I always thought stopping the storm was a little more important though, considering that's how the entire series started, and it felt like Rachel fit in on that level. She didn't need to be important in relation to Jefferson. The murders almost seemed like a symptom of what was also causing the storm, and it was important to find out what was tying it all together and fix it.
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Life is Strange | Spoiler Thread
- Thread starter Dr. Buni
- Start date
I always thought stopping the storm was a little more important though, considering that's how the entire series started, and it felt like Rachel fit in on that level. She didn't need to be important in relation to Jefferson. The murders almost seemed like a symptom of what was also causing the storm, and it was important to find out what was tying it all together and fix it.
And I can see yours, too. I just wanted to point out that it's not an easy choice or a no-brainer if you look at it from Max's angle.
I thought about that, too. Especially since Max's first vision of the storm actually happened before she even met Chloe in that bathroom. Made me wondering if the devs initially had another resolution in mind.
To be fair, it was like five minutes before.
Well obviously they're not going to make you play through an entire episode only to get your powers right at the end
What??? So because she remembers what she went through means the timelines exists??? I don't know where you got that theory out but it definitely doesn't work this way on LiS.
In the game Max had already traveled through different timelines like the one that Chloe is in a wheelchair, and she erased that timeline of existence, but she didn't forget what she went through there, so in LiS you can retain your memories even if the timeline doesn't exist anymore.
who says that timeline was erased from existence? I only take the "photos burning up" as them being not in "current Max's" history, but not completely erased from all timelines.
Hence the max in the diner. I think each and every decision caused a different timeline that will then live on, and she just jumps back and forth to choose a different timeline to follow.
The Dear Leader
Banned
But look next to Max and Chloe's heads...
The devs said that they initially planned more for the Save Chloe ending, but strained their budget and settled for how it is now instead of half-assing. One can only imagine what else they wanted to do, but couldn't.
Agree with this, but also saying(not you) Rachel Amber was just some missing person is not true at all. She seemed to have a relationship with pretty much every main character in the game in some capacity. Max begins the game asking the people around the school and the town what their relationship to Rachel is. She's the hub that connects all the spokes until essentially Max replaces her. Everyone Max talks to more or less opines how great Rachel was.
Lostconfused
Member
Don't be so negative.
I mean, this is assuming that because of Max's powers, those timelines were then created and not that the other realities/timelines always existed and Max's power granted her the ability to 'jump' timelines whenever she used her powers to go back in time; even if only a few seconds prior. It then becomes interesting that Max's path is always 'set' no matter what you do. If you're in a timeline where Chloe is saved, then Chloe was always going to be saved no matter what. If Max is going to San Francisco, then she was always going to be in San Francisco. There is no choice in the matter because that in that timeline, those are the actions that were always going to happen. The choice Max ends up having is the ability to choose which set path 'she' (which also gets weird because there are multiple Maxs in all these timelines) gets to take and if she wasn't satisfied with how her current timeline was going, she could take her chance in an alternate sequence of events but the events themselves, she never really had a choice because they were going to play out a certain way no matter what. This also means there are multiple timelines with dead Maxs and dead Chloes, Kates, Victorias, etc. There are multiple timelines where Arcadia Bay is safe and timelines where it is destroyed; Jefferson is arrested and Jefferson is free. Timelines where Max never got her powers or timelines where she chose to never use them.
Well obviously they're not going to make you play through an entire episode only to get your powers right at the end
Right, I'm just saying that the vision is what kickstarted the events of the game. Considering Max saves Chloe five minutes later, you could consider the vision as a warning of sorts. "See this shit? This will happen if you're not careful. Watch out."
The Dear Leader
Banned
I'm just saying that image actually works for both endings quite well.
Rats Off To Ya
Banned
It really is. Seeing it was the perfect culmination of everything that came before.
Man, I'm like...legit depressed that this game is all done. I came to it super late (I played the first four episodes a few weeks ago) but I fell head over heels in love with it almost immediately. A part of me feels empty now. I have all the confidence in the world that Dontnod can produce something just as great in the future, but you never forget your first time.
Devilinthiscity
Member
Just finished the last episode. The two choices at the end, sacrifice or selfishness are pretty 50/50 in terms of the percentage of people who choose either. Well, at least right now anyway. That kind of surprised me. Anyway, I enjoyed the ending and thought the song they used was a perfect fit. DONTNOD did a great job with the music choices throughout the game.
