Life is Strange 2 - The Complete Season
- September 27, 2018
- DONTNOD Entertainment
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.
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…
Reviews
- 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.
- story10 mentions
- 30 % positive mentions
- 40 % neutral mentions
- 30 % negative mentions
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.”
- emotional6 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
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.”
- gameplay4 mentions
- 25 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 75 % negative mentions
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.”
- music3 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
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.”
- graphics3 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- -67 % neutral mentions
- 67 % negative mentions
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.”
- optimization2 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
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.
Critic Reviews
Life Is Strange 2
Life Is Strange 2 Review – Setting A Good Example
85%Life is Strange 2 Full Season Review – A Tale of Two Sons
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.
90%Life is Strange 2 Review
Although Life is Strange 2 offers varied themes and visually exquisite moments, it falters by featuring an unappealing road trip adventure with disconnected episodes that lack character growth. Lethargic pacing and shallow interaction make for a boring sequel about two brothers that should have stayed home.
59%