive - and still in danger! With her new power to Shift between two timelines – can Max solve and prevent the same murder? PC version reviewed. Review copy provided by company for testing purposes.
Life is Strange: Double Exposure might not have the same emotional impact as the original title, but it's still a worthwhile journey you shouldn't pass up on.
Published: Oct 28, 2024 03:00 pm