Verdict
Deck Nine and Square Enix took a raffle on making Life is Strange: True Colors a full sport from the get-go versus an episodic journey. But the choice has paid off, delivering one of many sequence’ extra refined entries thus far. Haven Springs is a pleasure to discover, and Alex’s emotional journey is one that can stick with me for a very long time to return.
Pros
One of the sequence’ simplest tales butHaven Springs is brilliantly realisedCharacter design and animation has tremendously improvedFantastic soundtrack
Cons
Plenty of glitches popped up throughout the playthrough
Key Features
PlatformsPS5, Xbox Series X/S, PS4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, Stadia
GenreNarrative journey
Introduction
After the surprisingly efficient Life is Strange: Before the Storm, developer Deck Nine has returned to helm the sequence for its newest mainline define, Life is Strange: True Colors.
At a time when the supposedly new and improved Telltale Games continues to be laborious at work on upcoming titles, and Quantic Dream sticks to the time-consuming technique of delivering close to Hollywood-esque visuals, it’s the Life is Strange sequence that has been left to hold the baton of choice-driven narrative adventures.
And thank goodness I say – to this point the sequence has accomplished an incredible job of mixing the supernatural with younger grownup drama, delving into the themes of accountability, penalties for one’s actions and now, with the newest instalment, the emotional results of grief.
Gameplay
At its core, True Colors stays trustworthy to the principle mechanics of the Life is Strange sequence. The sport is pushed by conversations between the participant and NPCs, and in addition objects within the setting, which may open up new dialogue choices, and even supply options to numerous puzzles. Spontaneous dialog (launched in Life is Strange 2) makes a return right here, supplying you with the prospect to reply to dialogue that happens when you’re exploring the setting.
Of course, it simply wouldn’t be a Life is Strange title with out the existence of a brilliant energy to spice issues up. While Max had time journey and Daniel had telekinesis, the heroine of True Colors, Alex Chen, is ready to detect somebody’s feelings, indicated by a vibrant aura that envelops their being. This supernatural energy feels much more intertwined with the sequence’ emphasis on establishing relationships with different characters.
This additional layer of empathy permits Alex to know the reasoning behind an individual’s state of feelings – a secret piece of knowledge which may not be shared in any other case. It isn’t simply those who Alex can scan, as sure objects across the sport’s setting of Haven Springs may also be analysed for the robust recollections related to them, serving to to ascertain a way of worldbuilding that merely wasn’t attainable in earlier video games.
The extra thought-about superpower isn’t the one factor that’s totally different, nonetheless, as a variety of work as gone into making the sport extra accessible. For occasion, timed selections might be lengthened, and any moments that require fast reactions might be skipped completely.
What’s absolutely to attraction to Twitch streamers is the addition of ‘Crowd Choice’ which permits your viewership to vote on what occurs subsequent, with additional tweaks together with how the votes are tallied and the time period given to vote. It’s spectacular stuff, and it makes an excessive amount of sense for a sport that a big portion of individuals will merely watch against enjoying an energetic position. Now, they’ll do each.
Story
In a sequence like Life is Strange, True Colors’ success is pinned virtually completely on its central narrative. To make issues much more daunting, that is the primary sport within the franchise that hasn’t been launched episodically, as a substitute choosing a full story that’s able to play from day one.
This transfer has paid off, with True Colors providing up a much more grounded story by comparability to every other Life is Strange title, however one that’s succinct in understanding precisely what it needs to say, all of the whereas reaching its conclusion with none pointless fluff to pad out the journey.
True Colors sees Alex Chen, a younger lady who’s been out and in of orphanages for a number of years, lastly escape the system to stay together with her estranged older brother within the idyllic Colorado city of Haven Springs. While the mountain city seems to supply some a lot wanted refuge for somebody with such a troubled previous, Alex’s second of bliss is lower brief when a tragic accident seemingly claims the lifetime of her brother Gabe.
With many mysteries left to resolve surrounding the accident, True Colors feels a world away from the multi-state trek of Life is Strange 2, as a substitute deciding to comprise the story to the centre of Haven Springs and its varied retailers and hangouts. The determination to stay to at least one location additionally lends itself effectively in permitting the participant to extra deeply join with Haven Springs, simply as Alex does, the longer she stays there.
The city itself can also be crammed with lots to do. There are a number of mini-stories taking place in regards to the place that may be missed completely should you don’t listen, so exploration is all the time inspired. There’s additionally two arcade cupboards with correct video games loaded on to them for some candy high-score chasing.
I received’t spoil any of the most important plot factors right here, however I’ll say that I used to be totally happy with the story’s conclusion, and I’m fairly keen to return and see how the 5 different endings fare.
Graphics
At a number of factors throughout my playthrough, I discovered myself dumbstruck at simply how far the sequence’ artwork model has come alongside. Character element and animation for example, whereas not on the identical degree as one thing like Detroit: Become Human, are leaps and bounds forward of something the sequence has put out earlier than.
The visible enhancements are emphasised with Steph Gingrich’s character. When you evaluate her character mannequin in Before the Storm to True Colors, it feels as if a larger consideration to element has been utilized, permitting her persona to shine by way of in a extra pure means because of this.
Unfortunately, the technical achievements of Life is Strange: True Colors are marred considerably by an abundance of glitches. During my playthrough, scene transitions have been in every single place and in a single occasion, the credibility behind a heart-to-heart dialog was decimated when Alex broke out right into a T-pose. I can solely hope that these glitches are fastened quickly in order that they don’t impede on anybody’s enjoyment of the story.
Latest offers
Should you purchase it?
If you take pleasure in a superb story:Life is Strange: True Colors is a must have title so as to add to your library should you’re searching for a improbable, emotional story.
If narrative-driven video games simply aren’t your factor:Life is Strange: True Colors sticks largely to the identical blueprint as its predecessors, so that you received’t discover a lot enjoyable right here should you’re not into narrative-driven video games.
Final Thoughts
Deck Nine and Square Enix took a raffle when ditching the episodic blueprint for Life is Strange: True Colors. But the choice has paid off, delivering one of many sequence’ extra refined entries thus far, and one which isn’t hampered by useless padding. Even although it’s held again barely by one too many glitches, Haven Springs is a pleasure to discover, and Alex’s journey of grief and the significance of expressing your feelings is one that can stick with me for a very long time to return.
How we check
We play each sport we evaluation by way of to the top, exterior of sure exceptions the place getting 100% completion, like Skyrim, is near unimaginable to do. When we don’t totally end a sport earlier than reviewing it we’ll all the time alert the reader.
Played by way of the whole thing of the single-player marketing campaign
FAQs
Does Life is Strange: True Colors have multiplayer? No, this can be a single-player sport How lengthy does it take to finish Life is Strange: True Colors? Between 7-10 hours. Is Life is Strange: True Colors obtainable for Nintendo Switch? Yes, however the Switch model is popping out at a later date.
Full specs
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UK RRP
Manufacturer
Release Date
First Reviewed Date
Platforms
Publisher
Developer
Life is Strange: True Colors
£49.99
Square-Enix
2021
10/09/2021
PS5, Xbox Series X/S, PS4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, Stadia
Square Enix
Deck Nine
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