Unknown. None of the people of Arcadia Bay(that you met, anyway) is actually shown in that ending. For all we know, David (and others) might've escaped.
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Life is Strange | Spoiler Thread
- Thread starter Dr. Buni
- Start date
Unknown. None of the people of Arcadia Bay(that you met, anyway) is actually shown in that ending. For all we know, David (and others) might've escaped.
Sodding_Gamer
Member
Don't worry. I saved Chloe. You don't have to justify anything to me
But yeah I sat there and thought about my decision for a good 10 minutes. Only to come to the conclusion to save Chloe. Now if I was Max in real life, at that moment in time when you have literally seconds to decide whether to kill your best friend or let Arcadia bay be wiped out. I would of let Arcadia Bay be destroyed. That was my thinking around it anyway haha. I'm a selfish bastard :'D
Because Max was dumb and forgot that she forgets stuff after those time bubbles. All she did when she went back in time was tear her competition picture, but she didn't warn anyone about Jefferson, so all of the events of Life Is Strange happened again, except she tore her picture in her room and not in the bathroom.
TheBlackMarvel
Member
She didn't need to. That's why she text David.
EDIT: Just saw this was resolved lol.
In the final version of the timeline I think Jefferson would've been captured on the 10th (the night of the dance), not the 11th (night of the tornado, I think). David likely wouldn't have stuck around either way, since the police would be investigating the crime scene.
So the answer is probably "maybe someone was safe down there, but not David".
It jumps back before the first Ep and overwrites the timeline where Max texts David.
Ah, of course, because the photo was taken before the classroom scene. I get it.
AWizardDidIt
Member
Expect lots of speculation for a long time on this one as people try to come up with theories. I personally like the mystery. I like that you can take a lot of different interpretations of the situation. It also gives the two endings a lot of different shades of meaning depending on what explanation you choose to interpret in it.
Good point
TheBlackMarvel
Member
I'd appreciate a PM too.
I'd also still send Arcadia Bay to destruction every single time.
I don't think there's any reason to believe she doesn't in either of the endings. For me, it plays into why:
Is still in effect in the "Sacrifice Arcadia Bay" ending.
Pretty sure she lost her powers once she refused to take part in Chloe's ordained death. Or at least I assumed so.
I think your thoughts on this line specifically play a huge part in your feelings about the Sacrifice Chloe ending.
Also, regarding the Sacrifice Arcadia Bay ending, it seems to me the ideal way for that ending to go down would be to have Max and Chloe first help look for survivors, and there would probably be some whom we would get to see again, along with some beloved characters not making it. They'd take their time to mourn the dead and visit the survivors, then decide there was nothing for them in Arcadia Bay and hit the road, horrified by what's happened but hopeful for their future. That ending would work.
Though I still think people who choose Chloe over an entire town are weird.
Re: licensed music: I don't know if it's my favorite use in-game necessarily, but I'm a sucker for Sparklehorse. I'm not really even a fan of Foals, but the way Spanish Sahara swells and complements the scene at the end is really really effective, so that might actually be my favorite use of a song in the game, even if it's not my favorite song.
Yarp.
EDIT: I think whether Max ends up keeping her powers or not is kind of a moot point, because I doubt she'll ever use them again after all the trouble they caused. She'd be terrified of unleashing another apocalyptic city-leveling storm.
I don't necessarily think so. There was an analysis video someone had posted months ago showing that the butterfly motif and the color blue was a symbol present across several (female) characters (targeted by Jefferson). Could be another "spirit animal" thing, but I think the blue butterfly is very specific in regards to this story.
But, again, if we're analyzing things that far, who's to say that Chloe doesn't keep getting killed and Max is then forced to use those powers, bringing about the destruction she did to Arcadia Bay?
I don't think we'll be seeing any direct sequel to this. At least, they absolutely should not do that.
That kiss at the end before you go back in time in the sacrifice Chloe ending T_T. Fuck, I broke down during the funeral scene.
