I played through this entire game the day after it arrived (from pre-order, because it sounded so interesting), and I'm not a heavy gamer. That should tell you pretty much all you need to know about whether you should get this game. It might be one of my favorite, if not FAVORITE, games that I have played on any platform. The storytelling, the visuals, and the gameplay are all fantastic! It sucks you in and doesn't let go. I liked this so much more than your typical "go around fighting baddies or completing missions" games. It probably took me a solid twelve hours to complete. It was intense, but I couldn't stop. Kind of like reading a too-good-to-put-down book.
As far as the story itself - yes, occasionally it takes some suspension of disbelief and overlooking of details that have been left out, but it's full of story that grips you and might sometimes ruin you emotionally. There were tears in my eyes and pulls on my heartstrings at several different points throughout this game. It forces you to make heartbreaking decisions. It forces you to consider every consequence that might come about from a decision. It's so much more than a game about angsty teenage hipsters, and it will surprise you. It is terribly interesting.
There are a couple small disappointments I had by the end (coming in with no knowledge of or expectations for this game), and I will mention them below the break, but they might spoil things if you haven't played (I will use no names, but it might still spoil when you play, so only read if you don't care). However, it was still an excellent game and I would WHOLEHEARTEDLY recommend it. I just wish more games like this existed. I love the style. You won't regret playing it.
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SEMI-SPOILERS IN REVIEW FORM BELOW
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So I still don't want to name names and give true spoilers in a review, because I don't want anyone to miss out on the experience of the game itself.
What I will say is that there were two things that were somewhat of a disappointment to me (besides the whole fact that the powers were never actually explained, nor a few other perplexing details).
First, the ending. Now, I've only played through one of the two endings (it seemed like there were just two final options anyway) - but they both seemed like they'd be equally depressing. Let's just say I went with the lesser of two evils. Sure, it's somewhat poetic, and I like sadness in my endings as much as the next person... but I wish they had at least shown a little more of the positive parts of the conclusion, rather than glancing over them. I'm left to kind of just assume the other things that went right from a few images, without the satisfaction of getting to actually see any of them play out in cutscene or play through them at all. That would've been the least they could do to compensate for the sheer depressing nature of the main tragic aspect of the conclusion - just give me a few extra minutes, a few more lines, a few more scenes of the less depressing stuff to counterbalance the main part of the ending. I think it would have added meat to the driving point that no matter the decision, there may be good as well as terrible consequences.
Second - and this is a little more spoiling, because you'll easily deduce who I'm referring to before you reach the ending of the game - I'm disappointed that the player isn't even given the option to actually "suspect" the true evil character. The heroine never even looks into this person or treats them with any suspicion, never even asks the questions - even though I strongly suspected this person probably by the third episode. Even when she should have begun to obviously at least consider this person in passing - you're just left to play dumb along with her. Granted, it's fairly clever, but it's not necessarily a great mystery experience for the player when you're not able to actually solve it before it's too late to do so.
Ultimately, these things didn't detract from the awesomeness of the game as a whole. 5 stars from me.
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From the manufacturer
Life Is Strange Standard Edition
Playstation 4
Follow the story of Max Caulfield, a photography senior who discovers she can rewind time while saving her best friend Chloe Price.
The pair soon find themselves investigating the mysterious disappearance of fellow student Rachel Amber, uncovering a dark side to life in Arcadia Bay. Meanwhile, Max must quickly learn that changing the past can sometimes lead to a devastating future.
- A beautifully written modern adventure game
- Rewind time to change the course of events
- Multiple endings depending on the choices you make
- Striking, hand-painted visuals
- Distinct, licensed indie soundtrack featuring Alt-J, Foals, José González. ..
Reviews with images
Excellent Time Traveling Adventure
If you ever watch films like Donny Darko or The Butterfly Effect, this game has the same theme of how constant time traveling is not what it's cracked up to be as despite the fact that you try to do right in the world; there's a balance in the universe and your selfish decisions to improve your and/or those close to you well-being or happiness may lead to misfortunes for others. Instead of a passive experience, you are able to interact with the story and make your own decisions on how parts of the story plays out.Gameplay is similar to the Tell Tale Series Games, Until Dawn or Heavy Rain/Beyond Two Souls. It's a choose your own adventure game where your decision impact future events by dialogue choices or actions you decided to do within the game. Unlike the games mentioned, Life is Strange does not have any Quick-Timed-Events (QTE) where you have to press a prompted button within a certain time frame. Instead it's more heavy on dialogue choices, and time manipulation where you rewind time to solve puzzles/ get through obstacles.Like other games in the genre, your choices does not impact the ending much as the game has only 2 endings, which is pretty typical for these type of games. Highest I've seen/played had 3 max. Your choices does lead to different dialogue choices later in the story, and may make you feel guilty about your decision as the outcome is presented to you. Most of the time there's no right/wrong or perfect scenario as there are consequences for you actions as it impact different characters and events in the story differently. There's a sense of loss and sacrifice within each choice, even with a loss there may be a silver lining that comes from it.Graphics are pretty decent. It doesn't go for ultra realism like Heavy Rain, Beyond Two Souls and doesn't go too cartoony/cell shaded like the TellTale series of games. I'd say it makes good balance between the two (just need work on the hair graphics). Good artistic vision in the game and a lot of details in the world design.Voice acting is very good. All voice actors comes out as natural and not read out from a script. Soundtrack is also amazingPSN trophies. Easy platinum as you just have to collect optional photo shoots throughout the game as well as finish the game to completion. The in-game journal gives you hints on how to find each photo shoot for each trophy. You can also search for online guides if you are stuck. There is a replay feature so if you skip one, you don't have go through another entire playthrough of the game.The game will last you 15-20 hours long depending on how much you're willing to explore the world and/or collect optional photo shoots for trophies. I'd say this game is a definite pick up for those who like the time traveling theme.
Top reviews from the United States
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Reviewed in the United States on January 23, 2016
Platform For Display: PlayStation 4Edition: StandardVerified Purchase
Reviewed in the United States on September 28, 2016
Platform For Display: PlayStation 4Edition: StandardVerified Purchase
Reviewed in the United States on April 30, 2018
Platform For Display: PlayStation 4Edition: StandardVerified Purchase
Top reviews from other countries
Nirmal l.
Sweet story
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Cliente de Amazon
Excelente juego
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khadyotan
Genuine product
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Ami
At first I thought this was a bad purchase bc of my initial impressions of the gameplay ...
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Donovan Aguilar
Una gran experiencia en cuanto a la historia del videojuego
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