User Score
8.6

Generally favorable reviews- based on 438 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Negative: 24 out of 438

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  1. Jan 30, 2015
    7
    Hipster’s paradise. Teenage science fiction. Also a game which is so obviously oriented towards 16 to 20 year old girls. You wanted it, you got it. So are you happy now? I’m not so much. Sadly the game is more «Twilight saga» than «Source Code». And I’m honestly not very fond of watching the lives of all of those losers, hipsters, skaters, wannabe artists, smug leftist college professorsHipster’s paradise. Teenage science fiction. Also a game which is so obviously oriented towards 16 to 20 year old girls. You wanted it, you got it. So are you happy now? I’m not so much. Sadly the game is more «Twilight saga» than «Source Code». And I’m honestly not very fond of watching the lives of all of those losers, hipsters, skaters, wannabe artists, smug leftist college professors and so on. Terrible crowd. I hope there will be more sci-fi and less teenage drama in the next episode.

    P.S. In spite of everything I said above, the game is actually quite good. So give it a try. It’s not my cup of tea, but maybe it’s yours.
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  2. Mar 30, 2015
    6
    Great presentation with a lot of content to click onto. Some characters are interesting but most are cliché and irritating. I love the time travel mechanic. But the story is boring. A lot...
  3. Jun 29, 2015
    10
    This game is so good, I shat my pants.
    I really mean it. This has to be one of the best story-based games I've played in my life. The immersion is perfetly done. The Rewind-Feature is awesome and gives you much freedom and doesnt leave you with frustration and bad feeling because of a bad decision you didn't know the outcome of. You can just rewind then. Awesome!
    It's very realistic and
    This game is so good, I shat my pants.
    I really mean it. This has to be one of the best story-based games I've played in my life. The immersion is perfetly done. The Rewind-Feature is awesome and gives you much freedom and doesnt leave you with frustration and bad feeling because of a bad decision you didn't know the outcome of. You can just rewind then. Awesome!
    It's very realistic and embodies the American Way of Life pretty accurately.
    I definiately reccomend this game. Escpecially if you are into kinda slow indie movies like Donnie Darko, Big Lebowski and Telltale games.
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  4. Jun 26, 2015
    9
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. This game is perfect! Only bad thing I found are the textures.
    Maybe a bit short.
    The story is perfect and I like the concept. .
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  5. Jan 30, 2015
    10
    This game largely seems to target teenagers. There is a lot of teen/high school drama at the center of the story. That being said, I enjoy the concept and the narrative style game. I really enjoy the soundtrack and the game in general. I have played through episode one myself and once where a friend did most of the playing. I noticed a few cons on the second playthrough. Some of theThis game largely seems to target teenagers. There is a lot of teen/high school drama at the center of the story. That being said, I enjoy the concept and the narrative style game. I really enjoy the soundtrack and the game in general. I have played through episode one myself and once where a friend did most of the playing. I noticed a few cons on the second playthrough. Some of the consequential decisions are not forced on you, which leads to some misplaced dialogue, and things you didn't know about being brought up like you did. I also noticed the decisions don't have much of an immediate weight, however I can see them having a much larger effect over the course of several episodes. I am extremely excited to see what follows, and I could see this being a great game as future episodes come out with a little less teen drama and more powerful decisions, should that come into play.

    Animations 6/10 - Lips are animated horribly in a very dialogue based game. General animations are okay, but they definitely don't blow anyone away.

    Story 9/10 - Although it is very teen drama oriented in this first episode, I feel that this is just a setup for a much greater story. Based on the end of Episode one, I think this will develop into a very well-done narrative.

    Gameplay 7/10 - Going into it as a Telltale-esque narrative focused game, and expecting more of an interactive movie, you will enjoy it. Don't expect advanced gameplay mechanics. This is ultimately a narrative aided by interactive media.

    Interest rating 10/10 - My scores for animations, story, and gameplay are relatively low, but I can definitely see this becoming a great game as the season continues, and its a refreshing break from something else. I am very excited for Episode 2, and found this to be a nice surprise for something I almost didn't bother to buy.
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  6. Feb 3, 2015
    10
    What is wrong with people? Who cares about lip- syncing? Great art, great story, great mood, great style. Animations were great for me. It's like a telltale adventure game with more exploration, no fight sequences and much better graphics.
    We need more games like that people!!! Or else the Dragon age theme parks will conquer us all...
    Come on , a Cannibal Holocaust reference? How awesome
    What is wrong with people? Who cares about lip- syncing? Great art, great story, great mood, great style. Animations were great for me. It's like a telltale adventure game with more exploration, no fight sequences and much better graphics.
    We need more games like that people!!! Or else the Dragon age theme parks will conquer us all...
    Come on , a Cannibal Holocaust reference? How awesome is that?
    Excellent effort- very human and indy. I hope it gets even better.
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  7. Mar 21, 2015
    10
    This is probably best story-rich game I have played in a while. Story, characters, atmosphere... everything is near perfection. The gameplay itself is all about character interaction and making choices that will have consequences later on. The trick is that you can reverse the time (to certain extent) and remake those choices. The mechanics for this work great, although the game wouldThis is probably best story-rich game I have played in a while. Story, characters, atmosphere... everything is near perfection. The gameplay itself is all about character interaction and making choices that will have consequences later on. The trick is that you can reverse the time (to certain extent) and remake those choices. The mechanics for this work great, although the game would probably be ok even without this gimmick.