I really thought Rachel Amber was going to have a bigger role in the end, but kind of saw the whole, Chloe needs to die in order to set things right twist coming.
I really thought Rachel Amber was going to have a bigger role in the end, but kind of saw the whole, Chloe needs to die in order to set things right twist coming.
Pilgrimzero
Member
How does the timeline mess up if Max saves Chloe from getting shot and then turning Jefferson in?
The only view of this we got was "Time was so messed up due the constant mucking about nothing can ever be fixed". Hence the reverse world etc.
No matter what she does the time stream was so damaged everything was screwed.
So why was going back to the first use of the powers OK? We can see reality isn't warped there (as we see in other instances) so easy enough she saves Chloe, rats out Jefferson and then there you go...
The only view of this we got was "Time was so messed up due the constant mucking about nothing can ever be fixed". Hence the reverse world etc.
No matter what she does the time stream was so damaged everything was screwed.
So why was going back to the first use of the powers OK? We can see reality isn't warped there (as we see in other instances) so easy enough she saves Chloe, rats out Jefferson and then there you go...
BumblebeeCody
Member
Yeah I thought she would have a mysterious background but nope, she was just a victim of photography.
The Dear Leader
Banned
The storm happens if Chloe lives, so no matter what Max did after saving Chloe the storm was still coming.
darkinstinct
...lacks reading comprehension.
It feels like some strange pun by god. Here, you now have the ability to mess with time and save your friend. But beware my wrath if you ever use it to mess with time and save your friend.
I do like that Chloe mentions that they will never know why Max got her powers.
the truth was
to make a hella cool video game
Pilgrimzero
Member
Oh right. Hence why the universe kept killing her in different ways.
Because Chloe's special, right? And Kate and Frank aren't...
I think it's better if we accept they didn't have the money to make an explanation relevant to the episode's story. Chloe must die because of reasons, Max has powers because of reasons, whatever
Except then the characters start making conclusions based on absolutely nothing, and they end up being right for no particular reason. "Because the Writers Said So" is just as bad as over-exposition.
Because Chloe's special, right? And Kate and Frank aren't...
I think it's better if we accept they didn't have the money to make an explanation relevant to the episode's story. Chloe must die because of reasons, Max has powers because of reasons, whatever
hey man, gotta have some plot device for the time travel gimmick!
RedSparrows
Member
Because Chloe's special, right? And Kate and Frank aren't...
I think it's better if we accept they didn't have the money to make an explanation relevant to the episode's story. Chloe must die because of reasons, Max has powers because of reasons, whatever
Except then the characters start making conclusions based on absolutely nothing, and they end up being right for no particular reason. "Because the Writers Said So" is just as bad as over-exposition.
There's a difference between arbitrary decisions (contingent on money...?!) and leaving certain things unknown. That's a narrative device in itself, and it can be highly effective. As always, of course, it won't please everybody. There's also the internal logic of the story: what feels right. Again, won't feel right to everybody, and I see what you mean.
Edit: 'Chloe needs to die' is (somewhat) reasonably extrapolated by the characters because of what has happened. Shit started when Max saved Chloe. Max repeatedly saves Chloe. Chloe is always dying/nearly dying. Max saves her over and over. Shit continues to get worse.
Then we have different theories, since I believe Max power isn't jumping, but creating an entire timeline by changing an event from the past, and those timeline are erased every time Max makes a jump. And by changing the first decision that she made, she erased everything.
Don't know if I explained well, but I believe there is only one timeline, and some things have to happen, regardless whether they are good or bad things, and make a change that might not seem big can have disastrous consequences.
And with every jump Max rewrote her entire timeline rather than creating or going to a different timeline. But then again the game is extremely vague about what her jump really is.
Yeah, "Chloe needs to die" is a leap for the characters to make, especially Chloe herself. Max herself could extrapolate it maybe from her nightmare (the path of Chloe memories leads her to the lighthouse), but Chloe herself figuring that out ? that wasn't well executed
i'm with the guy above. i think all the timelines exist and she's merely choosing.
I find it pretty sad to think aboutt that if Chloe dies she will never see Max after all those years and neither found out about Rachel. 
I guess that if you choose to sacrifice Arcadia Bay you will literally keep the promise Max told Chloe about them not splitting up.
"I promise you Chloe, I'll never leave you again".
I guess that if you choose to sacrifice Arcadia Bay you will literally keep the promise Max told Chloe about them not splitting up.
