When I typically write a review, the opening line forms in my head long before I sit down to put pen to paper. It’s whilst playing that the words begin to manifest in my thoughts, where I lock them away to memory for use at a later date. All of this is to say that I’ve had a very different experience withLife is Strange: Double Exposure. It’s not that there are no words to describe just how wonderful of a game this is, it’s that an action more succinctly reflects how I feel. When I play or think aboutLife is Strange: Double Exposure, I simply smile.
While Max Caulfield may be struggling against a fresh cacophony of tumultuous emotions, all I feel is bliss and joy. It’s with Max that many of us began ourLife is Strangejourney, falling in love with this transformative and comforting series, and thus reuniting with the character offers the most wondrous sense of warmth.
After the events of the originalLife is Strange, which released back in 2015, a now-adult Max has joined Caledon University as the school’s artist-in-residence. After having to choose between saving Chloe or the town of Arcadia Bay, it’s clear that Max is throwing herself into her career in an attempt to leave the trauma of her time-rewinding days behind her. If only life was that simple. It’s not long before a freshly devastating event disturbs the newfound equilibrium of Max’s life, the death of her friend Safi. The death brings forth a new ability where Max can hop between two timelines, that in which Safi is dead and one where she’s alive. It’s up to you, as Max, to both solve Safi’s murder and prevent it from happening in the alternative timeline.
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Take a look atLife is Strange: Double Exposurein action below.
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As such,Life is Strange: Double Exposurefeels far more active than its predecessor which somewhat allowed you to sit back as events unfolded. Here, you’re going to have to have your brain switched on, and the game felt all the more enjoyable for it. You see, the two timelines presented to you via the game are wholly different. In one, characters are mourning Safi’s death while in another, it’s business as usual, so you can see why this would result in different outcomes and demeanors across the wide cast of characters.
Square Enix
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It’s a similar case inDouble Exposure. The thing is, without delving into spoilers - which I am not going to do, don’t worry - it’s difficult to convey just why this sequel’s story is so enthralling. All I shall say is that Max’s timeline-shifting power isn’t this tale’s only ‘strange’ component, but it’s via these larger-than-life abnormalities that Deck Nine has been able to craft a tale that reflects the colours that make up the canvas that is adulthood. Coming-of-age stories paint the picture that this is a period in our lives where we figure everything out, and that’s not true.Double Exposureis a comforting reminder that life can remain messy whatever your age. From struggles with identity to concerns over our status of belonging,Life is Strange: Double Exposure’s vast and diverse cast of characters allow us to beautifully explore the brushstrokes of adult life.
As I said, Max feels much more relatable this time around and while she’s just as adorable as ever, there’s a real tangible depth to her reactions. Even when the story ascends to some pretty bizarre places, Hannah Telle as Max - as with those bringing Safi, Moses, Amanda, Vinh, and Gwen to life - never resorts to melodrama. There’s a strong sense of believability in everything she says, and Telle’s is easily one of my favourite performances of the year.
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It would be remiss not to mention the elephant in the room, Chloe. There is no Max without mentioning Chloe and while I was someone who picked the option to save Arcadia Bay, that doesn’t mean I don’t care about Chloe. I care about her deeply, but is it fair to condemn everyone to death when Chloe laid down her own path? I’ve always felt not, and should I have saved her, I’ve never seen an eventuality in my mind where Chloe is grateful for being saved, when the consequence of that includes the death of her mother. Their relationship may be strained, but family is family. The point here is that the fandom has been concerned over how this choice will be reflected inDouble Exposure.
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My only criticism of the game is that while, yes, for the most part, this sequel infuses players with more agency, I did feel that that waned slightly in the final chapter. Certainly, players will - as is to be expected - make a major choice during the story’s climax, and I’m excited to get to talk about that in due course, but I felt the story did somewhat start to propel along with lesser need for Max’s powers to solve any puzzles. It would’ve been nicer to, I suppose, still feel a little bit more locked in at that point, rather than simply being dragged along for the ride. There were, in my case, also a few instances of visual stuttering but nothing that dramatically detracted from the game.
Square Enix
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Life is Strange: Double Exposureis a triumph. Deck Nine has crafted a game that’s grown with its audience, resulting in another entertaining larger-than-life narrative that somehow, despite its dizzying heights, manages to tap into the messy nuances that come with being an adult - covering all of the varying and wide-ranging emotions that don’t simply stop when our teenage years end. This is a more mature take on the series when compared to that original release, but it’s just as, if not more, fun and heartwarming. In overhauling Max’s powers and increasing player agency, Deck Nine only deepens our connection with the story, making us feel the highs and lows all the more vividly.Life is Strange: Double Exposureis a welcomed reminder that lifecan bestrange, but that’s okay.
Pros:Engaging story, Max’s renewed powers allow for more player agency in the story, a very juicy end tease
Cons:Puzzles tied to Max’s powers become less commonplace in late game, occasional visual stuttering
For fans of:Life is Strange, Telltale Games, Until Dawn, Detroit: Become Human
9/10: Exceptional
Topics:Life Is Strange,Square Enix,Reviews
