In the eyes of many, 2015 Life is strange It was an absolute sleeper hit. Released episodically across five chapters, the narrative adventure game was similar in context to games from now-defunct game developer, Telltale, and blew players away with an engaging story and relatable characters and relationships, along with a unique time-rewind system that allowed for experimentation when making decisions.
French company Dontnod Entertainment (known as Don't Nod since 2022) developed the first game and its 2018 sequel, Life is strange 2although rights holder Square Enix handed over the reins to the American developer Ninth floor To develop a prequel game for 2017 Life is Strange: Before the Stormas well as subsequent follow-up Life is Strange: True Colors in 2021. Three years later, Deck Nine returns in the latest installment of the series, Life is Strange: Double Exposureinvited Geek Culture to a preview event leading up to Tokyo Game Show 2024, where we had the opportunity to spend two hours hands-on with the title, and get a sneak peek at what's to come.
Maxine “Max” Caufield, the protagonist of the original novel Life is strange She's back, and she's definitely received a glow. Set 10 years after the original game, the withdrawn Max has grown into a confident and beautiful woman, although she is still haunted by the events of the first game. As a direct sequel to the original game, which allowed players to make choices in the game that charted different endings based on the paths taken, this follow-up will respect the choice players made at the end of the first title, and adapt to each. ending.
The jump from Unreal Engine 3 and then to 5 now has certainly done wonders in boosting the game's graphical fidelity, as the new game features more realistic characters (as opposed to the original's comic book art style). Some may feel that the shift to a more generic, realism-focused look may dilute the charm of previous entries in the series. However, more realistic character models help present more complex emotions, which is especially important for a story-focused title like this.
Likewise, the game's environmental details have also received an upgrade, with the first chapter's winter background featuring stunning snow and wind effects. To help players further enjoy the new graphical enhancement, the game also features interactive objects scattered throughout the environment that can be picked up and viewed from a 360-degree angle. Not only does this add an extra layer of immersion, but it also gives players greater context into the game's lore.
Music has always been a highlight Life is strange series, and here is no different. Although only one audio track appears in the preview, it succeeds in giving the scene an eerie and foreboding feel. There's no doubt that the title will continue the series' trend of brilliantly using indie soundtracks to enhance calm and tense scenes.
Unlike the original version which burned slowly, Life is Strange: Double Exposure It immediately presents a mystery for Max to solve. Vowing to never use her powers to turn back time after the events of the first game, Max moves away from Arcadia Bay but can't seem to escape her abilities, such as when her friend Safi was killed and left in the snow. Max tries to use her power again, but it ends up opening a path to a parallel timeline, where Safi is still alive, but still in danger.
With her newly acquired powers, Max is now able to travel between the two timelines, interacting with different versions of the same characters from either timeline to keep Safi safe in both, while also solving the overarching crime mystery. Unlike the first two games in the series, Life is Strange: Double Exposure It will ditch the episodic approach and instead offer players the full package right from the start, meaning players don't have to wait to experience Max's full adventure.
As with her age, Max will discover an evolution in her abilities and will gain many different powers this time around. Shift allows Max to seamlessly transition to either timeline, each identified by a colored icon, orange for the timeline in which Safi was killed, and blue for the timeline in which she is still alive. By moving between timelines in pre-determined locations, Max is not only able to interact with the different characters in each, but can also fetch items across timelines, which is the basis for solving puzzles and advancing the story.
In addition, moving also reveals very small details in the environment, as objects are placed in different locations or even in different states. In an example from the preview, a telescope owned by another friend of Max's, named Moses, appears in different circumstances between timelines. In the one where Safi died, it remains unbuilt, gathering dust in his office as he mourns, while in the other it is currently in the final stages of construction.
Identifying differences in objects around the game world is also an important part of puzzle solving, as players need to manage both timelines and their associated objects to progress. To help with this, Max also has a pulse ability and can see parts of both timelines with the push of a button. This useful ability allows players to not only know which objects are in one timeline and not in another, but also the locations and movements of characters in both timelines. Using this ability was critical to avoid detection in a hidden sequence during the preview.
Finally, Max can swap objects between timelines. In the preview chapter, swapping the aforementioned telescope with its timeline counterpart served as a means of distracting the investigator, who was confused to see the telescope appear right before his eyes. It will be interesting to see how this mechanism is implemented, as the exchange occurs in real time and perhaps in front of bystanders. It's also unclear if there are any consequences for allowing too many characters to see things being switched, and if that could lead to them realizing that something isn't quite right.
The new powers also mean that Max has seemingly lost her previous ability to rewind time (or rather, has completely suppressed it). Although this has not been confirmed due to the current lack of information, it would be a great shame not to mention the return of the iconic powerhouse. Rewinding time was more than just a gimmick because it allowed players new to the genre of choice-driven narrative adventures more flexibility, as they could undo their decisions to see how all the choices played out. Without something equivalent, the title will undoubtedly lose some of the charm that made the original so beloved.
Narrative-wise, the short duration of the preview event meant that unfortunately there wasn't enough time to fully understand the game's plot (this was done intentionally, of course, to avoid too many spoilers), but it included a fair bit of dialogue, and what happened ? The show was largely positive. The interactions between Max and her companions feel natural, with Moses being a standout, effectively portraying the socially awkward astronomy nerd, who ends up being rather adorable.
Actress Hannah Tilly returns as the voice of Max, and does an impressive job, portraying the older character with a more confident and candid touch. However, there are some mistakes here, especially during the conversation with Max and the police detective. There are dialogue options here for Max's clever words, but the results feel unnatural, as the entire conversation ends up being rather funny which ruins the tone it was going for.
Despite this, the preview still does an excellent job of providing an introduction to the game's new mechanics, all while showcasing enough of the story to capture interest and build anticipation. Players won't have to wait long either to continue Max's journey for themselves Life is Strange: Double Exposure It is scheduled to be released in October 29, 2024 For PlayStation 5, Xbox Series
Kevin is a reformed PC Master Race player with a penchant for perks as “losers”. Darksiders III and Dead space 3. He made it his lifelong mission to play every major release of gaming – lest his wallet die trying.
