Life is Strange: Double Exposure is Good, but not Great. [Review]

[@RedArcherLive]

The puzzle box does have a follow-up, and I missed the final step of the cat DLC... oops. Thank you again to Square Enix for providing me with a copy of the game early! I'm very grateful to have had a chance to dive in and make this review for you all :)

[@juliesymonds2440]

Overall. I felt like this game was just a big promo for the next game. None of the choices felt like they mattered much other than a few small things that didn't have a big impact on the story as a whole. Everything felt like it already had a fixed way of things to play out so developers didn't have to worry so much about integrating the consequences of different choices for the next game. And I was getting a "mutants vs humans" type of vibe by the end. Which, I too thought was going in a direction I didn't expect the Life Is Strange games to go in.

[@RedArcherLive]

@@juliesymonds2440 While I disagree on making this purely to promote a sequel, I do think they've made this with a sequel already planned out. As you say, a lack of consequence from choices would make it easier to import into the next game 👀

[@Young_Wrath]

I like this game because it mirrors the first one but instead of having max run away from a town with a girl this time max had a similar story but she rewrote her ending and decided to stay with the people she couldve left behind and now in the next game we could potentially see where these powers came from and have the people from previous games meet up and maybe their powers evolved just like maxes did

[@RedArcherLive]

I don't know if I love the idea of having the origins of the powers explained, the mystery around that is fun! But I agree, there's some great ideas in this game. I think the issues stem purely from how they're written and/or fleshed out, especially in the final hours

[@kjh23gk]

@@RedArcherLive Clearly the powers come from midichlorians. 😂

[@FallenGemini]

I beat DE yesterday, so I am currently watching your entire review. As such, the owner of the cat can be found on Loretta's radio flyer in the Krampus party. Look at the flyer and then an option to scan in the QC will appear. Once you do it, Max will listen to Loretta's podcat about the missing cat. Afterwards, Max will contact the owner of the cat via text, which later triggers a cutscene with Max giving the cat to Loretta at the start of the tornado aftermath on the quad in Chapter 5 - the scene before Max heads to the Snapping Turtle for the last time.

[@itsmeboo6074]

My main issue is that I was pretty confused by ep4 and 5. First of all Alderman seems to of vanished. And I just dont get where the premise about Safi getting killed went. Like it was Max but she stopped herself? Then in ep5 when everything went weird was that all Safis power or both max and safis power mixed or was it a nightmare? And diamond has powers too ig?

[@RedArcherLive]

Yeah it feels like the final chapters didn't have the narrative strength that the first 2/3 did, which is a shame.

[@ebaskin71]

the ending isnt even safi asking if max will join her, its literally just safi asking if max will accept her leaving, but no matter what you pick, max will stay in caledon and safi will leave

[@sydneebl9]

I agreed that it was very built up in the first 2 chapters only to not deliver that much in the end. I was left with a “????” Once it was over. It felt fleshed out and rushed at the same time? I agree with a comment someone left about forcing us to like amanda vs letting a relationship organically come through since we frequent that bar often. I loved watching Moses and Max build a friendship without Safi. Once the combined both timelines I missed dead world Moses.. we spent the most time with him idk. I was somewhat hoping the rumors about Safi being a shapeshifter weren’t true and that the doppelgängers were just from different timelines lol but the reveal was cool and I did enjoy the conversation they had afterwards. Did Safi’s face look different/creepy to anyone else? Lastly, I think you have to listen to Loretta’s podcast in order to give the cat back to its owner. If you post picture of the cat that helps her identify them.

[@RedArcherLive]

Thanks for sharing your thoughts! I was the same as you on my first completion, which was a big reason as to why I played it twice before reviewing lol

[@TheLostFan2010]

I would argue, and this is my main gripe with the game (I've gotten past the Chloe stuff, it is what it is), but Max tends to be kind of inconsistent, and I think this is the result of the writers having to reconcile two completely different versions of the character. The 28 year old Max of one ending of the original game would be very different from the Max of the other ending by that point, considering their incredibly divergent life experiences. And so, while sometimes she's the Max we all grew to love but older, sometimes she's just kind of... off.

