2015s Life is Strange was, no is an awesome game! I played it twice and will do so again…most likely.
Usually, I play adventure games and RPGs like Assassins Creed, Baldurs Gate 3, Final Fantasy and Uncharted. Life is Strange convinced me that these story games are worth playing, that they offer something different from other games. I like to play them in-between other games to change pace, immersion and perception.
So, as a self-professed Life is Strange fangirl is Double Exposure worth playing? Let’s find out!
What is Life is Strange?
All the games in the series tell the stories of more or less ordinary folks with a strange(pun intended) twist. Each game has a supernatural element.Usually,the maincharacter has a supernatural power.
There are no gameplay elements like combat, QTEs or such. The games are rooted instories and the decisions you make the consequences of those decisions.
The games are separated in episodes, usually 5 to 6. The first games were released only online with some waiting time between each episode. Double Exposure was released with all episodes at one time.
Developer Deck Nine did something controversial with the new game, they reused an old character and continued her story. Until then the Life is Strange games each told a new story with new main characters.
Double Exposure continues the story of Max Caufield, the protagonist of the first game.
Double Exposure: The Story
In the first game we found Max Caufield visiting Blackwell Academy, a prestigious High School in her home town, which she left 5 years prior. She reconnects with old friends and discovers she has the power to rewind time in short bursts and even travel through time using pictures.
After the end of the first game Max swore to never use her powers again. Now we find her 10 years later as an artist in residence at a liberal arts college in New England.
In the first episode we find Max short before the Christmas break, we meet her friends Safi and Moses, get to know her daily routine, and meet other characters at Caledonia College.
Near the end of the episode Safi gets murdered. Max tries to use her powers again after a long time, only to discover they work different. Instead of travelling back through time max travels in an alternate timeline where the murder has not happened …. yet.
Double Exposure: The Gameplay
Max mission for the rest of the game is solve Safis murder and prevent it in the alternate timeline. To do this she must interact with the residents of Caledonia College and collect clues.
To do this we decide how Max acts, how she interacts with students and staff at the college and what she does. A handful of decisions in each chapter are major decisions, who affect the story of the game.
Before making those decisions, you get a prompt about the importance of the decision and you can go back and decide another way. But once made, the decision can’t be changed.
In each game you only have one safe slot and the game autosaves after a major decision.
Double Exposure: The Timey-Wimey Twists
Naturally Max powers are very useful in her investigation. We as the player hop back between both time lines and sometimes the solution for our current dilemma in one time line is found in the other. For example, to open a door in one time Max needs to get hold of the key in the other timeline.
Max can peek into the other timeline everywhere in the game. At the press of a button her perception changes and she can perceive the other timeline. With this she is able to listen in a conversation just by being in the same room in the different time.
Switching timelines is only possible at certain points where rifts between times exists. But there are plenty of those around, so you have no trouble to switch if you want to.
In the pregame set up you can choose how much you want to be made aware in which timeline you are. This ranges from a permanently visible icon over an icon being briefly visible when you switch to no clue at all. The last one can lead to fun confusions, as you interact with multiple persons in both time lines.
Double Exposure: Romance
Of course there is romance in this time twisting murder mystery. You get presented with two possible love interests. Amanda, the barkeep at the on campus bar and Vingh, the T.A. of the dean. You can pursue one or the other both or none.
Sounds like a lot of options?
Sadly this part of the game is one of the weaker ones.
The opportunity to interact with your love interests id pretty limited. Max spends way more time with Moses and safi, in the reality where she didn’t die. So the whole romance angle felt a bit tacked on to me. Its not bad but I would have liked to have more interaction with my love interest, go on a date or something like that.
Double Exposure: Is it Worth Playing?
Life is Strange: Double Exposure made my cry in the first hour of the game. Something which does not happen that often to me.
I enjoyed playing the game and exploring Caledonia College. The character are well written there is a nice amount of representation and diversity here, which to me is always a plus.
The supernatural time jumping was a fun element and I enjoyed hopping around solving riddles to unwrap the mystery. But Double Exposure is not an adventure and therefore the riddles are not terribly hard or challenging. The main focus of the game is the story, making decisions and living with the consequences.
All in all, the game lacked the emotional impact other in the series had on me. This might be due to the fact that the ending sets up a second part, where the big bang might be lurking.
Having played the original game is not necessary to enjoy Double Exposure. You might have to accept the fact that there are some terrible things in Max past which are not fully explained. But that should not make the game less enjoyable.
If you are new to the Life is Strange series I still would recommend going with the original game or True Colors which is the third in the series.
I might type up a review of those too if you are interested.
About the Author
Discover more from Gaming Coven
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
