Life Is Strange - Episode 1

Although it’s not always obvious, video games have come a long way over the years. At one time, they were just colorful distractions designed to entertain people at the arcade. Nowadays, they are closer to books and movies in most regards, which is why gamers push so hard for video games to be considered art. While it is certainly not true in every case, there are examples out there that truly deserve to be on par with great movies.

Life Is Strange is a unique adventure game with a realistic and well-developed story, in which the events depend solely on your actions and decisions. Each move you make affects the future, which makes it that much easier to replay the entire thing and experience a whole different storyline. The gameplay mechanics are ingenious as well, because they allow you to manipulate the passage of time.

As far as the plot is concerned, you play the role of a girl by the name of Max, who is a photography student at a prestigious college. One day she finds out that she can rewind time and go back to relive the same experience, which becomes a very useful ability soon thereafter. As it happens, another girl has gone missing around campus, and her disappearance is the catalyst for the game’s plot.

What sets Life Is Strange apart from most other adventure games out there is the fact that your choices truly affect the outcome of most events. As such, it is paramount that you pay attention to each response you give in conversation, as well as to every action you decide to take during gameplay. Even if the full game is split into multiple episodes, your choices are transmitted between them, so you are never forced to follow a linear path.

In the visual department, the game is just astonishing. Although it’s not emphasized on in most video games, the framing is very important when it comes to creating a movie-like experience, and Life Is Strange succeeds at it. The artwork is incredible as well, not to mention the character animations and the special effects that come into play whenever something exciting happens.

Except for the slightly cumbersome interface and object interaction, Life Is Strange barely has any faults. The story is unique and memorable, the characters are well-designed and realistic, and the graphics are stunning. Hence, if you are a fan of games that let you decide how the story progresses, Life Is Strange should be at the top of your list.