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[randomwab]

Chose to save Chloe and honestly felt pretty unsatisfied with the ending. I don't know why, but I didn't think that ending really would be as simple as "Just sit back and watch the town get wrecked", I thought they might throw one more twist. But yeah, it felt very unsatisfying, and a very emotionally distant response from both characters considering what just happened to all there friends and loved ones.

Immediately went back and chose to sacrifice her and that felt like the proper ending. It ties the story up, well I'd hesitate to say nicely, but neatly at least in my opinion. Bitter sweet which felt appropriate.

Also, 70%+ kissed Warren? Y'all BUCKLED hard. I hugged him and he was lucky to get that. I'm riding this train of stringing him along to the END!

 

[Ultimadrago]

That kiss Chloe and Max share in the Sacrifice Ending is such a good moment though. You sacrifice it by Saving Chloe!

 

[Kater]

Is it bad that I kissed both Warren and Chloe?

It just felt right in the respective moments, heh.

Chose to save Chloe and honestly felt pretty unsatisfied with the ending. I don't know why, but I didn't think that ending really would be as simple as "Just sit back and watch the town get wrecked", I thought they might throw one more twist. But yeah, it felt very unsatisfying, and a very emotionally distant response from both characters considering what just happened to all there friends and loved ones.

Immediately went back and chose to sacrifice her and that felt like the proper ending. It ties the story up, well I'd hesitate to say nicely, but neatly at least in my opinion. Bitter sweet which felt appropriate.

Also, 70%+ kissed Warren? Y'all BUCKLED hard. I hugged him and he was lucky to get that. I'm riding this train of stringing him along to the END!

Eh, I feel her expressions here

and seeing the destroyed town and then leaving it behind together felt really powerful.

 

[Steamlord]

I mean, a lot of Episode 5 is about characters - or rather one character, Max, and how she relates to the others. The dream sequence really drove home all of her fears regarding the ways she's been fucking around with time, not to mention how she worries others might perceive her. It's sort of her moment of realization that all of those alternate realities are still real, and all of the people in them are still dealing with the consequences of her actions. That's a hell of a burden to bear.

Kind of a bummer that the "save Chloe" ending is apparently lackluster, though. I'd almost say it would be cool if DONTNOD added a bit more to it, but that's really not a reasonable or practical thing to ask now. Oh well, I chose the right ending so I'm satisfied

 

[Shang]

I actually liked the ending, and was surprised that so many people didn't. I chose the Sacrifice Chloe ending, by the way. It seemed like, in many points in the nightmare sequence, people told Max that she couldn't control everything. In that way, it kind of makes sense that you couldn't fix everything in the end.

The Sacrifice Arcadia Bay ending seemed like it sucked big wiener though

 

[WrenchNinja]

Is it bad that I kissed both Warren and Chloe?

It just felt right in the respective moments, heh.

I liked Warren, and Chloe dared me. No regrets.

 

[SubiyaCryolite]

So I sacrificed Chloe. She was my bae and everything but I couldn't let everyone (even my homeboy Warren) die because of her. And she did have a point, she just kept on dying like WTF, destiny much? It wasn't easy but I had to, *sniff*

Overall it was a very powerful and sad episode. Im just glad that Chloe, David and to an extent Nathan found inner peace before the end.

That said, all the alternate reality scenes had some of the best humor in the entire series. This was one of my favorites.

 

[statham]

goodbye Arcardia..

 

[FluxWaveZ]

That said, all the alternate reality scenes had some of the best humor in the entire series. This was one of my favorites.

That's the stuff that kind of made me wonder how the game wanted me to feel during those nightmare segments. Was it meant to be unnerving? Facetious? Poignant? All of the above in a weird concoction?

I guess that lends to its dream-like nature, though.

Rachel left a message to Max insisting that she'd be seeing her "very soon." Part of what made me think it was building up to an encounter.

The one I saved:

 

[colormage1]

I saved Chloe and it was one of the worst endings to a video game I've ever played. Incredibly unsatisfying in its complete disregard for the lives lost. I at least wanted Chloe and Max to see if anyone was alive in the diner or anywhere. But no, they drive off absolutely convinced everyone they ever loved is dead.

