Life is Strange 2: A Heart-Wrenching Masterpiece

Hello everyone!

The neighborhood where I live with Sean and DanielI've finally calmed down after playing "Life is Strange 2"; now I've got something to share.

This year, I finally got around to playing the first part of the first part of the game "Life is Strange" - I didn't expect to be blown away, but I was pleasantly surprised: how did I not play it sooner?! Later, I also checked out the prequel to this part, called "Before the Storm" - although I was a bit taken aback by the fact that a different studio developed it. Let's just say it's not exactly canon.

As for the second part (which was developed by the same DONTNOD team as the first one), I was put off by the overwhelmingly negative reviews - game disaster, utter rubbish, nowhere near as good as the first part, complete failure. I took these reviews to heart and thought I'd be wasting my time if I played it.

Now I'm thinking that maybe I shouldn't have started playing the second part in the first place - the events really shook me up. Not comparable to any of the other parts.

Making smart choices and thinking about the consequencesI still ended up playing it, though. Not out of boredom: I was looking for something light-hearted and relaxing to play while sipping coffee and munching on popcorn, all while mindlessly clicking away with one finger.

The happy snowman"Life is Strange 2" is basically interactive cinema where, at certain points, you'll need to make crucial decisions and control the main character from a third-person perspective. No complications - even a middle school student could handle it. Although I wouldn't recommend this part to kids.

The Beginning of the Story So, I played the game and then read all the negative reviews, and I came to a few conclusions for myself: players were either expecting a continuation of the first part (which, let's be real, wasn't exactly a masterpiece) or a copy of the first part. They were waiting for Max and Chloe to make a comeback, and for the time-manipulation feature to return. And that definitely played a role. I might have been expecting the same old thing from the second part, but that's not what I got - and my experience was way better than the first part. But that doesn't mean the first part was bad. I see these two games as two completely different stories, each with their own strengths and weaknesses.

Sean Loves to Draw Like the previous parts, the story is divided into five episodes.

Free riders (and I'm guilty of it too) can only play the first two episodes for free; the rest are available online for real money. I didn't notice this at first - I installed the game, played through the first episode pretty quickly, and was waiting for something terrible to happen. But it never did. And then, when the episode ended, I realized I couldn't play any further. It wasn't until I went back to the main menu that I understood why: I'd downloaded a version with only one free episode for trying it out (now the second one is available too). If you want to play the rest, you have to buy the game on the relevant platforms.

I spent a long time weighing the pros and cons, considering the possibility that I'd end up really disappointed with the game later on... and still decided to buy the whole game on Steam for 1,000 rubles.

Honestly, it's starting to seem like all the angry reviews are from players who only played the first two free episodes. Oh well.

This review is spoiler-free; all screenshots were taken by me personally.

The Twist in the First Part*************

WARNING

We're introduced to high school student Sean Diaz. His life was completely ordinary – until it wasn't.

Sean lives with his dad (who's Mexican) and younger brother; he goes to school, and his girlfriend goes to parties with him. But one day, just before Halloween, a series of terrifying events turns their lives upside down.

A routine household argument with their neighbor escalates into a nightmare for Sean and his brother: a passing police officer decides to intervene, and in the same instant, Sean's dad Esteban walks out of their house. The officer, for some inexplicable reason, decides Esteban's involved and shoots him right there on the spot (no spoilers – it's in the official description). Meanwhile, Sean's younger brother Daniel, overwhelmed by stress, does something utterly unthinkable: he unleashes a hurricane that knocks the officer off his feet and kills him. Not fully grasping what's happening, Sean grabs Daniel, and they take off as fast as they can – no turning back.

The brothers are now officially on the run.

They're on their own in this vast world, navigating through dense forests, walking along deserted roads, sleeping on the ground, eating berries from bushes, and constantly hiding from the police... Along the way, they'll meet people – some good, some not so much. Life's tough, but the brothers have a goal in mind, a place to go where they can finally find some peace.

The story gets brutal from here: while the first two parts were relatively okay and the emotional stakes were manageable, things take a dark and unbelievable turn from the third episode onwards. I found myself wondering what the creators were thinking – why they'd put me through this! From the third episode on, it's non-stop, heart-stopping situations where it feels like it's all over. I lost count of how many times I cried, screamed, and gnashed my teeth – my heart was constantly racing. I've never experienced anything like it before; I don't think I've ever been this invested in a game. I was on the edge of my seat, and I couldn't look away.

