Life is Strange: Episode 5 - Polarized

 PC
User Score
8.4

Generally favorable reviews- based on 348 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 274 out of 348
  2. Mixed: 36 out of 348
  3. Negative: 38 out of 348

Review this game

  1. Your Score
    0 out of 10
    Rate this:
    • 10
    • 9
    • 8
    • 7
    • 6
    • 5
    • 4
    • 3
    • 2
    • 1
    • 0
    • 0
  1. Submit
  2. Check Spelling
view
per page
  1. Revolos
    Oct 20, 2015
    10
    Dontnod Entertainment and the people behind it have done something no one would have expected when this game was announced. They have crafted the best episodic adventure game yet. Episode 5 cemented Life is Strange as an exceptional piece of storytelling that should be played and experienced by everyone.
  2. nima1990
    Feb 8, 2016
    10
    I wish I could return to when I started playing episode 1 so I could play it once again and I could experience this masterpiece from the beginning once more. Graphics, artistic style, everything is stellar and lip sync can be easily forgotten without any hesitation.
  3. Jerm
    Dec 17, 2015
    9
    Life is Strange starts with a mumble and ends with a bang. Admittedly, there were a few times that the story hit rather close to home and pulled my heart strings (Chloe's debacle). Shy of a 10 only because of a slightly rushed Mass Effect-style ending, a few spots of inaccurate lip syncing, I would still recommend LiS to anyone as one of the best games of 2015.
  4. Absydion
    Oct 22, 2015
    10
    This game deserves acclaim. Yes, the stealth sequence is silly, and yes, the villain's exposition is a bit excessive, but the heart of the game is about Max's relationships and the choices she has to make. People have complained about the last choice you have to make, but I think the developers have done something quite clever here.

    [Potential spoilers ahead, but without specific    This game deserves acclaim. Yes, the stealth sequence is silly, and yes, the villain's exposition is a bit excessive, but the heart of the game is about Max's relationships and the choices she has to make. People have complained about the last choice you have to make, but I think the developers have done something quite clever here.

    [Potential spoilers ahead, but without specific details.]

    If you choose one ending, what you get feels hollow, unsatisfying, and "wrong." Players can easily go back into the menu, start the game from that last branch, and choose the other ending. Basically, players can use Max's powers to go back and put things right ... but the game makers don't force you to do that. They leave you to come to that conclusion on your own. When you finally make the right choice, you have to live with the decision just as Max does. It's brilliant!

    [More overt spoilers ahead]

    It's not clear if Max knows at the end that she even has time-traveling powers. The entire game seems to be about Max coming to terms with and accepting Chloe's death. It's a game about loss, denial, mourning, acceptance, and maturity. It is truly a coming-of-age story, and it's beautifully done.    … Expand
  5. RaistClaster
    Oct 21, 2015
    8
    A conclusion that is just what it needed to be. The emotional roller coaster that started in chapter 4 continues with a final decision that will make your heart shatter in a million pieces or make it as hard as a beautiful diamond filled with sadness and happiness at the same time.
  6. TheTitan84
    Oct 20, 2015
    10
    This has been one of the best games of my life. The last choice..... will not spoil, but there IS a choice. There is ALWAYS a choice. Best game ever. It cost like 2 movie tickets (in Sweden at least) and is worth infinity that.
  7. Kururin11
    Oct 20, 2015
    9
    This is probably the best game I've played all year . It was so intense. The Storytelling, the music, the atmosphere and characters were awesome. Kudos to DONTNOD entertainment.
  8. f0zZy
    Oct 28, 2015
    10
    One of the best endings of the game. Wonderful hipster story of little girl Max. Interesting way to show time in different dimensions!

    ha ha P.S. I chose left option ;)
  9. MihneaCalin
    Oct 29, 2015
    10
    The fact i'm still crying 30 minutes after ending this game proves it all... Definitely the greatest emotional impact a game had on me since Walking Dead part 1. The action in this episode will be surreal at times, as we finally experience what being 'beyond dimensions' feels like, while the final choice of the game plays with your expectations beautifully. You might know (or feel) whereThe fact i'm still crying 30 minutes after ending this game proves it all... Definitely the greatest emotional impact a game had on me since Walking Dead part 1. The action in this episode will be surreal at times, as we finally experience what being 'beyond dimensions' feels like, while the final choice of the game plays with your expectations beautifully. You might know (or feel) where this is going, yet the interactions between the characters are done so delicately and so majestically at times that the ending still delivers a blow... The kind of blow you see coming yet avoiding it is impossible. From my point of view, there could be no other way for the game to come to its conclusion, as there can be no truly happy endings when playing with the fabric of time and life itself. Any other sort of ending would have probably only weakened the fantastic emotional power of the game...… Expand
  10. Steeldude
    Feb 8, 2016
    10
    In the final Episode of the series, you will be a victim of a series of alternate realities thanks to which you will hopefully save Arcadia Bay from harm. Will you actually be able to do anything, though?

