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Life is Strange: Double Exposure – a nostalgic but uneven return to form

Pabio November 5, 2024

Life is Strange: Double Exposure: Specs

Platforms: PC, Xbox Series X/S (reviewed), PlayStation 5, Switch
Price: $49 / £49 / AU$79.00
Release date: October 29, 2024
Gender: Adventure

If you had told me, as a teenager, hunched over my laptop and absolutely engrossed in Life is Strange, that I would be re-watching its direct sequel almost a decade later, I probably would have choked on my toast. Developer Don’t Nod’s breathtaking story about photography student Max Caulfield wasn’t just a game — it was a cultural moment that captured the exquisite pain and possibility of being eighteen, uncertain and suddenly gifted with supernatural powers (well, two out of three isn’t bad).

Now here we are in 2024, and Deck Nine Games has the unenviable task of continuing Max’s story. As someone who has followed this franchise with the dedication of a bookworm following every word of their favorite author – playing every game, devouring every graphic novel, chewing out my friends’ ears about time paradoxes – I I approached Double Exposure with equal parts enthusiasm and apprehension.

Could Deck Nine Games capture the ineffable quality that made the original Don’t Nod such a beloved cult classic? Having grown up alongside Max (I was his age when the first game came out, but unfortunately without the time rewind capabilities), I wanted to proclaim that magic had returned with a vengeance. The truth, however, is more nuanced. Double Exposure is a good game – but in 2024, when we have masterclasses in storytelling left and right, “good” is no longer enough. But maybe I’m getting ahead of myself. Let’s take a step back and break down this nostalgic, albeit uneven, return to form…

Life is Strange: Double Exposure: The Basics

What is this? A narrative-driven mystery adventure and direct sequel to Life is Strange, which follows Max Caulfield as she uses her time-manipulation powers to solve the murder of her best friend at a prestigious liberal arts college.
Who is it for? Fans of story-rich games and anyone who loves supernatural mysteries with emotional depth. If you loved the original Life is Strange or games like What Remains of Edith Finch and The Wolf Among Us, this is exactly what you need.
What is the price? The standard edition costs $49.99. There is also a Deluxe Edition for $59 and an Ultimate Edition for $74.
What other games has the developer created? Deck Nine Games previously developed Life is Strange: Before the Storm and Life is Strange: True Colors, after taking over the franchise from original developer Don’t Nod.
What games is this similar to? Beyond the obvious comparisons to previous Life is Strange titles, it shares its DNA with narrative adventures like Tell Me Why and Road 96.

The more things change…

Max.

(Image credit: Deck Nine)

Ten years after that fateful day in Arcadia Bay, Max has grown in a way that feels authentic to his character, rather than forced for the sake of a sequel. The self-doubt that once had her hiding behind her camera has transformed into something more refined — a thoughtful hesitation that speaks to someone who has learned the weight of her choices. It’s exactly the kind of character development you’d expect from someone who’s had to struggle with the responsibility of rewriting time itself.

And speaking of choices, kudos to Deck Nine for its skillful handling of that decision of the original game. They found a way to acknowledge both paths while remaining firmly focused on Max’s journey, allowing newcomers to jump right in without feeling like they’re missing vital context.

This mature approach to storytelling shines most in Max’s relationship with Safi. The daughter of Caledon’s headmaster and Max’s closest confidante, their friendship seems extremely natural, perhaps because Max has always been attracted to strong-willed women who pull her out of her comfort zone. It’s like watching a more confident Max find her own Chloe-shaped friendship, without the story and romantic tension.

Max and Amanda

(Image credit: Deck Nine)

Murder She Rewrote

Just minutes after sharing a moment with Max at the top of the observatory, Safi died. It’s a gut punch that sets up Double Exposure’s main mystery, and one that hits Max particularly hard. Having already lost (and potentially saved) a best friend in tragedy, she is desperate not to let history repeat itself. This time, she has experience on her side – but also the weight of her Arcadia Bay trauma that influences every decision she makes.