I assume it's because William wasn't destined to die at that point, it was just chance. Chloe was the only one destined to die so I guess you could say all of us who didn't kill her ended up dooming that timelines Arcadia Bay.
I assume it's because William wasn't destined to die at that point, it was just chance. Chloe was the only one destined to die so I guess you could say all of us who didn't kill her ended up dooming that timelines Arcadia Bay.
You assume this same "universe" that is trying to fix itself gave her the powers in the first place. Maybe their source is somewhere else and then Max starting to use those powers to save Chloe is what fucked up everything and only then does "the universe" start trying to correct the course.
Hyrule Warrior
Member
I get it, but I still think that that's a stupid thing that they kinda made the whole tornado/storm plot hinge on. Like I mentioned in a previous post, why is it Chloe's "destiny" to die on that day so much more important than any other death being changed. As soon as you save Chloe, everything seems to go to shit pretty fast. In a matter of days you see birds and whales dying, 2 moons in the sky, the storm coming to destroy the town. Shit, all because Chloe stayed alive?
Yet when Max goes back in time 5 years, and completely changes "destiny" even greater by saving Williams life...sure, we start to see some of the same huge chances when she gets back to the present, but...there wasn't a huge shitstorm within a few days of his destiny changing like it is with Chloe.
I just really really don't like this plot thread. Maybe it comes from me also not liking the idea of destiny. I don't believe anyone is supposed to die, or live at a specific point. But even the writers of this game did not seem to follow their own rules with the William situation.
I don't buy that, if William's death wasn't destiny, then him dying should have fucked up things in the first place. The whole idea that chance exist in a world based on destiny doesn't fit imo.
the way it landed on Chloe's casket made me think it was to bookmark the ending. maybe a new season will have a different spirit animal.
I guess it's just a narrative conceit, really. Or Chloe is some "chosen one" and there's an interpretation that goes that way with it.
It'd be pretty great, though, if saving Kate meant that the "universe" was even more pissed and stuff in the environment got even more messed up compared to those who didn't manage to save Kate.
JehutyRunner
Banned
For me, Foals and Mogwai's Kids Will Be Skeletons from the ending of episode three are the two big standouts.
Honourable mentions too to Jose Gonzalez, Mt Washington, Sparklehouse and Breton.
But considering how fucking well its used in the Chloe ending, I'd nudge my favourite song of the season to Foals' Spanish Sahara, even if Kids Will Be Skeletons has now become one of my favourite songs ever thanks to this game.
Either way, Dontnod picked an incredible soundtrack for this.
To let Chloe die though I had to use my powers.
In fact if the game wanted me to let Chloe die, it should never have given me the powers
yea, i was thinking it was Chloe's spirit
JehutyRunner
Banned
Same. That entire moment was well done.
TiberusX87
Neo Member
Is everyone forgetting that Max retains her memories?
Even if Chloe is sacrificed, to Max, they've still had that week together despite technically never having reunited in the prime timeline. That one week with Chloe is a gift, not to mention the knowledge of everything that happened. It changed her forever. She's not the timid awkward teen from the beginning.
The whole chaos theory trope is nothing new, just see "The Time Machine" for potential answers. Or even Doctor Who where some points in time are fixed while there are others which exist in flux and can be altered.
This game constantly tries to emphisise real-world solutions and consequences, such as how the only way you can save Kate is by talking to her. It's not without fault, there's a few holes, but I think the game is ultimately about acceptance, and the gift to Max are her memories and growth as a person. /My thoughts.
Even if Chloe is sacrificed, to Max, they've still had that week together despite technically never having reunited in the prime timeline. That one week with Chloe is a gift, not to mention the knowledge of everything that happened. It changed her forever. She's not the timid awkward teen from the beginning.
The whole chaos theory trope is nothing new, just see "The Time Machine" for potential answers. Or even Doctor Who where some points in time are fixed while there are others which exist in flux and can be altered.
