Review: Life Is Strange: Double Exposure is a worthy sequel

It may seem hard to believe, but the original Life is strange released almost 10 years ago. Max Caulfield finally takes the lead again Life is strange: double exposure. I admit that the first part is one of my favorite games of all time, as it touched my heart with its compelling plot, moral dilemmas, and enduring, realistic character dynamics. It was, honestly, a breathtaking adventure that left a big impression on me. There have been a few Life is strange games since then and while they all have their own admirable qualities, I wouldn’t go so far as to say that any of them have surpassed the original. Life is strange: double exposure doesn’t offer the same emotional rollercoaster, but it’s still a decent entry in the series.

It feels like Deck Nine knows Life is strange: double exposureThe film’s audience has matured, and the tone of the overall plot has a much more serious vibe to reflect this. The story begins ten years after the events of Arcadia Bay. When we last saw Max, she decided to hit the road and travel the world, pursuing her passion for photography. Eventually, she is scouted for work at Caledon University and settles into her new life in the sleepy town. But that all changes one fateful winter night when Max discovers that her new best friend Safi has been murdered, leading to a murder mystery. Not long after, Max realizes that she has been given a new power called Pulse, which allows her to see an alternate world in which Safi lives. She can jump between these paradoxical timelines. Determined to discover what really happened that night, she uses her new skills to discover who is responsible.

The stories in the Life is strange games are usually the strong point of the titles. However, Life is strange: double exposure had a big problem from the start. Max and Chloe’s interpersonal dynamics were one of the main aspects that kept us invested in the story and are 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 inspired by the thought experiment of the trolley problem. If no decision is (supposedly) right or wrong, how do you create a story where the events of the new game remain true, regardless of which ending you chose in the original? This is a tricky balancing act and it would be a challenge to make everyone happy, but I think the solution Nine Deck has come up with works well.

In the opening chapter, Max is asked a series of questions, and you get to choose what happened in her past. (As if Max and Chloe were friends or childhood sweethearts.) This is a great way to inject your interpretation of previous events into the story. Depending on your answers, this will be reflected in the world. If you choose 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 go with the decision that Chloe is still alive, you will soon discover that the couple has broken up and has been divorced for some time. Both scenarios feel uncomfortably realistic and immediately reveal the more mature tone.

One of the first things I noticed while playing was how well this sequel reflects Max’s character. Her mannerisms and the way she talks are absolutely perfect. She may be a full-fledged adult now, but she’s still the adorable nerd we once knew and has no problem telling her sarcastic (sometimes creepy) anecdotes about situations. I felt like I met an old friend again and I think I got to know Max better as a person this time.

In truth Life is strange Fashion, in different parts of the story you are presented with scenarios where you can choose different actions to take, leading to the famous line: “This action will have consequences.” It’s interesting to see all the possible outcomes, but just the same Life is strange: true colorsI wish some of the decisions had more implications for the overarching plot. Only a handful felt important. The first chapter is a bit on the slower side, as Deck Nine reintroduces us to Max and the gameplay mechanics. At the end of Chapter 2, there’s a huge reveal that changes the entire plot of the story, and that’s when the ball starts rolling.

My biggest criticism of Life is strange: double exposure is that Max and Safi only have a handful of scenes together. Max discovers that her new best friend lives in an alternate reality and barely interacts with her, which feels really strange. I wish we could have seen more layers of their friendship together because 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 breathtaking twists in the story, but I felt they didn’t have the emotional climax they should have.

For the most part Life is strange: double exposure stars a fair number of characters. Almost everyone has their own secret agendas and motivations for acting in a specific way, which should keep you intrigued as you discover what’s happening. Safi and Moses are by far the standout new additions, and you can feel their genuine bond with Max. My least favorite characters were Vinh and Amanda, ironically they are characters that Max can have a romance with. I found them uninteresting and didn’t feel like they were as fleshed out as other characters.

When not faced with dialogue options, Max must explore the campus and surrounding areas while solving environmental puzzles to progress the story. This puzzle-solving process uses the pulse force and jumps between the two contrasting worlds. Sometimes you may need to talk to a certain version of a character to gain vital information or retrieve items such as keys to then use in the alternate reality. The puzzles are simple and all fit seamlessly into the story.

Life is strange: double exposure is also the most beautiful game in the franchise so far, and it sounds beautiful too. The characters look great too and Max’s new design is fantastic. It feels true to her character. I thoroughly enjoyed traveling through all the locations, with my favorite being the snowy campus of Caledon University. It was beautiful to watch. The music in all Life is strange titles is always exceptional, and Life is strange: double exposure does not disappoint. The songs match the atmosphere that Deck Nine tries to portray at all times, enhancing the tender and important interactions. The best moments in the game simply wouldn’t be the same without the beautiful soundtrack.

It’s worth mentioning that I encountered a few performance issues on PC, although this was mainly a drop in frame rate. I initially noticed issues in a few scenes in Chapter 2, but it wasn’t that detrimental to my experience. But in the first ten minutes of Chapter 5, the frame rate dropped dramatically. That took away the kick from an impactful moment and that was a bit of a shame. Hopefully this is something Deck Nine can address with a future patch.

Life is strange: double exposure there would always be high expectations placed on it, as the original is arguably one of the best emotional and narrative games out there. The sequel may not be on the same level as its predecessor, but there are many admirable qualities here. It’s great to see Max Caulfield return to the series because she really is an exceptional character. I really enjoyed the overall story, and there are some phenomenal twists that you might not see coming. However, I wish Max and Safi had more scenes together because that would have meant those impactful moments would have had more weight. As long as you accept that Life is strange: double exposure won’t deliver the same emotional whirlwind adventure as other entries in the franchise, you’ll have a good time.

Life is strange: double exposure shall are available for PS5, Xbox Series

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