    There's minor issue which isn't a biggie, but worth mentioning: The choices you make are divided to minor and major ones. The game logic is that you can reverse the time, but still keep items you acquired previously. This basically allows you to first select path that gives you some items and the select some other, more favorable path while keeping the items. However, for major choices this doesn't work which is somewhat inconsistent and even confusing at first.
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  8. Feb 20, 2015
    10
    Finally another game out of the interactive drama genre. after telltale games marvellous job in the walking dead universe as well as heavy rain a couple of years before, this game came to my attention. and didn't disappoint at all.
    the atmosphere is really strong and it's a game you can get yourself lost in whilst time flies by. I don't want to go into the storyline, rather on the
    Finally another game out of the interactive drama genre. after telltale games marvellous job in the walking dead universe as well as heavy rain a couple of years before, this game came to my attention. and didn't disappoint at all.
    the atmosphere is really strong and it's a game you can get yourself lost in whilst time flies by. I don't want to go into the storyline, rather on the mechanics and its effect on you, the consumer of it.

    the world is filled with a lot of attention to detail, posters, lovely decorations that breathe live into the scenery, the mix is stunning and if you open yourself to it lets you dip right in. it embraces you and let's you almost feel your decisions.
    finally being able to think over the decisions which face consequences for the first time is a very handy gimmick which puts pressure out of the game and lets you decide which decisions to make, not a hasty timer ticking down which makes it way more enjoyable to me.

    however, you have to be the right type of gamer/person to being able to enjoy this piece of art. it's not action, it's not comedy, it's drama after all. reading comments like "Bad jokes. And a lot of them" etc just shows me that people are not comfortable with this genre and are judging the game for something it's not supposed to be. you don't purchase a blender over amazon and then complain about is disfunctionality to microwave your chese sandwhich.

    anyhow, there are minor details, especially in animation (like the lips which are more or less independant from the spoken word) but all in all for a first episode it gives leaves behind a very strong resonance and urges me to continues with episode 2.

    dotnod & square enix - job well done!
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  9. Mar 20, 2015
    10
    The writing is great, not amazing but good enough to keep you interested. Though a bit of the dialogue does seem as if the writers were trying a bit to hard to add a bit of teenage sass. The graphics and aesthetics are absolutely gorgeous. I spent about six hours on episode one and later realized I had still managed to miss some cool optional objectives. TLDR: Its great and I am lookingThe writing is great, not amazing but good enough to keep you interested. Though a bit of the dialogue does seem as if the writers were trying a bit to hard to add a bit of teenage sass. The graphics and aesthetics are absolutely gorgeous. I spent about six hours on episode one and later realized I had still managed to miss some cool optional objectives. TLDR: Its great and I am looking forward to more of it. Expand
  10. Mar 24, 2015
    9
    One of the rare games that try to tell a realistic story where your decisions really matter. I like the characters and the school setting which is kind of rare to see done properly in video games. The story is interesting and I have to wonder what's going to happen next. Definitely a game worth replaying (after finishing all 5 episodes, though). Too bad it's so short, I fully explored allOne of the rare games that try to tell a realistic story where your decisions really matter. I like the characters and the school setting which is kind of rare to see done properly in video games. The story is interesting and I have to wonder what's going to happen next. Definitely a game worth replaying (after finishing all 5 episodes, though). Too bad it's so short, I fully explored all of the areas and it took me around 4 hours to finish this episode while seriously taking my time through it which is not that much (most episodic games I had played before took me around 7 hours) and left me with a slightly empty feeling, like I deserved a little more. Despite that, I can't wait to find out how the story is going to progress in Episode 2. And I guess that's the most important thing about a video game - wanting to play it more and once again after you're done with it. So, let's give this one a 9. Expand
  11. Jan 31, 2015
    9
    For me, there's only one way to judge an adventure game: Did it touch me, or did it not. The first episode of Life is strange touched me very deeply, as I figured it would after watching the trailer. Surprisingly, it's even kind of fun! The gameplay is rather creative, and while the puzzles aren't exactly challenging, one does need to spend like 30 seconds thinking ;). So whether it's theFor me, there's only one way to judge an adventure game: Did it touch me, or did it not. The first episode of Life is strange touched me very deeply, as I figured it would after watching the trailer. Surprisingly, it's even kind of fun! The gameplay is rather creative, and while the puzzles aren't exactly challenging, one does need to spend like 30 seconds thinking ;). So whether it's the soothing atmosphere, believable characters, wonderful soundtrack, or writing... the game got me hooked! Can't wait for the next episodes. One critique point I may have is that the writing does tend to be slightly too stereotypical at times... Expand
  12. Feb 12, 2015
    9
    The good: Unique and interesting mechanic that ties well into the story. "Real" characters, and not zombies with no emotions or stuff behind them (looking at you, Dreamfall: Chapters). Action system makes the chapter re-playable. Lots of "side stuff" that gives a good universe, but not "needed" to explore to finish the game. Price, 5$ for the episode or 20$ for all.

    The bad: Lip
    The good: Unique and interesting mechanic that ties well into the story. "Real" characters, and not zombies with no emotions or stuff behind them (looking at you, Dreamfall: Chapters). Action system makes the chapter re-playable. Lots of "side stuff" that gives a good universe, but not "needed" to explore to finish the game. Price, 5$ for the episode or 20$ for all.

    The bad: Lip animations/syncing, play with subs and avoid looking at faces during conversations as it ruins the immersion. Short, 2-3 hours fully exploring. 30 min speed run.
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  13. Feb 17, 2015
    10
    I went into Life Is Strange not really knowing much about it, nor have I played a game quite like it before, unless you consider LiS to be the distant descendant of the old text-based adventure games.

    First, the not-so-great: I have say that the lip syncing is, well, not bad, more like nearly nonexistent. You get used to it, but it's a standout in a game that otherwise really looks,
    I went into Life Is Strange not really knowing much about it, nor have I played a game quite like it before, unless you consider LiS to be the distant descendant of the old text-based adventure games.

    First, the not-so-great: I have say that the lip syncing is, well, not bad, more like nearly nonexistent. You get used to it, but it's a standout in a game that otherwise really looks, sounds and *feels* good. My behind-the-scenes suspicion is the developers, who are a small French studio, synchronized the animation with the dialogue en Francais.

    Neutral: The dialogue can be pretty awkward, though I feel like a lot of that comes from it seeming to draw from a cultural lexicon spanning the early 90s to today. Being able to clearly remember being 18 myself, it may just be Max and her peers have settled on a vocabulary unique to their specific time and place, which does what group lingo does best: Makes you feel not quite invited to the party, but it grows on you.

    Great: I really, really like Max, and I'm glad they stuck with a female protagonist, because I feel like her vulnerability is an important part of her story. Her voice actor (Hannah Telle) is a perfect fit. The time reversal is a unique mechanic, and it takes a little trial and error to realize what you can actually do with it. I really like the look of the whole game, all the little details that are present in the environment. The soundtrack is fantastic - and the developers have a "Life Is Strange OST" playlist on Spotify. The game is powerfully atmospheric, which is a tricky thing to get right in any game, doubly so in one that doesn't rely on flashy action. Her friend Chloe so far has had the best pithy one-liners out of everyone we meet in this episode.

