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[broncobuster]

If I had to rank it, Episode 5 is my least liked and it is by its nature as a finale. I love the small side-character moments in each episode and in wrapping it up, space for those moments was limited. To Life is Strange's success, building those side-characters to be likable helped bolster its shortcomings. The choices may not have mattered in a mechanical sense but exploring each character and giving them a depth by exploiting choice is gratifying on its own. Except Brooke. She has no redeeming qualities.

 

[Blues1990]

My general thoughts

Spoiler

The ending had a lot of different tones, starting with creepy and then weird. I thought it was a bit overstated by devs, though it was disgusting. Then it turns into a Superhero game then the last hurrah, which...was strange. They didn't say "Life is Strange" either.

Spoiler

I haven't had a chance to play the latest episode just yet, but with all the crazy shit Max had gone through in this series, this game should be called "Life is Fucking Weird". I wouldn't be shocked that she would destroy the laws of reality itself after what has happened.

 

[epmode]

Suggestions that the ending should be railroaded based on the decisions you made beforehand are I think misaimed.

Spoiler

I anticipate a large number of players probably sided with Chloe on a lot of issues but at the end wouldn't want to be forced to sacrifice the town.

Spoiler

That was me. Honestly, the choice to sacrifice Chloe came easily. I may have been under a mistaken impression though; The escalation of the natural disasters over the episodes made it feel like an honest to god apocalypse was at hand. Real biblical shit.

But I guess it was just the town.

 

[Dreamwriter]

Spoiler

The game didn't really give you any reason to care for Arcadia Bay

Disagree -

Spoiler

part of the point of the game in my opinion is to get to know the actual character of the people in the town, how even the shady characters tend to have their good sides or good reasons to act like they do.

As for my thoughts on this chapter, I really didn't like

Spoiler

the first stealth part of the dream - I got stuck there for quite a while, not because of the stealth but because I couldn't figure out where to go. I kept going in circles, I still have no idea how I got out of there and into the circle of paintings.

 

[Fret]

During the nightmare sequence I was seriously expecting a crazy twist that Rachel was a time traveller and Max has been in a loop forever

 

[elelunicy]

The game didn't really give you any reason to care for Arcadia Bay Chloe.

Fixed that for you.

Arcadia Bay is so much better without Chloe.

 

[RecursiveFault]

Fixed that for you.

Arcadia Bay is so much better without Chloe.

Yeah I didn't have the real attachment to Chloe that I probably should have. I liked a lot of side characters more, even.

I don't think it's necessarily a flaw, but it is subjective.

 

[FiraB]

That ending...

Really good but the ending choices felt like a punch in the gut but overall it was a excellent experience.

 

[carlsojo]

Amazing ending and finale.

 

[AWizardDidIt]

Chloe is a complicated character. I loved her to absolute death. But I can see why some might not like her. She's an extremely well written troubled teen. Possibly the best I've seen in the medium. You want to punch her sometimes but her faults are very grounded in the experiences she's had.

#FuckArcadiaBay

Max did everything for Chloe.

Spoiler

In my Max-verse, she continues to do so.

 

[RecursiveFault]

Chloe is a complicated character. I loved her to absolute death. But I can see why some might not like her. She's an extremely well written troubled teen. Possibly the best I've seen in the medium. You want to punch her sometimes but her faults are very grounded in the experiences she's had.

Even though I'd say she's not very likeable, she is very realistically written.

 

[aly]

Fixed that for you.

Arcadia Bay is so much better without Chloe.

Agreed. It was a really easy choice for me since I hardly warmed up to the girl by the end. Also the sacrifice AB ending is lame and their reactions to it seem out of place to me.

 

[AlphaDragoon]

Just finished. Incredible game, the ending played out exactly as I (and my brother who's been watching me play the whole time) expected it.

Spoiler

Chloe had to die for the universe to right itself, which is something I said in here a while back. And the choice at the end was a non-choice; no way was I killing all those people (including based Kate) for Chloe, who the world would have just turned around and done some more shit to try and kill anyway in all likelihood.

