- Publisher: Square Enix
- Release Date: Oct 29, 2024
- Also On: PC, Switch, Xbox Series X
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Nov 15, 2024Double Exposure brings a nostalgic return to the world of Life is Strange, but lacks the depth and emotional connection that made the original so special.
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Nov 1, 2024Life is Strange: Double Exposure introduces an intriguing dual-reality concept, bringing fresh gameplay mechanics through the shifting perspectives. The return of Max Caulfield and the atmospheric university setting will certainly appeal to series fans, though it falls short in offering greater freedom of choice and impactful decisions. While the story maintains suspense until the end, it doesn’t quite escape the shadow of the original, and the final choices leave a lingering sense of missed potential.
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Oct 31, 2024Especially if you are already a fan of Life is Strange, Double Exposure is worth playing. It will stir up emotions in you again, and your feelings will go in all directions. Max is still the Max we love, although this is not always a plus.
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Oct 29, 2024Quotation forthcoming.
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Oct 29, 2024Life is Strange: Double Exposure feels like the definition of an unnecessary sequel. It doesn't feel like a natural continuation of Life is Strange, and in many ways, it is kind of a step backward for the characters. At the same time, it doesn't have enough of its own voice and ends up feeling weaker than True Colors or Life is Strange 2. It's nice to see Max again, but fans would've been happier if she hadn't shown up again. Taken entirely on its own merits, Double Exposure is a relatively fun little mystery, but it's too bogged down for its own good.
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Oct 28, 2024A compelling return for Max Caulfield with a gripping story and emotional depth, held back by technical issues and repetitive environments.
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Oct 28, 2024As modest as it is, it still accomplishes what it set out to do. It's a good, fun Life is Strange game, and there isn't much else like that. It maintains the delicate balance between campy and comforting throughout, but you just can't help but notice that the tightrope is only a few feet off the ground.
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Oct 28, 2024Max is back and fights her past demons while trying to save her friend Safi. Chloe is missed dearly in a game in which decisions don't have such a huge impact as in other LIS games.
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Oct 28, 2024Life is Strange Double Exposure draws you into a mystery full of intriguing twists and turns in a fresh university setting. The new shifting ability that allows for parallel timeline hopping works well in the context of a murder investigation, but can make it harder to feel like you're truly connecting with the characters. Overall, Max's return feels like it finds its feet towards the end, and is building towards something bigger.
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Oct 28, 2024When Life Is Strange: Double Exposure focuses on telling a personal story about trauma and regret it soars. When it focuses on being a teaser for future entries with its supernatural spectacle, it unravels. This balancing act unfortunately causes the latter to cannibalize some strengths from the former. Still, Max’s characterization and emotional journey remain the prominent highlight, offering a heartfelt and bittersweet thematic throughline at how the wounds of past guilt and grief scab over time. For the game to win me over despite my initial skepticism, that’s a pretty strong achievement, flaws and all.
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Oct 28, 2024Life is Strange: Double Exposure won't make any friends with its decision to leave Chloe behind. The ten year older Max is portrayed extremely well, and the supernatural story is delightful. Still, the writing varies in quality a lot due to an inconsistent tone and characters that make illogical decisions.
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Oct 28, 2024Life is Strange: Double Exposure is a game that fails to capitalize on its premise. Although the soundtrack and occasional moments of intrigue are commendable, they are overshadowed by poor character development, confusing plot choices, and a lack of polish. The technical issues, combined with the short length and unresolved storylines, make this entry feel rushed and incomplete. Longtime fans of the series might find themselves disheartened, as they may genuinely dislike the narrative choices that diverge from what they loved about the original. While some may find enjoyment in revisiting the world of Life is Strange, for many, this game could feel like a disappointing misstep.
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Jan 3, 2025Life Is Strange: Double Exposure is an interesting and partly successful attempt to recall what the first instalment of the series captured players with - full of well-written characters, with excellent voice acting and an atmospheric soundtrack.
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Dec 16, 2024Except for the expected technical advancements, the sequel did not really develop in any other of its segments. One could even say that it got degraded in certain aspects. The main mechanics of the game stagnated and brought nothing truly fresh to the table. When everything is taken into account, this sequel is a game just slightly above an average experience.
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Dec 4, 2024Visually, the series takes big leaps forward, and the winter setting makes this a perfect game for the end-of-year period. It feels like a warm, familiar blanket. But a beautiful setting is nothing without a good story. This time you and Max must solve a murder, and today she has a new superpower: a peek into a universe where that murder never happened. Not a bad find, but it's never deployed as creatively and cleverly as rewinding in the original game. The further you get, the more the plot also seems to lose its pedals. Bummer.
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Oct 31, 2024The gameplay itself and choices made to affect the branching storyline are a little too subtle and rarely taxing. It’s really there to aid the storytelling and build out the lore, like an interactive movie. As such there can be long stretches where the story slows or gets bogged down and it feels a little chore-like to keep grinding on.
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Oct 31, 2024There’s much to enjoy in this sequel to the trailblazing female-led narrative game, but inconsistent characterisation lets it down.
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Oct 28, 2024Life is Strange: Double Exposure aspires to great heights but ultimately struggles to reach them. There are some exciting ideas behind Deck Nine's last work. Still, the execution is undermined by plot inconsistencies, gameplay that only marginally considers the player's actions, and an ending that seems to steer the series in a direction that ultimately betrays its own foundations. The game has moments of brilliance, mainly due to the charisma of its lovable protagonist, a strong art direction, and a few interesting characters, but at no point does it feel like Max Caulfield's new adventure enhances the overall experience.
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Oct 28, 2024Where the first two chapters are strong, the game does not manage to keep that up in the subsequent chapters. The story is stalled, scenes do not make sense and a certain character does not come across as believable at all due to over acting. Still a shame, because this makes the return of Max Caulfield as the protagonist a bit of a disappointment. Despite these drawbacks, it otherwise plays away nicely, so fans of the franchise can definitely consider the game.
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Oct 28, 2024If it seems like we’re dogging on this latest outing for the series, it’s only because we know just how unique and entertaining it can be. Double Exposure isn’t a bad game, it’s just not the series at its best. It loses some of that inviting atmosphere with Caledon paling in comparison to Haven Springs or Arcadia Bay, and its narrative suffers from an overreliance on the supernatural. But we’d be lying if we said it wasn’t great to see Max Caulfield return and we still think it's worth checking out if you’re a fan of the series.
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Oct 28, 2024Despite its incredibly beautiful characters, the unique puzzles, and weaving the tale of a truly engaging murder mystery, Double Exposure severely misses the landing and falls completely flat in its final act.
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Oct 28, 2024Life is Strange: Double Exposure is a huge fumble for an otherwise fantastic series. What began with a promising opener only really leads to a great big pile of disappointment and heartbreak. It’s filled with visual and audio bugs and a mystery that turns baffling and misdirecting in abominable ways while also being downright disrespectful to its lore, canon and cast. It is a painful thing to watch my favourite franchise destroyed in front of my very own eyes. Worst of all, the game teases that follow-up ventures are only going to follow suit even more. Not even the adorable Max Caulfield and her sapphic ventures could save me from having a good time in the snowy, miserable Midwest. Like many media you can point to today; just because you can bring something back, doesn’t mean you should. Like our superpowered best friend in her endless searches across timelines, I’m left wondering where the hell it all went wrong.