Page 82 - PC Gamer - UK (February 2020)

RE VIE W

Life is Strange 2

ONTHEROADAGAIN

LIFE IS STRANGE 2 was always far too

focused on the finish line. By Alistair Jones

uring the third episodeof Life is Strange 2, main character cheating at dice, it’s not long before
Sean Diaz is presentedwith a choice that could help bring NEED TO KNOW he begins to understand the extent of
his ordeal to an earlyend, but would put his little brother WHAT IS IT? his abilities. Eventually, the player
Daniel in danger. Beingthe responsible father figure that I A cross-country isn’t just battling with the game’s
Dclearly am, I declinethe opportunity. But then later on in the road-trip driven by desire to get you to Mexico no matter
episode, I’m asked to make that samechoice again. And again. In the end, player choice the narrative implications, but against
the decision is made for me, and everythingfalls to pieces. (apparently) a game mechanic that happens to
EXPECT TO PAY have developed a personality.
Life is Strange 2 begins in suburban and familial responsibility, are woven £32
Seattle, where a fatal throughout the game, but their DEVELOPER UNTIL NEXT TIME
misunderstanding forces Sean and importance pales in comparison to Dontnod Entertainment The first episode of Life is Strange 2
Daniel to flee their home. In his Dontnod’s desire for a classic PUBLISHER released in September 2018, meaning
panic, Sean takes his brother on the roadtrip, and so Sean and Daniel are Square Enix the journey from debut to finale took
run, aiming for his father’s family moved on, irrespective of the REVIEWED ON more than 14 months. Nearly four
home in Puerto Lobos, decisions made within Intel Core i7-5820K, months passed between episodes one
Mexico, and the pair the episode. 8GB RAM, and two alone, and while the release
take the first steps on Dontnodhas This problem is GeForce GTX 950 cadence sped up as the series reached
their year-long journey somethingto exacerbated by the fact MULTIPLAYER its finale, the damage had already
to the border. His sayabout that Life is Strange 2’s None been done. The time between
decision provides an most powerful tool is LINK episodes may have been an attempt
impressive backdrop to Americanrace not directly in your bit.ly/34TEa7E to mirror the length of Sean and

their adventure – relations hands. While players Daniel’s journey, but to do so at the
chilling Oregon control Sean, it’s Daniel expense of narrative pacing and
winters, towering who boasts character development feels
Californian forests and sweltering supernatural abilities. Sean quickly misjudged. So much of the brothers’
Arizona deserts offer an ambitious adopts the role of mentor, but his story happens off-screen that it
alternative to the series’ small-town younger brother is a precocious child, makes it difficult to stay engaged
narratives – but also forces Life is and while he might start by using his between chapters.
Strange 2 to immediately undermine powers for something innocuous as There are some excellent
its road-tripping raison d’etre. moments dotted throughout the
Rather than directly portray a game, and it’s clear that Dontnod has
1,500 mile journey, developer KEROUAC, EAT YOUR HEART OUT something to say about American
Dontnod sticks to its series’ classic race relations. Often, it leans too
tropes. Exploration, dialogue, and Life is Strange 2’s journey across America heavily on patriotic stereotypes to do
character development are its so, but the final episode in particular
strengths, but those are difficult to focuses carefully on the concept of
achieve within the confines of a Seattle Sean’s reverse American Dream.
Suburb
Greyhound bus. Instead, the story Overall though, Life is Strange 2 is
moves from vignette to vignette, with more interested in that dream than in
each chapter set months after the one Beaver its own central themes – those of
before, in a place where Sean and Creek, brotherhood, family, and the passing
Daniel can stay in relative safety fora Oregon down of knowledge to the next
few days or weeks. generations. Its desire to stick to the
Here lies the game’s most Redwood series’ tropes means you’re forced
existential dilemma. These havens National into setpiece after setpiece on your
Park,
provide a place to live – at least California Haven Point, inevitable road to Mexico, without
Nevada
temporarily – almost entirely off-grid, any desire to cater to the player who
a rare opportunity to lay low and take just wants to be a good big brother.
stock. In one episode, whole chunks
of dialogue are given over to the idea Away, Arizona VE R D I C T
of holding out for next month’s Life is Strange 2
paycheck, while another places the promises a classic
brothers firmly within the nuclear American roadtrip, but 68
family they both so clearly crave. Puerto Lobos, it fails to put you in the
Those themes, of financial security Mexico driving seat.

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