It was interesting that there were two ways the final scene could play out, depending on if you kissed Chloe or not earlier. If you did, Max makes out with her at the end. If you didn't (like I did), she just hugs her. Gives the shippers and the Max/Chloe as just friends people what they want.

David totally redeemed himself for me. Dude had Max's back when it counted, and showed that just like nearly every other character in the game, there was more to him than just cookie cutter asshole. That's the thing I really loved about it, they were people. Flawed, not always good, not always bad. Just people.

I also liked that if you were a Max/Warren fan you could go ahead and make Max go for it. If you kiss him, it confirms that she does have feelings for him outside of the friend zone.

Having all the people Max befriended during the game show up for Chloe's funeral was also a really nice touch. Liked that Frank and Pompidou showed up as well.

I'll have to go back and get the photos I missed to 100% it, but yeah. Amazing game and one of the best I've played this year.

EDIT: Added spoiler tags for details people may not know about alternate choices.

 

[73V3N]

During the nightmare sequence I was seriously expecting a crazy twist that Rachel was a time traveller and Max has been in a loop forever

I thought that too.

also

Spoiler

when you are collecting bottles one of the walls says:

"Chloe WAS here
Rachel IS here
Max WAS here"

 

[AlphaDragoon]

Does everyone get the

Spoiler

kiss

in the sacrifice

Spoiler

Chloe

ending or only if you made the previous choice to do so?

You have to

Spoiler

kiss Chloe

to

Spoiler

have them kiss in the end

, I believe.

I didn't

Spoiler

kiss Chloe and they just hugged it out like friends.

 

[Enter the Dragon Punch]

so how the fuck does she have time powers dontnod

ending solidifies for me that dontnod can't write a coherent story from beginning to end

 

[The Dear Leader]

so how the fuck does she have time powers dontno

Dontnod dontno

 

[KingBroly]

so how the fuck does she have time powers dontno

I completely forgot about that, lol

 

[Enter the Dragon Punch]

Dontnod dontno

I completely forgot about that, lol

the fucking ghost deer too
jesus christ the writing is awful
when you can't even come up for a story/reason for your character's ability and the MAIN MECHANIC OF YOUR GAME... jesus

 

[Fret]

the fucking ghost deer too
jesus christ the writing is awful
when you can't even come up for a story/reason for your character's ability and the MAIN MECHANIC OF YOUR GAME... jesus

midichlorians

 

[AWizardDidIt]

so how the fuck does she have time powers dontnod

ending solidifies for me that dontnod can't write a coherent story from beginning to end

Ancient shamanistic curse that activated when Rachel died.

Spoiler

No but seriously, it doesn't matter and any attempt to explain it wouldn't have been satisfactory. Some things are better just left speculated on.

 

[jb1234]

so how the fuck does she have time powers dontnod

I don't think there's an answer they could have given us that would have satisfied so I'm okay with them ignoring this little detail.

 

[benicillin]

so how the fuck does she have time powers dontnod

ending solidifies for me that dontnod can't write a coherent story from beginning to end

Without trying to be dismissive I don't really think it matters. When it comes to random time travel you're not ever gonna get a satisfactory explanation. I don't think knowing how or why Max got the powers would really change anything.

 

[toastyToast]

Really enjoyed the last episode and series overall. Everyone probably figured out the conclusion but the way it was executed felt natural. The only problem I had with the ending is, who really liked Chloe that much? Girl had to die

I expected there to be a way Max ends up dying with the way her powers flip out and the frequency of the nose bleeds. During the nightmare segment I had an interesting bug where I got stuck in place with Max in the rewind pose and all I could do was rewind and every time I did I was still stuck in the same position. I expected something to come of that, oh well.

 

[jb1234]

I've probably played too many JRPGs but I'm at least thankful that her abilities weren't instigated by the power of friendship.

 

[SolVanderlyn]

Nice Larry David cameo in the save Arcadia Bay ending

 

[misses bull]

Nice Larry David cameo in the save Arcadia Bay ending

That shit ruined the whole scene for me. I just though of ways that larry could ruin a funeral

 

[carlsojo]

"Bottles? This must be hell."

