Creator Letter: Giving Life is Strange a Second Chance

Creator Letter

Giving Life is Strange a Second Chance

When I first played through Life is Strange, I didn’t like it all that much. Despite all of the praise the game had received, I found the storytelling to be lackluster and the visuals less than appealing. Everything felt contrived and there was never a moment where I felt compelled to really finish the game. I continued playing so I could get in on that good old internet discourse, and boy did I have a lot to say by the end of the game. Mostly I was frustrated with Max as a character and the final choice. I had also anticipated Max and Chloe becoming girlfriends and this never happened.

You’d be correct in assuming that I wasn’t all too optimistic when popping in my copy of the game to replay for this issue of the magazine. It had been a while since I’d played, two years in fact. Since I could only associate this game with negative emotions, I went in somewhat dreading the replay experience.

What I experienced on a second playthrough, however, was far from negative. Playing Life is Strange a second time proved to be a wonderful, emotional experience. Though my frustrations with the game still were on the cusp of boiling over, I found that there was a lot more to like than dislike. Aspects I found annoying on the first playthrough were charming on the second run.

I sat with this for a long time and tried to figure out what had changed. Why was this game affecting me so deeply when previously it had left me feeling cold? I think a partial answer to this question is that during my second playthrough I allowed myself to experience the game more fully. I didn’t go into this with a one track mind as I did the first time, wanting Chloe and Max ending up in a relationship. Rather, I tried to examine everything that glowed and talk to every character I passed by. I really tried to experience the game to the fullest.

Though my frustrations still remain (I’m looking at you Episode 5!), playing this game again turned out to be a rewarding experience. I finished the game late at night. When I made the final choice, I chose to save Arcadia Bay and bawled my eyes out. I had not expected to be moved in any fashion by this games ending. And yet there I was, crying on my bed as if these characters were real people.

I do not condone the idea that something that makes you cry is good. I cry every time I hear the “Christmas Shoes” song and that is a piece of garbage. But there are times when a story is something you need at that very moment, and I think I needed Life is Strange. It is among the more unique and thoughtful games I’ve played, and I am glad I played it again to talk about it in the magazine.