New plot-based adventure games, like the good old-fashioned quests of yesteryear, are a pretty rare thing these days.
Certainly when it comes to invested productions that come from the biggest companies in the industry.
Therefore, as such a game comes out every few years, like the original Life Is Strange of distributor Square Enix and the development studio Dontnod, must give it the attention it deserves.
Indeed, it is no exaggeration to say that LIS, which came out in 2015 to win countless awards, is one of the best adventure games of all time.
Just don't miss it, no matter if you grew up on quests or are new to the "this is not exactly a game, but more of an interactive movie."
Just trust us on this matter.
Unfortunately, his two indirect sequels (only ardent fans who know all the characters well will notice a loose plot connection between all parts of the series), can definitely be missed.
Life Is Strange 2 from 2018 was a reasonable game but did not compare to its predecessor, and recently released the third episode, Life Is Strange: True Colors, which despite a lot of good intentions, impressive technical performance and a lot of investment on the part of the developers - not pleasant to say - just boring.
And when the title-plot-plot doesn't make the player want to keep playing to know what happens next, what's the point?
Too bad, too bad, too bad.
Brain power
Another problem with the plot: It's a bit difficult to talk about True Colors without avoiding spoilers, since the story is the main thing here, so we will try to minimize them as much as possible.
Similar to the previous two games, which deal with boys and girls with a certain supernatural ability who are drawn to a great adventure and life-changing experience, LIS: TC is also based on this formula.
This time the protagonist is Alex Chen, a young American girl of Asian descent, who comes to live in a small and intimate town at the foot of the Rocky Mountains in Colorado, USA, where everyone knows everyone.
An unexpected disaster (thankfully, we were surprised too) shakes Alex's life from end to end, and she soon finds herself investigating a ramified affair involving a large company and some of the town's residents.
Luckily, Alex is able to read people's minds, and this ability helps her, at least most of the time, solve the mystery.
Why only most of the time and not all of Haman?
Because Alex's telepathic abilities sometimes convey to her the emotion of the person she is entering into his brain, and then the same emotion affects her as well.
For example, if at the beginning of the game Alex tries to help a child in a panic, then his fears may be "implanted" in her head as well, and she will have to deal with them.
not nice.
Beyond that, the protagonist is also able to read thoughts of certain objects, or rather to learn what they went through and how they got to where they are now.
How boring in this city
On paper it all sounds good and beautiful, but when the plot is so slow, cumbersome and just not inviting, those abilities go down the drain. Examples? Please: The game is divided into five episodes (which unlike the previous two games, are all launched at once, rather than once every few months like a sequel series), but the real action starts more or less only in the fourth episode, and that too in low gear. In the first few episodes we mostly tidied up the house, visited all kinds of shops in town, walked around the park, worked a bit at a bar and a record store, and talked to people about a lot ... nothing, really. and all. There was. all. so. Slow. And looking.
The third episode, which tries to break the routine and becomes in part a kind of lite role-playing game, generally stretched like chewing gum and felt to us like a waste of an entire time. So it's true that each episode ends with a dramatic cliffhanger that promotes the super-plot, and here and there there are some interesting and suspenseful scenes, but to get to the good stuff you have to go through about two hours of lazy walks from town to town and idle conversations with residents. The magic of the original LIS just faded, sharp and smooth.
Still, it is not pleasant to kill the new game to the end.
The graphics and animation are sharp, smooth and spectacular, just like a postcard from a small mountain town that comes to life.
Beyond that, the facial expressions of the characters are among the best we have ever seen in a computer game, and really manage to convey emotion.
The indie soundtrack is also very successful, and continues the glorious soundtrack tradition that the series is so identified with.
Know what?
Even the main character of Alex Chen evokes empathy and sympathy.
She is a smart, witty and sensitive girl who has been through quite a bit in life, and we would be happy to give her another chance in a game that is a little more interesting and less ... bland.
Wait for the remaster
So what now?
We recommend something like this: In February 2022, the first issue of Life Is Strange will be released, along with its short and endearing prequel, Before The Storm.
Improved graphics, updated engine and all required upgrades.
If you are into adventure games / quests / just a good story and have not yet experienced that masterpiece, wait a few months and invest your money in it.
You will not be disappointed.
On the other hand, if you've already played previous LIS titles and are considering continuing your journey with True Colors, keep in mind that we at least, who define ourselves as the world's biggest fans of the first game, were very disappointed with the new episode.
6/10
Tested version:
PlayStation 5. Also available for PlayStation 4, Xbox and PC.
The audit copy was provided by the company.