This game constantly tries to emphisise real-world solutions and consequences, such as how the only way you can save Kate is by talking to her. It's not without fault, there's a few holes, but I think the game is ultimately about acceptance, and the gift to Max are her memories and growth as a person. /My thoughts.
SmarterUnconscious
Member
At first I thought this too, what was the point, but when you think about it, its a double-edged sword. You're only thinking about the negative consequences of max gaining powers, the pain and loss of losing Chloe.
But if Max never got her powers she would've never have reconnected with Chloe. It's a bittersweet thing to think about but wouldn't it be better to spend a week with someone you love before they die? To have those memories together instead of not at all? Especially since they were out of touch.
I think what kills me the most about the sacrifice chloe ending is knowing only Max has those memories and Chloe has no idea in that timeline. I legit cry just thinking Max has to take that burden alone.
details dude details dude. shoot me a pm about it please?
AlphaDragoon
Member
As I said a few pages ago, this is what people seems to miss. I get that they liked Chloe but if you sacrifice her it isn't "for nothing", and Max did have a point to getting her powers. The powers were more for Max herself to grow as a person and to get one final week with her best friend that she straight up would not have had if she never got them.
Oh my. Not sure how I feel about this
Hyrule Warrior
Member
yes, exactly...this almost makes it worse for me. Chloe would not remember any of this, and Chloe would just die feeling as lonely, and abandoned as ever. She never felt that connection with Max again, and would die feeling like she was just another person who abandoned her. uuggghhh
AWizardDidIt
Member
Exactly. And that's why the Sacrifice Chloe ending is the WOOOOOOORST.
Just kidding, I think that ending is really well done, emotionally heart-wrenching, and is a great conclusion to the story.
But I still will always Sacrifice Arcadia Bay.
JehutyRunner
Banned
I've said before I think the bird is actually William. This is what I posted a few months back.
SmarterUnconscious
Member
Yeah that was what I was trying to sloppily say in my second paragraph.
Even though it amounted to not changing the outcome, the rekindled friendship/love is something that I think Max would cherish forever. Which would mean it was all worth it in the end to her.
OceanicAir
Member
Yessssss! I love that song. Seriously, the choices of music were impeccable. The ending scenes were all awesome, Obstacles, Mt. Washington, Kids will be skeletons, and now Spanish Sahara, just simply amazing! Of course, Mountains was great during the discovery of Rachel. I listened to this soundtrack an embarrassing amount of times. Obstacles, however, will forever hold a special place in my heart since that was the music played in the first trailer which lead me to insta-buy/preorder the game. God, I love this game.
On an unrelated note, thinking about William's survival; the alt. universe did have weather issues, so maybe October 11th, 2013 is when the universe decides to repay debts, lol.
Zambayoshi
Member
I chose to sacrifice Arcadia Bay. It was really interesting to see that when Max and Chloe were leaving town, it looked like it started snowing again. It made me think that wherever Chloe is in the future, the world will spiral towards a major natural disaster in an attempt to kill her and right the timeline.
Another interesting question - if you choose to sacrifice Chloe by going back to the butterfly photo, how is it that Kate (in my game) was still alive? I'm pretty sure that Max used her time powers in order to save Kate in the first place (so she had time to get up to the roof). Wouldn't the world treat saving Kate the same as saving Chloe, and then try to kill Kate as well? Even if Max saved Kate by encouraging her from the very beginning, this encouragement only came about because Max used her time powers to go back to the butterfly photo reality. In that reality she didn't encourage Kate and had to use her time powers to save her. Logically it seems that having Kate alive at Chloe's funeral means that there is potentially a second natural disaster on its way.
On a lighter note - Monty Python reference for the win!
Another interesting question - if you choose to sacrifice Chloe by going back to the butterfly photo, how is it that Kate (in my game) was still alive? I'm pretty sure that Max used her time powers in order to save Kate in the first place (so she had time to get up to the roof). Wouldn't the world treat saving Kate the same as saving Chloe, and then try to kill Kate as well? Even if Max saved Kate by encouraging her from the very beginning, this encouragement only came about because Max used her time powers to go back to the butterfly photo reality. In that reality she didn't encourage Kate and had to use her time powers to save her. Logically it seems that having Kate alive at Chloe's funeral means that there is potentially a second natural disaster on its way.
