Support NeoGAF

[Tizoc]

Dat Ep. 3 finale holy
frikkin
shit

Stop Max
YOU HAVE TO STOP

YOU'RE WHAT'S CAUSING THE GIANT VORTEX!

One thing I really don;t like so far is that the devs have now given people two chances to get into the Vortex Club party, but in the end it doesn't matter. Even if you;re still not on the list by the end of the episode the preview for the next still shows Max at the party.

If anything it might go as follows in Ep. 4
1- You need to find a way INTO the Vortex Club party, this'll involve using time reverse powers, etc.
2- You're allowed in just fine

So maybe there'd be more gameplay involved if you didn't aim to get yourself into the party.

 

[Tizoc]

double post sorry.

 

[TheVampire]

Episode 3 was good but it just felt like investigations the whole episode.

 

[Fret]

but if Max physically left Timeline A, then what happened with the Max of timeline B? are there now two Max running around or what?

Well when Max warps into photos, she takes over herself, so its reasonable to assume that she would take over her "new" self in the new timeline.

 

[carlsojo]

So what are your theories on what actually happened to Rachel? I assume she was murdered, based on

Spoiler

the binder with her name on it in post credit scenes

, though I did consider the possibility that she developed powers like Max and simply winked out of existence (possibly to the future).

Assuming she's been murdered my prime suspects are:

Samuel:
It's weird as fuck that he not only has headshots of her in Ep 2, but also in Ep 3 he has a fashion mag and silk scarf in his workshop. He doesn't give off a murder vibe, maybe just a creep who was stalking her?

Mr. Jefferson:
In Ep 1 one of the students tells Max that he was sleeping with Rachel. Not enough to put suspicion on him, but I wish Max and Chloe had investigated his office instead of the principal's. Additionally, he just moved there and everyone thinks it's "cool" that he left his big career to teach in this small town, but I wonder if he had committed other murders where he came from and moved here to escape suspicion.

I've ruled out:

David - He's the only one investigating her disappearance.

Nathan - Psycho, but him murdering Chloe was an accident and I don't see him being smart (or sane) enough to be able to murder and dispose of Rachel without being caught.

Frank - Based on the stuff you found in his trailer, it seemed like they had a genuine relationship. It seemed like they fought based on a letter you find, but that doesn't convince me he murdered her.

 

[Fret]

Before Episode 3 came out, I would have thought that the entire story would conclude by finding out who killed Rachel in a pretty simplistic way (maybe a few of them were involved but are covering it up, etc), but after playing Ep3 I think that for the story to be concluded correctly there would need to be quite a big twist to the whole plot. Whether that means Rachel had powers too, or that Max is stuck in some sort of time loop trying to figure out her disappearance, I think its going to be something that effects all the episodes.

 

[Vylash]

i'm getting the feeling william also had the same powers as max but i'm not sure why, the pic you use to travel back in time was taken with his camera which is the same one chloe gives you and that's really bugging me

 

[Grisby]

So I beat episode 3 and it's one of those endings that I'm going to be reeling from for the next few days/weeks.

I'm assuming Chloe got in a car accident (that pic of her getting the new car). For some reason, I think for everything to turn out right, max is gonna have to get it. She's at the center of it all and it all started with her.

Shit man. I mean, Chloe has her dad back but those dead whales...goddamn.

 

[kevin1025]

So I beat episode 3 and it's one of those endings that I'm going to be reeling from for the next few days/weeks.

I'm assuming Chloe got in a car accident (that pic of her getting the new car). For some reason, I think for everything to turn out right, max is gonna have to get it. She's at the center of it all and it all started with her.

Shit man. I mean, Chloe has her dad back but those dead whales...goddamn.

Yeah, the way I read it was that by taking away Chloe's dad's accident, she caused Chloe to have it, even if it's years later. Cause and effect, and certain events unable to be undone. Max just prolonged the event to happen to the family in some other way.

That ending actually really shocked me. I was completely taken aback by it, and what it means going forward (or backward?). Fantastic episode and I'm loving what Dontnod are doing so far.

So, perhaps I'm being cynical, but it seems like Max completely altering the past and, thus apparently just about everything else, is a convenient way for them to negate all of the choices we've made so far. Did Kate commit suicide or not? Doesn't matter, she didn't in this timeline. Got Nathan expelled or ratted out the teacher? Who cares, this is a different universe yo!

Don't get me wrong, the ending was totally nuts and was a really good cap to an otherwise kind of mundane episode. Hopefully they will make good on all of it.

My thoughts on that are that if Episode 4 is entirely the new timeline, maybe the choices made before help make the relationships in the new timeline different. Depending on the choices, maybe characters act differently toward you or the choices set up a variation of where things had originally been leading. That sounds super vague, I know, but I think that would be a cool direction.