But the worst part is that the ending wasn't a choice for me.

I sincerely believed that no matter what, the storm was going to come no matter what option. When they were like, "It's going to work!" I just shrugged and went, "You obviously have no understanding of how things happen." How everything was presented in the game, I literally couldn't believe that going back in time before saving Chloe wouldn't have any repercussions.

So yea.

I had a lot of problems with this episode, sadly. Life is Strange was a great journey, but it ended on a terrible note for me.

 

[Jacqli]

I loved it. Every bit of it. When the last decision came up, I spent like 10 minutes thinking about which one I should choose. In the end, I let Chloe sacrifice herself but I kind of regret it now that I am giving it a second thought. Although the final kiss was great, and I liked how Warren and his persistence were part of Max's nightmare (I did not even hug him! I am the worst Max).

I really like it overall. I just wish I could have both Chloe and Arcadia Bay though…

 

[Ms.Galaxy]

Time travel is a mess of a topic to write with, that's all I got by the end of Episode 5.

Chaos Theory, Butterfly Effect, Schrödinger's Cat, etc., etc...

I was okay with the endings because the truth most seem to forget is that both endings happened and you neither saved Chloe or the Bay despite your choice. I choose to sacrifice the Bay for a reason, and that reason is that Max isn't going to save anyone regardless of what she chooses, so she might as well enjoy what she can in this reality. She created this alternative timeline, along with a near infinite amount of others which lead to the same conclusion, and going back to let Chloe die isn't going to change a thing because the reality she's leaving behind already exists and will continue to exist with that reality's own Max. In my eyes, her going back to let Chloe die is running away from her choices and their consequences; trying to, once again, mess with the past to fix her mistakes. The message I got while going through the nightmare is that I should accept my choices and move on, so I did. It was time to let go of the past and focus on the now.

 

[TheBlackMarvel]

It's a tad amusing that the only way to fix the problem caused by screwing around in time is to screw around in time.

Time travel is a mess of a topic to write with, that's all I got by the end of Episode 5.

Chaos Theory, Butterfly Effect, Schrödinger's Cat, etc., etc...

I was okay with the endings because the truth most seem to forget is that both endings happened and you neither saved Chloe or the Bay despite your choice. I choose to sacrifice the Bay for a reason, and that reason is that Max isn't going to save anyone regardless of what she chooses, so she might as well enjoy what she can in this reality. She created this alternative timeline, along with a near infinite amount of others which lead to the same conclusion, and going back to let Chloe die isn't going to change a thing because the reality she's leaving behind already exists and will continue to exist with that reality's own Max. In my eyes, her going back to let Chloe die is running away from her choices and their consequences; trying to, once again, mess with the past to fix her mistakes. The message I got while going through the nightmare is that I should accept my choices and move on, so I did. It was time to let go of the past and focus on the now.

Agreed.

 

[Violet_0]

honestly though I agree that instead of the sacrifice Arcadia Bay ending there should have been a choice between Max's or Chloe's life for a truly perfect ending. From episode 2 onward we got the impression that her time traveling powers are harming Max when she pushes them too far and they hammered the point home again with this episode. Give the player the choice to really use Max's power to their fullest potential to travel back in time to save Rachel for example, but make it unmistakably clear that in doing so it would undoubtedly kill her. With the endings that we got, all the nose bleeding and falling unconscious ultimately amounted to nothing, aside from the (really cool) Kate scene in episode 2

 

[Baldwin_the_First]

I saved Chloe and it was one of the worst endings to a video game I've ever played. Incredibly unsatisfying in its complete disregard for the lives lost. I at least wanted Chloe and Max to see if anyone was alive in the diner or anywhere. But no, they drive off absolutely convinced everyone they ever loved is dead.

But the worst part is that the ending wasn't a choice for me.

I sincerely believed that no matter what, the storm was going to come no matter what option. When they were like, "It's going to work!" I just shrugged and went, "You obviously have no understanding of how things happen." How everything was presented in the game, I literally couldn't believe that going back in time before saving Chloe wouldn't have any repercussions.

So yea.

