Life is Strange Double Exposure Review: Game Without a Soul

[@foxial5358]

Wouldn´t be surprised if the protagonist of this game was originally a completely new character, but at some point they decided to include Max as a marketing tactic. 🤔

[@seha4943]

New character would be better, i love life is strange but im gonna pretend and lie myself that 6th game doesnt exist

[@foxial5358]

@@seha4943 I remember that even the original devs said that LiS1 was meant to be a one shot story, they didn´t want to make sequels, prequels or spin-offs. And I tend to agree because good stories always end in time imo, but the new game is better if you just see it as one of the many possible outcomes/timelines that could´ve happened after LiS1 just like the comics.

[@seha4943]

@@foxial5358 I did play the first 2 episodes by borrowing my friends xbox, 6th game is nowhere close to first or second game, musics doesnt feel alive, the npc's doesnt even feel Real and like nothing you do has an impact on what they do/think, dont nod thinks making new character and stories are better and i think the same, if they were to make lis 6 great they could do it similar to comic, in this one they didnt respect both endings so its not a problem they do the same wth other ending by going with the comics or making a game named "after the storm" would be better.

[@foxial5358]

@@seha4943 Yeah, I think they painted themselves into a corner by saying they respect both endings of LiS1. Perhaps they wanted to make a sequel for both endings because they didn´t want to alienate anyone from playing the game based on what they chose in LiS1, but it´s very challenging to do and sequels for games like LiS1 don´t work if not written well. I kinda already expected that they´d skip the time period where Max and Chloe could´ve been together and start when Max is alone again, but it´s somewhat silly to assume that Max would end up having the exact same life/personality regardless of what you choose in LiS1 and whether she and Chloe were romantically involved or not.

[@PricefieldPunk]

Game without a soul is the perfect description. Im glad some people enjoyed the game but the fact that there's almost no fan art being made of LIS DE other than commissioned pieces Square paid for is telling of how fans feel about this game. When fans love a game/ship the fanart will be supplied in droves just from the passion and love the fans have. Like Pricefield and currently with Arcane's CaitVi. Instead of leaning into give fans what they wanted they went the opposite way for some reason and fractured their own fanbase.

[@LukasM-r9e]

It's actually so awkward how all those fan arts are commissioned....💀

[@PricefieldPunk]

@@LukasM-r9e There's so little fan content for DE the LIS official account posted old fanart of the LIS1 characters with Max and Chloe for this years Christmas post lmao and DE is a Christmas time themed game too.

[@monk_cs2]

You're looking in the wrong places

[@LukasM-r9e]

@@PricefieldPunk i remember them commissioning my favorite fortnite concept artist as well which i also found funny xD

[@cricketexperience778]

This game did not respect both endings of the first game. And they made Max really strange and horny all the time and it felt so unlike her. For me the game completely fell apart in the last two episodes. Those episodes just had me waiting for it to be over and the fact that they are trying to start a super hero team with Safi,Diamond, and possibly Daniel or Alex is just way too much and it seems they are trying to be like marvel which is very cringe.

[@ScriptZac]

It's so crazy what they did with Chole since the comics show Max was willing to basically tear the fabric of reality to get back to her.

[@kylekidd9916]

"I'm putting together a team..." ahh game LOL

[@KatanaGirlUTube]

It’s indeed a bad game. You summarize the basic issues well. 😢

[@yessopie]

I'm still kind of sad about how shallow and empty this game was. I guess we'll never have another good Life Is Strange game.

[@wickdaline8668]

Chloe should have been Max's roommate with Arcadia Bay sacrificed. Warren can be her roommate with Chloe sacrificed. Watch the scene between Nathan and Elena in the Uncharted 4 chapter A Normal Life. Perfect template for how Max can live a normal life with Chloe or Warren in Lakeport. Even if the game still has problems, the Pricefield or Grahamfield continuation may not be one of them with what I've stated above.

[@StopMeOh]

@@wickdaline8668 I did not think of that, such a nice solution to this issue

[@wickdaline8668]

@StopMeOh Look how Bioware was able to transfer Ashley and Kaiden with two different paths for the Mass Effect trilogy. Look how Telltale was able to transfer Kenny and Jane with two paths for The Walking Dead: A New Frontier. While neither case were the best continuation of what came before, my point is that Deck Nine didn't seem like they were capable of what neither Bioware nor Telltale did for their games and characters.

[@yurilover5867]

Maybe not Warren cuz he was in the Two Whales diner with Joyce, Frank and Pompeduui. In the last episode of Life is Strange, Two Whales exploded during the storm which means they both died. If you choose to sacrifice Arcadia Bay, Joyce won't make it and that would mean Warren, Frank and Pompeduui wouldn't make it as well.

[@wickdaline8668]

@yurilover5867 Didn't you hear what I said? Warren only if Chloe was sacrificed. Not Arcadia Bay!

[@yurilover5867]

@@wickdaline8668 oh yeah sorry I read it wrong. Either Warren or Kate can be Max's roommate if she had a two bedroom cabin.

[@karenbash1363]

I agree with your point. Dontnod can create exciting adventure stories, Deck Nine can't. It was a huge mistake for the Square Enix to entrust the development of the franchise to Deck Nine. I conider Lost Records as a continuation of the real Life is Strange, kind of a spiritual successor.

[@captironsight]

The Games industry keeps proving they don't understand what gamers want.

[@txgoldrush]

LIS isn't always about giving you what you want.

[@superkenru]

So glad to see you here and weighing in.

[@luckyfaunts]

Great review. It's so disappointing how disconnected it feels while trying to play itself off as a sequel. The fact Max could be replaced by another character and it wouldn't change the narrative is just so sad.

[@Lilothestitch24]

I still don’t like what they did to Chloe in this game.

[@adampickard9685]

Easily the worst game in the series

[@Omletteàlafromage]

