Life is Strange 2: Episode 1: Roads

5HonestAristotle claimed that art imitates life and that, through art, we better ourselves. Our exposure to art allows us to gain new knowledge and perspectives and to undergo catharsis—to process our emotions without the need for direct exposure to...

A touching tale of brotherly...

‘Everything is political Sean.' Those words stuck with me the most as I finished up the first episode of Life is Strange 2. Dontnod's latest coming-of-age tale that brings the American political spectrum to full bare albeit from the hands of a European...

A NORMAL LIFE I wasn't sure what to expect when coming into Life is Strange 2, but having played the prequel episode, Awesome Adventures of Captain Spirit, I felt sure that the story would in some way relate to Chris or his town. So I was surprised...

Life Is Strange 2 is an entirely new story with an entirely new cast of characters. Its only link to the first game, based on the first episode, is that it takes place in the same universe – but that was perhaps the best direction Dontnod Entertainment...

Compared to some of the “growing pains” that the first season of Life is Strange went through in its early episodes–especially its infamous reliance on “hella” cliched-sounding teen lingo–Life is Strange 2‘s first episode is a confident and engaging piece of storytelling, and seeing how Sean and Daniel’s relationship develops over the course of the first episode already has me excited to see the rest of the long road ahead.

One episode in and I don’t miss Max and Chloe at all. Following Sean and Daniel’s story is already gripping, happy and saddening, and we’re only just getting started. No, there’s isn’t too much in the way of game here, but it’s only the beginning and I’m really looking forward to where the Diaz boy’s journey takes us. That is, if my heart can take it.

Episode 1: Roads is a shining example of a developer that has built on the success of the first title and only continued to improve with the experience it has under its belt in episodic gaming. The developer has stayed true to its roots with Life Is Strange 2, revisiting its tried-and-tested formula and adjusting it in a way that perfectly works with the new set of wonderful characters in the universe. The studio’s willingness to integrate social commentary on topics such as police misconduct, racism and gun violence is a resounding statement of a developer bold enough to play its hand in topical areas of discussion and pull it off with complete success.