Thanks to Square Enix, I recently had a chance to get some hands-on Life Is Strange: Double Exposure. Thanks to this preview, I was able to get some hands-on with the first two chapters of the game. Let me tell you, what I played left me wanting more.
For anyone familiar with the Life Is Strange series, you’ll know exactly what you are in for here with Double Exposure—a story about someone who goes through some kind of tragic event leading to, or sometimes caused by powers. Life Is Strange: Double Exposure also sees the return of Max Caulfield, the original game’s protagonist. Max finds herself with some new friends, years after the events of the first Life Is Strange. After one of these friends dies in mysterious circumstances, Max sets out to find answers and in the process, discovers that she has new powers. While she can no longer rewind time, she can travel between two different timelines with these new powers.
In terms of gameplay, these powers are quite straightforward to use, typically requiring the activation of one of the bumpers on a controller; at times, you may need to use both bumpers simultaneously. What makes these powers interesting is how you employ them in your quest for answers. You’ll often travel between two different timelines to solve puzzles or access various areas. The game is cleverly designed to add depth to these mechanically simple actions.
Dialogue choices and consequences that the series is known for, carry even more than before. I found myself in situations where I responded to a character in one timeline, only to mistakenly believe I had said the same thing in the other timeline. While this might frustrate some players, I appreciated it, as it encouraged me to consider my responses and recall what I had already communicated. Although keeping track of discoveries across both timelines could be challenging, Max takes notes and maintains a journal that carries over between them.
What makes the Life Is Strange games stand out are their compelling stories and characters, and Life Is Strange: Double Exposure is no exception. Max is a live-in photographer at Caledon University, and even in the first few chapters, I encountered a wealth of interesting and relatable characters. From a nosy podcaster to a science geek, many of these characters may initially seem like stereotypes, but I found each one to resonate with someone I know personally.
Throughout the opening chapters, many characters have personal stories unfolding alongside the main quest, and at times, you’ll have the chance to assist them. Choosing to help these characters can yield benefits later on, so while the main story is engaging, it’s worth taking the time to lend a hand when possible.
Speaking of the story, I won’t spoil any of it here, but I will say that I loved the “whodunit” nature of the story being told, and I can’t wait to see how it all unfolds. If you want a sneak preview, we will have the first hour or so up on the Outerhaven YouTube Channel later this week, which will show you most of the first chapter.
The story isn’t the only thing that stood out to me; as is tradition for the franchise, Double Exposure has some wonderful music. Not only is the music great, but so are the visuals. On PC at least, the game seems like a significant step up when compared to Life Is Strange: True Colors.
I can’t wait to play more when Life Is Strange: Double Exposure releases for Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 5, and PC via Steam and Windows Store on October 29, 2024.
