Life is Strange 2 makes the political personal—with class. And the game, by far, exceeded my expectations. I was never worried that DONTNOD wouldn’t deliver—I even defended the narrative shift—but no amount of articles read or videos watched could’ve prepared me for the already emotionally heavy, incredible story of Sean and Daniel Diaz.
Note: Life is Strange 2 deserves to be reviewed as a separate project from Life is Strange. Though I’ll mention similarities in design and gameplay (because they’re part of the same series), I’ll refrain from comparing storylines. Developers believe Max and Chloe’s story is complete, though there are some references to the original title. And I’ll stop at nothing to give Sean and Daniel’s story the careful attention it deserves (without spoilers, of course). </rant>
Life Is Strange 2
Developer: Dontnod Entertainment
Price: $39.99 (Episode 1: $7.99)
Platform: PC, PS4, and Xbox One
MonsterVine was supplied with an Xbox One code for review.
Episode One begins in Seattle, WA outside the Diaz home—or, as Sean’s BFF Lyla would call it, 1452 ‘Lame’ Avenue. Halloween’s just around the corner, so Sean and his friends plan a party for that evening. It’s Sean’s job to secure the munchies, some money for drugs/alcohol (typical teenager things), and ‘protection,’ just in case.
Sean has all the stereotypical characteristics of a 16-year-old boy: charmingly dorky, a bit mean to his little brother, clueless about approaching girls. But he’s also an avid drawer, and draws in the sketchbook their dad, Esteban, gave him for his birthday. You can access the sketchbook at any time, which, in addition to housing his doodles, documents the day’s events similar to Life is Strange. There are various landscapes you can draw throughout the episode, so be on the lookout for picturesque scenes (or potential portraits of others).
In addition to the sketchbook, you can also access an Inventory of all the items in your pockets and backpack (which you can personalize with in-game items!). Each item has a name, location, and short description. The menu also displays your current objectives and what to do next. I like the close attention to detail; it makes everything feel significant.
But this is a Life is Strange game—so the innocence of our characters won’t last forever. After the seemingly supernatural death of a cop in the neighborhood, Sean and Daniel find themselves on the run to Puerto Lobos, Mexico (their father’s hometown). With little direction and sustenance, all they really have to cling onto is each other. And with Daniel being 10 years old, the responsibility of growing up and taking care of their family is put on Sean.
One serious thing to remember is that the Diaz brothers are Latino. Their father Esteban immigrated to the US later in his life for work, meaning Sean and Daniel were born US citizens. Life is Strange 2 is set in October 2016—just before Donald Trump won the US presidential election and racist bigotry rose to the surface. These real-life events, though not mentioned by name, are constantly referenced in the game through NPC interactions and plot points. Being on the road, alone, with little possessions and money (especially as a POC in a less welcoming, less diverse place) is scary. And these fears are already realized in Episode One.
Aside from being politically #woke, Life is Strange 2 greatly improves the decision trees—by making each choice and consequence feel more impactful, more permanent. But it goes beyond the inability to Rewind. Since you’re taking care of your little brother, Daniel’s behavior adjusts according to your actions. That means even aside from the bigger choices you make, your smaller actions can impact how Daniel grows up. This made it feel incredibly difficult to do ‘immoral’ things (e.g. stealing) to make surviving a little easier. Ethics and philosophy are at the core of Life is Strange 2, and making decisions never really got any easier. But I like games that make me think, and this had me verbally second-guessing my actions. So I guess, in a sense, this is just another way that the game is staying ethically #woke. Everything had a sense of urgency to it—from discussing life with Daniel to trying to best utilize the money left in your wallet.
DONTNOD put a lot of effort into Sean and Daniel’s interactions, and it shows. Daniel’s A.I. is far more advanced than any character I’ve seen in the series so far. He walks around while talking to you (and actually tries to walk near you), points out things that catch his eye, and engages in real discussions with Sean. His curiosity is my favorite trait of his, and he brings much needed comedic relief from the gravity of the situation. Sean, too, can direct Daniel’s attention to specific objects with a new interaction, indicated by a blue triangle. There are other special moments outside of dialogue for you to experience as well.
Developers have said they want players to feel like they’re playing Life is Strange 1 when experiencing this game. I’m happy to say the trademark Life is Strange atmosphere—from the soothing, acoustic soundtrack and beautifully rendered environments to the abundance of areas and objects to explore—was successfully recreated, and improved upon. There were a couple graphical bugs (i.e. Daniel running in place when he’s supposed to be crouching) that stood out, but were quickly forgotten due to compelling moments.
Life is Strange 2 is all about brotherhood, and how human connection makes survival possible. Along the road, you’ll meet characters who want to hurt you—but also some who want to help you. Your choices feel more urgent, more significant than ever. And boy, it’s going to be a wild ride.
The Final Word
Episode One makes a strong showing for Life is Strange 2 in just under four hours. With improved interactions, fearfully relatable situations, and choices that feel consequential, Episode One is already one of my favorite episodes of the series. I don’t think I’ve ever anticipated a next episode more than Episode Two.
– MonsterVine Review Score: 4.5 out of 5 – Great
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