#STRANGE BUT TRUE GAME SERIES#

The game’s greatest triumph, perhaps, is how it juggles all these complex characters and still manages to offer multiple endings that satisfyingly wrap up the loose ends and bring about a meaningful conclusion. It is all handled tastefully, and these moments make the game an emotionally rocky ride. This theme manifests when characters have to face a range of searingly painful and sometimes relatable truths that involve jealousy, self-hatred, love-shyness, and the fear of rejection. It is also through these believable characters that the game delivers one of its deepest messages – sometimes, the truth hurts.

Whether it is Charlotte who has to deal with the guilt of blaming those close to her for an unforeseen tragedy or Eleanor who must learn to navigate old age, no character, no matter how much you may treasure them, is spared from the harshness of realism. While the first game felt at times as though it was ticking off a laundry list of high school clichés, the inhabitants of Haven feel like real people bearing immense problems and tackling relatable issues. The backbone of any Life is Strange game is its characters, and it is no exaggeration to say that True Colors has the best and most captivating cast thus far. In the blink of an eye, it is all snatched away from her, sending her on a quest to unravel the truth. For a brief and beautiful moment Alex the orphan feels like she has a home in Haven, and with the friendly folks she meets, a sense of family is established too. There is plenty of downtime for Alex to just relax and think.Īlex is brought to Haven by her brother, Gabe Chen, who she has been separated from for years after he is sent to juvenile detention for stealing a car. However, this is contrasted with her moments of isolation (of which there are many), where you have access to her inner thoughts and are able to discover how much pain she is carrying. Her capacity for compassion is seemingly infinite. Throughout her interactions with others, it is clear that she has a big heart and a strong desire to help others. Of all the protagonists in the series, Alex proves herself to be the most interesting, fleshed-out, and well-written one thus far. Her experiences, rather than break her, have molded her into a fiercely strong woman with an incredible amount of inner resolve and mental fortitude. It is a small neighborhood where everybody knows each other, the gossip travels fast, and you never have to ever truly feel alone.Īlex Chen, who serves as the game’s protagonist, arrives in Haven after many painful years of living in the foster care system. Instead, you remain situated in the cozy town of Haven. However, unlike Life is Strange 2, you will not be doing a lot of moving around. Much like Life is Strange 2, True Colors abandons the cast of the first Life is Strange game. Spanning across five episodes, the game’s story paces itself well and remembers to insert plenty of moments of joviality to prepare you for the gut-wrenching scenes. Fortunately, not only has Deck Nine delivered, they have crafted a heartfelt experience that makes the best use of its medium.ģ) Graphics and Audio – Best in Show Story – A Trip Around the Emotional Spectrum With the franchise finally coming to next-gen consoles, expectations were understandably high.

Released on the 10th of September 2021, it is developed by Deck Nine, who are also responsible for Life is Strange: Before the Storm. Life is Strange: True Colors is the latest title in the series. However, some felt that it strays too far from the formula that made the first game successful. Life is Strange 2, released in 2018, is brave enough to feature an all-new cast. Life is Strange: Before the Storm serves as a prequel and while most appreciated the return of beloved characters, some felt like it lacks that something special.

#STRANGE BUT TRUE GAME SERIES#

However, their simplistic gameplay together with their expert use of music does a sterling job of capturing those everyday moments of life that are often overlooked but have a profound impact on us.Īs revered as the first entry in the series is, the next two games that followed proved to be a tad more polarizing. On the surface, they appear to be nothing but gamified Netflix teen dramas with a hint of the supernatural sprinkled in. It is easy to be initially dismissive of these games. Life is Strange: True Colors has big boots to fill but, as this review shows, it manages to get the job done. Originally released in 2015, Life is Strange is a story-driven video game series that boasts a small yet devoted and passionate fanbase of gamers.

Strange but true game