I had a lot of problems with this episode, sadly. Life is Strange was a great journey, but it ended on a terrible note for me.

What? Max had a vision of things to come before unlocking her powers, right? Her vision was sort of acting like a warning, not as a "spidey-sense". Of course her powers were the root of that tornado and that by never using them, the tornado wouldn't happen. It's the distortion in realities being fucked with that made the tornado happen. I thought it was pretty clear.

edit: ok I guess spidey-sense wasn't the right term, what I meant to say is that it was a vision to come because it was related to her powers, not something in which it just popped in her visions just for the fuck of it because she had become a superhero.

 

[colormage1]

What? Max had a vision of things to come before unlocking her powers, right? Her vision was sort of acting like a warning, not as a "spidey-sense". Of course her powers were the root of that tornado and that by never using them, the tornado wouldn't happen. It's the distortion in realities being fucked with that made the tornado happen. I thought it was pretty clear.

Well, that's the thing.

I'm not convinced that going back through time completely undoes all the damage that they've already caused. They've been messing with the fabric of reality; I do not believe for a second that going back and not doing anything restores all the damage that was done. I mean, she goes back in time and gets nose bleeds! Nothing in this game has shown us that going back in time is without any effects.

Also, I have to watch the Save Arcadia ending and see how it's done, but I'm sure I'll find other things that are problematic too.

 

[His Majesty]

What? Max had a vision of things to come before unlocking her powers, right? Her vision was sort of acting like a warning, not as a "spidey-sense". Of course her powers were the root of that tornado and that by never using them, the tornado wouldn't happen. It's the distortion in realities being fucked with that made the tornado happen. I thought it was pretty clear.

edit: ok I guess spidey-sense wasn't the right term, what I meant to say is that it was a vision to come because it was related to her powers, not something in which it just popped in her visions just for the fuck of it because she had become a superhero.

Yeah it was a warning for a storm but was she alone the cause for that storm? All the weird stuff about the Prescotts and the spirit animals suddenly isn't relevant anymore? I also found it pretty jarring that they were so sure of why things were happening. And if 'don't mess with time' was the message they were going for, then isn't the only 'right' choice for Max to stop using her powers? And not use her powers one last time to make everything right?

 

[Baldwin_the_First]

Well, that's the thing.

I'm not convinced that going back through time completely undoes all the damage that they've already caused. They've been messing with the fabric of reality; I do not believe for a second that going back and not doing anything restores all the damage that was done. I mean, she goes back in time and gets nose bleeds! Nothing in this game has shown us that going back in time is without any effects.

Also, I have to watch the Save Arcadia ending and see how it's done, but I'm sure I'll find other things that are problematic too.

Well the tornado hasn't appeared yet at the time in place where she goes back to. And if she nevers uses her powers (or never unlocks them), which nulifies all of her past changes or alternate realities, then I guess it's all good and no harm has been done. The tornado won't happen.

It's simple enough but I see it as it is and how the game was meant to be looked at.

Yeah it was a warning for a storm but was she alone the cause for that storm? All the weird stuff about the Prescotts and the spirit animals suddenly isn't relevant anymore? I also found it pretty jarring that they were so sure of why things were happening. And if 'don't mess with time' was the message they were going for, then isn't the only 'right' choice for Max to stop using her powers? And not use her powers one last time to make everything right?

Pretty sure the spirit animal was due to her powers that came from the indian(?) ground that was there beforehand at Blackwell Academy. Is there any other explanations as to why she would develop powers other than the ground being sacred or what not? I think it's the science professor that spoke about it in the first couple of episodes. The Prescotts are just assholes.

And as I said, if she uses her powers so that she can track back in time to a place where she instead never uses or activates/unlocks her powers, then everything is back to normal. That's how game/movie logic works at least. lol

 

[LiQuid!]

How many times Chloe "die" over the course of the entire game that lead them to the Final Destination conclusion that she was just meant to die? It didn't seem like that many to be honest. Off the top of my head:

1. Shot in the bathroom
2. Shot herself in the junkyard (self inflicted? Max-induced? Does this even count?)
3. The train
4. Shot by Jefferson

Were there more?