"I promise you Chloe, I'll never leave you again".
Rats Off To Ya
Banned
Chloe's not necessarily special. But Chloe was the first one whose destiny was changed, and that one change drastically altered the rest of the timeline. She just happened to be the catalyst, but it probably could have been anybody else.
Salty Catfish
Member
I find it pretty sad to think aboutt that if Chloe dies she will never see Max after all those years and neither found out about Rachel.
This was the closest thing I had to an explanation for the powers -- that fate/destiny/something wanted to make sure that those things happened in at least some form, even if only in a timeline doomed to erasure.
WrenchNinja
Member
My Max has been trying to do the right thing since day 1. There was never an easier choice, especially since it was Chloe who finally decided to do something selfless for once in her life.
And I'm on #TeamOneTimeline
Ugh... OneTimeline sound like a retarded band name.
One thing for sure, this game blew all my expectations and I'll definitely going to replay it. So good. Hopefully Dontnod will make a sequel to this or a new series game. And I hope developers will look at LiS and see how to make a game with meaningful choices ( Kate's suicide) and meaningless choices (watering your plant, and in mine she survives!!) with a great story with it.
Yes. There's a post a dev made about running out of resources for episode 5.
It can be.
But I'm not going to compare dontnod with David Lynch yet.
sammyCYBORG
Member
The Chloe sacrifice ending is much more thought out and feels like the real ending.
Kinda BS to skimp on the other ending so much.
Kinda BS to skimp on the other ending so much.
I felt the same way playing this game as I did playing Majora's Mask. In MM I felt kinda sad that I was helping all these people only to have to rewind time. During the credits though, it's implied that Link goes around helping everyone again once the world is safe. I just assume Max did the same with her friends.
both take place in the Northwest. DONE!
It baffles me that such people exist.
Agreed. Delving into the weird pseudoscience / mysticism behind her power would have come off as silly and messed with the game's pacing. There doesn't need to be a reason for it.
Word. As people have pointed out, it's definitely similar to D
onnie Darko, but in this case Max herself lives, so it feels like there's more meaning to her experiences, even if the experiences themselves are erased and only her memories of them remain. Not that Donnie Darko is bad or anything.
Brief dialogue-free post-credits scene of Max and Kate on their quest for tea. I need it.
Yknow dude this was a great post right down to the Father Larry David remark. I had the same thought.
I loved this game. It was such a powerful journey. I related very personally to Chloe's "right to die" section and just completely fell apart. Somebody earlier used the phrase "the UGLY cry" and that about sums it up.
The endings were satisfying for me. I didnt need a Fallout 3 style mishmash of pre-canned scenes. The journey was the reward for sure and even the endings that were there were still great in their own ways.
This game is one I will chew on for some time. Like when I saw Interstellar and Ex Machina, I walk away from this one and my mind just swims in it. I will be thinking about this one for days, I imagine. There is a lot to digest. I look forward to starting it up and doing a full replay soon.
TheAssist
Member
Well, I learned never to fuck with time. You never know when that might become handy.
Anyway, I loved the first 4 episodes. The fifth not so much. I was kinda expecting it, since the whole tornado/hurricane/whatever thing was still open and that was the part of the story I was least interested in.
I would have have been completely fine with a teenage drama and a murder mystery. I'm not a sucker for supernatural stuff, I always feel it takes aways from the core experience, unless it is your main focus.
Also the tornado just got in the way of the chill atmosphere of the game, which was one of the main reasons I liked the game so much.
Still the best episodic game I have played so far.
Anyway, I loved the first 4 episodes. The fifth not so much. I was kinda expecting it, since the whole tornado/hurricane/whatever thing was still open and that was the part of the story I was least interested in.
I would have have been completely fine with a teenage drama and a murder mystery. I'm not a sucker for supernatural stuff, I always feel it takes aways from the core experience, unless it is your main focus.
Also the tornado just got in the way of the chill atmosphere of the game, which was one of the main reasons I liked the game so much.
Still the best episodic game I have played so far.
Ultimadrago
Member
I am 110% okay with attributing Max's powers to the Powers That Be OR Philemon
Would be happy with an artwork from Dontnod. It would be a beautiful scene, just like it was when Max hugged her. I was surprised how good Kate was in this game and wished to see more of her, but Dontnod handled her very well. Giving us a chance to talk to her before all that hell that she went through and giving her a hug was a nice touch.
