Life is Strange: Double Exposure Review: A Tale of Two Timelines

Life is Strange: Double Exposure Review

Each release of this emotional narrative series features a new protagonist navigating everyday drama along with the challenges of coming of age. With its perfect blend of supernatural elements and grounded storytelling, the franchise has created a dedicated cult following. For the first time in a series, the latest installment revisits Max Caulfield, the kind-hearted young woman from the iconic debut. Aiming to tell a new story that honors the legacy of the original characters while being unique to newcomers, will Life is Strange: Double Exposure captivate both long-time fans and first-time players?

Set years after the original, Max left Arcadia Bay and set up shop as a photographer in a new city. By connecting with the community, you form friendships that allow you to embark on new adventures. Although scars from past events still linger and shape her personality, Max is a compassionate young adult. While some fans may worry about the portrayal of this beloved character, Deck Nine captures his development perfectly. Its familiar discomfort lingers, instantly rekindling the connection with the original. This trait permeates his conversations, which enhances the character's credibility.

I see your true colors

The bond between Max and Safi is immediate. The conversations between the two are natural with nuances that emphasize their relationship. Deck Nine manages to create environments and situations that allow you to live in the moment with its deep and well-rounded characters. Because of this, you care about each personality making interactions meaningful. Like previous entries, your choices affect your relationship with the supporting cast, making each decision carry weight. Because of this, you quickly invest in scenarios to ensure the best outcome for the characters you really care about.

Each person is given time to breathe and develop over time. From internal monologues to general banter with others as you progress towards your goal, the characters feel dynamic and developed. Their interactions reveal deeper layers of their personalities, creating a sense of growth and authenticity. The writing excels on these points, further cementing Deck Nine's importance within the interactive drama genre.

After the events of Arcadia Bay, Max no longer uses his time travel powers. Focusing on his passion and teachings of photography, he leads a simple and stress-free life. However, things take a dramatic turn when her close friend is found dead. Devastated, she attempts to revive powers from the past to change the course of time. What happens is something different. Instead of manipulating the times, it opens a portal to a different timeline where Safi is still alive. With a killer on the loose in one reality and the possibility that the same person may seek to strike again in the other, you must jump between them to uncover the truth.

Detective novel?

Mystery surrounds several aspects in Life is Strange: Double Exposure. In addition to the murder investigation, there are also a series of seedy characters that make you question the sincerity of those you come into contact with. As you delve deeper into the adventure, you'll discover secrets about the strange campus club, the Abraxas Society, the staff, and even the people closest to you. Every twist and turn is carefully designed to be surprising and shocking, keeping you gripped throughout its 5 chapters. Although I was not entirely convinced by the narrative thread followed in the end, the game manages to build a complex and satisfying story.

The timeline mechanic offers a variety of options that improve gameplay moment by moment. While the game still holds you firmly, there is more freedom compared to its predecessors, as you can explore two versions of each area. At certain points you can seamlessly switch between the “dead” world and the “living world,” interacting with each to reach your goal. This opens up the opportunity to interact with different versions of the same character, however, being an alternate timeline, aspects of his life have changed. It's interesting to see how small differences create a domino effect, altering a variety of aspects for several people.

Two sides of a story

The puzzles are perfectly integrated into the main mechanics. You'll have to jump between timelines to solve challenges, using elements from one to affect the other. This clever system allows you to blur the lines between universes. To help differentiate them, Deck Nine employs a visual filter. Warmer tones distinguish the “living” world, while a colder aesthetic defines the “dead” timeline. Visuals are a significant improvement over previous entries, with fantastic facial animations capturing finer details that permeate conversations. Along with the highly detailed environments, the vibrant use of color creates a welcoming atmosphere. While I occasionally noticed a few pop-ups, they were rare and did not detract from the overall experience.

Perfectly selected songs adapt to the variety of situations you encounter. From touching moments of personal growth to humorous sequences that capture snapshots of life, the soundtrack underlines every emotion, enhancing the impact of each scene. This is further enhanced by the incredible voice acting and natural gestures, which add a believable layer to every interaction.

Life is Strange: Double Exposure tackles the difficult task of continuing the story of a beloved character and successfully executes it in a way that respects the series' legacy while propelling the franchise forward. With solid writing and a compelling cast of characters, this sci-fi murder mystery will keep you engaged at every turn. While closely related to its predecessors and featuring a potentially divisive ending, this extension of Max's story showcases Deck Nine's expertise as one of the industry leaders in narrative games.

***The publisher provided a PS5 code***