 

[toastyToast]

Nice Larry David cameo in the save Arcadia Bay ending

Looking at the coffin like

 

[Enter the Dragon Punch]

 

[RecursiveFault]

Nice Larry David cameo in the save Arcadia Bay ending

Edit: Ah I'm 2slow

 

[Roussow]

I thought Warren had a great final scene -- I'm sure everyone ended it with the hug, it felt the most appropriate, it was a very tender moment.

Someone mentioned it above -- but I was worried when Max was going through the same dorm corridor over and over it was going to reveal she was Rachael Amber! When they gave Max her outfit and starting playing Chloe's dialogue, thank god they didn't, the game didn't need a big twist.

It ended fairly predictably, at least the sacrifice Chloe ending did -- but it was appropriate, expected. I mean, even Chloe must have known herself in the back of her mind it might have to come to this, but it was really well done regardless, it's clearly the intended ending. However first time through I finally did what Max never really could and picked the selfish ending, sacrificing Arcadia Bay, at this point I knew exactly what I was doing, but I closed out my season with an "All for Chloe" mindset, even though her being alive is really the only net positive.

I figured people might not like the nightmare stuff, but I really enjoyed it, it really helped ramp up the sense of foreboding closure, and highlight everything and everyone in Arcadia Bay, and everything your friendship with Chloe means. The bottles callback was delightful, too. It was clearly the devs laughing at themselves and players reactions to that bit in episode 2 -- I remember some people really were fucking annoyed with that section, when I got to it, it hardly bothered me it was a short little interlude, but I appreciate the callback here.

Only thing that wasn't perfect were the first few Mark Jefferson scenes, they all wen't on a bit long, and very little was established beyond "Jefferson's a fucked up crazy guy". The later scenes were a little better -- when Max could actually have something or a dialogue with him -- especially the nightmare scenes, they were on point. That moment when all the dialogue response were the worst thing ever was great, a nice play on the traditional mechanics.

One last thing, I'm quite surprised anyone expected the reveal of Max's powers, I'm glad it's just some completely mysterious force, the real story is the coming of age one, not time travel.

 

[Gorger]

so how the fuck does she have time powers dontnod

Life is Strange Season 2 confirmed?

Amazing game overall one of the best games this year. Ending was fucked up. Nightmare sequence started really good, but dragged on too much, they could have shortened some of the sneaking parts. I saved Chloe in the end. Actually I wanted to rewind and weigh in on my options, but after I had made my choice the game wouldn't let me. I wonder how many people died by saving Chloe. Not worried about the town itself, It can always be rebuilt.

 

[InfiniDragon]

I thought Warren had a great final scene -- I'm sure everyone ended it with the hug, it felt the most appropriate, it was a very tender moment.

Nope, my brother had Max kiss Warren. I would have too if I was playing it myself, he (and she) deserved that one moment. Only reason not to is if you're a Chloe shipper really.

Really good game and I called the hell out of the ending, apart from the fantastically out of character second choice. I mean really guys?

 

[SolVanderlyn]

Cut footage of the priest from the save Chloe ending

 

[jb1234]

Nope, my brother had Max kiss Warren. I would have too if I was playing it myself, he (and she) deserved that one moment. Only reason not to is if you're a Chloe shipper really.

I had Max kiss both of them. Figured why not?

 

[toastyToast]

I had Max kiss both of them. Figured why not?

It's not like it matters amirite?

I made a point of not saving anyone during the storm too

 

[AWizardDidIt]

Hey now. Not everyone in the

Spoiler

Sacrifice Arcadia Bay ending probably died.

Just those that, you know, couldn't dodge a tornado. They need to learn to duck and roll.

 

[Roussow]

Nope, my brother had Max kiss Warren. I would have too if I was playing it myself, he (and she) deserved that one moment. Only reason not to is if you're a Chloe shipper really.

I never felt a romantic connection between Max and Warren, neither me the player, or Max the character -- I didn't want to have Max kiss Warren as some sort of reward, I felt that's just setting up some strange expectation that this might involve into some sort of romantic relationship. I think by the end Warren values the friendship we do have more than the crush he had, and that hug is representative of it, I think the hug is more meaningful to the two of them in the long run than the kiss is.

That's my rational anyway. I'd be curious to know if anyone had the same though process as I did.