[@RedArcherLive]

Yeah, they've tried to say she does a similar thing regardless of ending. I can appreciate the reasoning, even if realistically it wouldn't be the case. Either way, I still loved how she was presented!

[@TheBeastBoss04]

yeah, I'm only here because my YT Premium view gives more moneys. Also, you were super excited about this game and then it was a 6.5-7/10. Oof.

[@RedArcherLive]

@@TheBeastBoss04 preciate it! And hey, I still liked it :)

[@Rockport1911]

" This action will have consequences..." Yeah right, iam not expecting the story to be as flexible as a quest in NewVegas, but it doesnt seem like the choices you make matter at all during or at the end of the story...

[@FallenGemini]

The second Abraxius box can be missed easily in chapter 2 - it is on Max's kitchen countertop in the dead world. The puzzles are harder to solve without guides but are doable. I figured it out without a guide.

[@RedArcherLive]

Honestly I'm really surprised I didn't spot it in the house lol

[@FallenGemini]

@RedArcherLive to be fair, I missed it the first time around, but I replayed parts of chapter 2 because I missed the reflection scene and the photo at the Overseer spot. I was able to find it on my own the second time, but I ended up playing parts of chapter 2 additional times during early access because the game locked me out of giving the therapy card the first time around and then I found out I missed the Power Besr Mug.

[@gamefreak762]

So I've finally finished the game myself and have now just finished watching your review. I gotta say, I agree with pretty much everything you said. For me, the first three chapters are the best that the series has ever been, chapter four started to lose me, and then by chapter 5, I just stopped caring almost entirely. It's SO much worse than if the game was just consistently meh. Because for a while, the potential and intrigue was THERE. But it just did not stick the landing for me. Overall though, I would still say it's my second or third favorite in the series, behind the original and probably behind True Colors as well.

[@unicorn1655]

Something I hope they bring back is visiting homes. We never got to see Safi‘s home and have a conversation in a more intimate setting with her despite her being the second most important character. Also Max‘s home lacks soul. There’s no forgotten dishes, no collection of photography books, no option to play the guitar or doodles on a calendar. The settings and especially private spaces always told their own, hidden stories and that’s missing here.

[@wickdaline8668]

I need a game with Max, Daniel, and Alex as the three main protagonists. Culminating the cast of every LIS game for a crossover event if that's what they teased at the end. I'd throw all my money at Square Enix and Deck Nine if they made it! 🤑💸💰💲

[@MadoIG]

Awesome review, it pretty much sums up a lot of the thoughts I had towards the game. For the cat ending, there is a flyer hanging up in the bar by where moses and diamond are playing cards in chapter 4 and it has a QR code that max can scan. Also I believe that you can do the other part of the abraxas box in chapter 2.

[@RedArcherLive]

@@MadoIG yeah my dumbass missed both of those 😭 I'm also impressed with how many achievements there are that I haven't done yet!

[@RoachDarrington]

So yesh, leaks are true, the avengers shit is true, why did they make this a max story? They dont do anything but damage her I feel with making it a sequel and not doing anything with it. Also on the romance i agree, amanda is great, my problem is the context, yoy just met her for a minute, told you two are good to to each other, tell safi that chole was your lover ir not and if she is dead or broken up, then get pushed to ask Amanda out even if you say she's not your type. I hate it when media pushes me to like someone with saying i should instead of showing. Later in the chatper with seeing her care about Max's grief I liked her and would of picked yes if i had this before the option, but i doubt it. The second is the other romance, to me what the fuck did they smoke with that writing? That guy is just both an ass and creepy as. "Sexy to drink at work?"," talking about sexy points isnt sexy?", everything that comes frok him wants me to just run away from him

[@TheMineHackSwe]

I heard he was never ment to be a love intrest they just added em cuz they felt they needed a guy love intrest.

