I used to be initially sceptical of a Life is Strange prequel. Without the epic fantasy scale of the 2015 unique, I used to be undecided the sport’s world had sufficient scope to hold a complete new journey. But with Life is Strange: Before the Storm, Deck Nine Games double down on the small-town really feel of Arcadia Bay to ship some of the lovely and heartfelt tales of the 12 months.
Rich’s selection for GOTY 2017 is the epic Total War: Warhammer II.
Life is Strange protagonist Max Caulfield is nearly totally absent from Before the Storm. Instead, the story is informed from the angle of her greatest buddy Chloe, who’s left behind when Max strikes away to Seattle. Reeling from the lack of her greatest buddy and the dying of her father, Chloe is a bolder, fiercer, extra rebellious character than the collection has handled earlier than. But when she meets the mysterious Rachel Amber, Before the Storm returns to the identical themes of friendship and belonging that underpinned Life is Strange.
There can be one thing extra trendy and streamlined about Before the Storm. Chloe is extra certain of herself than Max is, and appears to know her place on the earth higher than her buddy. While Max can spend ages determining the right answer to an issue, Chloe tends to sort out it extra head-on, and a slick new Backtalk mechanic sees her have interaction in battle of wits with a few of Arcadia Bay’s most high-profile characters. Where Max would follow the shadows, Chloe appears to be like to outsmart and belittle her opponents to get what she needs.
With much less time spent working again by the previous, Before the Storm has the chance to push the collection to new, exhilarating locations. From a recreation of Dungeons & Dragons to a efficiency of The Tempest, the sport’s great set-pieces assist develop a genuinely heartwarming story.
Chloe and Rachel’s friendship was nearly legendary inside the unique Life is Strange saga, however Deck Nine Games deliver it to life in magnificent vogue. Despite my preliminary scepticism, Life is Strange: Before the Storm proves to not solely be a wonderful prequel, however probably the greatest video games of the 12 months in its personal proper.
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