 

[Enter the Dragon Punch]

I never felt a romantic connection between Max and Warren, neither me the player, or Max the character -- I didn't want to have Max kiss Warren as some sort of reward, I felt that's just setting up some strange expectation that this might involve into some sort of romantic relationship. I think by the end Warren values the friendship we do have more than the crush he had, and that hug is representative of it, I think the hug is more meaningful to the two of them in the long run than the kiss is.

That's my rational anyway. I'd be curious to know if anyone had the same though process as I did.

max + warren felt incredibly, incredibly forced
that's why i went for chloe

 

[jb1234]

I liked Warren but his relationship with Max struck me more as siblingesque as opposed to romantic. But then, Chloe and Max have zero romantic chemistry as well.

 

[Gorger]

I never felt a romantic connection between Max and Warren, neither me the player, or Max the character -- I didn't want to have Max kiss Warren as some sort of reward, I felt that's just setting up some strange expectation that this might involve into some sort of romantic relationship. I think by the end Warren values the friendship we do have more than the crush he had, and that hug is representative of it, I think the hug is more meaningful to the two of them in the long run than the kiss is.

That's my rational anyway. I'd be curious to know if anyone had the same though process as I did.

I gave Warren a hug for your reasons. My Max was into Chloe anyways. Also another reason why I saved Chloe was because I had already killed her in episode 4. It would just be cruel having Max kill her best friend twice.

 

[KingBroly]

I liked Warren but his relationship with Max struck me more as siblingesque as opposed to romantic. But then, Chloe and Max have zero romantic chemistry as well.

Keep in mind a lot of people felt Warren was a creeper for bit, instead of just being the most socially awkward person in the game.


Also, it kinda sucks that Nathan and Victoria were kinda tossed aside, especially Victoria. It felt unnecessary.

 

[Fret]

I liked the ending but I feel like the nightmare sequences were building up to a pretty incredible twist ending that didn't happen.

There were sooo many references to Rachel and other weird things that I was convinced that the whole story was gonna be put on its head. The story still could have ended with Chloe dying to save everything but still have had a twist that Rachel was a time traveller or that Max was in a time loop etc. Would have made for a bit more interesting and thought provoking ending

 

[zychi]

I liked the ending but I feel like the nightmare sequences were building up to a pretty incredible twist ending that didn't happen.

There were sooo many references to Rachel and other weird things that I was convinced that the whole story was gonna be put on its head. The story still could have ended with Chloe dying to save everything but still have had a twist that Rachel was a time traveller or that Max was in a time loop etc. Would have made for a bit more interesting and thought provoking ending

I liked that they didnt go th cliche time loop way. Rachel being a time traveler would have been random and out of left field.

They need to explain why Max has time travel abilities tho. Really irked me they didnt

 

[Roussow]

I liked the ending but I feel like the nightmare sequences were building up to a pretty incredible twist ending that didn't happen.

There were sooo many references to Rachel and other weird things that I was convinced that the whole story was gonna be put on its head. The story still could have ended with Chloe dying to save everything but still have had a twist that Rachel was a time traveller or that Max was in a time loop etc. Would have made for a bit more interesting and thought provoking ending

I think a traditional twist like the ones you mentioned would have cheapened the story and characters.

Spoiler

I haven't had a chance to play the latest episode just yet, but with all the crazy shit Max had gone through in this series, this game should be called "Life is Fucking Weird". I wouldn't be shocked that she would destroy the laws of reality itself after what has happened.

I think one of Max's lines during the San Francisco scene literally, "Life is... weird".

 

[Flandy]

Episode was disappointing
On the bright side I took like 30 4k screenshots



edit: I didn't have uncompressed screenshots enabled on steam
They're all useless ;_;

 

[Haly]

This reminds me of the ending to True Dick S1, where everyone was holding out for cthulhu magic shyamalan tweests.

Come on dudes.

 

[Fret]

Personally I think the way they went was just as cliche or even more so - it was just the fact that the nightmare sequences were really really cool and I think set false expectations for the rest of the episode.

 

[toastyToast]

The last episode does reuse Rachel as a red herring which I found a bit odd. We got double red herringed