Life is Strange

The official introduction to the newest game in the Life is Strange series True Colors has just been released. Like many Life is Strange fans, I'm very excited and curious about the new game. Each Life is Strange game follows a different set of characters with a mysterious superhuman power that is possessed usually after a traumatic event in the game has happened. Players get to choose different decisions that the characters must make resulting in different outcomes for each scene and even for the whole game's ending. Life is Strange 1 and 2 are very different stories, but the story's similar style and reoccurring characters do tie the two games together.

Life is Strange

Back in 2015 when I first came across Life is Strange on Steam. What drew me to the game was peculiar reset power the the main character Max possessed and the option to choose different decisions throughout the game. At the time I was on a choose your own decision game kick. I was actively trying to find all sorts of games with multiple decisions and endings. Life is Strange was perfect for me because not only did I get to choose my own decisions, I could reset them if I didn't like the results without having to reload the game. As you play the game it becomes clear that the whole point of the story was that there has to be consequences for your actions.

The game follows a high school senior named Max Caulfield who has recently moved back to her home town of Arcadia Bay. Max seems to not be very confident in both herself and her photography. As she uses her reset powers, it seems as though Max is becoming more and more confident in herself. The power to reset time gives her a safe space to try out more confident and direct actions since all she has to do is reset time if she ends up regretting those actions. While I play the game I do see myself constantly resetting trying to get the best outcome I can. I mean who wouldn't do that? It becomes clear by the end of the game that there is a consequence to all the resetting that Max has done throughout the game.

Life is Strange: Before the Storm

Before the Storm is just a prequel to the original Life is Strange game. The game follows Chloe Price and her relationship with Rachel Amber and all the events leading up to the first Life is a Strange game. The story is great and it does pull on your heart strings. It is another decision choosing game with multiple endings, but there are no strange reset powers that were in the first game. I enjoyed the story as a prequel and recommend it if you enjoyed the first Life is Strange game.

Life is Strange 2

I loved the the first Life is Strange game so much that I had to try the second game. Even though it was clear that the story focused on completely different characters in a completely different town. The power that the new character wields is not a time resetting power at all. Which I saw online was something a handful of players did not like, but at the same time I think it was a good decision for the new game to revolve around a different power. The idea of a strange power being used to overcome whatever obstacle that occurs is something that helps make the game part of the Life is Strange series.

Life is Strange 2 follows the journey of two normal everyday brothers, Sean and Daniel Diaz. After being mixed up in a misunderstanding that resulted in the death of a police officer and the beginning of a new yet dangerous power that one of the brothers possesses. The two brothers set out on a journey to their father's home town of Puerto Lobos, Mexico. Just like the first Life is Strange game, players get to make decisions throughout the game. The biggest difference is that you can not reset the way Max did in Life is Strange. So the brothers do experience both small and great consequences to their actions. Your actions throughout the game do make a difference on the kind of ending you get. I know a lot of people didn't like the racism that the brothers, primarily Sean, experienced as they are very heart breaking. For me, I did cry during those uncomfortable scenes, but I feel like it does give a realistic representation of racism in America. The brothers meet many people who are loving, supportive, and understanding towards their situation. At the same time they also run in to a few extremely racist characters who give the brothers hell solely for being Latino. Even though both brothers were born and raised in the US. The racist moments are very powerful and heart wrenching for players which is probably why many players felt like it was too much. I think you also have to remember that the brothers encountered more good people than bad people throughout the game. Personally I really like the game and the fact that there were new characters and a new strange power that occurred in the game. I feel like it helps keep the series fresh and less repetitive. Players did get to visit Arcadia Bay for a split moment and they do bump into an old character from the first Life is Strange. The ending you got in the first Life is Strange game does make a difference on how Arcadia Bay looks and the back story of the reoccurring character in Life is Strange 2.

Life is Strange: True Colors

So far we've only been given a a short trailer that lasts for just about 3 minutess for this upcoming game. As an Asian American myself, I am very excited for the Asian America representation in this game with their new character Alex Chen. I am curious to see how the game will explore the character's Asian American background. Like they did with the Diaz brothers. The brothers were very American with some Mexican cultural background and only the older brother could speak Spanish. I liked this because I felt that that is typical for Americans with immigrant parents. Even though a person's parents or grandparents are from a different country. The person themselves are American and may not have all the cultural stereotypes that people seem to want them to have. So it will be interesting to see how they interpret this new character's identity. Just like the other two games there is a dilemma that the main character must face and a strange power that they also have. Unlike the other two games this character seems to have had this power even before the start of the game. She decided to conceal it up until the start of the game. There isn't much to go by from the 3 minutes of info we have so far, but the game looks like it will be good and we've already gotten a glimpse of an old character from Life is Strange: Before the Storm.