Safi dead

(Image credit: Deck Nine)

The investigation itself proves gripping, unfolding like a twisted episode of Veronica Mars. As Max digs deeper into Safi’s life, she uncovers a web of complicated relationships and buried resentments at Caledon University. It turns out our victim had quite the talent for making enemies.

The real strength of the mystery lies in how it intertwines with Max’s own struggles with power and responsibility. Each time jump brings new information, but also forces her to question whether she’s helping or just delaying the inevitable. The way the game parallels his current investigation with his memories of Arcadia Bay creates a compelling psychological dimension to what could have been a simple thriller. Just when you think you have it figured out, another twist forces you to rewind your theories, both literally and figuratively.

Time out of class

For all the care given to Max’s personal life, it’s surprising how little we see of his professional life. We’re told she’s a resident photographer and gives seminars at the university, but this potentially fascinating aspect of her character remains frustrating off-screen. Imagine Max actually mentoring young photographers, perhaps seeing echoes of his youth in their insecurities. Instead, this thread of character development remains largely unexplored, which I can’t help but view as a missed opportunity.

Aerial shot of Caledon

(Image credit: Deck Nine)

When it comes to the supporting cast – Max’s friends and colleagues – they often feel like caricatures. Sure, the graphics are beautiful and I particularly liked the micro-expressions that allowed you to really visualize their emotional significance, but the majority of them, for lack of a better term, were unbearable. While Moses stands out like a breath of fresh air with his earnest charm and lovable personality, most of your classmates on campus feel like they’ve just stepped out of a particularly cutting-edge parody of liberal arts college life.

A romantic option, no spoilers, but you’ll know it when your toes start to curl, it made me cringe so hard I almost caused my own time paradox. Imagine all the liberal arts stereotypes thrown into a blender, served with a garnish of over-effort; that’s what you get. And this is coming from someone who did an MFA in poetry. Their dialogue seemed gooey and honestly I had to suspend my disbelief that our Max Caulfield could possibly be friends with these people.

Max and Safi look at their phones

(Image credit: Deck Nine)

It’s a real shame, because when Double Exposure succeeds, it really succeeds. Those moments when Max reflects on the past and highlights himself? Pure gold. When do characters like Moses manage to break through the game’s sometimes stifling self-consciousness? Magic. But these moments are fleeting.

When the mechanics stumble

Maximum pulse

(Image credit: Deck Nine)

If time-bending were as tedious in reality as it is in Double Exposure, I would happily stick to the linear timeline. The game’s much-vaunted timeline-switching mechanic, which should feel revolutionary, instead feels like battling a stubborn filing cabinet. Each transition requires hiding in a separate room, which interrupts the narrative momentum. What should be a seamless supernatural ability becomes a navigational exercise that would test one’s patience.

The game’s information ecosystem compounds this frustration. Want to know the plot details? Get ready for a digital scavenger hunt. The journal system requires laboriously clicking on each entry individually. What about social media feeds? It’s less of an immersive storytelling tool and more of a test of how many repetitive scrolls a player can endure.

Life is Strange Double Exposure: The Verdict

Life is Strange: Double Exposure exists in a curious temporal state – much like Max’s supernatural abilities – suspended between nostalgic reverence and the unforgiving expectations of modern storytelling. It’s a game that sincerely seeks to recapture the lightning-in-a-bottle magic of the original, occasionally verging on brilliance, but more often than not finding itself tangled up in its own narrative and mechanical timeline.

Ultimately, Life is Strange: Double Exposure feels like a slightly blurry photograph: you can make out the details, appreciate the composition, but something remains maddening just beyond the clear view.

Le-verdict

Le-verdict

Life is Strange: Double Exposure – a nostalgic but uneven return to form

Pabio

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Life is Strange: Double Exposure – a nostalgic but uneven return to form

Pabio

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