Hot take: The very act of creating a sequel for the OG with any hint of the supernatural is a bad idea. Dontnod fully understood that. They know the fans want it but they don't actually need it and that's the hallmark of true artistry imo. I knew this was a bad idea the moment I saw the announcement trailer. The game changed my life and I reminisce about playing every moment of it back in 2015, yet I'm more than happy to keep the memories be memories and move forward with new stories ( I'm psyched for Lost Records ). The original game is about how a rewind power that allows you to do whatever you want, is not the solution for a better life. It's about coming to terms with who you are and what you're going through without manipulating other people to get what you want. Manipulation has a cost, and I'm not just talking about the magical tornado as a metaphor. I'm talking about Max's nightmare in episode 5 and the revelations that came up with it. Each person will recall others according to the version they have encountered in that one timeline. Max, however, will remember their actions in several timelines - people who lived through completely different circumstances which will inherently make them different people - in the chronological order in which she experienced them. She started seeing different versions of her loved ones that were primed to hurt her because they didn't know her version of Max. She started to see things she was not supposed to see. And that's violating for the people around her, and also for Max herself. She knew this path would not lead to a life where she would have meaningful connections with other people. The lesson was to live her life, hold her loved ones close to her, and ride the wave just like everyone else. And before she does that she needs to make one last decision and no matter whom she chose to save, she stood her ground on how she feels about her power and about how she'll live her life afterward. Both endings no matter how tragic they were, ended with Max smiling. She got a glimpse of the horror of having this power, and she is finally happy to just be amongst the people and cherish every moment of this one timeline she gets to live in. She's not shy anymore and her new confidence feels liberating to her and to us, no matter who we saved in the end. Every aspect of DE betrays the spirit of the original in every conceivable way imaginable. OG Max would be terrified if she got new superpowers and she'll actually let life take its course because messing with time traumatized her and broke her soul. That fact alone just shatters the whole premise of DE ( along with so so SO many other reasons but this comment is already long enough lmao ). This might seem harsh to say but I can't think of a more shameless example of the industry turning an earnest passion project beaming with life and true artistry into a rehashed Sims expansion-like corporate product. PS: I have a theory that Lost Records will be Dontnod's way to question our nostalgia. I think we're getting the dreamy nostalgic teenage experience of the OG amplified with so many callbacks: dance/singing music sequence, where a girl with auburn brown hair and freckles films everything in the background, they're sitting at a cliff watching a sunset after an eventful day, they're wandering in the middle of the night in the woods & stumbling upon a life-changing event, etc. Then in the section where they're adults, they will fully deconstruct the OG and critique our romanticized memory of it. The devs are growing up. Many fans are still sticking around here since 2015, and we are growing up as well. I feel like after the release of this game, we will be able to sit around the table and just reflect on these characters and stories, what they really mean to us, and what we really want from these experiences just like these characters will do in this game, and I cannot wait for that.

[@robchuk4136]

Very well said. 👏👏👏 This comment is incredible because it understands LiS isn't defined by mysteries or romances, but by THEMES, how the rewind power is not arbitrary, but actually *thematically* connected to the story, and most importantly, how it teaches Max, hurts Max, and what she learns! The worst thing Deck Nine can do is treat the power like a gimmick, with no effect on the user. The next worst thing they can do is say it respects both endings, while having Max start the game completely well-adjusted and happy like it wouldn't have traumatized her for life. They gave us someone inconsistent with whom we played, just wanting their idealized version. I could go into how this is noticable from their very first effort, Before the Storm, and how oddly written their take on Rachel Amber is. (Someone we were never supposed to know). Or how True Colors wastes a lot of the potential of reading thoughts and manipulating emotions, by having very boring thoughts, and uninteresting emotional scenarios. By their own admission, Deck Nine are fan boys and fan girls, same as us.. But that's not who should be in charge of the series and it shows. They're games feel soulless because they are like fanfic.

[@PAUL-uk1le]

Sending luv from Colorado Great Work

[@StopMeOh]

@@PAUL-uk1le thank you so much, very kind of you 💜

[@Fionalah]

Wow, Ola hit the nail right on the head again! Game feels like such a slap in the face to fans of the original.

[@LukasM-r9e]

I really agree with all you said. Also think this doesn't deserve much of our time and attention and that's how we should go about it. Any discussions are unnecessary and pointless when something is THIS bad

[@darkoutlaws4324]

Chloe will take revenge for this and I support her in everything! 🦋

[@BoroMirraCz]

Chloe might not be the biggest issue with DE, but it is one of the most glaring symptoms of what the game does... or rather, what it doesn't. It doesn't respect the first game at all. If D9 were unable to honor the relationship that was at the centre of LiS1, how could have they do anything else justice?

[@yurilover5867]

I just finished the game a few days ago and I left to process what I witnessed. I'm going to get the platinum trophy achievement like I did in every LIS game. The ending is what got me over the edge and they made it to an MCU X-Men vibe. The 'Max Will Return' was a cherry on top. Deck Nine missed the point on what the first LIS is about. I chose to accept Safi's offer cuz I want Max to guide her on how to control her powers. I chose Max to romance Amanda cuz Vinh is a douchebag and basically wants to ruin Max's character. As for the detective guy, he had so much potential to be this game's antagonist, but he gets erased from existence despite your choices. I didn't get emotionally invested with any other these characters except Safi and they needed more time to develop their character on who they are. Also we didn't get to see Max teach a class. We didn't even get to see the classrooms at all. If Max is there as a teacher, how come we never see her classroom yet alone the other people's classroom. As for Chole, I'm glad they keep in touch and I wasn't a fan of how they let her go. In the original game I chose 'Bay over Bae', but the other way around in the remastered game. I felt neutral when it comes to Chole cuz though Chole have a very unique personality, she is still toxic towards Max. She did change in time and the way they broke up was stupid. Max still feels guilty for sacrificing Arcadia Bay cuz Joyce is dead. That's why i'm giving this game a 6/10. Not a bad game, but not good.

[@yessopie]

Good point about never seeing the classrooms. I think a lot of the design around this game was done to minimize the number of sets they'd have to build. My guess is they blew all of their budget trying to perfect a bunch of details that don't really matter, like all the art pieces in the cafeteria area. Remember the original game had quickly sketched textures on things (remember the cereal boxes?) and we were perfectly happy with that.

[@squirrelattack4420]

I've been waiting for your reaction. I'm glad you finally made a review, and I absolutely agree with everything you said. However, I will say that the only good thing about the game was seeing Max, because I really love Max. I hope that with the new game, they make it better and add Chloe to the game. Also, I do feel like they broke up Max & Chloe for no reason, just for the sake of it. It didn't make any sense and disrespected the Pricefield ending. With Max, I felt like she's still the same Max, but something's were off about her. Especially with some of her dialogue However, it was very cool to see adult Max.

[@ThePsychicPsycho_uZ]

To me it felt like two different story ideas clashing with each other. Like the first 3 episodes were written by one person and the last 2 by someone else.

[@rjdbah]

Well said Ola

[@Kalden69]

I very much agree with your issues about how they handled her powers, the powers are meant to reflect what the characters are going through and represent. The powers were always secondary to the characters and their relationship with other people, this is the core of life is strange.

[@abellabarbie]

I fully agree. I think they did jt to sell us follow up games, like for the TBC aspect. Incomplete and not fleshed out.

[@seha4943]

Thats the right way to describe the game, i love life is strange games, im kind of an emotional person so im into story games, i did played all kinds of one, beyond, detroit, twd series, etc etc and life is strange series are my favourite, except i will forget that 6th game ever existed, its so bad i wouldnt even played it even if they paid me to.

