Life is Strange: Double Exposure

The fourth instalment in the Life is Strange series sees the main character from the first game return for a new adventure with new time powers. Speaking of time powers: Publisher Square Enix is also backing Advanced Access, with the pre-release model of the Ultimate Edition meant to evoke the episodic nature of the first game.

In Life is Strange: Double Exposure, Maxine 'Max' Caulfield returns from the first part (2015) of the series, but she's grown older and teaches photography classes at Caledon University. In a clever design decision, players choose which ending from Life is Strange they want to play at the start of the game. But when her friend Safi is murdered on campus, Max once again uses her supernatural powers. This time, however, they are different, as she can no longer turn back time. Instead, she can now open a portal to a parallel timeline where Safi is still alive, but in danger. Max realises that the killer will soon strike again - in both realities. Only she can travel back and forth between the two parallel timelines to solve and prevent the same murder. It is important to note the details that differ between the two versions, as well as the roles of the different characters. Max can also eavesdrop on conversations on the other side, spy on things or uncover secrets. Switching between timelines and looking into the other timeline is well implemented - and works particularly well with colour nuances when looking into the other timeline.

Without giving too much of the story away, the beginning is quite slow and takes its time. The first episode sets the scene, so to speak, and slowly introduces the characters and the setting, although some of the characters seem a little overbearing and too forward. The second episode then picks up the pace a bit as more is explored and observed. All in all, it's a good mix of drama and humour, which also benefits from the more realistic, but not photorealistic, art style. Speaking of photos: Max occasionally takes pictures as souvenirs.

Although Life is Strange: Double Exposure is a sequel to the first game, and the protagonist returns, it's not made by Don't Nod Entertainment, who made the first game and Life is Strange 2. Double Exposure was developed at Deck Nine in Westminster, Colorado. The studio was responsible for Life is Strange: True Colors (2021), Life is Strange: Before the Storm (2017) and Life is Strange: Remastered Collection (2022), as well as The Expanse: A Telltale Series (2023). The company, which has been focusing on narrative games since mid-2017, has had to cut a lot of jobs in recent years, like many other game studios. In May 2023, nearly 30 jobs were cut, and in February 2024, 20 per cent of the workforce.

Square Enix has opted for a rather unusual Advanced Access model for the release, which is intended to be a little reminiscent of the release of the first part, in which the five individual episodes were released at ten-month intervals. Now, purchasers of the Ultimate Edition will get pre-release access to the first two episodes of the game, with all five episodes of Double Exposure available on 29 October. Nevertheless, such an Advanced Access model is a bit tricky, especially in terms of spoilers in a story-driven title.

"Life is Strange: Double Exposure is a thrilling mystery with many surprising twists and turns, where players are never quite sure where the story is going. With Advance Access to Chapters 1 and 2, we want to give fans the time and opportunity to speculate, theorise and analyse the game, just as they did when the first Life is Strange was released in delayed episodes. We look forward to hearing those theories after players have experienced the first two chapters." - Game Director Jonathan Stauder

Publisher Square Enix has a busy second half of the year ahead of it, with a strong but (perhaps too) tight pipeline. The action RPG Vision of Mana (a new game in the Mana franchise like Trials of Mana or Secrets of Mana) was released at the end of August, followed by the Steam release of Dragon Quest Monsters: The Dark Prince on 11 September and Final Fantasy XVI on 17 September. FF XVI launched with 27,508 CCU on Steam, which is nearly 2,000 concurrent players behind Final Fantasy XV: Windows Edition (2018). October sees the remake of non-linear JRPG Romancing SaGa 2: Revenge of the Seven (24 Oct) and Life is Strange: Double Exposure.

On 14 November, Dragon Quest III HD-2D Remake will be released, as the name suggests, with updated HD-2D graphics. The start of the Erdrick trilogy is intended to attract not only JPG fans, but also new players to the RPG series. Square Enix calls it a revamp for a "broader audience". Last but not least, Fantasian Neo Dimension will be released on 05 December. It was created by Hironobu Sakaguchi, the father of Final Fantasy, and features music by Nobuo Uematsu. It is an extended version of Fantasian, which first appeared on Apple Arcade in 2021, with English and Japanese voices and an additional difficulty level.

Life is Strange: Double Exposure will be released on 29 October 2024 for PC, PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S. It will also be released on Nintendo Switch at a later date. Console editions will also be available retail.

Conclusion

New yet familiar. With Life is Strange: Double Exposure sees the return of the beloved protagonist from the first game for a gripping new adventure across two timelines.

Features

• A powerful story-driven adventure between and in two timelines
• Entertaining mix of drama, humour and suspense
• Superbly curated Soundtrack