So when it comes to my recent interests that have to do with gaming, during the last few weeks I've been catching up with the 'Life Is Strange' series. I managed to check the remaining games in the series that I hadn't managed to play and review before.
Indeed, after playing and reviewing the first 'Life is Strange' some years ago, I wanted to check the rest too. I managed to check and review the third one a month ago and now it was finally time to check and review the second one in the series too.
So when it comes to the second game in the series (after not particularly liking the third one), I watched the long play version of the second game about two weeks ago. I checked the game and, well, wasn't that impressed with this one either.
Premise-wise, this time we're dealing with two immigrant brothers in the United States, who after an unfortunate incident (their dad gets killed) decide to escape to Mexico. They think that is the only way to handle the situation and so off they go together.
Story-wise, the big 'hook' in this game is that as these two kids flee and run away from the law, it is revealed that the younger kid has super powers. The kid has some sort of an ability to control and move objects with his mind, which leads to all kinds of incidents.
Quality-wise, it has to be said that the game - even though in parts relaxing to watch (13 hours long and has a great soundtrack) - isn't particularly well made. There are so many issues and problems in the story (including plot holes) that it's hard to count all the flaws.
Gaming-wise, one of the worst things is that as a player (you control the older brother) you have very few things to do. The game that is divided to five different chapters (in different locations /w different side characters) is basically one big cut scene show.
As sad as it is, at no point of the game do you get a feel that you're in charge of the story. There's no rewind button with your decisions and since it's the kid who has the super powers (the kid is pretty unlikable) that makes the experience even more frustrating.
Theme-wise, one of the worst things here is without a doubt that the game is extremely "woke" and takes an over-the-top anti-Republican stand that is impossible not to notice. This is evident in every chapter in the story and is something that really bothered me.
After all, the way they beat-wise kept giving us "Deliverance-style" antagonists everywhere they went was just not believable. You had racists, bigots, religious nut jobs and anti-immigrant cops to such extent that you felt like you were watching a parody.
Not surprisingly, once you as a 'player' reached the final chapter in the story with your brother, due to the implausible story beats and 'messaging' issues, the stuff doesn't feel satisfying. I just wasn't sold by the story that wasn't that well thought out.
After all, as a whole, when you think about all the implausible things that occurred [no spoilers here], there were simply too many of them. There were too many problems, even though the writers probably tried their best to make a game that had an honest message.
In that sense, in the end, I have to conclude that unless you're able to look past these problems (story flaws, poor pacing, lack of control, arbitrary chapter endings, demonizing etc), this is not a game for you. You shouldn't be thinking that you'll enjoy the experience.
After all, even though there were some good things too in the game like its relaxing atmosphere in places and its solid soundtrack that I managed to enjoy, those weren't enough. These qualities weren't enough and didn't make the game as a whole a positive experience.
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