 

[Manny Calavera]

At parts that last episode felt it was all over the place, but in the end it came together really well. Easily the most surreal and strange of the episodes, but also the most powerful. The final choice was something along the lines I was expecting, the other choice I was waiting was Max sacrificing herself, but I was happy she got to live. In the end I weighed down Chloe's Life against the whole town and after staring the screen for a good few minutes with a heavy heart I sacrificed Chloe. After that it was all tears. I thought with an emotional level it was a fitting ending.


On my second playthrough I'll see how the other ending plays out. I've a feeling this was the more emotional one.

 

[His Majesty]

How many times Chloe "die" over the course of the entire game that lead them to the Final Destination conclusion that she was just meant to die? It didn't seem like that many to be honest. Off the top of my head:

1. Shot in the bathroom
2. Shot herself in the junkyard (self inflicted? Max-induced? Does this even count?)
3. The train
4. Shot by Jefferson

Were there more?

Killed by Frank
Alternate Chloe terminally ill

 

[Tribes of Trusty]

What if Chloé wasn't supposed to be saved ? After all that is the first action Max does in the game, and maybe it's the universe's way to set right its course. I can't shake off the feeling that Chloé WILL be dead at the end of the game.

CALLED IT


I still loved the game and episode 5. Truly surreal and the feeling of helplessness was great.

 

[AWizardDidIt]

What they didn't show us in the "Sacrifice Chloe" ending was that Max's powers didn't start the storm that leveled Arcadia, they just sped it up slightly. The day after Chloe's funeral the town was destroyed anyway.

Meanwhile Sean Prescott down in his bunker:

 

[Tribes of Trusty]

What they didn't show us in the "Sacrifice Chloe" ending was that Max's powers didn't start the storm that leveled Arcadia, they just sped it up slightly. The day after Chloe's funeral the town was destroyed anyway.

Meanwhile Sean Prescott down in his bunker:

I nearly expected some kind of cruel twist and for the game to continue for a little while so we could get a golden ending...guess I am too spoilt by Japanese VNs.

 

[Itachi87]

This was definitely the weakest episode for me. No matter what ending you choose, it felt like everything you've done up to that point is negated. Choose to save Chloe and well the tornado that you've spent the entire season trying to stop destroys and kills everyone. Choose to sacrifice Chloe and well all the time you spent trying to save her in the last 4 episodes was for nothing. I just didn't feel like they did a good enough job explaining why there's a tornado. Chaos theory mumble jumbo and reversing time are poorly used as answers because the link wasn't clearly explained and felt very unsatisfying.

With that in mind, I chose to sacrifice Chloe because I couldn't bare the thought of losing everyone. Especially Kate for whom I fought so hard to save and, I felt was way more likeable as a character than Chloe. I didn't like Chloe's brash, manipulative personality, and it felt the whole season she was pressuring and guilt-tripping Max into doing things her way without so much as a thought about how Max felt and the repercussions of what her actions may cause. I felt Max was a great friend to Chloe, but the reverse was not true.

 

[ivb_1973]

I also choose to sacrifice Chloe. Man I feel so empty for that ending... Well done Dontnod, well done...

The fun fact is that choosing to do so. Max's story doesn't matter on the game's world, but I don't care because they pulled it out superbly I think.

 

[AlphaDragoon]

With that in mind, I chose to sacrifice Chloe because I couldn't bare the thought of losing everyone. Especially Kate for whom I fought so hard to save and, I felt was way more likeable as a character than Chloe. I didn't like Chloe's brash, manipulative personality, and it felt the whole season she was pressuring and guilt-tripping Max into doing things her way without so much as a thought about how Max felt and the repercussions of what her actions may cause. I felt Max was a great friend to Chloe, but the reverse was not true.

This man speaks the truth.

 

[Violet_0]

With that in mind,I chose to sacrifice Chloe because I couldn't bare the thought of losing everyone. Especially Kate for whom I fought so hard to save and I felt was way more likeable as a character than Chloe. I didn't like Chloe's brash, manipulative personality, and it felt the whole season she was pressuring and guilt-tripping Max into doing things her way without so much as a thought about how Max felt and the repercussions of what her actions may cause. I felt Max was a great friend to Chloe, but the reverse was not true.

