Life is Strange: Before the Storm - Episode 1: Awake Reviews
Episode 1 embarks on a new path with it's new gameplay mechanism while filling the plot holes from the original series. Despite some cheesy dialogues throughout the first episode, Before the Storm shows it has the potential to seize everything it wishes for.
Review in Persian | Read full review
The first episode of Life is Strange: Before the Storm provides a lesson in interactive story-type adventure games. Instead of silly QTEs and simplistic puzzle-solving, its only focus seems to be the story - or, to be more precise, the characters involved in it. It's the first tiny step of what seems to be a small journey, and it kind of feels like an intro rather than a full chapter, but it's so emotive and deeply immersive that it won't really matter.
Chloe have an outstanding character and Deck Nine did a great job replacing Max supernatural power with the backtalk ability which fits very well with Chloe as the main character. In the first episode Awake we witness Chloe and Rachel relationship develop but in general it's still missing exciting events. Life is strange still offers one of the best video game soundtracks you could ever find, it really reflects on the characters emotions making it easier for the players to connect with them. The game has a unique art style but unfortunately I didn't notice any improvement in graphics.
Review in Arabic | Read full review
Life is Strange: Before the Storm shows that it understands what pulled people into the nostalgia-fuelled Arcadia Bay, and creates an emotionally-charged intriguing opening chapter to a story that we'll be keeping an eye on.
Chloe is me. She’s you. She’s so many other teens of today and throughout time. She is one of the most fully-realized characters in modern video games, and I can’t wait to see what the next episode has in store for her and Rachel.
Life is Strange: Before the Storm – Episode 1: Awake starts the prequel series off strong with a narrative that makes you care about Chloe in an all-new way.
Before the Storm addresses old problems through an old story, and it makes a compelling case to reconsider its divisive protagonist.
Life is Strange: Before the Storm is a good prequel, very respectful of the source material. Chloe and Rachel are a great couple and the beginning of this new story is quite satisfying.
Review in Italian | Read full review
Like Chrysalis, Awake once again feels like the beginning of something great.
Which fails to reach the same heights of the original, and feels a little forced.
Ben received a digital copy of Life is Strange: Before the Storm from Square Enix for review.
Episode 1 of Life is Strange: Before the Storm is a fun and well-written return to Arcadia Bay with similar complex themes, extensive character development and ‘hella' interesting high-school drama.
Deck Nine’s take on the cult hit episodic series delivers a more grounded experience without losing the compelling drama and hard-hitting emotion
Life is Strange: Before the Storm manages to capture the emotional heartache that the first game gave you and amplifies it to create a masterfully crafted story that is bursting at the seams with realistic human drama and remarkable characters.
An entertaining origin story that raises some questions I would love to see answered while also telling the tale of Chloe's origin story.
As I played through the game, I found myself profoundly moved by Chloe, by Rachel, by loss and pain and the wondrous beauty of a newfound love. Excellence in writing evokes emotion and memory. Awake has it in spades. Deck Nine has done what most didn’t think they could: It took a beloved series by another developer (DontNod Entertainment) and made it even better. There simply isn’t a better way to honor another game than that.
A quietly compelling return to Oregon, which substitutes sci-fi gimmickry for an earnest look at growing up.
If you’ve played the first Life is Strange, Before the Storm is a must-play. Even though it feels little more than a setup, it’s still an intricate setup, with a lingering promise of big emotional reward.
Life is Strange: Before the Storm's first episode is a strong and reassuring start to a prequel series filled with potential.
The new Life is Strange story is not as charming and exciting as the original one, but it makes a nice comeback to familiar world and atmosphere.
Review in Polish | Read full review