 

[Sayers]

So, perhaps I'm being cynical, but it seems like Max completely altering the past and, thus apparently just about everything else, is a convenient way for them to negate all of the choices we've made so far. Did Kate commit suicide or not? Doesn't matter, she didn't in this timeline. Got Nathan expelled or ratted out the teacher? Who cares, this is a different universe yo!

Don't get me wrong, the ending was totally nuts and was a really good cap to an otherwise kind of mundane episode. Hopefully they will make good on all of it.

EDIT: Also, I thought it was kind of lame that they forced you to step into the fight between Chloe's family. I would have just stayed the fuck out of it.

 

[petethepanda]

Really thought Chloe would be dead when you walk up to the house at the end.

I figured going in to ep3 that Kate would be moved off-screen if you saved her, but I appreciated that the outcome of the situation did hang over just about the whole episode, I was worried it'd be largely unmentioned after the first half hour or so.

Can't wait to see where it goes from here. I can't imagine they'd actually do this, but this episode was the first time I started giving serious thought to the possibility of Max dying at the end of the series in order to 'reset' everything.

 

[Musolf815]

Haven't read the full thread, but holy fuck, as bad as Chloe can be sometimes, I hope that the ultimate solution isn't somehow along the lines of "Let Chloe die at the start in order to solve Arcadia Bay's problems."

Yeah for real, that would really sour the game for me.

 

[Rockin' Ranger]

Here's a new theory on r/lifeisstrange

Basically, since Max has now changed her entire timeline, the original timeline continues on - but she has disappeared from it, just like Rachael Amber did.

I'd think it's more a

Spoiler

VLR

style time travel where he consciousness jumps across timelines, as she inhabits the body of her younger self when she goes back to save Chloe's father, rather than physically going between them.

I think Dean Pelton had it right though.

 

[Karak]

Is Chloe's mom in the end shot. I didn't see her and its caused me to wonder something

 

[Miles Quaritch]

So the trick to saving Lisa is to only water her once?

I didn't water her in episode 1, but did in episode 2 and she's still alive in ep3...

 

[Corpekata]

So the trick to saving Lisa is to only water her once?

I didn't water her in episode 1, but did in episode 2 and she's still alive in ep3...

Yes.

 

[Symphonia]

What kind of sick fuck would throw the bone into the street!?!?!?

I did. I also took the funding money.

Them feels at the end.

 

[Violet_0]

I really don't think the Rachel disappearance is a murder mystery. Seeing how just about everyone in Arcadia Bay seems to love her, I'm pretty sure she had time travel powers as well. And we're dealing with multiple timelines now and an incoming apocalypse

 

[Miles Quaritch]

Yes.

I think it's both amazing and hilarious that the plant had such a pay off.

I've seen talk about starting the game again so they can save the plant. It's madness.

 

[Violet_0]

Lisa is the key to all of this, mark my words

 

[carlsojo]

I think it's both amazing and hilarious that the plant had such a pay off.

I've seen talk about starting the game again so they can save the plant. It's madness.

You're not wrong. Am I really going to sit through listening to Chloe talking about how I "hella" saved her life again to save a plant?

Probably. I'm just an everyday hero.

 

[Sendou]

Here's a new theory on r/lifeisstrange

Basically, since Max has now changed her entire timeline, the original timeline continues on - but she has disappeared from it, just like Rachael Amber did.

Yeah and you'll be playing as Warren in the original timeline going forward.

 

[Voyevoda]

Soooo.... Anybody else notice the wheelchair ramp in the Alternate Timeline just before we see Chloe?

Original timeline

Alternate timeline

 

[Fret]

Soooo.... Anybody else notice the wheelchair ramp in the Alternate Timeline just before we see Chloe?

I only just realized that in the original timeline the house was half painted

 

[Hektor]

Soooo.... Anybody else notice the wheelchair ramp in the Alternate Timeline just before we see Chloe?

I only just realized that in the original timeline the house was half painted

Wow, Thats what i call detailed.

 

[PaulloDEC]

Ah geez, the moment Max actually succeeded in messing with her own timeline, I knew it wasn't going to end well. Seriously, how does someone as geeky as Max not know how infrequently messing with your own personal history yields positive results?

Another great episode, anyway. If they can keep the quality up, this'll probably end up being the best adventure game I've played in a long time. I assume soon enough we'll be doing the whole...

...thing, and Max will end up finding things out in the alternate timeline that she can take back and use in the primary timeline. Looking forward to it.

 

[JehutyRunner]

Soooo.... Anybody else notice the wheelchair ramp in the Alternate Timeline just before we see Chloe?

I spotted it in my second runthrough of the episode playing on my alternate save file.