On a lighter note - Monty Python reference for the win!
(via Reddit)
Oh shit: https://youtu.be/cpx0JFNmfG4?t=8m42s
I was right! Nice pointing that out. That has to be the meaning of the snow returning. It isn't snowing again as that kind of hint in the "Sacrifice Chloe" ending.
She's totally getting hunted down by the universe and Max will have to rewind time all over again to save her. Again, and again, and again.
What an ending. Hope you guys who picked sacrificing Arcadia Bay want to see the world burn.
Hyrule Warrior
Member
How convenient. I still think it's a plot hole in the whole death being destiny thing they were going for. I'm sorry to keep going on this point, but I just can't help but feel it's the one thing that hurts the game for me. I love all the notes it hits otherwise, but this idea that Chloe surviving is what leads to all hell breaking loose all seems to contrived to me, in order to put the player in a shitty decision at the end.
If this is all for Max's sake where she gets to have one more week to rekindle a friendship with her best friend, it's done in a really shitty way. I guess destiny likes to fuck with people too? Max could just as easily have "grown up" by not being given her powers, and having to see her best friend the first time in forever after she had been shot...forcing Max to deal with the lose and grief that comes with being human, which in turn would still end up helping bringing justice to Rachel's killer. Instead, Max gets put into some really fucked up situations, and has to make a choice at the end of the game that no person should have to, for the sake of "growing up". Oh yes, I remember after high school, I had to choose between killing my dog, and destroying my home town...those were the days.
This story I think could have just as easily been done very effective and emotionally with a more rewarding outcome. Chloe came off as a character not really appreciating what was right in front of her a lot because she was filled with so much rage from her step father, and the lose of Rachel. The game could have been just as rewarding with Max not just saving Chloe's life, and the town somehow, but also giving Chloe a reason to enjoy life and where she was again.
That's just my opinion though.
JediLink
Member
If Kate dies, at the start of the nightmare she won't be there and there'll be a blood splatter on her desk/seat. In the dorm, when you talk to her she'll be all like, "How could you let me die?" then she opens the door to her room (which actually just leads to a white abyss) and re-enacts killing herself.
Not if Max saving Chloe (in)directly caused Kate to commit the suicide.
I think Kate was never meant to die. In the timeline where Chloe is killed, Nathan is arrested and Mr. Jefferson exposed, so Kate doesn't have any reason anymore to kill herself.
And why did Max get her powers? Maybe it was Rachel Amber's 'spirit' aka the doe, who wanted to give Chloe one last happy week and let her find her grave.
Nice, that's something else that was different. If she lived, she'll talk about how Max shouldn't have saved her in the Nightmare Dorm. And she'll re-enact killing herself there, too.
Zambayoshi
Member
Those are both plausible.
I would have thought that Kate's video already being on the internet at the beginning of the first episode would have meant that she would still be suffering abuse and thinking suicidal thoughts. Also, Victoria and her gang played a large part in spreading the malicious gossip about Kate as well. Unless Max went all gung-ho on them all to support Kate, she may have still ended up on that rooftop.
I like the idea about the doe being Rachel Amber's spirit animal. It seems that the blue butterfly is Chloe's. Maybe an animal that was nearby at the moment of someone's death? Interesting that there were quite a few deer references throughout the game, particularly in the last episode on Max's clothing (when she's not wearing the death's head moth/butterfly shirt).
Shining Sunshine
Banned
I suppose the only plothole there was is when Max ripped up her entry picture, she still could have texted David.
I guess maybe when she ripped up the picture, the events of her texting David in class never happened?
So strange.
I guess maybe when she ripped up the picture, the events of her texting David in class never happened?
So strange.