    I loved this episode because of the clever writing and because of uncertainty - you will constantly wonder if you are doing the right thing or not and that is what counts in a game    In the final Episode of the series, you will be a victim of a series of alternate realities thanks to which you will hopefully save Arcadia Bay from harm. Will you actually be able to do anything, though?

    I loved this episode because of the clever writing and because of uncertainty - you will constantly wonder if you are doing the right thing or not and that is what counts in a game like Life is Strange. Get ready to play with time for the one last time ... and do your best in saving as many people as you can from the horrible disaster that lies in wait.    … Expand
  11. Tallas75
    Oct 22, 2015
    10
    A very unique game that I have to recommend with all my heart. It is quite simply fantastic. I love every aspect to this game even the quirky dialogue I find adds character to the experience. I found the final episode to be a nice way to end the series, despite it being fairly easy to predict. It was just pulled off so well. Just play the damn game, it's fantastic!
  12. sinhartigan
    Oct 21, 2015
    10
    The final episode was more than I expected It to be. In our desperate attempt to make everything right we truly learn what meddling with time and destiny can lead to, that we can not always have it our way and that we need to bear and accept the consequences that come along with our decisions.
    We get to explore the main protagonists true self, her feelings, her fears, how she grew as a    The final episode was more than I expected It to be. In our desperate attempt to make everything right we truly learn what meddling with time and destiny can lead to, that we can not always have it our way and that we need to bear and accept the consequences that come along with our decisions.
    We get to explore the main protagonists true self, her feelings, her fears, how she grew as a character. And what friendship truly is.
    All this is delivered with some really heart-wrenching moments and powerful lines (the voice actors did an astonishing job here!).

    While I understand that the ending may not live up to some peoples expectations I am satisfied with the way the game ends.
    The way that we play and experience the main protagonist, all the choices that we make along the way (and how little their impact may seem at times, but it is there) ultimately boil down to this one final decision that concludes all the amazing character development that both main protagonists went through over the course of the five episodes.
    I do feel that only one of the two possible outcomes is the way the story truly was meant to end. In retrospect that is the only valid conclusion that the story build-up along with all its foreshadowing led us to.
    And it was done in a delicate way - with powerful scenes and a wonderful soundtrack.

    It gave me closure. I am satisfied. And that is all I asked for after this wonderful journey.

    I am truly glad for this beautiful experience that is 'Life is Strange Season 1' and I envy those who have not yet played it but hopefully will.    … Expand
  13. Dimanches
    Oct 23, 2015
    9
    Games about choices and consequences are quite popular in this year. Tales from the Borderlands, Game of Thrones and now - Life is strange. It is atmospheric, sensitive and dramatic story about teenager Max Caulfield with a power of rewind time. I bet somebody thought " What if I choose now that and rewind after to see another side of this?". Sometimes It was really hard to choose one fromGames about choices and consequences are quite popular in this year. Tales from the Borderlands, Game of Thrones and now - Life is strange. It is atmospheric, sensitive and dramatic story about teenager Max Caulfield with a power of rewind time. I bet somebody thought " What if I choose now that and rewind after to see another side of this?". Sometimes It was really hard to choose one from many choices to proceed further. The final episode will answer to all of your questions about what happened exactly, with a portion of drama and unexpected vision of alternate reality, but truth hurts the most. The final choices were really hard to decide: decisions,decisions everywhere .But the game isn't perfect as it supposed to be - the ending was both obvious and well-made but these factors won't break your sense from game. 9/10!… Expand
  14. Watersson
    Jul 23, 2017
    10
    This game is one of the best games I have ever played. This game made me cry. This game is f**king awesome and you can't disagree. LIS has an awesome soundtrack and breathtaking story. You must give Life is Strange a chance because it really deserves it. It was the first game which gave me feelings like that. I was crying like 5-yrs old girl at ending... I never thought that video gameThis game is one of the best games I have ever played. This game made me cry. This game is f**king awesome and you can't disagree. LIS has an awesome soundtrack and breathtaking story. You must give Life is Strange a chance because it really deserves it. It was the first game which gave me feelings like that. I was crying like 5-yrs old girl at ending... I never thought that video game would affect my emotions like LIS has done...… Expand
  15. gyigyo2
    May 18, 2016
    9
    positive: I loved the characters and yes even mr Jefferson, I would love to see more lesson by him like start of ep1. Music is perfect I chosed to sacrifice arcadia bay because arcadiabay was already rotted by Prescott family and most of people was left the town, and who left that is already wanted to move on. plus syd matters obstacle. Now chloe and max can leave the town and start newpositive: I loved the characters and yes even mr Jefferson, I would love to see more lesson by him like start of ep1. Music is perfect I chosed to sacrifice arcadia bay because arcadiabay was already rotted by Prescott family and most of people was left the town, and who left that is already wanted to move on. plus syd matters obstacle. Now chloe and max can leave the town and start new life.

    negative:forced cutscenes(cant skip), forced to be good with warren. Both chloe and max behaviour changed in episode5

    The best episode is still: Episode1
    and Episode2,    … Expand
  16. runner
    Oct 31, 2015
    8
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. This is possibly the strongest episode in the game.
    Hard to talk about it without spoiling anything, but things got twisted and I loved it.