[@jarvisfowlkes3200]

This game was terrible. we wanted more Max and Chloe, and they gave us this garbage

[@PAUL-uk1le]

I was waiting to hear your view of Double Exposure, Whatever your view is about it I respect your opinion. I just love this channel and listening to your beautiful soothing voice. Bless you for being an amazing person. I hope all is good with you. Thank You for the joy this channel brings me. I totally get why you don't like this game. Thoughts I had after playing it. Max goes to a new place to teach. Why did the developers approach it like everyone came from Blackwell Academy but, actually were complete strangers. Build up by meeting Safi and Moses Amanda for the first time. Couldn't Max teach a few classes just to tie things together. Then you push Max and Amanda's relationship like their hair was on fire but, a second later your not in the right head space to proceed. Secret Society puzzle box angle you go ok cool then nothing comes of this. They left so much potential and flubbed it. If a new group took over the game I would have started over or at least stopped after Chapter 3. The characters were without soul Every path you took was a huge failure. As much as I love Max if Developers can't capture LIS 1 vibe use different characters all together. While I didn't mind the powers battling superhero style is not appealing if there is a sequel. LIS is a game that won't work if you don't get the core of its appeal.

[@james22939]

So true my friend

[@phantomwheeler81]

I agree completely. I had high hopes for this game, and it turned out to be a real disappointment unfortunately.

[@TurbidTG1]

They destroyed Pricefield and it blew up in their faces!

[@ReeseHei-ran]

Honestly, I think they still can't top the first Life is Strange release. That one was really good.

[@ramio1983]

I am so glad you gave this game the slamming it deserves, an absolute atrocity to the Life is Strange Series and yes, this game will make anyone appreciate LIS2 a lot more to be honest.

[@strongplanted]

I agree Ola. DE was not emotionally involved and I didn't get attached. I admire the effort Deck Nine put in, but there wasn't that connection I felt with 1 and even BTS. The menu bothered me, too. It felt dissonant. I feel bad to say it, too. But, it just wasn't a great game.

[@strongplanted]

On top of that, I had trouble getting the game to play correctly because my PC couldn't handle the graphics.

[@heroncry638]

I decided to view this game as a fanfic (after I saw breakup stuff) and I actually enjoyed the game. But when I returned to LiS1 I felt so much depth compared to DE and somehow Max is totally different person. I think I will remember DE too, it has some cool characters and moments imo, even if I imagine Max and her future differently

[@mcp3187]

Just finished the game today, still not sure who kill safli?

[@thexen3120]

You perfectly encapsulated the massive disappointment of game. I agree this is not part of canon for the majority of us. 😢 How could they do this?

[@LightningInRealLife]

I still love seeing Max again, but I wish the story had been better. By the end, I thought at least the big choice at the end might make it interesting, but what choice? I'm still waiting for it. 💀🤣

[@ergohash2517]

Oh god, i havent played it, but hearing that Max & Chloe broke up is horrible. I get that breakups happen in ordinary life, but Max sacrificed entire Arcadia Bay to save Chloe.... hopefully the game at least treated this breakup seriously (which i doubt) and they remained on good terms, but yeah this is the worst type of sequels, the unnecessary ones that sour the endings of the original story by destroying the hopeful scenarios people had in their minds and making these changes canon (somewhat canon?). a shame.

[@zeratulzeratulovich6597]

DeckNine absolutely did not take the breakup seriously (it wasn't even done for an interesting story, it was done just for the sake of leaving Chloe behind and setting Max up with new friends and love interests in direct sequels that were never even supposed to exist). There aren't even flashbacks, it's all done through one letter, a journal entry and a couple texts. They didn't care. No Max and Chloe in D9 are no longer on good terms. They're not even friends anymore (their relationship is shown to be even worse this way than in the romantic one), and killing their friendship, that something that has bonded them since childhood is even more unforgivable than killing their romantic relationship. Here's an example of how Chloe has been written in past games: DeckNine (at least when the writers loved Chloe): Shows that Chloe desperately wants Max back, explicitly writes that she will take her back with a heartbeat, misses her and keeps pictures of her Dontnod: Shows that Chloe loves Max even after five years, instead of rejecting her she takes her back to her house, gives her her father's camera, happily spends time with her and wants her love by day two, you can go all the way through the whole game in anti-Chloe style but she never leaves Max and still stays on her side, at the end Max kills her mom and hundreds of other people AND CHLOE GOD DAMN IT STAYS ON HER SIDE because "No matter what you choose i know you'll make the right decision“ and looks at her with her most loving gaze before they leave town. Dontnod in LIS 2 : Shows that Chloe after 4 years hasn't changed her mind about Max's decision, she hasn't abandoned her and they are both moving on, TOGETHER. Again, because “No matter what you choose i know you'll make the right decision” Chloe's main trait is her LOYALITY to those she loves, and that's why she fights so hard for Rachel and Max (even when they hurt her, like Rachel cheating on her and lying to her, or Max leaving her for five years). Chloe from D9 in DE: "Dumps Max because she got paranoid and started to fear her powers, she actually blamed her for her mother's death and forgot that she let Max choose her, and she also dumps Max when she needed her most and cut all ties with her because Max didn't want to move on and Chloe wanted to move on to the future - and this is after Max actually suggested that she move on and start living together, for real, but Chloe refused.” God what bad writing and character assassination just to justify the breakup. It's like if Aang started killing people in the sequels (Despite his pacifism) , or if Joel stopped loving Ellie in TLOU2 , or if Luke Skywalker raised his hand to his nephew...oh he really did it in the sequels from Disney! Max and Chloe supposed to stay together **forever** in Bae ending as Dontnod intented and and they made it clear a few times. Besides, Bae ending was always about Max moving on, but not from Chloe, she moved on WITH Chloe, together. D9 just retconned that to "Max stuck in the past and that's why Chloe left her". That Max moves forward in this ending the original developers set up several times too. Furthermore they promised us that Max would have a different trauma in both endings. But she ends up having the same trauma - she loses Chloe in Bay, and she loses Chloe in Bae, and the overall plot of her having to move on from Chloe. Like, WTF?

[@ergohash2517]

@zeratulzeratulovich6597 thank you so much for such a detailed response. damn, what a shame. D9 did not read the room of the fandom it seems and crushed the most important aspect of the story as an afterthought because square mandated a sequel but also a reboot it seems, so cut all ties with the past. Them not even being friendly after the breakup is terrible.

[@zeratulzeratulovich6597]

@@ergohash2517 You know what's most ironic? After the game's release, one of the D9 developers said “Sometimes relationships don't work out, you need to move on from Chloe”. As a result of their decision, the game received a very mixed reception and sold poorly. You can't have the most important couple in the fandom break up off-screen and not lose a significant portion of the audience in the process. Which led to the entire narrative team that wrote the game being fired in early December. Their relationship with Square Enix and us didn't work out, and everyone is moving on from them now. Was it worth it to deliver that “relationships don't work” message? Obviously not, it ended badly for everyone. I'm not usually happy about people losing their jobs, but this is a different case...the way they intentionally made Chloe a horrible person, the way they devalued all the Bae ending themes, how deceptive they were in marketing to lure in the Baers...it makes me feel satisfied that I won't see them in this franchise again.

