It may seem hard to believe, but the original Life is strange released almost 10 years ago. Max Caulfield is finally back as the leader of Life is Strange: Double Exposure. I admit that the first installment is one of my favorite games of all time, because it touched my heart with its gripping plot, moral dilemmas, and enduring and realistic character dynamics. It was, quite honestly, a breathtaking adventure that left a deep impression on me. There have been a few Life is strange games since then and, while they all have their own admirable features, I wouldn’t go so far as to say that any of them have surpassed the original. Life is Strange: Double Exposure doesn’t offer the same emotional roller coaster, but it’s still a decent episode of the series.

Looks like Deck Nine knows Life is Strange: Double ExposureThe audience has grown and the tone of the overall plot has a much more serious vibe to reflect this. The story picks up a decade after the events of Arcadia Bay. The last time we saw Max, she decided to hit the road and travel the world, pursuing her passion for photography. Eventually, she is spotted to work at Caledon University and settles into her new life in this sleepy town. But everything changes one fateful winter night when Max discovers that her new best friend Safi has been killed, sparking a murder mystery. Soon after, Max realizes that she has gained a new power called pulse, allowing her to see an alternate world in which Safi is alive. She can jump between these paradoxical timelines. Determined to find out what really happened that night, she uses her new abilities to try to discover who is responsible.

The stories in the Life is strange games are usually the strong point of the titles. However, Life is Strange: Double Exposure had a glaring problem since its inception. Max and Chloe’s interpersonal dynamic was one of the key aspects that kept us invested in the story and is one of the main reasons why the original ending is so memorable. As a reminder, at the end of the first game, you are faced with an ethical dilemma clearly inspired by the thought experiment of the trolley problem. While no decision is (supposedly) right or wrong, how do you create a story where the events of the new game remain true, regardless of the ending you chose in the original? It’s a delicate balancing act and it would be difficult to make everyone happy, but I think Nine Deck’s solution works well.

In the first chapter, Max is asked a series of questions and you get to choose what happened in his past. (As if Max and Chloe were friends or childhood sweethearts.) This is a great way to inject your interpretation of previous events into the story. Depending on your answers, this will be reflected in the world. If you choose the reality where Chloe died, Max will often have melancholic internal monologues where she reflects on their connection and the time they spent together. On the other hand, if you opt for the decision that Chloe is alive, you will soon discover that the couple have separated and have been separated for some time. Both of these scenarios seem uncomfortably realistic and immediately emphasize the more mature tone.

One of the first things I noticed while playing was how well this sequel portrayed Max’s character. His mannerisms and way of speaking are absolutely perfect. She may be a full-fledged adult now, but she’s still the lovable nerd we once knew and has no problem delivering her sarcastic (sometimes cringe-worthy) anecdotes to situations. I felt like I was reconnecting with an old friend and, if anything, I think I got to know Max better as a person this time around.

In real Life is strange Likewise, at different parts of the story, you will be presented with scenarios in which you can choose different actions to take, leading to the famous phrase “This action will have consequences.” Seeing all the potential outcomes is interesting, but just like Life is Strange: True ColorsI wish certain decisions had more implications on the overall plot. Only a handful seemed significant. The first chapter is a little slower, as Deck Nine reintroduces us to Max and the game mechanics. At the end of chapter 2, there is a huge reveal that changes the entire narrative of the story, and that’s where that’s when the ball starts rolling.

My biggest criticism of Life is Strange: Double Exposure is that Max and Safi only have a handful of scenes together. Max finds out that her new best friend lives in a different reality and barely interacts with her, which seems really weird. I wish we could have seen more layers of their friendship together, as there is good chemistry between these two characters. Having more scenes together would have also made some of the game’s later moments more impactful, as there are some breathtaking twists and turns in the story, but I felt they lacked the emotional climax that they should.

For the most part, Life is Strange: Double Exposure features a decent range of characters. Almost everyone has their own secret agendas and motivations for acting in specific ways, which should keep you intrigued when you find out what’s going on. Safi and Moses are by far the most notable new additions, and you can feel their genuine connection with Max. My least favorite characters were Vinh and Amanda, who ironically are characters Max can romance. I found them uninteresting and didn’t feel like they were as fleshed out as the other characters.

When Max isn’t faced with dialogue options, she must explore the campus and surrounding areas while solving environmental puzzles to advance the story. This puzzle-solving process involves using the power of impulses and jumping between the two contrasting worlds. Sometimes you may need to speak to a particular version of a character to gain vital information or collect items like keys to then use in the other reality. The puzzles are simple and each fits perfectly into the story.

Life is Strange: Double Exposure is also the best-looking game in the franchise to date, and it looks pretty good too. The characters also look great and Max’s new design looks great. This seems true to his character. I really enjoyed traveling through all the places, my favorite being the snowy campus of Caledon University. It was magnificent to watch. Music throughout Life is strange the titles are always exceptional, and Life is Strange: Double Exposure does not disappoint. The tracks fit the mood Deck Nine is trying to portray at any given moment, intensifying these tender and important interactions. The best moments of the game simply wouldn’t be the same if the magnificent soundtrack didn’t accompany them.

It’s worth mentioning that I experienced a few performance issues on PC, although they were mostly frame rate drops. I initially noticed issues in a few scenes in Chapter 2, but it wasn’t anything too detrimental to my experience. But within the first ten minutes of Chapter 5, the frame rate dropped significantly. This took away from the kick a standout moment, which was a bit of a shame. Hopefully this is something Deck Nine can address with a future patch.

Life is Strange: Double Exposure would still have high expectations projected onto it, as the original is perhaps one of the best emotional and narrative games on the market. The sequel may not be on the same level as its predecessor, but there are plenty of admirable qualities here. It’s great to see Max Caulfield returning to the series, as she is truly an exceptional character. I really enjoyed the story overall, and there are some phenomenal twists and turns along the way that you might not see coming. However, I wish Max and Safi had more scenes together, as that would have meant those defining moments would have had more weight. As long as you accept it Life is Strange: Double Exposure won’t offer the same emotional, whirlwind adventure as other entries in the franchise, you’ll have a great time.

Life is Strange: Double Exposure will be available for PS5, Xbox Series X and PC on October 29, 2024. There is no release window for the Switch version yet.