    This one is a bit different than the other episodes in terms of gameplay but not in a bad way, and serves as a great conclusion to the series, in my opinion.

    Except for the very end.
    I chose not to trash the game for its disappointing ending because Life is Strange doesn't deserve it. It's really a great game, I had such a good time playing it and even waiting from episode to episode.

    Too bad the ending is almost unforgivably weak and narrowed down, with all of your previous deeds just not counting, and, (STOP NOW BEFORE A SPOILERS COME) are wiped out and thrown out of the window by either your own doing or a a big destructive storm, which is, apparently, your own doing as well.

    The main problem with Life is Strange turned out to be that it just raises your expectations so high, and then washes them away.
    The conclusion is rather simplistic, all the choices you had to make (and there were a lot!) don't have the slightest impact in the end, and moreover, we don't get answers to some of the big questions which were floating upon our minds throughout the entire game: How did Max even got those powers in the first place? What's their source? And how did she manage to create the horrible storm? (Except for the poor reference of the butterfly effect), and what do all these does have to do with that twisted plot?

    I guess that's starting to sound like a negative review, but it is really about the very last moments of the game.

    It's still a 810, the entire game was greatly done, the ending was moving even if weak, and I hope DONTNOD would create more qualitative products such as this.    … Expand
  17. Lapis
    Oct 25, 2015
    9
    The storyline and plot is amazing. Despite that disappointing ending, I still enjoyed the entire game and episode. The ending choices felt a little too rush, however, Life is strange was already low on budget and they were pressured to release the game early, that's most likely why for the rush endings. But for a game with a low budget to start, it's beautifully and amazingly done up.
    The    The storyline and plot is amazing. Despite that disappointing ending, I still enjoyed the entire game and episode. The ending choices felt a little too rush, however, Life is strange was already low on budget and they were pressured to release the game early, that's most likely why for the rush endings. But for a game with a low budget to start, it's beautifully and amazingly done up.
    The song fits the mood, the character development was great, the whole storyline left me so empty afterwards but no game has ever made me feel that way before.
    To make someone care so deeply for the characters and the storyline, just shows how beautifully develop the whole game is. And Life Is Strange had definitely made me feel that way. After playing Life Is Strange episode 5, I couldn't get over is for days. I don't regret playing this game at all, not a single bit. This was time well spent.    … Expand
  18. Ajstorey456
    Oct 28, 2015
    8
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. I feel like there was a simpler solution than completely changing the time line to save your girlfriend, such as writing everything max would need to know in her own journal to prevent anything bad from happening. Like bold letters: Mr Jefferson did this, the town is in danger, evacuate and enjoy your relationship with Mrs. Punk Rock. But I guess that would just make the story dry. I also feel they overdid it with Jefferson as to his psychotic tendencies. While it does have to be emphasized he's a lunatic, it was just over the top stereotypical for the psycho to be how he is, especially as compared to how collected and calm he is through the other episodes. Don't get me wrong, I enjoyed the series and wouldn't know how to conclude it myself, but I'm gonna go with the other people in saying that it could have been better.… Expand
  19. JesseLluvia
    Nov 2, 2015
    9
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. El primer final es el mejor. La forma en que se despiden Max y Chloe en el segundo final es, emotiva, super épica, algo que quedara en nuestros recuerdos y corazones, pero por eso mismo creo que el Canon es que Max decidió salvar a Chloe, lo que ambas sienten es muy grande como para tomar una decisión racional en base a que muchas vidas valen más que una. Después de todo Max jamas pidió tener esos poderes y se activaron cuando ella decidió salvar a Chloe en el baño, sin duda salvar a Chole era la prioridad numero uno de Max. .