Let's just say there are a few endings to this story (four, to be exact, but some player actions can create branching paths, and you might end up with seven endings in total). Each one comes with a hefty price tag, and I'll get into that later. Since I only played through the game once (I'll be back for more soon, but it's been a wild ride), I watched the other endings online right after finishing the game. I was sobbing, sniffling, and shaking with anticipation.

I have to disagree with the notion that the story is slow. At first, it did feel that way to me, but then it picked up steam around the third episode. The narrative is like a rollercoaster ride, with plenty of moments where you think it's all over, only to have it take a dramatic turn.

When I had one final chapter left to play, I decided to leave it for the next morning, but I couldn't sleep that night, wondering what lay ahead for my characters (and the creators' master plan). So, I got up early the next morning to finally find out.

AizonaThe story is told through a series of vignettes, where Sean shares a tale of two wandering wolves with his little brother. And that's exactly how each new episode starts – with a brief recap of the previous events, told through the wolf story.

Let's just say the story is geared more towards an adult audience, given the amount of mature themes and content. I'm talking explicit language, scenes involving drugs, alcohol, and smoking, and even some LGBTQ+ themes. I've heard that DONTNOD is actually working closely with the LGBTQ+ community, so it's no surprise to see LGBTQ+ characters in their games.

In one episode, you'll meet an elderly gay couple.

Sean's got a bit of a smoking problem, and it's not just tobacco.

There are also some moments that are just not suitable for kids. They're pretty shocking, to be honest.

I'd give this game an M for Mature rating, no question.

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GAMEPLAY

You'll be playing from a third-person perspective, as Sean Diaz. WSAD will control movement, and the mouse will handle camera rotation. Interaction buttons will pop up on screen as needed.

Just a heads up: Sean doesn't have any superpowers - those are reserved for his little brother Daniel. I've heard some people were disappointed by this, but I think it's actually kind of cool that Daniel's the one with the powers.

Daniel's telekinetic abilities I've gotta say, the world of Life is Strange is all about interaction and socializing. You can easily spend hours exploring every nook and cranny - checking out posters, looking at photos, and just having deep conversations. By the end of the game, I was so invested in the story that I just wanted to know how it all wrapped up. Next time I play through, I'll definitely be paying closer attention to all the little details.

A shoutout to Half-life Esteban's idols You can even explore Sean's inventory, like the contents of his backpack. And let me tell you, the movie selection is pretty interesting - by the middle of the game, he's got a condom in his backpack. I'm too embarrassed to ask who he's planning on using it with.

Backpack contents Why on earth does Sean have a condom in his backpack? The second part of the game also continued the tradition of giving players a crucial choice.

"You've got a lot of junk" was especially satisfying Ah, at least I can indulge in some junk now!

It's worth remembering that since nobody has the ability to control time, you can't change your choice later on. So, you've got to make smart decisions and think about the consequences, because a lot will depend on the endings.

The final fork in the road gives us a choice between just two paths, and it's up to Sean to make that decision - but let's not forget about Daniel. He'll be making his own choice in the end, one that the player won't be able to influence by then. It'll all depend on what Daniel's learned from the five episodes so far.

Typically brotherly relationships What really stood out to me, though, is that the player has complete freedom to pursue romantic relationships, and it's up to them to decide who Sean ends up with. At the beginning of the game, we see Sean being friendly with a girl named Layla. As the episodes progress, there's the opportunity to develop a connection with her.

Sean's friend Further along in the story, we're introduced to Cassidy, and I've got to say, I really liked her. Cassidy's laid-back vibe But what really caught me off guard was when Sean kissed a guy named Finn - and it was all thanks to my own efforts. The guys had a heart-to-heart, and then Finn started saying some really sweet things - how happy he was to have met Sean, how much he liked him. I was convinced it was all just a friendly thing, so I hit the 'Reply with the same' button. And then the guys just started making out... out of nowhere. I was totally caught off guard. I'm not homophobic, but I just wasn't expecting it. I was so shocked that I couldn't even manage to take a screenshot.

Daniel's superpowers - telekinetic abilities - are pretty impressive, and they can be used to kill people... or at least, that's the idea. As the player, you'll often find yourself in the role of a father figure, guiding your younger self on the right path: is it worth using your powers, or can you find a more conventional solution to the problem?

Everyone thinks that cop was killed by Sean Before the game starts, you'll be asked in the main menu if you've played the first part of the game and what final choice you made. I'm curious to see how much the story will change if you say no, you haven't played, or if you choose a different ending.

It was great to see a familiar face from the first part - David Madson, the ex-soldier and Chloe's uncle. In this part, he's rocking a new look with long, ponytailed hair and a thick beard. It's like he's been rejuvenated!

