Finally this series of articles about
Life is Strange comes to an end. The purpose of this second
play-through was to analyze whether the choices one makes matter. As
the picture above states, supposedly every choice has an effect.
Every gamer has seen this before, whether it was TellTale games
promising a tailored experience in The
Walking Dead and The Wolf Among us, or Bioware
assuring players, “the decisions you make completely shape your
experience and outcome,” in the Mass
Effect series (After three games, regardless what choices
one made, every
player was allowed to pick from three final endings).
Players should realize it's impossible
for studios to deliver a unique story for everyone but we still love
it anyways. Until we realize it's a lie.
Ultimately, no matter what one does in
Life is Strange, the player receives two choices at the end.
And to expect any more is delusional.
But that isn't all.
The promises made by the Mass Effect
team were astounding in their breadth: one could interpret Bioware's
comments to mean every player would have a unique ending.
Impossible, but three games of forty hours each inspired confidence.
The ending disappointed to say
the least.
But Life is Strange's promises
are more restrained and the game only lasts twelve to fifteen hours.
It doesn't promise anything more than that one's decisions will
impact the game.
And they do. Every episode contains
about four major choices and ten minor choices. Playing through the
game every one has an effect: sometimes obvious, sometimes tiny,
sometimes almost unobservable but they all do.
Of all the episodes, Out of Time was
most effected by player choice. The choices in episodes one and two
combine to a thrilling conclusion where Max attempts to stop a friend
from jumping to her death. Previous choices and conversation with
Kate alter the outcome. It's possible, by one's choices to have
already locked in a result, but it's also possible to change the
result through dialogue as she stands on the brink. And the final
outcome can not be undone with Max's power, lending it a solidity
most of the game lacks.
The results of Kate's life/death ripple
strongly at first, a meeting with the principal afterwards felt
dramatically different, but the effect dissipated by the end of
episode three.
In my first play-through Max was kind,
helpful, and reasonable, but in the second Max was aggressive, mean,
and stood by Chloe no matter what. But it didn't matter too much.
If life is all about the experience, as
they say, rather than the ending, then the game offers enough
differences to please. This concept is highlighted by the last third
of episode five.
There isn't much more to say here. If
you're interested, I started using a new video recording device. I
recorded episodes two – five of the second play-through. Remember
I've just started doing this stuff, but if you have any comments I'd
be glad to hear them. And don't worry, video isn't going to replace writing. Just trying tools out.
Next week, a new game.
Life Is Strange
Series:
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