I never had a problem with Chloe anyway but even then I thought she redeemed herself in the diner Max vs Max dream conversation. Dream Max was pretty much saying the same things as you but Chloe and real Max wouldn't have none of it

 

[Roussow]

His methods are immoral, but damn Mr. Jefferson those are some good shots -- Nathan's shots you see in episode 4 were quite special, too.
(Unfortunately I can't really seem to find any more examples from a quick Google)

 

[Manny Calavera]

My idea of the ending and the last episode is that it truly works if the player really cares for Max, Chloe and their friendship and if they decide to sacrifice Chloe. It makes you think back all the times they had together and it has a huge emotional impact. It is the journey that matters, in the end.

 

[Teppic]

This was the most boring ending they could have come up with. It was basically that cliche ending everyone figured in episode 1. The ending had no emotional pay off. All I was thinking was "Oh, really?". Makes everything you've done in the game a waste of time.

 

[Manny Calavera]

I really got some Lynch and Twin Peaks vibes from that last episode, even more than so far. I was actually surprised they went the surrealistic route, but it really worked. Also it made the last episode seem different from the rest.

 

[Tribes of Trusty]

"Life is...weird"
That play on the expectations of a title drop.

 

[LiQuid!]

This was the most boring ending they could have come up with. It was basically that cliche ending everyone figured in episode 1. The ending had no emotional pay off. All I was thinking was "Oh, really?". Makes everything you've done in the game a waste of time.

Life is Strange, "a waste of time." -Teppic 2015

OK BUD CYA

 

[Itachi87]

I never had a problem with Chloe anyway but even then I thought she redeemed herself in the dinner Max vs Max dream conversation. Dream Max was pretty much saying the same things as you but Chloe and real Max wouldn't have none of it

I don't consider diner Chloe to be the "real Chloe." To me, everything in that dream world exists inside Max's subconscious and thus the Chloe in the diner is only a projection of Max's subconsciousness.

 

[NeonBlack]

I only have one question. Why was Warren at Chloe's funeral? I don't remember them being friends.

I figured Kate may be thankful for the exposure that the accident caused.

 

[Taruranto]

That said, all the alternate reality scenes had some of the best humor in the entire series. This was one of my favorites.

Eheh, that was my favorite mail too.

I wasn't really satished with the episode. Felt like the developers put all their energy into ep 4 in retrospect, ep 5 felt like on big-ass FMV.

Even the plot doesn't come together as I hoped it did, while I didn't notice any inconsistence as far the time-traveling aspect is concerned (the way Max's powers work, it's very easy to avoid paradoxes, at least)

Lose ends:

Who gave Max her powers and why? Rachel? The Doe? Balthazar? The Silent Hill Gods?

And why?

The game hints numerous times that her powers are turning her brain into soup, but nothing comes of it. Also, she never runs out of "time juice" again except with that time with Kate, uh?

Does Max still have her powers?

What happens to the various side characters? You can save them during the tornado, but nothing comes out of it.

What was the cause of the whales/birds/etc dying? The moon? Just Max?

I only have one question. Why was Warren at Chloe's funeral? I don't remember them being friends.

Even Victoria and Kate were at Chloe's funeral...

 

[Corpekata]

I only have one question. Why was Warren at Chloe's funeral? I don't remember them being friends.

Pretty much everyone there besides Max, Frank, Joyce, and David stuck out like a sore thumb. She wouldn't know like half the people there in that timeline.

 

[Chariot]

I only have one question. Why was Warren at Chloe's funeral? I don't remember them being friends.

I figured Kate may be thankful for the exposure that the accident caused.

He probably thought he could get some of the Max by lending her an open shoulder. This creep, he even profits from Chloe's death.

 

[TheBlackMarvel]

I only have one question. Why was Warren at Chloe's funeral? I don't remember them being friends.

I figured Kate may be thankful for the exposure that the accident caused.

I imagine, especially in Warren's case, that they came to support Max.

 

[John Kowalski]

I only have one question. Why was Warren at Chloe's funeral? I don't remember them being friends.