He's being super friendly and trying to play the role of a caring dad: he'll help you out, listen to you, give you advice, and even give you a hug. I've always liked him, even when he was being a bit paranoid, but now he's really changed for the better.

You can find old photos of Joyce and Chloe with him.

Overall, the game doesn't require too much effort or special skills. It's more like watching a series, where you just need to make a few choices to progress the story. So, as always, choose wisely!

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Characters

Sean Diaz - a kid whose life is divided into 'before' and 'after'.

I love how this kid is always getting into some kind of trouble. He's 17 or 18 years old, and he's super into drawing and skateboarding. In one episode, we find out that he got his driver's license just so his dad would give him a skateboard as a gift.

He's also a frequent target of racist jokes because of his mixed heritage. His mom left him and his brother when they were young, and he's still really bitter about it.

I really like Shon's character - he's got a lot of depth to him. He's tough when he needs to be, but he's also got a soft spot and can be pretty wise. He's had to grow up way too fast to take care of his little brother.

Daniel Diaz - his little brother, and he's only 10 years old.

DanielI know a lot of people don't like Daniel's character, but I've always found him pretty relatable. There are a few times when I wanted to pull my hair out because of him, but overall, I think he's a great character.

He's really into video games, and there are a few times when he tries to get Shon to play with him.

For a 10-year-old, Daniel is surprisingly level-headed and doesn't throw too many tantrums. I was expecting him to be a lot more dramatic, but he's actually pretty laid-back. He's also really good at listening to Shon and knows when to step in and help out. Only a handful of people know that he's got some pretty cool superpowers. At the beginning of the story, we see that the relationship between the brothers is pretty typical - they fight and argue all the time.

Esteban breaks up the fightEsteban Diaz - he's a Mexican guy living in America, working as a mechanic to make ends meet. He's got a lot of heart, but he's also struggling to pay his bills.

Esteban's a great dad Esteban's always cracking jokes and smiling, trying to be a rock for his sons and for everyone around him. His death was a real tragedy for a lot of people, and I've got to admit, it really got to me too - he didn't deserve to go out like that. We see Esteban pop up in flashbacks and in a scene where Shawn's dreaming about driving with him in the car. Shawn knows his dad's dead, but Esteban's there, like a ghost. It's a bit like what we've seen before, but this time, we get to interact with him a bit more.

I loved Esteban's reaction when Shawn confessed to kissing a guy.

Uh... Whoa... Okay, no big deal, I guess.

And at the start of the scene, he promises no dad jokes -

Ah...

I think that's all I've got to say about the characters and their roles in the story. Don't want to spoil anything.

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GRAPHICS

They're just as good as the first part - smooth, no eye strain, and really nice transitions between colors.

Check out the snow - you can see the tracks left behind.

And the water - you can see the current and the sun glinting off the surface. It's all really alive and in motion.

The tree branches are swaying in the wind.

Great graphics The photos are just as good as the first part.

Everything's been drawn really realistically and looks great on the eyes.

The emotions on the characters' faces look really natural.

I mean, there are so many locations in this game, and they're all just so gorgeous, I wanted to screenshot basically everything.

The graphics, for me, are a definite plus of the game.*********************

OVERALL IMPRESSIONS

What really stuck with me from this game, though, were the emotions. Strong, unforgettable ones - this part hit me way harder than the first, because in the first, the players' feelings were still kind of cushioned. But sometimes it all got too dramatic, and I was left feeling pretty heavy-hearted.

The atmosphere was expertly built with the music selection, which reminded me a lot of the tracks from the first part. Not really my usual genre, but now those songs are stuck in my playlist - they're just that catchy in the game.

The graphics are top-notch, making the game feel like a fully animated series.

And, of course, I've got to give credit to the brutal, but super heavy, storyline. I mean, can you really mess with players like that and make them cry their eyes out? I have to say, I was expecting a total disaster from this game, but it delivered on all fronts. Everyone was waiting for Max and Chloe to return, but I was hoping for a game with equally impressive graphics, amazing soundtracks, and an emotional storyline. And boy, did I get it in spades.

The final chapter shows seven possible endings, some of which you won't be able to influence - it's all about the choices you made from the very first season. How well did you make those choices?

The only thing I can complain about is that most of the secondary characters are left in the shadows, and I'm dying to know what happens to them. Unfortunately, the devs left that unanswered. For the emotional rollercoaster, for the fact that it felt like my heart was shattered into a million pieces and then put back together again, five stars.

I don't regret the time I spent on this game. It's one of the few that can really get under your skin.