[@ergohash2517]

@zeratulzeratulovich6597 yeah, the marketing indeed was deceptive, they made it look as if they were hiding a pleasant secret, like a christmas present for the fans that they cant talk about yet. Instead they wrote this cynical nonsense breakup, no wonder the game failed, you are right

[@LukasM-r9e]

@@ergohash2517 that's a really great way of putting it into words, that xmas gift xD

[@kenoastral]

i've been following you for years, when i was a baby lis fan, i looked up to your videos a lot. you've always had great opinions and this time is not any different. i've been pessimistic ever since the game was announced. i never liked decknine's games (bts being my least favorite), so i didn't have high hopes. i think ultimately, you cannot just take someone else's characters and then make up any story you want about them. at best, that makes DE a glorified fanfiction. but as koch said on twitter, he didn't recognize his characters in bts and the comics and he probably wouldn't either in DE-because it's different writers, different team etc. and that's what i roll with. not considering DE canon is how i managed to pull through without max & chloe ending up ruined for me. i still love them and create content of them and like everyone else, i forget DE even existed, and it's crazy because 2-3 weeks after the game released, people already stopped talking about it. it's such a forgettable game and i'm glad to see my fellow lis fans standing up and not defending this game. we deserve good games. we deserve better. but we were clearly pushed aside by SE, who tried to favour a new fanbase over the returning fans. they thought a couple recalls (more like many flagrant copies) to the first game, while having enough wiggle room to OC-ify max, would be enough to lure us back in. but not only did they not succeed in trying to find footing in this 'potential' new fanbase, they also alienated returning fans like you and i who have been there for years. truly saddening. idk what will happen with the sequel but even if they try to fix the things they fucked up (mainly the max & chloe situation) i don't think that'll be quite enough to fix the mess that DE caused. either way, great video. i'm sorry the game was disappointing to you and that you felt like you wasted your time but hopefully you can hold onto the amazing story/stories that dontnod created. that's how i've been coping. ❤

[@KatieCosmoArt]

Im proabbly not going to play this, im intrigued about the blue butterfly teaser we got though can anyone explain? I can tell from this vodeo that Chloe does not return 😂

[@StopMeOh]

@@KatieCosmoArt very much like many other things it did not mean anything xD

[@-Tekuo-]

I can mostly agree to your POV, even if not to all of it. I even somewhat liked Episode 1-3 but it went downhill fast from there. I don't care about Chloe not being there, i actually like some of the new characters Deck Nine created and the reality shift power sort of... works? I mean i like the puzzles that you solve by using it and it reminds me of the first game. It still doesn't save the plot which after having seen the ending, is disappointing to say the least. A big issue i have : Far too many people, in reviews and on the internet criticise / hate the game solely for a lack of Chloe which is just stupid in general. Chloe is just a side character, and even though i loved the bond Max and her had in the first game, nothing is forever and she's not tethered to Max. I know people are entitled to their opinions but things can change and people do break up, it happens. That said, its kinda easier for players who choose to save Arcadia Bay because with Chloe dead its easier to warm up to the romance options and not have it feel forced. Overall, i too feel like Deck Nine can't handle the LIS storytelling and hope they don't make more, the Life Is Strange franchise deserves to be more than a MCU rip off with superpowers flying around like sand on the beach, disregarding the narrative and wasting so much potential. To be honest, i wanted to buy it but i'm glad i didn't. I'm basing my opinion on playthroughs only.

[@foxial5358]

Agreed. I get that the fandom loves shipping, but considering how LiS ended with Chloe either living or dying, it makes it really hard to make a direct sequel where Chloe would be more involved. So, it was to be expected that they would skip the time period when Max and Chloe could´ve been together, and that Chloe would be written out of the story in one way or another. Plus, Chloe forgiving David in LiS2 and deciding to live for the future in this game feels like character development. And after LiS1 was made, many fans already speculated that Chloe would never be able to forgive Max after Joyce and everyone else died, and it is confirmed in this game. So, them eventually breaking up makes sense considering what happens in LiS1 if you save Chloe after she quite literally begs you not to do it.

[@zeratulzeratulovich6597]

>A big issue i have : Far too many people, in reviews and on the internet criticise / hate the game solely for a lack of Chloe which is just stupid in general. It's absolutely not stupid, as it's about how they handled one of the game's endings and one of the two main characters from the original. And they did a terrible job. Chloe is not just "side character". >nothing is forever and she's not tethered to Max According to Dontnod, who created these characters and this ending (and they know Max and Chloe much more than you or D9 do) they will be together forever. There are relationships that last forever even in real life, and it's especially easy to write relationship like that a fictional story. The “nothing lasts forever” argument is a very weak excuse to justify bad acting that goes against the theme of the ending. >but things can change and people do break up, it happens Also, things don't change and people don't break up. You could easily write a story where Max and Chloe don't break up in Bae like Dontnod did. There's no point in imposing the Bay narrative on Bae. DeckNine (at least when the writers loved Chloe): Shows that Chloe desperately wants Max back, explicitly writes that she will take her back with a heartbeat, misses her and keeps pictures of her Dontnod: Shows that Chloe loves Max even after five years, instead of rejecting her she takes her back to her house, gives her her father's camera, happily spends time with her and wants her love by day two, you can go all the way through the whole game in anti-Chloe style but she never leaves Max and still stays on her side, at the end Max kills her mom and hundreds of other people AND CHLOE GOD DAMN IT STAYS ON HER SIDE because "No matter what you choose i know you'll make the right decision“ and looks at her with her most loving gaze before they leave town. Dontnod in LIS 2 : Shows that Chloe after 4 years hasn't changed her mind about Max's decision, she hasn't abandoned her and they are both moving on, TOGETHER. Again, because “No matter what you choose i know you'll make the right decision” Chloe's main trait is her LOYALITY to those she loves, and that's why she fights so hard for Rachel and Max (even when they hurt her, like Rachel cheating on her and lying to her, or Max leaving her for five years). Chloe from D9 in DE: "Dumps Max because she got paranoid and started to fear her powers, she actually blamed her for her mother's death and forgot that she let Max choose her, and she also dumps Max when she needed her most and cut all ties with her because Max didn't want to move on and Chloe wanted to move on to the future - and this is after Max actually suggested that she move on and start living together, for real, but Chloe refused.” God what bad writing and character assassination just to justify the breakup. It's like if Aang started killing people in the sequels (Despite his pacifism) , or if Joel stopped loving Ellie in TLOU2 , or if Luke Skywalker raised his hand to his nephew...oh he really did it in the sequels from Disney! Max and Chloe supposed to stay together forever in Bae ending as Dontnod intented and and they made it clear a few times. Besides, Bae ending was always about Max moving on, but not from Chloe, she moved on WITH Chloe, together. D9 just retconned that. Furthermore they promised us that Max would have a different trauma in both endings. But she ends up having the same trauma - she loses Chloe in Bay, and she loses Chloe in Bae, and the overall plot of her having to move on from Chloe. Like, WTF?

