Life is Strange: A Gripping Prequel with One Major Flaw

Hello everyone!

I'm a bit embarrassed to admit it, but during the lockdown, when I had all the free time in the world, I dove headfirst into the world of Life is Strange. The first game was a total blast, and then I found out there were more parts to it. How could I possibly resist?

I'll remind you that Life is Strange is an interactive movie where the player makes their own choices, and those choices determine the direction of the story. The game was a mix of teenage drama, romance, fantasy, and even a bit of mystery. What really drew me in was the ability to control time.

The game Life is Strange: Before the storm kept the same tone as the first part, but this time it's just a game series without the ability to manipulate time or change your choices. We meet Chloe Price, a close friend of Mackenzie Caulfield from the first part.

From what I understand, this part was developed by different people, and in a way, that explains most of the plot inconsistencies that many players have noticed. Is the prequel better than the original? My answer is no, it's not. This is just my opinion, which might not match others. Everything that was subtle in the first part is missing in the prequel. Add to that the character of one of the heroes, who wasn't exactly my favorite in the first part, and he just freaked me out in this one - and you get a rating below five stars.

The rest of the game is pretty similar to the first part - same episodic structure (three episodes plus a bonus), same interaction with the environment, and same opportunities to make key choices.

I think the game shouldn't pose any difficulties, even for those who haven't played the first part.

There are no spoilers for this part, but if you haven't played the first part and want to start your acquaintance with this world from the prequel, it's better not to read this review, as there may be spoilers for the first, original part even in the official annotation.

Screenshots were taken using the Fraps program._____________________

STORY

Arkhaven Bay - a cozy little place in the state of Oregon (according to the game's canon, a fictional town heavily inspired by Twin Peaks from the TV series).

Chloe Price, a high school student we met in the original part, is trying to find the strength to cope with the tragic loss of her father, but it's all in vain. She's struggling with her grades, and booze and drugs are becoming increasingly attractive. Her mom has already moved on from her husband's death and is now dating someone new.

And to make matters worse, there's this girl. Rachel Amber.

A dragon made of diamonds.

Someone you can't just forget.

If I'm being honest, this part of the game is done right, it's super emotional, not boring, and packed with stuff. There's always something happening on screen, and to be honest, it's hard to take this as a game because you barely have to put in any effort.

It's got the same genre-bending as the first part.

You've got school, teenagers, love, romance, drama, comedy, action, thriller, and a bit of mystery.

But, to be honest, I do have a couple of questions about the story.

If Rachel's family is so perfect, then where was she in the original part when her involvement was so crucial? Where was her dad and his connections?

Rachel's got this bracelet on her right wrist, and it's not just some flashy thing; it's the same bracelet we see on Frank Bauer in the original part (players remember how he got it). But in Before the storm, you can ask Chloe for this bracelet as a gift (or ask for other stuff too).

How does that work?

I just can't wrap my head around how it all connects.

And that's not even mentioning the new characters we didn't know about in the original. Their fate is left unknown. ________________________ CHARACTERS

Chloe Price - to be honest, I was a bit meh about her in the original game, but here? Yeah, I'm a fan.

Chloe's got it tough after her dad's death; she's stuck with a gruff ex-soldier and future stepdad; and to top it all off, she's got a major crush on the most popular girl in school.

Let's just say she's a tough kid who doesn't take kindly to being told what to do.

But what I like about Chloe here is that she's capable of dialing it back and standing up for the people she cares about.

Rachel Amber - in the original game, everyone raved about how sweet and friendly Rachel was, and how everyone loved her.

And while I found Rachel to be a bit annoying in the original game, I thought she was a positive force - always joking around, smiling, and spreading positivity even to the grumpiest of people.

If I'd known Rachel was such a manipulative, dramatic, and catty character in Before the Storm, I'd have thought twice before playing the game.

I'm seriously baffled as to why anyone would like this version of Rachel.

What really gets under my skin is people who think they're above the law, who'll do whatever it takes to get ahead. People who manipulate others to get what they want. I've got a hero who quickly figured out Rachel's true nature.

Other heroes are just dying to meet Rachel.

People like Rachel make my skin crawl, whether it's in games, movies, books, or real life.

Rachel Amber is probably a character inspired by Laura Palmer from Twin Peaks. They even share the same birthday. I mentioned earlier that there are plenty of references to the show, but this time around, there are almost none, except for the mention of Twin Peaks itself and the quirky town of Arcadia Bay.Joey Price - this character appears less often in the story, but like in the original, he's someone who earns my respect and sympathy.

In her own home, Rachel finds herself caught between two fires: on one hand, Chloe, who she's managed to escape from, and on the other, David, her new boyfriend, who's a strict military type and doesn't exactly mesh with Rachel's free-spirited nature.