    In summary, I'd say my only real regret was discovering this game before all five episodes were available. Definitely looking forward to the next four.
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  14. Jan 30, 2015
    9
    Well, I just finished episode one, so this review will at start ONLY give my views on the first episode.
    What is "Life is Strange"? Well, I would say Life is Strange is an story driven adventure game alá Telltale Game.
    Is that it? No, that's the thing, it isn't. If it was I might have called these guys "copycats" but that wouldn't really have been fair, since I do not call Call of Duty
    Well, I just finished episode one, so this review will at start ONLY give my views on the first episode.
    What is "Life is Strange"? Well, I would say Life is Strange is an story driven adventure game alá Telltale Game.
    Is that it? No, that's the thing, it isn't. If it was I might have called these guys "copycats" but that wouldn't really have been fair, since I do not call Call of Duty copycats of Battlefield or the other way around.

    But to return to the subject, it isn't a Telltale Games clone in that way that it actually has game play.
    Telltale Games are famous for letting the player draw his or her own story by choosing different paths, and sometimes some easier puzzles (At least in The Walking Dead S1) This game has that, and a little more. This first episode has more puzzles than a whole season of Telltale Games, sure they aren't hard to do, but... The way you are doing them, that's the interesting way.

    As you probably know, this game is about a girl, her name is Max and she's 18 years old, she just started going to this high-school which name I've unfortunately already forgot. It was something typical American. However, she discovers very early in the game that she can timetravel, at least a few seconds. This time-traveling is the main focus of the puzzles in Episode 1. You want to do something, you try to do something, you fail, you rewind time, see what's going on, change what you did earlier, and ta-da success!

    Unfortunately this time-travel option is not available, but only when the game want it to be, which at times are a bit frustrating. I was at the time of playing talking about the game with a friend who became very interested when a certain scene happened in the game, so I said I could show him with the Steam-stream, however I wasn't able to turn back the clock at that time. Nothing big but I just wanted to state that.

    How is the atmosphere of the game? Does it fit an 18 year old girls mind? Well, in a stereotypical way, yes. Do I like it? Yes. It fits perfectly to Max and her surrounding. The music is great, the art style of the game is beautiful. Not perfect though. There are quite a few graphical glitches and the faces seem... a bit... lifeless at time. But Life is Strange eh? ;)

    One thing that did surprise me quite a lot was the length of the episode. Used to playing Telltale Games I thought this would be like... 1.5 - 2.5 hours at most. I spent a bit over 4 hours playing this game! I wanted to explore everything! Get to know everyone. Unfortunately I didn't even get that chance! The episode is taking your through different areas of the campus and some other places, but there are loading times between these areas, and if you enter "Area 2" from "Area 1" and you have something to do in "Area 2" you can't return to "Area 1", it simply tells you "I can't leave yet" or a similar message.

    This was quite sad because I didn't explore "Area 1" fully, I missed a lot of photography possibilities, yes you can actually take pictures of things. (Only things the game wants you to take pictures of though, and there are achievements) So not only did I miss these things, but I also missed achievements. (Not that important though, I just wanted you to know)

    Now I talked about quite a lot of things, but haven't really mentioned the story, except the whole time-travelling thing, which by itself is big thing but the story is more than this. A girl has gone missing, which is made known by all the "Missing person" papers everywhere, and this made me think the whole story has something to do with her, she is mentioned more and more often while the time is passing, so I guess there is something mysterious going on around her.

    Either way I can't wait for the next episode! Which apparently will come in March 2015. I highly recommend this to any adventure game player.
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  15. Feb 5, 2015
    10
    This game makes Telltales games look amateur! I love those games but theres just something about the way they made this game that just makes it the perfect game to play and relax too with the lights off and candles lit. You can even let her play guitar on a loop which i enjoyed! The soundtrack is great and the story seems great right now even if it is a little cliche. If you like laid backThis game makes Telltales games look amateur! I love those games but theres just something about the way they made this game that just makes it the perfect game to play and relax too with the lights off and candles lit. You can even let her play guitar on a loop which i enjoyed! The soundtrack is great and the story seems great right now even if it is a little cliche. If you like laid back games like Telltale games then play this now you will like it. Expand
  16. Jan 31, 2015
    9
    It's amazing.
    Perhaps it just really looks too short.
    But anyways in this one you definitely feel you have to play it again one more time.
    Story telling is simply amazing.
  17. Feb 4, 2015
    10
    A fantastic game from Squire Enix
    1.Graphics is just awesome.Color combination used here is just perfect and capture the true American theme...what is more, the attention given to graphics is insane ..even the little things are done with care....(10/10)
    2.Main character Max is likable person...they should give little more attention to side characters and story (7/10) 3.interesting
    A fantastic game from Squire Enix
    1.Graphics is just awesome.Color combination used here is just perfect and capture the true American theme...what is more, the attention given to graphics is insane ..even the little things are done with care....(10/10)

    2.Main character Max is likable person...they should give little more attention to side characters and story (7/10)
    3.interesting game mechanic...
    4.F**k you IGN for misguiding people with this game...this a fantastic effort
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  18. Feb 1, 2015
    10
    First episode blew me away.
    I like Telltale games because of their story and the power to pull you in and care for the characters. But this game, I like it even more than TWD from Telltale. Obviously the theme is completely different but the main focus is on the characters just like in TWD.
    There are a lot of decisions you have to make. Different decisions lead you to different
    First episode blew me away.
    I like Telltale games because of their story and the power to pull you in and care for the characters. But this game, I like it even more than TWD from Telltale. Obviously the theme is completely different but the main focus is on the characters just like in TWD.
    There are a lot of decisions you have to make. Different decisions lead you to different consequences. More interactivity in this game than in any TT game. You can control the MC pretty much from start to finish (without too many cinematics get in the way) so it gives you a feeling of greater involvement in anything that happens.
    Graphics is pretty nice.
    Not one dull moment I can remember. It grabbed my attention from the first moment and succeeded in keeping it until the closing credits. The game has a very immersive atmosphere.
    Controls are smooth as well.
    Overall everything works as it supposed to be. If the creators can keep this up with the upcoming episodes this is gonna be my favorite game of all time. Enough said.
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  19. Jan 31, 2015
    10
    The games soundtracks is awesome. Story is interesting than many games. Life is Strange to apply for games of the year. For Turkish gamers, mutlaka deneyin pişman olmayacaksınız.
  20. Feb 1, 2015
    10
    WOW. Im so impressed by how deep i can feel my self into this amazing story. Never experienced sth like that. I played some telltale games but in my opinion Life is Strange feels much more nice and lovely to play. You feel like you are important for the story to exist. Can't describe my love to the game any better.
  21. Feb 2, 2015
    10
    This is one of the best short games I've played in quite awhile. I haven't felt so invested in a game story since The Walking Dead Season 1 game by Telltale, or Last of Us. Even just episode one I felt very invested in the characters and wanted to make sure I made the correct decisions going forward. I also think how they mixed the mechanic of reversing time in quite tasteful and wellThis is one of the best short games I've played in quite awhile. I haven't felt so invested in a game story since The Walking Dead Season 1 game by Telltale, or Last of Us. Even just episode one I felt very invested in the characters and wanted to make sure I made the correct decisions going forward. I also think how they mixed the mechanic of reversing time in quite tasteful and well done.