[@zeratulzeratulovich6597]

@@foxial5358 >Agreed. I get that the fandom loves shipping, but considering how LiS ended with Chloe either living or dying, it makes it really hard to make a direct sequel where Chloe would be more involved. You are very uncreative if you state it that way. There are ways to include Chloe in a direct sequel. You could replace Amanda with Chloe in Bae, thus making both paths unique. You could do a long distance relationship option, with calls and texts and Chloe showing up at the end. You could make Bae as one of the parallel timelines for the Bay game, showing the girls doing well after 10 years. It would also play well for Bay Max's emotional conflict. They could do a Bay and Bae game. It's possible, they were developing TC and DE at the same time. It could have been a Bae and Bay game instead Finally they could have just created the entire Bay game as they originally planned (Aperture build). They still weren't going to honor Bae, but that way at least they wouldn't have killed Chloe as a character and devalued the point of Bae. But they weren't interested in respecting Chloe, or Bae, or Pricefield, they just wanted to get Chloe out of the way once and for all. They didn't care. >Plus, Chloe forgiving David in LiS2 and deciding to live for the future in this game feels like a character development. Also surprise, she forgave David AND had no plans to break up with Max...you know, since that's how Dontnod wrote that ending. Plus Max never got stuck in the past either and moved on with Chloe. D9 retconed that to “Max is stuck in the past”. "*You make a sacrifice to accept your life as it is, to stop trying to have a perfect life, changing everything, and to stop looking to the past. This is the metaphor and the theme of the game. Somehow, you need to accept grief, you need to accept the past, you need to stop trying to make everything perfect, and then think about the future. To make a compromise, and then go for a while and try to make the best of your future, not by changing the past.*" - Dontnod "*Max and Chloe live together, not looking back*" - Dontnod And guess what recurring theme we see in LIS2? That's right, David describing Max and Chloe accepting the past and moving on! And guess who we don't see at DE? That's right, David! They completely erased him from existence, thus throwing out this important part of Chloe's development. Just like they retconed that picture from LIS2 - where the original Dontnod game showed her moving away from her punk image and stopped dyeing her hair, DE!Chloe is still holding on to her blue hair and punk image. DeckNine literally enforced “we know better than Dontnod” through retcons of both that picture and the meaning of that ending. No they don't know better than Dontnod. Where Dontnod showed Chloe's real development in both games, DeckNine ignored that, and regressed her to the state from the first game (she's selfish again and blames everyone around her again) and attributed traits to her that she never even had (Rachel's behavior) >And after LiS1 was made, many fans already speculated that Chloe would never be able to forgive Max after Joyce and everyone else died, and it is confirmed in this game. This game doesn't confirm anything, it makes a retcon from Chloe not needing to forgive Max for Joyce's death (since she clearly showed right away that she didn't hate, the whole Bae ending is about that) to Chloe who “stopped looking at Max the same way when she found out”. Why is this a retcon? Because Chloe knew from the beginning that her mother was going to die and expected it. She even brings it up in her speech. And still after that she gave Max a choice knowing her mother would die, and when Max chose her she instead of hating her gave her love and comfort. And the final scene is literally Chloe looking at Max with love, already knowing her mom is dead. What did the D9 do? To fit their new narrative, they replaced that facial expression with a neutral one in the remaster (and the remaster was being developed at the same time as DE) So Dontnod!Chloe never wanted to hate Max for Joyce's death and she had nothing to forgive her for. Same goes for all the dead people - she never hated Max for their deaths. And it was the Bayers who spent 10 years making up that Chloe would hate Max for Joyce's death and dump her for it to justify their ending. They believed it and ignored everything Dontnod shows and says about that ending. And D9 just sided with them, everything in their game is literally what the Bayers have been dreamed of for 10 years. Plus D9 believe it's an evil ending as we learned from a former developer. You can't take their narrative seriously after that >So, them eventually breaking up makes sense considering what happens in LiS1 It makes absolutely no sense for the above reasons, plus Dontnod, those who have consistently since LIS1 and during LIS2 have let us know that the girls will be together forever, and that Bae doesn't make Max an enemy to Chloe. >you save Chloe after she quite literally begs you not to do it. Chloe's speech literally ends with her giving Max a choice and explicitly saying that both will be right. Chloe: Max, you finally came back to me this week, and... you did nothing but show me your love and friendship. You made me smile and laugh, like I haven't done in years. Wherever I end up after this... in whatever reality... all those moments between us were real, and they'll always be ours. No matter what you choose, I know you'll make the right decision. Max: Chloe... I can't make this choice... Chloe: No, Max... You're the only one who can. Dontnod intentionally wrote Chloe as someone who herself gives Max both choices, and they intentionally showed that she supports both choices - yes even the one that would kill her mother and everyone else. From there, if anything makes sense, it's that the girls will never break up. Chloe has no interest in leaving Max. Hence there is this important promise (“Together Forever”), hence the original writers explicitly said that the girls would be together forever and that we make this choice to keep this important relationship, hence we see that in LIS2 the girls are still together and both have moved on. DeckNine literally spit on how this ending and these characters were intended in Bae, and they did it not even for the sake of an interesting story, but just to leave Chloe behind and set Max up with new friends and romances in a sequel that was never even supposed to exist. Dontnod showed Max and Chloe as soulmates whose love has survived time, distance, trauma, change, and their guilt over the dead and the girls were able to both move on. D9 changed that to “high school sweethearts”, “sometimes relationships doesn't work out”, “Chloe is nothing more than Max's background trauma”, “but you can have Chloe at home in the form of Safi and new boring love interests”. Also, they tell us to “move on from Chloe” but they hypocritically bring Max back and say we shouldn't move on from her. You either get both back or you don't get anyone back. Plus you obviously didn't play the game since the reason for the breakup in DE wasn't Chloe's mom, it was that Max was “stuck in the past” (which is a retcon) and that they made Chloe paranoid out of nowhere and she became afraid of Max's powers (Even though she has every reason to believe her)

[@zeratulzeratulovich6597]

@@foxial5358 The breakup and moving on from Chloe made no sense narratively (we already have the ending with this narrative) and their attempt to deliver a blunt “sometimes relationships don't work out” message ended badly for **everyone** - for a large part of the audience who became unhappy and lost trust in D9 ; for the entire D9 narrative team whose relationship with the fans and Square Enix didn't work out as a result of their decision and they were all fired; for the reception of the game - the game became the lowest rated game in the franchise ; and it didn't turn out well for the game's sales - the game quickly dropped down the steam chart in just a week, and never made it into the top 20 downloadable PS5 games (meanwhile TC made it the same list in September 2021). Was it worth it to deliver the message “sometimes relationships don't work out.”? Because from everything I see it definitely wasn't worth it, everyone lost.