 

[Certinty]

Here's a new theory on r/lifeisstrange

Basically, since Max has now changed her entire timeline, the original timeline continues on - but she has disappeared from it, just like Rachael Amber did.

This theory makes a lot of sense.

What I don't however understand is if Rachel did have the same power as Max then she could have easily used it to steal money or whatever and become rich enough to allow both her and Chloe to run away like they wanted.

 

[Aressa]

This theory makes a lot of sense.

What I don't however understand is if Rachel did have the same power as Max then she could have easily used it to steal money or whatever and become rich enough to allow both her and Chloe to run away like they wanted.

 

[carlsojo]

Speaking of stealing money, how ironic is it that Chloe wanted to steal that money from the handicapped fund?

 

[Chucker]

Just finished Episode 3. HOLY CRAP. What's next, I mean they keep upping the stakes.

 

[John Kowalski]

I sure hope we get old Chloe back. I mean new Chloe probably says 100% hella but i want blue haired Chloe back.

 

[brickarts295]

Getting that Steins:Gate vibe after that ending.

 

[Miles Quaritch]

So...finished it earlier and HOLY SHIT..WHAT A FUCKING TWIST.

I knew Max going back and changing events would have an effect, but I figured it would result in the tornado, not Chloe being the one who ends up in a car accident is left paralysed. Holy shit.

What's the prevailing theory here? It's an alternate timeline with the original one we've been playing still running in the background or has everything changed and Max will now have to go back and let Chloe's dad die to change the timeline back?

Fuck. Also took me by surprise that Maxine was in the vortex club and had fawning all over her...

This was an amazing episode, can't believe the direction they've taken.

One minor complaint, I felt Kate could have been handled better. Like maybe a scene where we go to visit her instead of keeping it as texts and references. Would have made the impact for those who saved her more satisfying to see that choice had a big change on how the story plays out.

Anyway, my choices...

I can't believe anyone sided with David during the argument and I can't believe almost half decided to steal the handicapped fund.

Jesus.

I missed some softball choices, I'll probably get them during my second playthrough.

One last thing, the teaser was so painfully short. Not cool, I was expecting something meaty...

 

[Redx508]

HOLY SHIT HOLY SHIT
i don't know what else to say

 

[Fret]

One minor complaint, I felt Kate could have been handled better. Like maybe a scene where we go to visit her instead of keeping it as texts and references. Would have made the impact for those who saved her more satisfying to see that choice had a big change on how the story plays out.

I definitely think there's going to be a funeral/hospital scene in Episode 4, as Max says in the text if you save Kate: "I'll come see you as soon as I can, I promise"

 

[Neverforget]

To think that up until a few days ago, I've never so much looked at the title of this game and now it's seriously becoming my GOTY! The atmosphere is amazing, the art is gorgeous, the characters are complex enough and overall the concept of time traveling is just fascinating as ever.

In my playthru the story is more dramatic than you guys, it's because Kate died, it was not intentional, but I choose not to reload my save, what's done is done and I find it so much better! Max is struggling with guilt and the fact that her power can be useless, the reset of the cast are trying to redeem themselves because watching someone die can honestly give you a perspective about life that you didn't consider before.

Episode 3 : Holy molly! That ending was fantastic, first of all I didn't expect for Max to go back so far in time and once I saved William, I thought that Joyce was the one who died and I was super curious to see how Chloé handle it! Needless to say that one the camera's angle changed, I was kinda shocked. We get so used to the rebellious crazy Chloé that it's unsettling to see her become disabled because of the choice we made.

However, I don't know if she is happier in this time line or not, ultimately, I really do hope that Max will ask for her opinion about the matter. I honestly can't wait for the next episode! We are expecting so much from this game, I'm kinda worried the plot will go full LOST on us. Please please, be good LIS EP4!

Thoughts on sexuality in this game :

I don't know why you guys have any doubt about Chloé's sexuality?! I thought she was pretty obvious with her one liners and mannerisms (she subtly came out in almost every episode), and then she basically came out to Max before the kiss (when Max admitted that she have a hard time imagining Chloé with men, Chloé confirmed that she have a good eye). The condom can be used as dental dam too.

Max in the other hand is bisexual, in my playthru she has expressed interest in both men and women.

.:My theories about the ending:

I think Max will end up being the new Rachel, she will have to die to makes everyone else happy (sacrifice herself for the greater good), basically she won't even exist anymore.

Chloé will have a happy life (dad alive, not disabled, normal education..etc.) and will have Rachel as her best friend, basically she will have the normal teenager life just like Max (prior to her super power).

I suspect that the homeless old lady have always been Max from another time line

Samuel is a time traveler too.

 

[Tigersprite]

Thoughts on sexuality in this game :

I don't know why you guys have any doubt about Chloé's sexuality?! I thought she was pretty obvious with her one liners and mannerisms (she subtly came out in almost every episode), and then she basically came out to Max before the kiss (when Max admitted that she have a hard time imagining Chloé with men, Chloé confirmed that she have a good eye). The condom can be used as dental dam too.