    Can't wait for the next episode and the rest of the series! Hopefully they continue the story after the first season or make more games similar to this with just as in depth story!
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  22. Jan 30, 2015
    10
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. That was great, I had a blast, I hope the next episode will be as good.

    The story and the rewind power is really good and fun to use. I wish I had the same power :)

    Thanks Dontnod & Square Enix
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  23. Jan 31, 2015
    10
    Pure perfection. Great characters, great story, plenty of difficult choices where you affect the story, great gameplay mechanics. I need 30 more characters.

    GOTY so far 2015
  24. Feb 3, 2015
    9
    It's fun and thoughtful game.

    The settings of the story may make it seem like it was aimed at younger audience and i wish they do check it out, but it truly just shows us in one of the scariest parts in our life, in a mature way. The first episode did heavily focus on characters, and set up stories. Some already wrote it off as a teenage drama where nothing happens, but i am not getting
    It's fun and thoughtful game.

    The settings of the story may make it seem like it was aimed at younger audience and i wish they do check it out, but it truly just shows us in one of the scariest parts in our life, in a mature way. The first episode did heavily focus on characters, and set up stories. Some already wrote it off as a teenage drama where nothing happens, but i am not getting that feeling, i am glad it established the characters before tried to tell stories about people i don't know or care about. These episodic adventure games could get into the habit of making the first episode a double, just to strongly establish the series. I recommend taking the time to read everything and pay attention because that's how these games should be played, and i had a blast doing so.
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  25. Jan 31, 2015
    9
    There are really two separate things to review on this one: the game, and the story.

    The game is a huge step forward for this genre. The world is beautiful, and well served by its indie soundtrack. The time travel mechanic is a great addition, because it allows you to try different choices on the spot. Again, just a huge step forward for this type of game. Technologically speaking, Life
    There are really two separate things to review on this one: the game, and the story.

    The game is a huge step forward for this genre. The world is beautiful, and well served by its indie soundtrack. The time travel mechanic is a great addition, because it allows you to try different choices on the spot. Again, just a huge step forward for this type of game. Technologically speaking, Life is Strange looks and plays like it's from a completely different decade than any of the other story games.

    The story is a bit more subjective. Just as billions of girls (and, in fairness, less combat oriented guys) around the world feel no instinctive kinship or investment when they're handed a controller and find themselves playing a floating AK-74 on a giant noisy battlefield, I'm sure some guys will need a moment to invest in a teenage girl whose life revolves around photography and trying to survive her final year of high school. While discovering that she can control time. There's a lot of shop talk on the photobug side of things. This game name drops famous photographers in the exact same way that the Treme writers were always trying to prove they knew more about jazz than their audience.

    Personally, I like the main character, Max, a great deal, and I enjoy her art school a lot more than I enjoy her time travel. We've all been a teenager in an unfamiliar new place. We can all remember the pressures of potential clashing with inertia as we approached the end of high school. The fact that she is a girl does not affect my ability to identify with Max. (You're a human, from Earth, you really should be able to fully empathize with all TWO of the genders on your homeworld, ffs.)

    I would, however, give this single warning to the less artsy people in the audience: If you could never enjoy being an art museum, large sections of this story will probably seem boring and stupid to you. The photography is not a line of background on a bio when you press C, it is who Max is, and what she does, and what she thinks about, much of the time. The complaint that this game is aimed at hipsters is far, far more valid than the ridiculous idea that the target demographic is teen girls, which is no more true of Life is Strange than it was of Buffy the Vampire Slayer.

    All in all, I would call Life is Strange a tremendous step forward, not just for story games, but for the general level of narrative in a medium that so often struggles to find a mature, adult voice.
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  26. Feb 22, 2015
    9
    Salted with a story that draw teenagers attention and a mistery that gets deeper step by step, life can truly bestrange for some people that presents special gifts.

    Pros: - Unpredictibility -Immersive story - Versatile protagonists - Girls team - Possibility to rewind the story and see more sides - The backstory - Unboring tasks Cons: - lip sync - some texture really suck,
    Salted with a story that draw teenagers attention and a mistery that gets deeper step by step, life can truly bestrange for some people that presents special gifts.

    Pros:
    - Unpredictibility
    -Immersive story
    - Versatile protagonists
    - Girls team
    - Possibility to rewind the story and see more sides
    - The backstory
    - Unboring tasks

    Cons:
    - lip sync
    - some texture really suck, even on high graphics
    - slow start
    - no interactivity with the environment