[@foxial5358]

@@zeratulzeratulovich6597 Sorry but I´m confused, I feel like you now responded to a wrong person...??? I don´t think my comment was directed to you but the OP..?? Why are you writing essays? Now you´re talking about Chloe when she was still a teenager. People change and it is to be expected that Chloe in her late 20s would not behave like she did as a teenager. I think them breaking up was realistic, most people wouldn´t spend their entire lives with their first crush or childhood bff. That doesn´t mean they are not important to each other or that they can´t be closer again in the future. :) And I know it is a romantic idea in fiction that characters will stay together forever after some traumatic event, but realistically, it can´t be healthy for either of them since they would always remind each other of what happened. This is why imo Chloe wanting to move on was important for her, while Max couldn´t do the same. It´s somewhat strange to assume that thousands of people dying would not bother and/or affect Chloe or Max in any way. And Max mentions how Joyce´s death affected Chloe, so of course it affected their relationship too. And I think it is a good thing that neither of the endings is "rewarded" in the sequel. Chloe still says at the end of LiS1 that letting her die would be a right choice, which is what the nightmare sequence before this tries to tell Max too, saying she needs to let go and that she will do the right thing at the end. The Save Chloe ending was also much more ambigious and less developed compared to the Save Arcadia Bay ending, so we don´t know will they be together for the rest of their lives or not. Of course, the "real" reason why Chloe isn´t in the game is that considering that in LiS2 David ends up having the same life regardless of what happens in LiS1, I kinda expected that the final choice in LiS1 wouldn´t affect this game too much either. Max too ends up having the same life, it doesn´t matter did she save Chloe or not, were they lovers or not. The easiest way for a writer is to write Chloe out of the story so they don´t need to rewrite/code too much scenes, dialogues, animations etc. It sucks, but it is to be expected. :/ And originally LiS was designed to be just a one shot story that didn´t need sequels, prequels or spin-offs, so that´s why it was easy to say "the girls stay together forever". The idea was that their story was done, but alas, whenever something becomes popular, gaming companies will always choose money. Sorry if what they did with Max and Chloe didn´t work for you, but players can have different opinions because we experince games/stories differently. What someone likes about a story is always something someone else is not going to like and vice versa, it´s not that serious. And I think having different opinions on the story/characters is one of the reasons what made LiS1 so great. :) 💖Thanks for writing your thoughts, it´s always fun to read what different people think when it comes to the LiS games.

[@epicglitter7218]

My dislikes for DE, as an LiS fan for 8 yrs: Too little difference between a Bae play through and a Bay play through - flattening it all to "Max's trauma." Also i dont like that the brought back the Storm, recontextualized it, and explained its new relevance very poorly. Relatedly, i dont get why Max used her new powers pretty freely, few nosebleeds, no fear or worry about consequences? Also disliked the 2 wks early play for pay with the ultimate edition. Felt odd that we didn't see Max teach, didn't see her office or Safis, didn't really get to see her mentor younger photographers in a meaningful way. Didnt get to see her play guitar either. Small thing, but strange that after TC and WL, there are no mini games in DE. We hear a lot about Mana Massive and don't get to play? And of course, biggest letdown: dislike that they broke up Pricefield, and made it worse by doing it offscreen, and made Max bitter & negative about Chloe. I don't like that a sequel was made despite don't nods intent for LiS1 and its endings. I liked the comics, but they worked because they followed one ending only and were not quite canon. I like Deck Nines games, I wish they could've been allowed to create anew story with their own characters as they did with TC. Likes: The music. Many of the characters, esp Max, Amanda, Safi, Gwen, Moses. The amazing art, like in the Snapping Turtle and the FAB. The beautiful campus and outdoor environments. The voice acting, dialog writing (incl texts and Crosstalk), and animation was all pretty solid imo. Max's new power was fun to use, to solve puzzles etc. I liked the little NPC side stories, like the professors trying to unionize, the crypid kids, the ones playing assassin. I liked Amanda's boundaries and communication, and also how her indigenous identity, community, etc was handled (esp in contrast to LiS1). I really liked some of the themes DE dealt with, too. I am extremely happy that Chloe is still a punk, still herself. Doing sound tech for DIY shows, dying her hair, etc. There are plenty of millennial age punks who keep the aesthetic, the ethos, the positive meaning of punk while also maturing. I'm glad they didn't "tone Chloe down," despite the other issues with how they handled her / the relationship. IF they bring Chloe back in the future, in a positive way and as a major part of Max's life - hopefully gf/partner - then I like that DE Ch5 gives us hope right at the end that Max will answer Chloe's text and get back in touch. But if nothing ever comes of that, then disregard. I had a pretty great time playing. It did require putting aside some concerns and not getting too thrown by the flaws. But I did find a lot that I liked about DE. I'm also glad that Max will have a wider circle of people who know her secrets and her past. Even if, as I wish, she was still with Choose I would want that for them both. Community, connection, belonging, breaking isolation.

[@olyaburinskaya4478]

I thought you'd never record a video about LIS Double exposure, although I waited for it :) Agreed with you almost completely. For me , Hannah Telle bore the whole game on her shoulders, because every other character is just empty. She knows and loves her character and even with this weak script she portrayed Max better than anyone ever could. And I also decided for myself that comic books will be my canon sequel to the original game :)

[@rockerojerez349]

I have many question, why Max have 2 Powers So how diamond have new power ?? Safi new villain like X-Men Eric bad guy ?? 😮😮😮

[@LukasM-r9e]

What's next? Chloe becomes necromancer and revives Rachel? 😆

[@rockerojerez349]

@LukasM-r9e mmm stranger but it's amazing question

[@bendo9162]

To the first question, I read it in a way that Max' "two powers" are simply different expressions of her actual power. They both have to do with power over time and reality, with the two different worlds of Double Exposure being two different timelines branching from the first time at the lookout. Already in LiS 1, Max could technically switch into different timelines by using her photos, even though the implications are a bit different. Technically, simply rewinding time was never her only power. Regarding Diamond, both Max and Safi have discovered their powers at a certain point in their lives as well. Either all of them, including Diamond, always had them unknowingly, or they developed them spontaneously. Personally, I believe that the potential to develop a power is inborn, but the characters' experiences shape what power (if any) they develop in the end. With Max, it was regret connected to her past (leaving Chloe behind) and the wish for certain things to not have happened (Chloe being shot in the bathroom), so she developed powers connected to time. With Safi, it was the push for delf-denial and the restrictions and overbearing control coming from her mother, coupled with the wish to be someone else, someone free from those. So, she developed the power, to literally be someone else (at least in the eyes of others). What Diamond's power is, is open, but I figure, it might have to do with emotions and their manipulation, given her unrequited love for Moses and how much she clings to it. Regarding Safi as a villain, it is suggested i.m.o that that will be the case if there is a sequel, given her developing god complex about the powers she and others possess. I see it as likely that she will eventually start abusing them to the detriment of others. She already has on a smaller scale within the plot of Double Exposure (incriminating Gwen and Lucas as well as impersonating Vhin and Amanda).

