Life is Strange: Before the Storm - Episode 2: Brave New World

 PC
User Score
7.8

Generally favorable reviews- based on 58 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 41 out of 58
  2. Mixed: 8 out of 58
  3. Negative: 9 out of 58

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  1. scepticpurple
    Dec 24, 2017
    8
    Though a little lengthy, Brave New World succeeds in progressing Before the Storm's story and characters in a way that manages to simultaneously pay tribute to the first game, while also expanding upon it's own ideas and thus freeing itself to truly come into it's own light. Juxtaposing the innocence and youthful naivety of it's adorable protagonists, with their ever darkening horizons,Though a little lengthy, Brave New World succeeds in progressing Before the Storm's story and characters in a way that manages to simultaneously pay tribute to the first game, while also expanding upon it's own ideas and thus freeing itself to truly come into it's own light. Juxtaposing the innocence and youthful naivety of it's adorable protagonists, with their ever darkening horizons, catalyses intimate and memorable development, in a series that continues to tug at the heartstrings with every successive episode.… Expand
  2. gyigyo2
    Oct 21, 2017
    1
    Comparing this to EP1 this is a HELLA boring bad fanfiction, cutscenes are boring nearly empty, uninteresting,most of the soundtrack was not really fit for them useless,bad dialogs from chloe,(drew this, drew that, mikey this,mikey that,) the voice acting is bad, its strange because episode1 voice acting,dialogs,soundtracks was great in episode1. In this episode chloe was more similar toComparing this to EP1 this is a HELLA boring bad fanfiction, cutscenes are boring nearly empty, uninteresting,most of the soundtrack was not really fit for them useless,bad dialogs from chloe,(drew this, drew that, mikey this,mikey that,) the voice acting is bad, its strange because episode1 voice acting,dialogs,soundtracks was great in episode1. In this episode chloe was more similar to Max Caulfield in both action,personalitie, and voice acting, than real chloe was.
    NPCS(school teens) are boring, and uninteresting, Especially eliot and samantha both of it just irritating, one is always want to climb me, and the other one is a superhero saveer wanna be girl The Tempest was bad, all i could say WHEN ITS gonna be END!?. The game need to focus more Chloe and rachel story just two of them together on a trip and adventures like the first episode was! Episode 2 was boring and dissapointment! There is no plot twist at all, no more shocking endings at aleast we got RAVEN our side, i like the nightmares, and the RAVEN!    … Expand
  3. Xzenor
    Mar 4, 2020
    9
    A little less great than the first episode but that's usually the case with the middle episode of a trilogy. One really annoying thing of this episode is that the backtalk just didn't make any sense. Everything they explained in the first episode just didn't seem to work in the second one. It's just a lot of guess work now and just hoping you've picked the response that gets you to aA little less great than the first episode but that's usually the case with the middle episode of a trilogy. One really annoying thing of this episode is that the backtalk just didn't make any sense. Everything they explained in the first episode just didn't seem to work in the second one. It's just a lot of guess work now and just hoping you've picked the response that gets you to a success. that seriously sucks. I hope they fix that in the final episode.

    Story-wise it's also really the middle one of a trilogy.. Stuff from the first episode gets built upon and seeds are planted for the final episode. the relationship between Rachel and Cloe is getting stronger and that's cool.

    I can't wait for the final episode but another part of me is sad that it's gonna be over after that.
    I would love to experience more with these two. the chemistry between them is so genuine.
    Also, not as much humor and jokes this time.
    Still a great episode though (if you don't count the backtalk frustrations) and I enjoyed playing it.    … Expand
  4. Rem
    Sep 25, 2018
    7
    A continuation from Awake, A Brave New World examines the effect of individuals with a profound effect in a specific point in your life. Returning as Chloe once more, players are left in her world absent of her best friend and father. This episode in particular hits high notes reminiscent in the first game, but moments in between don’t stack up as well and lead to an overall “filler” likeA continuation from Awake, A Brave New World examines the effect of individuals with a profound effect in a specific point in your life. Returning as Chloe once more, players are left in her world absent of her best friend and father. This episode in particular hits high notes reminiscent in the first game, but moments in between don’t stack up as well and lead to an overall “filler” like episode.

