Life is Strange: Double Exposure is a so-so sequel to the iconic premier of the Life is Strange series.
The disappointment of Life is Strange 2 and Life is Strange True Colors forced developers to reimagine the magic of the first game, an element I talked about in my previous article on Life is Strange 1. In a an attempt to recapture what made the first game so good, the creators created an okay game with Max as it’s lead once more, although this time, regardless of your decision in Life is Strange 1, Chloe is out of the picture, whether it is through her death or a tumultuous breakup made over a postcard.
In this game, Max Caufield has to try and find a way to help save her best friend and solve her murder through an evolution of her previous time-rewinding power. Now, the plot revolves around preventing the death of another female best friend of Max’s who’s artsy, snarky, and everything Max wants, except this one isn’t romanceable. Despite my criticisms on the creation of Safi, her story left me emotional regardless. After only around an hour or two of playtime with Safi, I still felt the tears rolling down at her unfortunate death and the grief that followed.
One aspect I found particularly well done was the breakup between Chloe and Max. While not explicitly in the story and only found in old text messages and memory boxes, the circumstances that led to the breakup felt realistic and not like just another cash grab for new romance features. Max’s guilt for letting the town be decimated lingers in the gaps of their relationship and slowly degrades their communication until ultimately Chloe can’t stand being stuck in the past anymore. It’s heartbreaking for both, yet what they both need to move on.
I knew from the end of the first game that Max and Chloe would not last forever– they’re too different. Chloe still has lingering feelings for her old best friend, Rachel Amber, and Max’s powers created a strain in the relationship from the very start. I liked that they were able to realize parts of themselves they couldn’t when together. In the next game, Life is Strange Reunion, Chloe and Max reunite, and I can’t wait to see their new dynamic.
Despite the good parts, the game is relatively boring. The romance option are incredibly bland, and Max doesn’t even seem to like either of them that much, not to mention one of them is the maybe-abusive ex of Safi. The lack of small interactive aspects that made the first game so cozy and interesting makes this game feel like every other kind of game nowadays.
At times, Double Exposure started to feel like a cheap money-grab by bringing back a fan-favorite. The references to the old game felt endless at times, and seemed like it was only for nostalgia. Although I love playing Max again, I wish there was more about her than just Safu if it’s truly a sequel to her story and not a remake.
Overall, Life is Strange Double Exposure is fun to play, but not necessarily something I would rave about. I can’t wait to play Life is Strange Reunion next!