    All in all, this is a good game that would be way better with a better design.
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  27. Feb 3, 2015
    9
    I really liked this game. I found it amazing how relaxed it is, and how you can admire the high detail settings at you time. Half the story is going round and clicking on things and hearing what Max had to say on them. By doing this you find out tones of background story on all the characters. I thinking it is one of the best world building in any game since The Last of Us. Life is strangeI really liked this game. I found it amazing how relaxed it is, and how you can admire the high detail settings at you time. Half the story is going round and clicking on things and hearing what Max had to say on them. By doing this you find out tones of background story on all the characters. I thinking it is one of the best world building in any game since The Last of Us. Life is strange really clicked for me, and I give 9 out of ten. As a pilot, this hows a lot of potential for a great episodic game series. Guess I am hipster or something... Expand
  28. Feb 1, 2015
    9
    Life Is Strange, is an episodic game of point and click, product Dontnod Entertainment and published by Square Enix. The game puts you in the role of a student in a college photo named Maxine Caulfield, who discovers he has a power to control time, or rather the butterfly effect.
  29. Feb 19, 2015
    4
    It's really, really bad game.... What do you want to see in the beginning? Maybe you want to meet main characters, or see interesting pieces of story but... no, you will get 10+ pages of useless text and this is just a beginning of the end. All characters are awful dull and grey, they are just useless. First part of the chapter one contains only 1 phrase "I'm so unpopular", and second partIt's really, really bad game.... What do you want to see in the beginning? Maybe you want to meet main characters, or see interesting pieces of story but... no, you will get 10+ pages of useless text and this is just a beginning of the end. All characters are awful dull and grey, they are just useless. First part of the chapter one contains only 1 phrase "I'm so unpopular", and second part just empty at all. This powers and choices... there are something wrong with them. I mean, a lot of choices let you do both options at once, and you always can see what will happen and remade choice, what the point in this opportunity? Look at the walking dead series, it force you to choose, and this is the main point of choosing in game like this. Square Enix put a lot of time and work in it, but this is terrible anyway.It's look like they're wanted to wrest piece of bread from Telltale company, but this is really not their field of developing. Expand
  30. Jan 31, 2015
    7
    Great Art, great music, great mechanics. The game is very enjoy able to play. The only issue I have with the game is playing as a teenager with high school drama. That part I could do without.
  31. Feb 2, 2015
    5
    This is a good game. And only good. Has good graphics, good talking, but unfortunately it is not as immersive as other games in the genre, the story isn't. I felt a bit distant from the main character (whose name I don't remember) and the choices are not, at least for now, important ones. It's good enough to spend some time though.
  32. Jan 31, 2015
    7
    Ok this game is good, no worries on that. But the story itself reminds me of something already seen. Donnie Darko to be straight.
    Too many similarities with that movie.
    Also i didn't like much the fact that there is no real reaction when she discovers her "ability".

    "Hey i can bend time! It's so normal!"

    Even Hiro of tv series "Heroes" had a better reaction to that!

    Poor writers.
  33. Feb 1, 2015
    8
    I think this episode,first episode of this game Life is Strange,is very very good,this game have a good story,like The Walking Dead,i finished episode 1 and i wait for rest,it's a very good game.
  34. Dop
    Feb 8, 2015
    8
    The game and story are well made, the target audience seems to be teenagers rather than adults but if you bypass that part is a really well made game.
    So far the game runs flawless and i found more involment in this game that in any of the "adventures games" of telltale so stop being blind fanboys
  35. Feb 12, 2015
    7
    Not bad - not 'brilliant' but glad I played it - I like when a developer tries out new ideas. I think this is a positive step forward and builds on the great work done by devs like TellTale Inc

    Good Game

    NB: Rewind feature is kinda annoying - means you can't really fail and removes some of the meaning of your decision making.
  36. Feb 4, 2015
    7
    Pretty intresting setting, and a clever setup.
    I really like the time travel idea, and it's used in good ways.
    The story really got me hooked, and I'm certainly gonna buy the next episodes.
    Overall good voice acting and pleasant soundtrack.
    One flaw: the animations and graphics aren't that great.

    Still a fun and intresting game that I recommend playing
  37. Jan 30, 2015
    3
    Bad jokes. And a lot of them, the animations are bad, especially the faces, which should be important in this kind of videogames. The voice acting is decent, but just decent, and the story seems a bit cliché'd to be honest. Another The Walking Dead, it's not that much of a videogame rather than an interactive movie... The mechanics are fine, but then again, you're 'playing' this for theBad jokes. And a lot of them, the animations are bad, especially the faces, which should be important in this kind of videogames. The voice acting is decent, but just decent, and the story seems a bit cliché'd to be honest. Another The Walking Dead, it's not that much of a videogame rather than an interactive movie... The mechanics are fine, but then again, you're 'playing' this for the story, so yeah... Stick with Telltale, this runner-up is just not good enough Expand
  38. Jan 30, 2015
    7
    There is a good game. I remember Dontnod Ertentainment while Remember Me. That's a good game. And I play finished this game right now. Good story, good graphics, good choices. But not realist. For this episode thats enough point. 7/10
  39. Feb 1, 2015
    6
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Life is Strange looks like a game that was made for teenagers girls. The central story is about a girl called Max whom just moved back to her hometown. She goes to a high school that have a special program for photographers. After a few events Max find out she can go back in time and have some occasional future sights.

    This could be a prelude to the next GOTY, however Life is Strange is a big way down to the hipster hole that communities like Tumblr live in. For almost the entire episode you have a big problem to find good characters. Almost all of the characters are nothing less that a big cliche of everyone is sick of it. A gym guy who keep bullying the fat nerd guy, who likes to stalk the girl who achieve to be a magazine model, who is the arch enemy of the rich girl, who also don't like the protagonist, Max. Max is a poor mid class girl who doesn't have many friends, but is always talking to everyone. Max likes vintage cameras, but is always getting jealous of Victoria, a rich girl whom has the best digital cameras. Max says that she is not a hipster all the time during the game, but she is always acting like one.

    Another problem with the character making is that the personalities is very poor. It looks like everyone is the same, and again, everything is a big cliche. One girl has problems because she got pregnant. Another girl has problems because her nude pics leaked on facebook. And the other has a D step dad who likes to hit her on the face. You may think "But it's good that games are minding those real day problems", and that would be really cool. But the problem is that Life is Strange is a game about living up with those problems. Like I said: A story for teenagers girls, because only them would be interested in a story that talks about how hard is to get a boyfriend that really know what you are felling.

    So, why a 6? Even with all the bads sides, the game still has some good things. The option system is not the best, and very limited, but the way you can use the power to go back in time make it worth. You have some good power on your decision making, like checking the possibilities of each choice. Another thing that is cool is that you can make a change on the history, go back in time to avoid the consequence of that change and later on still use the knolowdge you got it. E.g: You check some files and leave a mark on them. After checking the files, you may go back in time to the point were the files does not have any mark, and keep going with the game while still holding the knowlodge you got on the files.

    This may seem like "overpowered" or "ez game, ez life", but it actually follow up pretty well with the game story and real life. If you had the power to control time, wouldn't you use it to your on advantage?

