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Title: Life Is Strange
Developer: DONTNOD Entertainment (Remember Me)
Publisher: Square Enix
Platforms: PC (Steam), PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360
Genre: Graphic adventure
Distribution: Download
PRICING:
One Episode: $4.99 / €4.99 / £3.99
Season Pass (Ep. 2-5): $16.99 / €16.99 / £13.99
Complete Season Pass (Ep. 1-5): $19.99 / €19.99 / £15.99
PC Requirements:
Minimum requirements:
OS: Windows Vista
Processor: Dual Core 2.0GHz or equivalent
Memory: 2 GB RAM
Graphics: ATI or NVidia card w/ 512 MB RAM (not recommended for Intel HD Graphics cards)
DirectX: Version 9.0
Hard Drive: 3 GB available space
Recommended:
OS: Windows 7
Processor: Dual Core 3.0GHz or equivalent
Memory: 2 GB RAM
Graphics: ATI or NVidia card w/ 1024 MB RAM (NVIDIA GeForce GTX 260 or ATI HD 4890)
DirectX: Version 9.0
Hard Drive: 3 GB available space
Life is Strange is a five part episodic game from DONTNOD Entertainment that features story based choice and consequence by allowing the player to rewind time and affect the past, present and future. You are Max, a photography senior who saves her old friend Chloe by discovering she can rewind time. The pair soon find themselves exposed to the darker side of Arcadia Bay as they uncover the disturbing truth behind the sudden disappearance of a fellow student. Meanwhile, Max begins to have premonitions as she struggles to understand the implications of her power. She must quickly learn that changing the past can sometimes lead to a devastating future.
During gameplay you are free to explore the many different locations that the game features, such as the campus ground, school halls, dormitories, as well locations outside the school. By approaching objects or persons of interests a context menu will pop up, allowing Max to comment or interact with the highlighted object. As the story unfolds, Max will have to make many choices, of which some will have consequences for the future. An unique feature of Life is Strange is Max's ability to rewind time. Once a choice has been made, you can watch how the scene unfolds and if desired, rewind time and make a different choice to see the other option. Even though it seems like cheating, there is no "right" choice, and there is no way to predict what kind of consequences a choice will have in the long run. The time rewind mechanic can be used any time, and is also used for solving small puzzles.
The game features a distinct licensed indie soundtrack, with songs by Syd Matters, Mogwai, alt-J, José González, Sparklehorse and Bright Eyes, as well as original composed pieces.
The developers are aiming to release a new episode every six weeks.
There is a demo of the first episode available on PSN and Xbox Marketplace.
Max Caulfied is the protagonist of the story and the character you control. After a five year absence from her hometown, Arcadia Bay, she returns to attend a photography class at Blackwell Academy. Although she doesn't consider herself to be an introvert, she likes to observe people from a distance rather than interacting with them face to face. She shoots her photos using a Polaroid camera, specifically the one she received as a present from her parents.
Chloe Price is the childhood friend of Max and best friend of the missing Rachel Amber.
Rachel Amber was the darling of the university and its students until she mysteriously disappeared one day.
Victoria Chase is one of the students of the photography class Max attends. She comes from a high background and is called the "queen bee" of the school.
Kate Marsh is one of the students of the photography class at Blackwell Academy and a friend of Max. Because of her openness about her religious beliefs she is often bullied by the other students.
Originally Posted by Screenshots (Right click + View image for full size)
Metacritic page
Review Thread (GAF)
Following reviews are for episode 1 only.
Polygon - 8/10
Colin: It's odd because I've done nothing but criticize this game. And yet, I admire its courage and I enjoyed playing it. I want to go back for more. It's aimed for an indie-movie meets teen-TV aesthetic, but even while it sometimes misses the mark, it's still a novel and fresh experience. And, at the end of this first episode, I enjoyed the world and I liked the characters enough to want to come back for more.
Megan: I feel the same. Despite its shortcomings, there's a powerful kind of nostalgia I draw from its characters and world. The time travel aspect is cool, no doubt, but I'm down with the little things. I've enjoyed spending time in the complicated life of a teenage girl, because it reminds me of what it was like to be one. It's the first game I've ever played where I felt that my life was represented on screen - even at its weakest points. Life is Strange uses the ordinary in a way that is extraordinary.Kotaku - No score
There's space in later episodes for Life is Strange to grow in confidence, and I hope it does. All the same, episode one is a promising start to a type of story that's rare in games, and not just because it stars two teenaged girls. For the price—and especially with a demo available—you should definitely try it.Gamespot - 7/10
Life is Strange sets the stage for later conflict, foreshadowing the storm to come and informing you of a young local woman gone missing. At the same time, the game makes everyone look like a guilty party. The rich frat boy with a gun, the smug school administrator, the stepdad in need of anger management skills--these and other characters have plenty to hide, though it’s impossible to guess what all their secrets might be. The looming tornado and the inconsistent time mechanic seem almost unnecessary as a result, for Life is Strange’s most important drama is the one developing in Max’s own mind.Game Informer - 8.5/10
The next episode will surely define what Dontnod is out to accomplish, but Life is Strange’s introduction is a good look at the characters and dilemmas. It did its job of getting me interested. I have some minor concerns about how original the subject matter will turn out to be, but the focus on realistic problems is refreshing and the care put into Maxine’s world and the relationship-building holds plenty of promise.Destructoid - 8.5/10
For now, we're left with our first glimpse at Arcadia Bay, our initial look into the life of Max. It was a slow, yet well-paced initial chapter that set the table more than anything else. There's no telling where the story will go from here. But, as Chrysalis faded out, an indie song played that felt wonderfully at home in this setting, and served as a warning of things to come. It chanted "We will foresee obstacles, through the blizzard, through the blizzard.
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