Description: Life is Strange is an adventure game about a girl named Maxine Caulfield (in the same veins as Holden Caulfield but less vulgar in personality) and the days she spends with powers over time that recently manifested. With these powers, she attempts to discern and in one case, prevent certain events taking place. The town itself is a little like Twin Peaks with odd occurrences taking place over the course of the 5 episode (only 3 are out so expect more odd occurrences).
(Summary without minor spoilers on what makes or breaks the game will be below)
What makes the game:
The use of time travel in this game doesn't act like a token mechanic that acts like a checkpoint or only shows up in cutscenes. It actually has uses in gameplay, whether it be to prevent an in-game act (I only recall 3, maybe there's more but I can't remember) or to add conversation options by finding out information and using said information after a rewind. Sometimes, the time travel powers even allows you to help your fellow students, whether it be to avoid projectiles or finish a science project with an A. The episodes after the first shows Max developing newer powers (though sadly these are event based and due to story reasons, probably will not crop up again) and (MINOR SPOILERS) being able to affect the time-space continuum (though I did enjoy the fact the game writers acknowledged the implications of the butterfly effect caused by a single alteration in time)
The choices do matter in this game so far as I've been playing them. The games all have a set ending for each episode but the little choices actually matter (unlike Walking Dead Season 2 where it always boils down to a certain number of survivors every time) in the game's narrative with certain conversations made in a prior episode actually having an effect on characters' opinions of Max (so far I've seen one notable occurrence of this). One particular example of choices mattering lies in a particular event where doing certain things in the episode and previous episode actually builds up in altering the final result of this event, which changes the characters slightly for the next episode. So, having choices that affect the game's narrative would probably pull people over to buy the game.
Soundtrack and graphics work (not that I ever really care about graphics in game unless they don't work) with the latter having an artistic aspect that ensures the game doesn't cross into the Uncanny Valley and lead to a therapist session that consists of repeating "The eyes... The eyes..." It works for the setting (a high school/college environment? I'm not too sure) and probably would not pull you from the experience (I also liked how the intro music for each episode (or at least 1 and 2) are basically music from Max's music player that she is listening to for the intro cutscenes.
The plot is intriguing enough, for me at least, to want to find out more with an over-arcing mystery in the three main plot points of the game hanging over the game that demands to be solved. A significant missing person and cataclysmic events unfolding in the game would probably intrigue the average player seeking a story about time-travel and the implications of time-travel. With a particularly significant event occurring in episode 3, I currently anticipate the next episode with bated breath due to (MINOR SPOILERS) an upheaval of the status quo that leaves you wondering about the changes in Max's life due to her actions.
The puzzles aren't 100% adventure game logic(not all of them at least) where one item is used to open one door and just that door. They work for the most part and they allow you to use your powers to solve some as well with one in episode 3 that made me feel a little too proud of myself for figuring out.
What breaks the game:
The character dialogue is not that realistic for teenagers as some teenagers end up speaking in stereotypical manner or in a manner not befitting teenagers at all. Max, in particular, acts more like what a person would imagine a hipster would be like at least internally with bizarre or cringe-worthy monologues that pop up with her examinations of certain things in game. It is no a total deal-breaker as one could get used to it (I basically ignored it and laughed at it, not with it) and at most, it would make you leave to play DOTA 2 so that you can remember how angry teenagers sound like.
Pacing is another problem. Some games can be fun if it is a good length even if they are short (but need to be a reasonable price, of course) so Life is Strange is a typical adventure game length of several hours per episode but doable in a day. Certain events however feel like padding such as (from the top of my head at least and MINOR SPOILERS) episode 2's bottle hunting game (that makes up for padding through world-building via objects) and episode 3's clue gathering task via rewinds and dialogue that became tedious in gameplay. While episode 1 and 2 had appropriate pacing with events moving at the right pace for the narrative, episode 3 had the aforementioned task that could take players out of the experience (especially for a second playthrough). Episodes 4 and 5 haven't come out yet so perhaps they will avoid this in the future.
Summary:
What makes the game: The use of time travel, choices that matter, plot, puzzles not requiring adventure game logic
What breaks the game: Dialogue is unrealistic, pacing
This is solely based on the first 3 episodes of the game and so far, the game's writers have done a decent job with Life is Strange. The game is solid (not a game of the year for me but then again, I prefer RPGs so what do I know?) and is worth a look (at least in my opinion). If you want to add something in your Steam Sale shopping spree, Life is Strange could be one of those games(unless the last 2 episodes are based in clichés and typical plot elements to which I would retroactively remove my praise for the plot and make it a negative point). This is however an IMPRESSION of the game, NOT a full review due to episode 4 and 5 still on the way. (so take my views with a grain of salt)
P.S - This is my subjective views on the game, it is not objective and you are free to disagree.
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