    The game does not have the best animation, but all the scenario is like a watercolour paiting, and I think its pretty cool. The sound track is also really great, and you can see all fitting pretty well in each scene.

    tl;dr PROS: Good watercolour painting like graphics; awesome soundtrack; good use of the power of rewind in time during the game.

    CONS: It's like a Twilight Saga game, where the focus is the generation Z teenagers problems; bad characters with poor personalities; poor choice system (is just A or B), and sometimes they lead to the same way;
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  40. Feb 7, 2015
    5
    Come on, be reasonable.

    (-) The game does not have a good story - almost nothing is explained. You just roam around the campus - doing some trivial things using your extraordinary powers. Voice acting is mediocre. Lip-syncing bad. Dialogues sometimes dull. Graphics are only ok I mean look at The Vanishing of Ethan Carter.Side characters are boring, predictable, cliche. The gameplay is
    Come on, be reasonable.

    (-)
    The game does not have a good story - almost nothing is explained. You just roam around the campus - doing some trivial things using your extraordinary powers. Voice acting is mediocre. Lip-syncing bad. Dialogues sometimes dull. Graphics are only ok I mean look at The Vanishing of Ethan Carter.Side characters are boring, predictable, cliche. The gameplay is just dull. The puzzles reminds me of the ones from Resident Evil 3 - they have logic but they are far from beeing smart. You just cary on through the game, cause you count on something revealing to happen. With no luck (except the tornado theme).

    (+)
    Music is fairly okey, main character likable, and time travel idea, in general - appealing. That's all there is.

    Life is Strange, strangely fits it's price tag and resemble more indy-game, then some "triple A" title, that some of you are trying to make out of it. 
    Expand
  41. Feb 26, 2015
    1
    Why have I bought this? I wish I could reverse time and undo it.

    The story is so dull, the characters are so cliché, the gameplay is so boring, there is no action (at all!), the "puzzles" are things like "find the metal box under the bed to get a CD to play music".. (or even worse than that) and the mystery? I've read paragons with Twin Peaks, only because it's about a missing girl? Are
    Why have I bought this? I wish I could reverse time and undo it.

    The story is so dull, the characters are so cliché, the gameplay is so boring, there is no action (at all!), the "puzzles" are things like "find the metal box under the bed to get a CD to play music".. (or even worse than that) and the mystery? I've read paragons with Twin Peaks, only because it's about a missing girl? Are you serious?? Not even close.. well, not even VERY FAR!

    The game constantly holds your hands and all the choices you can do feel so stupid.

    Also, it's so short you can complete Episode 1 in like half an hour.

    And graphically.. are you serious? Low poly, low textures, objects that are repeated, like in a library you have 3 book covers that repeat 10 times, you lazy developers.

    I really don't suggest buying this.
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  42. Feb 3, 2015
    1
    Annoying on rails high school drama only suitable for teen girl wannabes. I have fond memories of my high school years, but if I was stuck in this **** stereotypical world I would loose my mind ...

    There was a nice song playing somewhere, but I can hear that song on "radio" just as well if I want to.
  43. Feb 8, 2015
    3
    Where do I start with this...? Muddled graphical style, clichéd "twee font" interface, dialogue which utterly fails to feel genuine and comes off more like something from a fanfic than the work of a professional writer...

    Everyone keeps raving about the "depth" and "complexity" but truth be told, all the choices felt meaningless and the characters felt like contrived stereotypes. I felt
    Where do I start with this...? Muddled graphical style, clichéd "twee font" interface, dialogue which utterly fails to feel genuine and comes off more like something from a fanfic than the work of a professional writer...

    Everyone keeps raving about the "depth" and "complexity" but truth be told, all the choices felt meaningless and the characters felt like contrived stereotypes. I felt like I was playing a marketing team's idea of what "the kids are into these days."

    The main character feels like she's meant to be a victim from the start, as people are mean to her for no apparent reason and she takes it VERY seriously.

    The supporting characters are just there to be stereotypes and seem to have no real depth or ability to stand on their own, they only have significance in relation to Max. When they aren't spouting memes and making strained pop cultural references, they're blatantly fulfilling the one-dimensional role they've been given in the story. Max is the shy art girl. The pretty blonde girl hates her just because and takes any opportunity to show it. The blue-haired chick is the edgy stoner. The rich kid is the **** everyone hates who actually does seem to be something of a psycho. His friend is oblivious to how psycho he is. And so on. Every teen drama trope is there and its so heavy-handed that I found myself cringing my face off.

    Conversations feel forced and it's always very apparent that you're listening to something being read by a voice actor, rather than a believable, organic-feeling character. Nothing feels natural.

    Quality writing and acting makes you forget that what you're seeing and hearing isn't real, but everything about this game feels calculated to appeal to a very specific demographic of special snowflake types. As a result, Max is the -only- character so far who actually feels like she could be a real person, because everyone else feels so "written" and exists only for her, which is exactly how the type of narcissist who would enjoy this "game" perceives themselves and the world. Always weeping about how no one notices her despite being an unusually pretty girl, although to be fair, basically everyone in this game is pretty.

    Most of the "gameplay" is walking around listening to Max's internal monologue comment on anything and everyone you click on. You can't even speak to many of the characters, and the from the start it feels as though you don't get very much control over Max's choices or character development. There is a very clearly laid out, linear story going on here, which the game really doesn't want you to disrupt. And even when you do get to make a choice which actually matters, the game actually goes out of its way to remind you that the choice will have consequences and that you can rewind to change it.

    The whole thing feels like a teenager's power fantasy, better suited for a movie. Lots of films have already done this as a comedy, where LIS is basically the same concept presented as a pretentious, unintentionally funny art house non-game. The closest it comes to laughing at itself is when it "says things ironically," but much like real people who "say things ironically," it fails to convince you that this is actually the case. There are even a few instances where ignorant or biased viewpoints are presented in a matter-of-fact sort of way, such as "only women should have guns."

    Moreover, the music seems to cater to a niche group of appreciators and the graphics have this inconsistent feeling to them, as if they're sometimes meant to look realistic and other times meant to look like a graphic novel, and still other times as if they're somewhere in between or something entirely different.