[@seha4943]

After reading the comments, im glad im not the only one who thinks the game is horrible.

[@Salvare92]

Same, I'm so sad

[@Dreamprism]

Thanks for sharing your thoughts. I was never deep into Pricefield, but I still found Double Exposure to be disappointing, and I would've handled Chloe's absence from the game much more respectfully than they did. I also didn't like the rug-pull at the end where they pushed the resolution of the story into a sequel that might not ever exist. I still actually think they're going somewhere with an Asteroid Theory. I mean, Max photographed something space themed as the object on which she was going to "hang the rest of the series", and then it crashed down onto her, with her only barely being saved by Safi. Surely that's a metaphor for an asteroid impact in the Life is Strange series, right? I suspect in the sequel they were going to have Safi and her various powered-characters coming to Caledon somehow cause a bigger problem than the usual "1 character uses a power" storm catastrophe and make it an asteroid. Kind of cheesy and not the way *I'd* have had an asteroid plot, but that's my best guess.

[@mikeyvah03]

I liked what the game tried to do, but it fell off big time. It's a fine game but not 50 to 80 € fine, nor is it a good *Life is Strange* game in my opinion. They shouldn't have brought Max back, but having Hannah reprise the role made me happy. That alone would've been the saving grace of this game for me if the story actually followed through. Chloe not being in the game is the least of this game's problems. Deck Nine just has no idea what makes a great Life is Strange game. They kind of force romances in all of their games thinking that's what we want, but what we love about this series is the connections between characters, regardless of relationship status. They introduce some sort of mystery to emulate what the first game did but in the end it feels like a cheap plot when there could be literally any kind of story. That's the beauty of Life is Strange, the anthology format allows for all kinds of different stories to be told. A Life is Strange series reboot just won't work, like what Double Exposure tried to do, no matter how much Square Enix or Deck Nine try. I think this game also proved direct sequels in this series also just don't work, and it should just continue being an anthology series in an interconnected universe that sometimes has cameos from previous games (for example David and Steph). The quality of the Remastered Collection was the first red flag to me, and if they bring Max back for the next game too, that will be the end of the series for me. They can still save it, but they have to redeem the writing of Double Exposure somehow and not make Life is Strange: Endgame or something. I want a LiS game from Deck Nine that isn't trying to emulate what Don't Nod did with the first game, and a game that doesn't turn the powers into the main focus.

[@youssefhmidy8107]

Thank you for this! I really was looking forward to play this game but now I don't feel like it anymore... such a disappointment really

[@LenaKolchuk]

You should try it anyway. Make your own opinion. I personally really liked it. The last episode was kinda disappointing but first 4 episodes were intriguing and interesting to play. I really liked the characters and new gameplay elements like crossing between timelines.

[@KatieCosmoArt]

Also ive never felt like thats really max, her look and personality has changed too much, i get people change and grow up but the voice is the only thing thats the same to me about the character

[@KatieCosmoArt]

Since the start of all the talk about this I was never interested in this revisitation, as it was clear chloe wasn't included in any meaningful way. I've always been much more excited for bloom and rage lost records. I would love to see max and Chloe TOGETHER and done right but honestly I think their story is better left to the imagination now. Your video has confirmed how I was feeling. If you didn't enjoy this I'm pretty sure I won't either 😔

[@ItsMrKing5]

I agree with everything you said, but I'M still obliviously blinded by my love for the franchise

[@StopMeOh]

Haha fair

[@SpanishFly120]

You know, you may feel like you're being too negative with regards to the game and your thoughts on it, but I actually have to commend you for keeping it in a relatively focused and generally clear line of thinking. You certainly could have been much much more negative about it, and you'd have been quite well understood for doing so.

[@vincenzovieri3743]

Yes

[@Gintaras64]

I don't think that deck 9 is a bad studio or don't understand Life is Strange. This game feels rushed and simplified compared to OG, but I feel its because of deadlines. Deck 9 made True colours, then wasted theyre time on those unnessesary remakes and probobly didn't had much time for this game. This game feels like Deck 9 had list of things that makes game a life is strange and just slaped everything and there it is. I liked locations, but there was strong feeling that theyre overused them. I like super power way more that lis2 or True Colours, but still it could have been used so much better. I liked that hurricane returned, but it lacked the impact from first game. I believe Deck 9 would have loved to make bigger deeper game, but they just didn't had enough time su they played safe. To be honest I don't like any of LIS sequels. Lis2 was boring, BTS was half decent, but far from first game greatnes. True Colours I didn't understand. What was that superpower about, whats the point of that game, but for one playthrought it was quite ok. Double Exposure would have been better without Max. If lead were someone else it would have been way more easy to like this game, but I don't like it. Square Enix too fast laid off Dontnod, they should have given them another chance. Lis1 is masterpiece as much as I would like sequel to that game were not getting it. And sequels we have arent as good. Sad.

[@texn7526]

9:04 Wait, what?! Lets circle around back to that🤣😂 Did they really? Sorry you had bad experience with that game Ola. Not all games can be AAA games unfortunately and I found that out as well with Dragon Age Veilguard💩 Completely and utterly disappointed in the both the story and characters. Just 🤢🤒 🥺💩and this is coming from me that can find something good in almost any game. This time not so much.💔 Thanks for the review Ola. Wishing you all the best😻

[@siylkatl5379]

Somehow without Chloe, this doesn't work, she is a huge part of Max's story. And the game itself is a bit boring. The soundtrack of Life is Strange and before the storm was great, can't say that about this one. This one doesn't have a hook

[@txgoldrush]

I don't have to watch this video to know that saying the game has no soul is a garbage statement. You just didn't see it's soul or didn't understand it.

[@alonsoguttierrez4455]

I love this game ngl i have a great time ❤

[@HiMumndad]

I felt the exact same way after finishing the game. I wish I hadn't wasted my money, time, effort into playing the thing. It was a net-negative. Luckily, somehow, I was able to get a refund (despite 15.1hrs into the game). Thank you Steam. And yet... I still feel robbed.

[@lifegoesonlike]

facts (Polska!)

[@toontown13579]

I loved the details. The individual artist’s work: the color grading, illustrations, visual effects, character design, etc… it was polished! BUT…. as a whole, cohesive story, I do not like this game at all!