    In the fallout of Awake’s conclusion, players are thrust into Chloe and Rachel’s second day as the mystery of the latter’s father continues. To be frank, the events in this episode come to an extremely slow start and nothing particularly of interest happens until almost an hour in. Even then, the story developments that do occur are pretty interesting for the most part especially towards the end. However, the high notes don’t feel as impactful because of the lack of time for these characters to develop or bond together in a believable way. In a span of barely two days, the main leads hatch up a plan that feels far too reckless despite the story’s reasoning behind it. The dynamic between Rachel and Chloe feels somewhat better in this episode especially in the more memorable scenes which serve as the only reason to power through this episode. By no means does it feel like a slog, but many situations Chloe finds herself in lacks as much impact this time around because no stakes have been risen. At most, the themes of love and loss are still present with a poignancy uncommon in gaming, but getting to those moments feels by the book by comparison. The final twist in the end caught me off guard, but its buildup is somewhat unwarranted considering the side characters still aren’t that much interesting. Your choices from the first episode bears fruit in consequences in Brave New World in subtle but noticeable ways, adding a hint of replay value.

    On its technical side, Brave New World isn’t much different from the previous entry. The lack of detail is still jarring and the use of colors gets the job done without doing anything exceptional. The music still carries a solid quality with the accompanying soundtrack setting the mood in a number of scenes. Brave New World’s cinematography surpasses my expectations with scenes framed expertly and grabbed my attention without feeling ingratiating.

    Brave New World still possesses many of the same qualities that the first episode, and to an extent the first season, did that made it so engrossing. It’s not anything that will stick in your mind for a long time, but the 2 or so hours you spend on this episode serves as a solid bridge for a potentially satisfying final act.    … Expand
  5. Ciocolici
    Sep 7, 2023
    9
    Episode 2: Brave New World of "Life is Strange: Before the Storm" takes the excitement up a notch, surpassing the first episode in my opinion. From the very beginning, it delivers pure epicness, leaving me captivated throughout. I relished every moment of it.

    I must admit, there's not much I can add that I haven't already expressed in my review of the first episode. The story continues    Episode 2: Brave New World of "Life is Strange: Before the Storm" takes the excitement up a notch, surpassing the first episode in my opinion. From the very beginning, it delivers pure epicness, leaving me captivated throughout. I relished every moment of it.

    I must admit, there's not much I can add that I haven't already expressed in my review of the first episode. The story continues to be engaging, and the signature "Life is Strange" atmosphere and music still give me chills. And, of course, the biggest positive is the chance to embody Chloe's character. Playing as her is an absolute delight, and I'm incredibly grateful to the developers for making it possible! :D

    The gameplay remains top-notch, with well-designed character hubs and the familiar elements from the first game. However, I still miss the rewind mechanic, which added a unique dimension to the original title. Nonetheless, I'm thoroughly enjoying exploring Chloe's world and the new gameplay mechanics crafted for her.

    As the story unfolds, I'm drawn deeper into Chloe's journey, growing more attached to her character with each passing moment. The developers have done an outstanding job in making her story compelling and relatable.

    In conclusion, "Brave New World" not only builds on the strong foundation of the first episode but also raises the stakes, leaving me eager for what's to come. The episode excels in delivering an emotional and immersive experience, which is exactly what I hoped for from this prequel. I can't wait to see how Chloe's story continues to unfold, as "Life is Strange: Before the Storm" continues to exceed my expectations.    … Expand

Critic Reviews

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Metascore
76

Generally favorable reviews - based on 6 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 4 out of 6
  2. Mixed: 2 out of 6
  3. Negative: 0 out of 6
  1. Cubed3
    Nov 27, 2017
    60
    Everything from the first episode is still here; the writing, the direction, the audio-visual style, the great character development, and, of course, the feels. Unfortunately, it's not the same game, for the simple fact that it doesn't really care about pushing the story forward, which is a shame as the next chapter is actually the very last one.
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  2. Ragequit.gr
    Oct 25, 2017
    80
    In "Brave New World" we manage to get a real glimpse of the unique and magical relationship that Chloe and Rachel shared. These two characters are fleshed out exceptionally, but the episode faces pacing and directional issues, only saved by the emotionally charged finale.
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  3. RPG Fan
    Oct 25, 2017
    92
    An honest insight into the tragedy of loss and growth in youth. I'm torn, because I want so much more of Chloe and Rachel — what a beautiful duo — but I know that all good things must end — some sooner than others. This one, as we all know, will be coming to an end too soon. I'm just not sure I'm emotionally ready for it.
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