David Madsen - Rachel's new boyfriend; a war veteran. Fans of the original will remember that David showed a different side of himself. In this part, David comes across as a bit too strict and harsh when it comes to discipline and order.

Frank Bauer - a man who plays with fire.Frank's a drug dealer and has connections with some shady characters.

I've got to give it to him, though - he's doing his best to protect the young ladies looking for adventure, but it's still weird to see him and Chloe getting along so smoothly in this part, considering their original feud.

Another plot hole, maybe?Nathan Prescott - remember him as the troubled teenager from the original series? Here, we get to see why he turned out that way, and I'm actually starting to feel for the guy.

He's got a wealthy and influential dad who probably wants him to follow in his footsteps.

Victoria Chase is portrayed as a character who's eaten up by jealousy and hatred for Rachel.

She's your typical blonde mean girl who's only looking out for herself.Actually, I kinda liked her in the original series.

William Price - Chloe's biological father; we see him in her dreams and as a ghost.

He's a really bright and cheerful guy who never gives up. I can see why this event was such a huge loss for Chloe.

There are a few new characters, but most of them are just background players, and we didn't hear much about them in the original series.

One character who caught my eye is Samantha, who's the only one who genuinely loves Nathan for who he is and supports him unconditionally._______________________

GAMEPLAY PROCESS

System requirements for the game:

Operating system: Windows 10 (64-bit)Processor: Intel Core i3-2100 (3.1 GHz) or AMD Phenom X4 945 (3 GHz) and betterRAM: 3 GBGraphics card: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 650 or AMD R7 250X and betterDirectX: Version 12.Free space: 14 GB

The game's system requirements are pretty demanding; my PC was making some serious noise during gameplay - it sounded like a rocket taking off!

The default keyboard layout is pretty standard: WSAD for movement, Shift for sprinting, and interaction keys are highlighted on the objects themselves.

The game's all about building relationships and achieving your goals through dialogue.

Overall, it's pretty much the same as the first part.

The game's not exactly a fast-paced shooter; it's more of a relaxing experience where you can grab a snack and a cup of tea while you play. Most of the time is spent in cutscenes, which, just like in the original, can't be skipped.

Our Russian translators have done it again - they've translated the text with all the, ahem, 'colorful' language. I think that's worth bumping the age rating up to at least 16+; although, I don't think the occasional swear word is a big deal, and it's not like it's going to scare off kids.

___________________GRAPHICS

I've got to give credit where credit is due - the new developers have managed to match the original's level of quality.

The graphics are a real treat, and I love that they've avoided going overboard with the colors. Instead, they've added this little touch that makes the game feel instantly recognizable, even among thousands of others.

Switching between locations really lets you appreciate the graphics: from the quiet courtyard in front of the school to the Amber family's fancy mansion, and even the deserted parks during the day.

_____________________

Overall Impressions

Don't let the title of this review fool you – I'm not a homophobe. I'm actually really supportive of the LGBTQ+ community.

However, I do want to make it clear that this game isn't for everyone. If you're not comfortable with certain themes or characters, then this might not be the game for you.

One thing that really stood out to me was the lack of originality in the game's story.

It's clear that the developers were trying to build on the success of other games in the same genre, but they ended up copying some of the same mistakes. I think it's really disappointing when developers don't take the time to create something truly unique and original.

I have to say, I really dislike the character of Rachel Amber. She's just so manipulative and entitled – it's really off-putting. I hope that in the original game, she was supposed to be a more complex character, but in this version, she just comes across as really annoying.

One thing that really gets my goat is the inability to skip cutscenes. I know it's not just this game, but it's still really frustrating. And to make matters worse, some of the dialogue can be really slow to read through – it's like they're trying to drag out the experience. Plus, there's no option to manually save the game, which is a real pain when you're trying to play through it again. I've got to give props to: The art style is the same as the original, and it's a total winner. It doesn't strain my eyes or give me any creepy vibes; the color palette is diverse but super chill. It's like stepping outside on a crisp, dry September day.

The action is so engaging that you'll find yourself glued to the screen, not wanting to look away. Something's always happening, and the story doesn't get stuck in one place; our heroine's at a rock concert one minute, and fending off knife-wielding thugs the next.

The soundtrack is pure magic. It's the perfect fit for this story (I also praised the music in the original, even though I'm not usually into this genre).

The emotions this story evokes are all over the place – and that's a good thing. We're all different, after all.

I'm giving Life is Strange: Before the Storm four out of four stars – and that's because of the issues I mentioned in my review.

If you're thinking of playing Life is Strange: Before the Storm, I'd definitely recommend it – but keep in mind that it's more geared towards a female audience, and there are some scenes that might not sit well with homophobic players. Let's not jump to conclusions, though – it's not about promoting anything in particular.