    All-in-all this is a shoddy attempt to steal some of Telltale's thunder and I'm glad I played it on a friend's system instead of buying it. You should do the same before you give your money to such lazy developers.
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  44. Feb 17, 2015
    3
    Dontnod studios grabbed the mechanics of remember me and put it in this game(it is the only good thing), the animations are bad, lipsync too. the history is not bad but is for teens... if only the main character where less EMO ... didnt like it
  45. Feb 1, 2015
    6
    Maybe it's not so much game like everybody expect, but at this time, it's gorgeous "adventure" with amazing elements, what just can't be stopped! Well done "Dontnod" team!
  46. Feb 10, 2015
    0
    I can't remember a game so onoxious and annoying since theprince of persia the cell shaded one,but unfortunately this is even worse.The so cliched teen girl who want to find his purpouse in life plus she is in her days... for christ sake SaquareEnix, I wanna puck!
    I was expecting a telltalegame plus Square Enix games weren't all bad until now. Even the not much recognized Murder Soul
    I can't remember a game so onoxious and annoying since theprince of persia the cell shaded one,but unfortunately this is even worse.The so cliched teen girl who want to find his purpouse in life plus she is in her days... for christ sake SaquareEnix, I wanna puck!
    I was expecting a telltalegame plus Square Enix games weren't all bad until now. Even the not much recognized Murder Soul Suspect wasn't as horrendous as this one. Are SE so desperate in grabbing new audiences that now are aiming for the young female flower power sutff. My arse...
    Excuse me but now I have an abdominal pain cause Im in my days,thing is I am a man and not a teen,WHAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHH.x(
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  47. Feb 11, 2015
    7
    This is like hella a game for teenagers, but I'm a couple of decades older than that and found it kind of interesting. The environments are certainly more alive and has more things to check out, than your average Telltale game - but what is it with Square Enix games and the darn all-seeing-eye everywhere .. Anyway, I'm kind hoping that the ability to rewind time and story progression takesThis is like hella a game for teenagers, but I'm a couple of decades older than that and found it kind of interesting. The environments are certainly more alive and has more things to check out, than your average Telltale game - but what is it with Square Enix games and the darn all-seeing-eye everywhere .. Anyway, I'm kind hoping that the ability to rewind time and story progression takes things a bit darker in the next episodes - am also hoping some part of the game will be at least slightly challenging. Expand
  48. Feb 8, 2015
    7
    Though it suffers from genre conventions and baffling slang, Life is Strange is a colourful and engaging attempt at a Telltale-style teen drama, with a promising central mechanic and enough plot threads to leave you curious for episode two.
  49. Apr 13, 2015
    7
    A good game with a good story and game-play but the lib-sync is so bad but you will love this game
    it have some fleas and a good story it will be a good one to too hour
  50. Apr 16, 2015
    9
    It´s very good, esta genial, muy fahernheit. or me, there's only one way to judge an adventure game: Did it touch me, or did it not. The first episode of Life is strange touched me very deeply, as I figured it would after watching the trailer.
  51. Oct 26, 2017
    7
    If you ever wanted to know how a teenager girl's life and mind might look like, this is your chance. It's about a high school girl's life, her daily situations, her dreams, her problems. Actually the girl can reverse time, so you have the chance to change each of your decisions from bad to worse. No matter what you do, the consequences will prevail. This is exactly how an adolescent feelsIf you ever wanted to know how a teenager girl's life and mind might look like, this is your chance. It's about a high school girl's life, her daily situations, her dreams, her problems. Actually the girl can reverse time, so you have the chance to change each of your decisions from bad to worse. No matter what you do, the consequences will prevail. This is exactly how an adolescent feels like, all the time. If you are older, you will feel reminded of times you thought long time forgotten. And yes, it's boring. Even though there is crime and murder everything drowns in the desperate dullness of a place that should never have been populated. Apropos nature: You will see the worst drawn trees in your life, and much of the other graphics details is sketch-like, unfinished. I guess the game might be a good recommendation for many female players, but it's just a guess. Expand
  52. Mar 25, 2015
    7
    I'm not really sure how to describe this game as an adult. It was an alright game in general.
    I'm a fan of choice/consequence games, but it was a teen drama, which may turn some people of it, and to be honest turned me off of it a little, because I don't relate to that kind of high school experience, or story.
    The dialogue was a bit much at times, but I understand why they had it.
    I'm not really sure how to describe this game as an adult. It was an alright game in general.
    I'm a fan of choice/consequence games, but it was a teen drama, which may turn some people of it, and to be honest turned me off of it a little, because I don't relate to that kind of high school experience, or story.

    The dialogue was a bit much at times, but I understand why they had it.

    Overall though putting certain things aside, the soundtrack was alright, animation was good, and the story has great potential.
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  53. May 15, 2015
    10
    An awesome game. It's just something new. Slow paced and with a good story you can think about for hours. Already worth the 20 bucks (after 2 episodes). I can just recommend this peace of art.
  54. Jul 29, 2015
    7
    Great game it's a little too long of an episode of all most nothing happening ( well in the last like 45 minutes of gameplay) the story is the best thing about this episode all in all I thought this was pretty good.
  55. Jul 28, 2015
    9
    It's beginning slowly, but when the power is awakened, story interest rises. Good OST too. I was curious and when I finished it, I only wanted to continue with the Episode 2.
  56. Oct 10, 2015
    7
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. I went into life is strange with no knowledge on what the story or any of this was about, about 30 minutes in I thought this was going to be a time travelling sci-fi awesome adventure, changing decisions you've previously made really intrigued me. However the one thing I did not like at all was the emotional angst with chloe about her friend rachel. I don't care about this character Rachel who is being forced down my throat at every possible turn. The emotional teen drama was quite off putting but I understand why it was there. Hopefully the next couple of episodes can be more about the concept of time travel instead of it being about the teen drama.

