Life is Strange: Episode 5 - Polarized

 PlayStation 4
Metascore
81

Generally favorable reviews - based on 30 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 24 out of 30
  2. Mixed: 6 out of 30
  3. Negative: 0 out of 30
  1. Shacknews
    Oct 21, 2015
    70
    I'm fine with the endings for Max, Chloe, and everyone else. It disappoints because of the path the game took in getting there. The ultimate result is a letdown and it leaves a sense that Life is Strange could have been such a more memorable experience than it was.
  2. Metro GameCentral
    Oct 21, 2015
    70
    A heartbreaking ending to a fascinatingly ambitious interactive story, that handles the build-up to its final dilemma with impressive confidence and heart.
  3. Playstation Official Magazine UK
    Dec 16, 2015
    60
    Fractured. [Christmas 2015, p.79]
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  5. Playstation Official Magazine Australia
    Dec 15, 2015
    60
    While the episode does provide a conclusion to Max’s bittersweet story, its splintered things apart more than tied them all together. [January 2015, p75]
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  6. NZGamer
    Oct 26, 2015
    60
    A fantastic series comes to an uneven, disappointing close.
  7. USgamer
    Oct 23, 2015
    60
    Life is Strange comes to its ultimate conclusion by asking players what's more important: one person or an entire town? This is an emotionally strong episode that's unfortunately padded out by sequences that justify its overall running time and reinforce that you're playing a game. Life is Strange was great as a whole, but there are missteps in this episode.

Awards & Rankings

44
#44 Best PS4 Game of 2015

User Reviews

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User Score
8.2

Generally favorable reviews- based on 276 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 209 out of 276
  2. Mixed: 36 out of 276
  3. Negative: 31 out of 276
  1. josh671
    Oct 20, 2015
    10
    Fantastic final episode that really does draw from the previous 4 episodes in a surprising way. Highly recommended, if you were waiting forFantastic final episode that really does draw from the previous 4 episodes in a surprising way. Highly recommended, if you were waiting for the final episode to purchase the game you have a great 5 part series ahead.… Full Review »
  2. Djurdjen
    Oct 20, 2015
    10
    Though your choices don't matter much in this episode (except for the last one), this was still a spectacular and intense finale. I think i'veThough your choices don't matter much in this episode (except for the last one), this was still a spectacular and intense finale. I think i've never been so emotionally attached to a video game protagonist. This is without doubt the best game I've played this year.… Full Review »
  3. keithjonjonson
    Oct 21, 2015
    10
    This was by no means a perfect finale, as it felt just a bit muddled, with similar hits and misses in the dialogue. BUT THIS EPISODE NEEDS TOThis was by no means a perfect finale, as it felt just a bit muddled, with similar hits and misses in the dialogue. BUT THIS EPISODE NEEDS TO BE STUDIED AND ABSORBED by future episodic gaming teams. It is still unquestionably a 9.9 in my view. Polarized was brilliantly inventive, and in all the chaos, still hammers home the point it's been making all along: Life is... f****'d up. But no one is alone.… Full Review »
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