Max in the other hand is bisexual, in my playthru she has expressed interest in both men and women.

Chloe says she's had lots of boyfriends, but also admits to having had a crush on Rachel when you ask her. Pretty safe to say she's bi.

When the heck does Max express any interest in women? She talks every now and then about cute guys, but never about women. I'm genuinely curious here.

 

[Zareka]

When the heck does Max express any interest in women? She talks every now and then about cute guys, but never about women. I'm genuinely curious here.

Don't you sometimes have the option of showing interest in Chloe? I never chose them, because Chloe, but at least one of them which I can't entirely recall sounded like hitting on her.

There's also the kiss, but again I didn't choose that so I don't know if it's played for laughs or not.

 

[Neverforget]

Chloe says she's had lots of boyfriends, but also admits to having had a crush on Rachel when you ask her. Pretty safe to say she's bi.

When the heck does Max express any interest in women? She talks every now and then about cute guys, but never about women. I'm genuinely curious here.

Chloe might be bi, but in all honesty when she said that the boys were just a phase and thanks to Rachel "she knows now", add to that Max comment about having a hard time imagining Chloe with guys and Chloe confirming that she has a good eye... Basically cemented my opinion of her being gay.

Now Max being bi is more subtle, she had made comments about both genders appearances and if you friend zone Warren, she is basically all about Chloe, but if I had to pinpoint a conversation, it's the pool scene were you can say that boys are gross, or Warren is nice and a potential love interest or express interest in Chloe specifically. So basically you've a choice to either go Warren or Chloe or neither which makes her Bi IMO.

 

[AWizardDidIt]

I think both Chloe and Max are figuring out their sexuality. Chloe has obviously had a bit of experience and I feel confident in saying she's leaning towards preferring women. While she says she's "toyed with boys" in the past and has condoms on her, it seems pretty clear to me that since Rachel she doesn't really seem interested in them. Her behavior around Max sometimes is pretty telling that she's at least somewhat interested in her.

Max is more ambiguous but she seems like one of those people who honestly doesn't really think about sex and romance much at all. Her journal seems to indicate she's never had a boy/girlfriend or even so much as a kiss before (at least until Chloe if you choose to in ep3) and she is just generally pretty oblivious to how much Warren likes her. She does make a few comments about cute boys but these seem fairly innocuous to me. She does seem to be really excited about kissing Chloe if you choose that but that may just be the excitement of being adventurous. But she definitely does seem jealous of Rachel too...

I think the most likely scenarios are either Max's sexuality never really gets set in concrete or that dontnod will leave it in the player's hands whether to have her go for Warren or Chloe.

 

[Hitoribhoshi]

yeah well there's no Lupin San-sei reference : Arsène Lupin, Dontnod...both french, so..

(also I don't know how ppl have tracheotomy at home in the US, but in france you don't have have such heavy tubes and stuff at home, on in the OR/ICU and a couple of days after the OR) (it's used to help (read make) (unconscious) patients breathe in the ICU)
also, CHLOE WON'T BE ABLE TO TALK (or at least should not at all be supposed to talk with those tubes)

As for my theory : Max goes to that Vortex party, is druged like Kate, has a mental meltdown and trigger a/the cataclysm. (or the cataclysm is the result of going back and forth in time to change everything to save Chloé)

 

[Xord]

Speaking of stealing money, how ironic is it that Chloe wanted to steal that money from the handicapped fund?

Yeah that is pretty ironic.

 

[Neverforget]

Yeah that is pretty ironic.

Speaking of stealing money, how ironic is it that Chloe wanted to steal that money from the handicapped fund?

She also parked on a parking spot for handicapped in the first episode! We should have seen it coming.

 

[John Kowalski]

At least it's safe to assume that no one in the game is warrensexual.

 

[Neverforget]

At least it's safe to assume that no one in the game is warrensexual.

Isn't Brooke into him?

 

[John Kowalski]

She doesn't know what she's getting herself into.

 

[Anteater]

for ep4

Spoiler

the preview photos for ep4 on the chapter selection screen has a laptop and that seems to be the same one as David's in the garage.

edit: huh I just noticed Frank's RV in the parking lot in ep1.

Also in Kate's files in the garage, David followed her to the parking lot in the photos.

 

[Rockin' Ranger]

I can't believe almost half decided to steal the handicapped fund.

I was prepared to leave the money until Chloe mentioned that she'd be able to pay back Frank which could get him to calm down about the whole Max trying to shoot him thing. That was enough to change my mind.

 

[Gears]

I expected every situation to have a Samuel jump scare. Am I the only one?