[@RoachDarrington]

@TheMineHackSwe after finishing I think he got better, but those two two chapters, Jesus Christ they were smoking, same with the rest of the game. I wouldn't be surprised if true

[@RedArcherLive]

@@RoachDarrington I don't personally like the Vinh romance. He doesn't feel like he should be an option when he's also one of the most suspicious characters for a good chunk of the game. Amanda is great, though. As for the ending, yeah... idk. It COULD be we just get a few new characters with powers, and not returning ones? I don't really know if I want an ensemble game 😂

[@RoachDarrington]

@@RedArcherLive It really does feel like they added Max just to help the game sell. It really does feel like only one person on the writing team seemed to actually care about her and her lore. We get these small nuggets about her past and what happened between the games, but they’re vague because the rest of the team didn't fully develop her character. By the end of Chapter 4 and throughout Chapter 5, she didn’t even feel like Max to me. With Vinh, I actually started to like him when he wasn’t saying weird things about being sexy or hitting on Max. The moment he talked about Maya and what he’d gone through was one of the only times he felt like a relatable character. I thought it was funny how you’re forced into meeting him at the bar even if you say a vague no to him, and then he has the nerve to ask if Max would, in his words, "f*** him" in a f***-marry-kill game. Amanda was great! I enjoyed her character, but I hate how they push you to move on from Chloe or Warren to someone you barely know and have to decide if you like or not. There is a second chance to choose, which is nice, and I actually liked Max’s response if you turn Amanda down-she says, “I’m dealing with a lot of stuff, and it wouldn’t be fair to bring you into that.” It felt genuine to Max’s character in that moment. But then you realize that they made her say that just to keep Amanda as a possible romantic option for later, and you still can’t fully say no. Amanda keeps hinting that she's interested, even saying “why do I fall for the weird ones” several times after. Which I think sums up the game pretty well, you're forced to watch their story play out no matter what you say. Also love the payday news updates 🦀

[@Young_Wrath]

Avenger stuff? What did u think would happen when a bunch of random people get powers? that people just arent going to do bad things with them? That people with powers arent going to want to find more people like them? especially when they thought they were the only ones lol in every single game random people have had powers if max had time powers there could possibly be someone with way stronger powers and it could be someone messed up it was bound to happen since more and more people are gaining powers yall just think super hero things are “corny” its been going in this direction since the first game and in the next game theyll most likely explain where these powers come from

[@H3rmon861]

Finally a review that’s more objective with this game. A lot of people are simply this game is utterly horrible that pales in comparison to the first one who was a masterpiece and I’ve been feeling crazy because a) I think the game has a lot of decent moments and b) the first games never really were as flawless as people are painting them as to be in retrospective. The review pretty much nails the game for what it is. I think it’s fine and has potential for a sequel that could polish up the many hiccups

[@RedArcherLive]

@@H3rmon861 thank you! I agree, there's a lot of hyperbole with this game when really it's a solid title that has a few issues that could be ironed out in a sequel!

[@Rockport1911]

I liked the beginning even tho I would have liked more worldbuilding ( Max is a teacher? we never see her in class?). Max is portrayed well ( even tho I liked her more introvert), the graphics are good. But the story went off the rails in EP4 and 5 and has so many lost opportunities, no real choices, many open ends/ themes and the ending itself just left me confused. A more grounded story with only Max having her original power would have been so much better. I dont like how they implemented the two timezones, its just clunky and makes the story a mess. Cant they right a good story on the levels of the OG LiS anymore, does nobody playtest games on focus groups anymore?

[@Elizabeth-mf3dn]

Ah yes I totally forgot she was the artist in residence, she wasn’t doing anything for it the whole time 😂

[@yvngdende]

I really enjoyed DE but taking a sharp turn into X-Men at the end was certainly a choice

[@Loophole23742]

I'll get this game when it drops in price. At full price this game is about £40. Alan wake 2 deluxe edition is on sell for under £40. I'm going to buy that. It takes a lot for me to spend £40 on a game. I mostly get games pre owned or on sell. The only games I was willing to pay £60 for was Alan wake 2 deluxe edition and forbidden west complete edition. If not for the backlog of games I'm still getting through I would of bought forbidden west and Alan wake 2 already but seeing Alan wake 2 deluxe edition for under £40 I can't pass on that. I'll probably pick it tomorrow.

