Life is Strange: Before the Storm - Episode 1: Awake

Before the Storm's first chapter has already deflected most of the pre-release concerns that "This doesn't need to exist." Maybe it doesn't because Life is Strange's story was self-contained. Then again, maybe Life is Strange is better off with this complementing it. After its debut, I'm fully willing to argue that Before the Storm deserves to exist because this story is important too. In true Chloe fashion, anyone who disagrees gets two one-finger salutes.

Life is Strange: Before the Storm Episode 1 is a conservative proposal on the saga. The game will be more enjoyable for those who like the classic adventure genre. The fans of the original Life is Strange will discover in Before the Storm the beginning of the friendship between Chloe and Rachel that will add backstory on the punk girl.

Life Is Strange: Before The Storm may well take place before the literal storm but that doesn't mean that events run smoothly. Chloe is struggling to come to terms with the events of the last couple of years, but her burgeoning relationship with Rachel Amber looks set to change all that. When it comes to moral decisions, the options may not always make sense with Chloe and some awkwardness can ensue, but this is a minor issue in an otherwise solid episode, especially when the new BackTalk mechanic is very fitting and adds some realism to conversations. Depending on how much you like surprises, familiarity and prior knowledge from Life Is Strange can be either a blessing or a boon, but regardless of this, Chloe's new (old?) adventure looks to be a fascinating storyline to follow into the remaining two episodes.

Yes it has some serious pacing issues and the long conversations where you don’t seem to be doing much can grate. But the gameplay is solid, with some interesting extras and it still looks very pretty indeed.

Life is Strange Before the Storm is certainly a game for people who love a good story. It points out interesting themes like bullying, love, friendship, loss and more. The episode feels a little short with two or three hours, but in the end it's worth it.

This new adventure nails the overall mood of the series, while introducing an interesting "word fight" mechanic in replacement of the absent time rewind power. It lacks intense and adrenalinic moments like those in the original series, though: we hope to see more of those in the next two chapters.

As an introductory episode to a three-part series, Awake absolutely nails it. The action that takes place is pretty low-key — don’t run into Before the Storm expecting epic adventure sequences — but it’s a perfect return to Arcadia Bay.

Awake shows you a broken Chloe - someone at her lowest. Everyone hits those trying times in their lives, and what Awake does best is illustrate how much another person can make a difference in those situations. The emotional pull is strong, and the story's strength is its relatability. This first episode has me intrigued at how Chloe and Rachel Amber will make it through their distress, and it also has me rooting for them.

Life Is Strange: Before the Storm follows the path of what became the first title in 2015. Deck Nine has done the work of developing a graphic adventure to meet the expectations of fans but with the virtues and shortcomings of the previous title. Anyway is an ingenious proposal of mechanics that the most educated fans will love.

It suffers from a slow and repetitive first act, but once Chloe and Rachel meet, sparks fly. [Nov 2017, p.74]