I figured Kate may be thankful for the exposure that the accident caused.

I think he was close with her mother. He was at her diner at the end, so i think they probably knew each other somewhat well.

 

[WITHE1982]

Just finished up episode 5 and WOW! Kudos to Dontnod. I'd probably say based on story alone this is my GOTY (may not get it overall but very close).

To weigh in on the endings the Sacrifice Arcadia Bay ending just feels wrong. IMO having Chloe die just seems the right choice. In each and every episode we've changed time in order to save our best friend but to no avail. It seems like fate has determined that Chloe's life is forfeit. No matter what we do it must happen. That and Max's little smile at the end was a fitting way to end the series.

Gonna sleep on the whole thing not before I decide if I need to make any changes to me play through. Once again I think Dontnod have done a stellar job with the series. I'm hoping and praying for a second series next year.

Oh and also bagged the Platinum.

 

[NeonBlack]

Pretty much everyone there besides Max, Frank, Joyce, and David stuck out like a sore thumb. She wouldn't know like half the people there in that timeline.

Even Victoria and Kate were at Chloe's funeral...

I didn't see Victoria but I thought Kate may be paying respects because of the light this sheds on her situation. That brings up way more questions then since Victoria hates everyone there lol. Guess they just wanted that last shot.

He probably he could get some of the Max by lending a open shoulder. This creep, he even profits from Chloe's death.

As if the window scene wasn't bad enough.

I imagine, especially in Warren's case, that they came to support Max.

I think he was close with her mother. He was at her diner at the end, so i think they probably knew each other somewhat well.

These make sense consoling both of them would be within his character, a little creepy but a good heart.

 

[careless mango]

Warren did some good but you can never "deserve" love. Some guys obviously behave like you can and it can be easy to fall into the trap when you develop feelings for someone. Being in that other persons situation and not feeling anything resembling love for Warren really made it obvious to me that it is indeed 100% correct that you can never "deserve" love.

 

[Tribes of Trusty]

With the penultimate photo of the game, there is np way DONTNOD didn't know what they were doing with Warren as a character or what the internet thought of him...

 

[wrowa]

Yeah it was a warning for a storm but was she alone the cause for that storm? All the weird stuff about the Prescotts and the spirit animals suddenly isn't relevant anymore? I also found it pretty jarring that they were so sure of why things were happening. And if 'don't mess with time' was the message they were going for, then isn't the only 'right' choice for Max to stop using her powers? And not use her powers one last time to make everything right?

The Prescotts were never relevant in the first place. It was just Max and Chloe running in the wrong direction, because they made up their minds too early, never even suspecting the actual killer. The Prescott family just consists of your everyday rich assholes.

 

[Snakethesniper]

The game hints numerous times that her powers are turning her brains into soup, but nothing comes of it.

you're right, I forgot about that! I thought they would use it to stop her from using her power in a certain situation (like what happened with Kate) but apparently not.
Maybe they only wanted to copy The Butterfly Effect? With the nosebleed and the pictures, it's the same in the movie

 

[Taruranto]

By the way, no way these sequences aren't a callback to some of the fandom reactions/speculations.

I'm really disappointed that, after the nightmare scene hinted so much at meeting Rachel or something big like that, all we got was... nothing, really. There could have been so much more to add meaning to everything, and the part in the nightmare where you're going through the dorms over and over again really teased at some kind of twist or at the very least meeting a new character, but no, it was all just buildup with no payoff.

I was expecting the game to pull a Shattered Memories when Max reached the lighthouse and it started snowing.

YOU NEED TO GO ON WITH YOUR LIFE.

 

[The Dear Leader]

His methods are immoral, but damn Mr. Jefferson those are some good shots -- Nathan's shots you see in episode 4 were quite special, too.
(Unfortunately I can't really seem to find any more examples from a quick Google)

brb calling the police and telling them to look for a dark room on your property.

 

[Aarglefarg]

Is it bad that I kissed both Warren and Chloe?

It just felt right in the respective moments, heh.

Not at all. Max getting told off for it was out of line. >:-[

Yay for bi representation.