[@methebee]

VINH is also Safi's boyfriend so why would we date him, AND apparently he also dates Reggie???!

[@RedArcherLive]

@@methebee he wasn't Safi's boyfriend, they just hooked up a few times

[@ThousandairesClub]

*I respect these games for what they are, which is $19.99 masterpieces 👌 I do wish for more replay value though.*

[@mattstansbeary3068]

Yeah Square Enix Doesn't want Ashly Burch anywhere near this Series because they would have to sign the Union agreement which they will not So Yes Chloe is Out. Saying the Second one is up to Decknine Games is Laughable at best Nothing is up to Decknine Games, Square Enix tells them what They Can & Can't Do which is the issue from the Above Square Enix wants Chloe Out of Life is Strange for Good. Remember the Union is After the Control of Character Ai & Square Enix wants Character Ai.

[@kjh23gk]

It can't be the reason as they could just get Rhianna DeVries back to play Chloe.

[@wennaandthewolf]

I really can not see Max ever turning a gun on someone to prevent them from 'destroying' peoples lives...it's out of character to just straight up murder her friend and with something so aggressive...it was jarring and weak...

[@x12-f9z]

In LIS 1 I made Max pull the trigger on Frank. The fact that its an option shows Max can be cold when needed

[@swavezmartin]

Life is strange 2 will always be the best love it 😊😊

[@RedArcherLive]

@@swavezmartin this is why I love this franchise, it appeals to different people in different ways!

[@JenMistress]

Just finished this game a bit ago, and decided to see what others thought of it, out of curiosity, when I came across this video. I'll agree with the title, it is good, but not great. However, think I liked it slightly more than you. I'll probably give it a B grade. Reason why, it to me wasn't as emotional as the previous games. Yeah, there was still stuff that made me emotional, but previous LiS games was stuff that would leave me crying for hours afterwards, specially the first game when you had to choose, save the people or save Chloe. And even later games, Rachel not answering her phone when Chloe calls, because you know it's when she was in a Dark Room, and several things the brothers went through on their way to Mexico, the death of Alex's brother, those things really left me crying for a long time, didn't quite reach that level with me in this one. And maybe because yours truly is a lesbian, but I was totally focused on Amanda, and Vihn, I didn't have to think twice on picking pass with him. Even Loretta, I wouldn't have minded too much, didn't think she was that bad. In fact, at the end when Amanda brought up Lois Lane, my first thought was, that sounds more like Loretta being Lois. 😉😂🤣 But as far as spending more time with Max down the line, I'm all for it. And hey, if Max and Amada can get even closer, total awesomeness. But anyways, enjoyed your review. Thank you for this. Oh, PS, you can return the cat to the owner, there is a flyer in the bar, from Loretta. If you examine it, Max gets a phone number that can get you in touch with the owner. In the end, Max takes the cat to Loretta who knows the owner, and will give the cat back.😊

[@RedArcherLive]

@@JenMistress thank you so much for sharing! I think I've settled on a 7, so a B like you. I just wish the closing chapters were stronger because the opening chapters are absolutely phenomenal.

[@leonkodheli3056]

So does it say who killed safi in episode one, I don't think it even does, because max doesn't come to turns with killing safi

[@queensevilregal]

Thats what confused me too. The way I look at it, it's what would have happened if Max actually went through in shooting Safi like Safi wanted. It was a Future Max that shot Safi. But since Max didn't go through with it, it changes things and that night never actually happened. Especially after they jumped into the storm and it warped both timelines and mixed them up together as one. That's the only way I can make sense of it. But I could be wrong. This game left the door open for so many different possibilities on what actually happened that night.

