Life is Strange: True Colors

Life is Strange: True Colors is a great return to the franchises roots. It perfectly nails what made the first game so special with its small town mystery and great relatable characters. Over the course of the game you get more and more attached to the town of Haven Springs and the moments where you can explore the town were some of my favorites in the game. Alex power of Empathy was extremely well done with being able to read and even absorb people's emotions was very unique for the franchise. It even rivals Max's powers of Time Travel from the original. All around Life is Strange: True Colors perfectly nails what makes Life is Strange Life is Strange.

I have to admit that I was worried for this game. I was such a Huge fan of the original Life is Strange, I was absolutely obsessed from the start. But after Life is Strange 2 released it left a bitter taste in my mouth. The characters in that game just didn't click for me. So long story short the lead up to this game was quite intense, I got quite worried when I found out Deck Nine was developing this title and that Dontnod had stepped away. But I just have to say I'm so happy I was wrong. Deck Nine blew it out of the park, they really did. It was almost as if they revived the soul of Life is Strange. True Colours was a spectacular Journey that I thoroughly delved myself into. The Character's were believable, they made me care about them. The plot actually quite surprised me. There was more mystery than I originally thought, which helped to keep me invested. I experienced a few bugs, probably two, so it wasn't too bad, it didn't break the immersion of the story so it was fine, but nonetheless I thought it necessary to mention. Overall everything in this game surpassed my expectations the music, the sound perfect for the vibe of the game, and also a few new gameplay additions never before seen in the franchise which I hope they expand on down the line in the next instalment.

As always, the latest LiS game takes place in a cozy little town. As far as Everytown, America go, this one could be the most inviting ever made. You'll really want to live there. That's because of the very effective use of colors and topography. The sights are breathtaking and the decent amount of bloom effect adds to the warmth of the place.

The characters inhabiting this town aren't the most interesting bunch, however, they don't necessarily need to be, because the place feels amazing nevertheless. One thing that's quite bothering, though, is the cringeworthy remarks the protagonist, Alex, often makes in her head. Her monologues at the end are in stark contrast with the laconic, vacuous thoughts she has throughout the game.

But that's alright, since the story she's the hero of will make you like her, and probably even remember her for many years, anyway. It is your typical story of Everytown, America, but with its own color to be remembered by.

Of course, a LiS game has to use superpowers as a plot device and game mechanic. For the most part, Alex's "telempathy" doesn't seem particularly relevant as a plot device and, as a game mechanic, it only implies pushing one or two buttons. Like her psychiatrist, you even doubt her power is real, as it's not much better than your regular cold reading done by charlatans. However, in the last chapter, it is made pretty clear that the power is real.

This last chapter, while asking a lot of your suspension of disbelief, draws everything together, so that, by the end, it becomes a really good story filled with tragedy, courage, and the greatly satisfying feeling of belonging there, in that most pleasant small town.

A really earnest and thoughtful game that I enjoyed playing from start to finish.

The story does not have too much to offer, it's simple, not very complicated, the choices do not matter a lot. This game does not compare to the original LIS, but it's way better than the second one. As a comparison the first game being the largest black hole in the universe this is just an ant and the second one a grain of sand.

It's an example of how good music can make a game that is not as well thought in the matter of storytelling and mechanics, to be good. If the game didn't have the awesome soundtrack it would be a 4/10, not an 8/10. The soundtrack is awesome, the zen moments are an awesome idea, a thing that I was doing since I started gaming it's now supported and encouraged by developers. I found myself sit 15 minutes or more in a zen moment just watching the beautiful graphics and feeling the song.

But still, the soundtrack isn't as good as the first game, but it's still very good. But I was expecting way more, given that Alex is intro music. And music being the central theme that revolves through the game. In the first game that was the photography and in the second drawing. So I think we deserved more attention to the music. We received less music than in the first game.

For the story, I don't know how you can miss this bad, with the background being so perfect, lonely, and peaceful town, Alex the protagonist that is a newcomer and is awaiting to see the mysteries that the town can offer. It could be much better, anyone can think of something better. So I must assume that they did that on purpose, the story is so simple on purpose, like a manifest that things aren't always so complicated and complex. I respect the writers' decision, the game didn't make me burst into tears like in the first list, but it didn't make me wish that it ends faster like the second one.

The graphics are awesome, the eyes of the characters are so cool, like how the move, respecting the classic lis art style, is so beautiful. The town the Main Street, the road, omg just fills you with an ease and peaceful emotion.

Another thing that I noticed, playing this on the ps5. Is the dualsense missed opportunities. The game has dual sense support, but it's not there in all of the cases that it could be. I mean it isn't hard to feel on a playthrough where that feedback is missing and you are wondering why so easy to find those spots.

I think biggest the problem with this game is that the first one exists, the game is worth playing and buying, one of the best games of this year, but when you compare it with Life Is Strange, the original, you even can't compare, the masterpiece of gaming and storytelling it's hella light-years away from True Colors.