    I didn't like how Chloe kept saying "hella" it's really annoying and no one in the real world says "hella' unless they're joking or with their friends. Saying it in the face of a gun.. was kind of stupid and did not appeal to me what so ever. (minor nitpick)

    I didn't really like how you couldn't go back in time and take a picture of Chloe almost getting shot to show the principle... that would've made sense but yeh
    Postives.. the music was good. The characters aren't that annoying, the story was good, aswell as the stuff you can do in the world. I just didn't really like the whole "Find the CD to put the music on" what?

    overall, a decent episode. Not what people have been making it out to be, but decent.
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  57. Mar 5, 2020
    8
    8.2/10
    Всё-таки я предполагал, что эпизоды будут более длинными: я заглядывал в каждый уголок и читал каждый возможный постер и дневник (потому что это действительно увлекает, как не странно, своей атмосферой и натуралистичностью), но всё равно на этот эпизод я потратил всего 3 часа. А потом я узнаю, что сделал только 3 возможных опциональных фотографий из 10, а это значит, что не так уж
    8.2/10
    Всё-таки я предполагал, что эпизоды будут более длинными: я заглядывал в каждый уголок и читал каждый возможный постер и дневник (потому что это действительно увлекает, как не странно, своей атмосферой и натуралистичностью), но всё равно на этот эпизод я потратил всего 3 часа. А потом я узнаю, что сделал только 3 возможных опциональных фотографий из 10, а это значит, что не так уж и подробно изучил я каждый уголок, и это значит, что скорее всего я заново вернусь в эту игру, когда закончу 5-ый эпизод. Ну, собственно, этим и важен 1-ый эпизод: как полноценный сериальный пилот, он завлекает своей историей, персонажами и главной героиней, которая, как и каждый 18-летний человек, ищет своего призвания, но это призвание, судя по всему, теперь обречено на героизм, граничащий с сумасшествием.
    P.S. и отдельная благодарность за множественные отсылки на современную культуру, на историю кино- и фотоискусства и так далее...сам посмотрел "Скотта Пилигримма против всех" в 17 лет не менее 5 раз.
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  58. Nov 10, 2020
    9
    Бочка меда:
    - воистину уникальная картинка. Она очень светлая, слегка размытая и немного мультяшная, как будто нарисованная красками. Картины и постеры на стенах здесь так и вовсе размыты до очертаний. Не потому что разрабам было лень, просто стиль такой. А уникальность - это всегда хорошо. Создатели вдоволь наигрались с эффектами освещения - солнечные лучи тут сочатся из всех окон,
    Бочка меда:
    - воистину уникальная картинка. Она очень светлая, слегка размытая и немного мультяшная, как будто нарисованная красками. Картины и постеры на стенах здесь так и вовсе размыты до очертаний. Не потому что разрабам было лень, просто стиль такой. А уникальность - это всегда хорошо. Создатели вдоволь наигрались с эффектами освещения - солнечные лучи тут сочатся из всех окон, форточек и мельчайших щелей, быстро заливая всё пространство помещений.
    - внимание к мелким деталям. По улицам бегают белочки, люди управляют дронами с планшетов, в общем, всё живенько и правдоподобно. На каждой локации можно обнаружить массу интерактивных предметов, о которых героиня обязательно сморозит что-то интересное или забавное. Даже об одинаковых постерах, которые висят в разных местах, она говорит абсолютно разные вещи.
    - перемотка времени работает на решение повседневных проблем обычной школьницы. И, стоит отметить, что получилось это у французов весьма забавно и мило. Заниматься «мотанием» тут очень удобно. «Возродившись», можно быстро пропустить все диалоги, ведь ты их один раз уже слышал. Французы из Dontnod продумали всё.

    Дохлая муха:
    - небольшие и заскриптованные локации.

    Как метко подметили многие игровые журналисты, Life is Strange - это когда Walking Dead встречает Gone Home. Эта игра не получилась бы, если бы много талантливых людей не встретили многих других талантливых людей. Красивая, уникальная, душевная, чистая, солнечная. Она доберется до самых потаенных струн твоей души.
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  59. Aug 5, 2023
    10
    Embarking on Episode 1 of "Life is Strange" was a journey of uncertainty for me. I anticipated an adventure game with Telltale-like elements, where choices hold significance. However, I was pleasantly taken aback by the sheer brilliance the game displayed from the very start. I found myself utterly enamored with the characters, the enthralling storyline, and every other aspect that thisEmbarking on Episode 1 of "Life is Strange" was a journey of uncertainty for me. I anticipated an adventure game with Telltale-like elements, where choices hold significance. However, I was pleasantly taken aback by the sheer brilliance the game displayed from the very start. I found myself utterly enamored with the characters, the enthralling storyline, and every other aspect that this initial episode had to offer.

    What struck me the most was the depth of the characters and their compelling narratives. Both Chloe and Max left an indelible mark on my heart, making me invested in their lives and experiences. The freedom to explore the world, immerse myself in character hubs, and witness the vividly crafted world added an enchanting layer of immersion.

    One aspect that truly impressed me is the profound empathy I felt for the characters. The game remarkably evoked genuine emotions, forging an unexpected and powerful connection between me and the virtual personas on the screen.

    I absolutely adore the Telltale-inspired style of gameplay, but what sets "Life is Strange" apart is the ability to exert more control over the characters' actions. Furthermore, the game's central theme of chaos theory piqued my interest, adding a unique layer of complexity to the narrative. And of course, the ingenious time-rewind gameplay mechanic is superbly executed, elevating the gaming experience to new heights.

    This initial episode has offered a truly distinctive and emotionally resonant journey, brimming with heartfelt moments. I've yet to encounter anything to criticize, and I have every confidence that this game will rank among my all-time favorites if the subsequent episodes maintain the same level of excellence.

    In conclusion, Episode 1 of "Life is Strange" stands as a remarkable experience, leaving me eager to explore the rest of the narrative. The sheer abundance of emotions and remarkable storytelling make it a game to cherish. I'm eagerly anticipating the forthcoming episodes and have no doubt that this captivating journey will leave a lasting impression on me. Bravo to the creators for crafting such a remarkable piece of interactive art!
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Metascore
77

Generally favorable reviews - based on 28 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 19 out of 28
  2. Negative: 0 out of 28
  1. PC PowerPlay
    Mar 26, 2015
    80
    A very strong first chapter of an intriguing new adventure series. [Apr 2015, p.61]
  2. Pelit (Finland)
    Mar 19, 2015
    79
    A promising, if flawed first episode. Life Is Strange boasts believable characters and an intriguing setting. That said, the dialogue sounds awkward at times and some of the plot twists are a bit too much. [March 2015]
  3. CD-Action
    Mar 17, 2015
    75
    Adventure game – check. Developed by Frenchmen – check. Tells a story about an American – check – teenage girl – check – gifted with paranormal powers – check. Here’s where Beyond: Two Souls and Life is Strange go their separate ways, because the latter is actually good. [03/2014, p.74]