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Life is Strange 2 - The Complete Season

The jury is out on whether or not Life is Strange 2 is superior to the first game, but it is undoubtedly bolder and more ambitious, with something meaningful to say.
75%Game Brain Score
emotional, music
story, gameplay
Critic Score 75%Based on 19 reviews

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Xbox Series X|SPCPlaystation 5Playstation 4Xbox OneXboxPlayStation
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About

Life is Strange 2 - The Complete Season is a single player action game. It was developed by DONTNOD Entertainment and was released on September 27, 2018. It received mostly positive reviews from critics.

The award winning Life is Strange series continues with a long-awaited sequel from DONTNOD Entertainment Two brothers Sean and Daniel Diaz, 16 and 9, are forced to run away from home after a tragic incident in Seattle. In fear of the police, Sean & Daniel head to Mexico while attempting to conceal a sudden and mysterious supernatural power. Life on the road is tough and now totally responsible f…

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emotional6 positive mentions
gameplay3 negative mentions
  • Extremely nuanced and believable characters with a strong emotional arc.
  • Beautiful visuals and art direction, complemented by a fitting indie rock soundtrack.
  • The game tackles heavy themes gracefully, offering meaningful choices that impact the narrative.
  • Pacing issues, particularly in the middle episodes, leading to a slow and sometimes boring experience.
  • Lacks a unique gameplay hook compared to the first game, with some characters feeling like caricatures.
  • The episodic release format disrupts the flow of the story and character development.
  • story
    10 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The story of "Life is Strange 2" is a poignant exploration of brotherhood that tackles heavy themes, though it suffers from slow pacing and a lack of direction in the middle episodes. While some weak points and pacing issues are noted, the narrative ultimately improves, offering meaningful choices and relatable characters that leave a lasting impact. Overall, it is seen as a worthy continuation of the series, despite not having the same unique hook as its predecessor.

    • “Life is Strange 2 is a worthy entry in the narrative series that improves upon the first game in meaningful ways with a story that's both thrilling and emotional.”
    • “Life is Strange 2 on the Nintendo Switch holds true to its storytelling ability and deep dialogue choices while offering a good-enough option for those wanting to take the game on the go.”
    • “The story of brotherly love leaves a lasting impact, even if this aging console continues to show its seams.”
    • “The story starts rough, with extremely slow pacing, particularly in the middle episodes; it lacks a unique 'hook' like the time powers of the first game and lacks direction until the final episodes.”
    • “Some weak story points are used to help emphasize the turbulent relationship of the Diaz brothers, along with occasional pacing issues and some strange decisions.”
    • “The story may not deliver the same impact or suspense, but this is a poignant narrative that many should find a degree of relatability to, with extremely likeable characters in the form of Sean and Daniel.”
  • emotional
    6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The emotional aspect of "Life is Strange 2" is highlighted by its nuanced characters and strong themes, which are presented with grace and depth. Players experience an emotionally charged narrative with a touching plot and impactful choices, culminating in a heartwarming yet heartbreaking conclusion. The game's stunning visuals and excellent voice acting further enhance its emotional resonance, making it a compelling experience for all players.

    • “Life is Strange 2 is a worthy entry in the narrative series that improves upon the first game in meaningful ways with a story that's both thrilling and emotional.”
    • “With its strong message and touching plot, Life is Strange 2 is a game that I would highly recommend for gamers and non-gamers alike.”
    • “It’s emotional, evocative, heartwarming, and heartbreaking.”
  • gameplay
    4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The gameplay retains its core elements, with enjoyable dialogue choices and a strong role model mechanic that enhances the significance of player decisions. However, some players feel it lacks challenge and suffers from excessive interaction options and lengthy dialogue, leading to missed opportunities for deeper engagement. Overall, while the experience remains fun, it shows signs of stagnation and could benefit from more variety and challenge.

    • “The role model mechanic is fantastic and makes choices feel like they truly matter.”
    • “The gameplay hasn't changed much, and we'd argue that some areas have a few too many objects to interact with, but the dialogue choices remain just as fun as ever.”
    • “Not much in terms of gameplay; there's a lack of challenge, and the game looks mostly the same during replays (except for the endings).”
    • “The gameplay has many missed opportunities; the dialogue tends to go on for too long, and Sean can be overly dramatic at times.”
  • music
    3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The music in the game is highlighted as a calm and fitting indie rock soundtrack that enhances the emotional depth of the narrative and the relationship between characters. Reviewers praise the soundtrack as fantastic and impactful, complementing the game's art direction and thought-provoking themes. Overall, the music significantly contributes to the game's atmosphere and storytelling.

    • “Calm, fitting indie rock soundtrack and noteworthy cinematography.”
    • “Fantastic soundtrack.”
    • “Great soundtrack.”
  • graphics
    3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The graphics in the game show a notable upgrade from its predecessor, featuring a diverse array of characters and locations, complemented by emotionally resonant storytelling. However, the Switch port suffers from mediocre visuals and long load times, detracting from the overall experience.

    • “Nice graphical upgrade from the first game, with a large variety of characters and places.”
    • “The visuals are stunning, bringing the game's world to life in a vibrant and immersive way.”
    • “The art style is beautifully crafted, enhancing the emotional depth of the storytelling.”
    • “While bad load times and mediocre visuals make its Switch port far from perfect, Life is Strange 2 still provides an impactful experience.”
    • “Mediocre visuals on Switch and bad load times really detract from the overall experience.”
  • optimization
    2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game's optimization is praised for its stunning visuals and nuanced character portrayals, complemented by strong themes and emotionally impactful storytelling. Additionally, the standout voice acting enhances the overall experience, contributing to the game's polished presentation.

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75%Critics’ scoreBased on 19 critic reviews
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Frequently Asked Questions

Life is Strange 2 - The Complete Season is a action game.

Life is Strange 2 - The Complete Season is available on Xbox Series X|S, PC, PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4 and others.

Life is Strange 2 - The Complete Season was released on September 27, 2018.

Life is Strange 2 - The Complete Season was developed by DONTNOD Entertainment.

Life is Strange 2 - The Complete Season has received mostly positive reviews from critics. Most players liked this game for its emotional but disliked it for its story.

Life is Strange 2 - The Complete Season is a single player game.

Similar games include Life is Strange 2, Lost Records: Bloom & Rage, Life is Strange: True Colors, The Walking Dead, Tell Me Why and others.