[@fillipe4700]

I love Max, but she should've stayed on the past

[@ha-bg7qo]

This is a very weird review from my point of view. LIS is, indeed, a work of art that has a lot of meaning in almost every facet of it. LIS 2 is nothing of the sort. The characters were, from start to finish, absolutely intolerable and their behavior, unexplainable. LIS BS, in my opinion, is the second one, in terms of story, emotions and relationships. With that said, LIS and LIS 2 were by DONTNOD and LIS BS by DeckNine. For this reason I cannot ever agree that the issue is with DeckNine. Regarding DE, I though the game was excellent until the last two chapters (I believe - basically after the roast section). Until then I was very into it and loved how the plot was progressing. The way I see it, it seems that there is almost two games, one before and one after that moment. After the roast the game turns into a mess, that's for sure, but I do not believe that anything from what the game was until then.

[@sofya_billy]

so so argee!

[@EkaterinaPorSuerte]

👏👏👏👏👏👏👏 I am so glad I didn't buy it! Love your shirt btw!

[@RobSeace]

I still find the game fun to play. But, no, I don't consider it canon for continuing the Bae timeline. The comics are canon there. But, for Bay, it's not bad. I'm not sure if you tried a Bay playthrough. Based on what you said, I'm guessing not. But, I honestly found it a much more pleasant experience. The part I hated in my Bae playthroughs of it were how they handled the breakup. (And, even that if they wanted to do it COULD have been done in a semi-decent way. But, they failed.) But, choosing Chloe died instead at the start is somehow much less sad and much more natural. It seems clear they originally wrote the story around Bay, and just tacked on a crappy Bae choice because they were forced to or something. It just all makes so much more sense if Chloe is dead. THEN, Max might date someone else. THEN, she would be freaked out about Safi dying, just like Chloe did. THEN, she would make that final choice NOT to sacrifice her this time. It's just a much better game when you play in Bay mode. IMHO.

[@StopMeOh]

@@RobSeace that thought did cross my mind yeah, that it might be better that way

[@annabellebanna5349]

This game was such a disappointment. The plot just didn't make much sense and it felt like they plagiarized both original LiS and True Colors somehow completely missing the point... Even aside from what they did with Chloe it's just a nothing-burger and I honestly don't wanna know what else they will come up with. Bloom and Rage looks good so far though.

[@vincenzovieri3743]

I gave this a 1/5 review. It was so boring from beginning to the end. It was god awful. I loved the first game and dlc and enjoyed the other games but this game double exposure was so boring… i was on youtube while playing the game, that should tell u everything about this game. Dont buy u less $20… plus its extremely short for a $40 game

[@mikejames874]

Well at least they are trying when the original developer went out of business don’t know if decknine got anyone from the other studio but at least they are trying and it’s not the same but we have a developer that is making them. Well can’t wait to play it and of course it’s not going to be perfect you Karen’s need to chill.

[@StopMeOh]

What do you mean Dontnod went out of business? Dontnod no longer holds the rights to Life is Strange per Square Enix decision it seems and they are working on a stand alone title called Lost Records Bloom and Rage out in February 2025, spiritual successor to Life is Strange.

[@mikejames874]

@ Ok I messed up I just looked it up but they did have money problems so I believe it wasn’t their fault when they lost the rights. But at least they are still Al float. But ya thanks for the correction 🫶

[@jaimeowens4280]

The game was very mid and why was it so mid it's because of Deck Nine Game's terrible practices. This game could have been good if they didn't treat their people terribly for years.

[@Soloee_]

I personally loved being able to see how Max's trauma affected her after what happened in LIS. I actually really liked that part of the game, my favorite thing in DE by a long shot. The rest was..okay. some good stuff, but also a lot of not so good stuff. I was REALLY hoping to get endings like lis2 or even better, but deck9 are so bad at endings omg. It makes sense in the context that they are/were planning to continue the story, but why not just create 1 ending then?? It could have turned out worse, but also a lot better :/ but yeah I couldn't help enjoying the trauma part personally (that sounds so bad, but you get what I mean lol)

[@kibert135]

I completly disagree with your assesment on True Colors. In my opinion True Colors is the most cohesive and best Life is Strange game. Even the first game is not as good because the plot is all over the place. Max and Chloe carry that game on their own. In comparison there are actually side characters in True Colors that are more than the chlichees they potray. Don't get me wrong, all the characters in the first game are charming but I prefer characters like Ryan and Jed over Warren and Jefferson. Especially Jefferson has no shades of grey, he is just a terrible person. I do think the first game is better at vibes and emotions. So to me the first game has certain moments that are better than anything True Colors did but True Colors overall is much better and has non of the lows of the First game. As for Double Exposure: For me this game has a lot of great moments and the vibes and atmosphere still work but the plot overall is pretty weak. There is a lot of potential and great moments in this plot but to me it was too much for the type of game I want Life is Strange to be. Also all the characters didn't really work like they did in True Colors. I do think Max worked really well. It was strange how Deck Nine dealt with Chloe. It would have made more sense to me if Max actually talked to her sometime during the game. The reasons for their break up did make sense but because it was only alluded to, I didn't feel it. I actually liked Amanda and the way their relationship was developed. It was never said that Max is totally in love with her and is now forgetting Chloe. Max just had a crush and the circumstances around the plot prevented that relationship to develop more.

[@LukasM-r9e]

In my opinion true colors is great characters with SUPER weak main murder story which slightly overshadows everything else. And in my opinion Jefferson is a great villain as he was not meant to be an attempt at humanizing a villian but showcasing how even the kindest people may actually have a dark side. Then again, as long as you respect our opinions I respect yours

[@Casey420]

Definitely not a game worth playing. I played episode 1 and half of 2 and the rest I decided to watch a playthrough on YT in the background while doing work lol. I liked Alex and S3 but man enough of the murder mystery crap, like D9 seriously have no creative ideas. How you gonna make two games back to back with the exact same story. Not to mention the fact that Max could've been replaced with any other character and it would've made no difference. As for Chloe not being in the game, honestly I don't think there should've been a choice to sacrifice Arcadia bay to begin with. Chloe should've told Max to sacrifice her regardless of what Max says but her allowing her mom and the rest of Arcadia to die so she can live is a very selfish reality which should never existed. Chloe should've always died and u can tell that by the fact that if u do sacrifice AB for her the ending is extremely weak in comparison to sacrificing her, almost as if sacrificing her is the true ending.

[@anthonycapelle2447]

I can’t believe how badly you’re trashing it. I subbed to your channel because of life is strange. I loved the game. Completely disagree

[@kenoastral]

it's ok to be critical of the things we like. double exposure is a terrible game and the fandom backlash, rocky development (some devs came forward to say they straight up hated the game) and now the layoffs are proof that they messed up.