[@leonkodheli3056]

@queensevilregal I'm surprised I didn't get a nose bleed when playing episode 5, so confusing😄

[@queensevilregal]

@@leonkodheli3056 LOL. Same. I need to replay it to see if anything stands out that I didn't catch on the first time.

[@telkis90]

is it just me or does it look more cartoony in a sense? like more clay like than the realistic look from the first one? but then again what do i know. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ also thats Max? would not have guess that in a milion years.

[@RedArcherLive]

@@telkis90 meh, personally I'd say this one looks a little more real than the original art style. As for not recognising Max, I do (weirdly enough) think she's harder to recognise with the beanie on? 😂😭

[@allysonennis200]

I think they pulled a Descendants Rise of Red 😂

[@KCobra396]

I feel like they are building up safi to be a potential villain in the squeal.

[@NURDVEVO]

Max cant catch a break. Goh dam.

[@RedArcherLive]

At least she looks damn good while (not?) doing it

[@Dark5tar001]

Would love to see you cover Sonic X Shadow Generations as well in this channel, its been stellar!

[@RedArcherLive]

@@Dark5tar001 I'd love to! I just need to finish it first...

[@CountWaltz]

Awesome review, thank you!

[@MapOfEurasia]

Finished the game today, and I like it! That's an 8.5/10 for me, and I like the direction Deck Nine is going with the franchise. SPOILERS I felt this game focused on Max living her own life after the Arcadia Bay events and dealing with her own severe PTSD, which came out in full force after Safi's death at the beginning. Most people are just missing a simple thing, a L O T of stuff happens in life during a span of 10 years: like relations that just fall apart, new friends, new beginnings and so on. Loved all the plot twists! Now Max knows she's not alone and other people have superpowers, and know she's not hiding anymore but she's embracing what she is and accepted their choices.❤ P.S: After Moses last dialogue with Max, Chloe will be definitely in the next game and I'm looking forward for it. ❤ And I'm also looking forward for Safi and Diamond ❤

[@jacquelinejanewashere]

WHATS IN THE BOX?! 😂

[@instagramsci9615]

How much did they paid you fr...

[@RedArcherLive]

@@instagramsci9615 oh good, the first of these comments. They didn't - I literally bought the game myself after getting an early copy. Crazy that you think a 6.5/10 is a paid opinion...

[@smock4202]

nobody can beat Detroit become human

[@Brookzyretro]

7./10

[@CovenantQuarter]

A solid 7 or 8 out of 10 game. Another game that doesn't hold a candle to the original unfortunately.

[@Gabriel-all]

Without Chloe there is no sense in this game

[@RedArcherLive]

I personally disagree with that, I think Max having her own story is perfectly fine. I do, however, agree Chloe wasn't handled as well as I'd have liked.

[@Sadoso]

if you chose chloe is alive, how did victoria survive? what is this writing?

[@Sadoso]

I am a big fan von the ending with chloe, but even if you save the town, it is very disapointing that the choises dont really have any impact on max, or anything in this world.

[@Sadoso]

And some random text on your phone isnt really great storytelling in 2024, considering LiS1 have such impact, AND(if you saved Chloe), it might be a Translation mistake, but at the first 5 minutes max says she cant control time anymore since the storm, and in the diary its "revealt" that she continue to manipulate time? (german translation)

[@TheInsomniaCrow]

Because she was in the bunker with David who also survives.

[@TheInsomniaCrow]

⁠@@SadosoI think it may be a mistranslation, the only way it may be hinted that she still uses her powers is when Chloe is doubting that she’s still using her powers to not fuck up their relationship. But she always negates that and is just a supposition of Chloe

[@Sadoso]

I really think Deck 9 should make a dlc, yes i will buy it, but give us what the promised. I like the Grafik, i like the way how the ask wich desicon we took in the first game. I like some Charakters. But they missed the opertunity to connect maybe lis1, lis2 and true colors. I