    Ps: El episodio 5 debió titularse "Hell"    … Expand
  20. cosmictherapy
    May 9, 2016
    9
    The thrilling conclusion to our emotional roller coaster of a game. This episode ties up some loose ends but also leaves a bunch of loose ends up for interpretation. The entire game basically leads up to one decision at the end of the game which decides which ending cut scene you see. Honestly I was kinda disappointed that there were only two endings but i guess they didn't lie about yourThe thrilling conclusion to our emotional roller coaster of a game. This episode ties up some loose ends but also leaves a bunch of loose ends up for interpretation. The entire game basically leads up to one decision at the end of the game which decides which ending cut scene you see. Honestly I was kinda disappointed that there were only two endings but i guess they didn't lie about your decisions having an influence on the story. Another criticism i have is the dream sequence. Honestly i just don't like dream sequences in games, but that's just me. It feels kinda irrelevant.… Expand
  21. Andromeda707
    Mar 19, 2020
    10
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. 9.6/10
    Ну что сказать. Финальный эпизод Life is Strange должен был поставить жирную точку в этой потрясающей истории, напряжение в которой нарастало с каждым мгновением, и он это сделал. Каких-то интересных геймплейных развлекательных решений и головоломок мы здесь не увидим, зато увидим потрясающую постановку и сюжет, достигающий своего логичного завершения в потрясающем финале. Вот только жаль, что потрясающий финал - всего один, хотя их подразумевалось два, но второй финал едва ли можно назвать потрясающим. Самая главная особенность игры - сила выбора, в концовке игры кажется скорее слабостью, чем особенностью, иначе говоря, лучше бы этого выбора не было, так как игроку даётся возможность выбрать абсолютно нелогичную (да и по правде говоря, выглядящую совсем "не канонично") концовку вместо очевидно напрашивающейся и логичной. Но в целом финальный эпизод сам по себе настолько хорош, что даже придираться к этому не хочется. На фоне повторяющихся событий (да, очередные хитросплетения со временем) видно, насколько большой жизненный путь прошла Макс за такой короткий (казалось бы) промежуток времени, и это ощущается отлично во всём нарративе эпизода. А предфинальная сцена (напоминающая и бэд-трип из Far Cry 3, и некоторые серии Коня Боджека или финальные серии Мистера Робота, кто знает, тот поймёт) ещё надолго войдёт в моё сознание, как одна из самых впечатляющих и будоражащих сцен в игровой индустрии.    … Expand
  22. Ciocolici
    Aug 5, 2023
    10
    "Life is Strange" has firmly secured its place as one of my all-time favorite games, ranking alongside the legendary "The Walking Dead." This remarkable journey has provided me with a truly unique and profoundly emotional experience, thanks to its brilliantly crafted narrative.

    Episode 5, the final installment, proved to be the most heart-wrenching and poignant chapter of them all. From    "Life is Strange" has firmly secured its place as one of my all-time favorite games, ranking alongside the legendary "The Walking Dead." This remarkable journey has provided me with a truly unique and profoundly emotional experience, thanks to its brilliantly crafted narrative.

    Episode 5, the final installment, proved to be the most heart-wrenching and poignant chapter of them all. From the very beginning to the end, I was immersed in a rollercoaster of emotions. The storytelling reached new heights, leaving me captivated and emotionally invested in the characters' fates.

    This episode expertly balanced heartbreak and chilling moments, adding an extra layer of complexity to the overall experience. The emotional impact of the story continued to resonate, and there were instances where I found myself deeply moved, a testament to the game's ability to elicit genuine feelings.

    The narrative mastery on display is truly a work of art. Every aspect of this episode was thoughtfully crafted, leaving a lasting impression on me. The culmination of the series in Episode 5 provided a fitting and satisfying conclusion to an exceptional gaming experience.

    As I reflect on the entirety of "Life is Strange," I can't help but feel grateful for the journey it took me on. This game has touched me in ways few others have, making it an unforgettable and transformative experience.

    In conclusion, Episode 5 of "Life is Strange" is a masterclass in storytelling and emotional depth. It brought the series to an emotionally charged and unforgettable conclusion, leaving me in awe of its brilliance. The combination of heartbreak, creepiness, and artistry makes this episode a true masterpiece. I wholeheartedly recommend this game to anyone seeking an exceptional and emotionally impactful gaming experience. "Life is Strange" will forever hold a special place in my heart, and it has left an indelible mark on my gaming journey.    … Expand

Awards & Rankings

36
#36 Best PC Game of 2015
65
#65 Most Discussed PC Game of 2015

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
83

Generally favorable reviews - based on 8 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 7 out of 8
  2. Mixed: 1 out of 8
  3. Negative: 0 out of 8
  1. Games.cz
    Nov 4, 2015
    90
    Grand finale of an unconventional adventure is a success and the whole game has truly the one of the best stories of this year.
    Read full review
  2. RPG Fan
    Oct 26, 2015
    90
    The entirety of Episode 5 pulls at the soul, using the series' history as a catalyst for existential query.
    Read full review
  3. Multiplayer.it
    Oct 26, 2015
    80
    Life is Strange: Polarized is a brilliant pay off. All the choices we have made, along with the awkward narrative style finally make sense. And we are confronted with issues much deeper than expected.
    Read full review
See all critic reviews »