Life is Strange: Before the Storm - Episode 1: Awake Reviews
Deck Nine Games has gracefully hurdled the obstacles in its way, with a rip-roaring episode that pulls back the curtain on Rachel Amber and begins a chain of events that we can't wait to watch unwind. Life Is Strange: Before the Storm recaptures the spirit of the first season, but by framing the story around fan favourite Chloe Price, it has a much more rebellious vibe. And while that means there's still plenty of cringe to work through, Episode 1: Awake pitches the moments that matter perfectly – we can't wait to see what happens next.
Despite many expectations, revisiting a younger Chloe Price and Arcadia Bay is very rewarding for fans of Life Is Strange. Deck Nine have found a story of discovery, growth and friendship that's well worth telling, and doing so in a delightfully unexpected manner. Especially if you're already a fan of the series, Life Is Strange: Before The Storm is easily recommended and I'm eager to see what's next.
It feels great to be back in Arcadia Bay. Deck Nine hasn't lost the magic of Life is Strange and this first chapter of the prequel lets us imagine a touching story with great characters and probably counting decisions.
Review in French | Read full review
'Awake' is a great start to what I hope will ultimately be a great game. As a follow-up to Life is Strange, a game that is near and dear to my heart, I think Before the Storm is definitely on the right track and I eagerly await the remaining episodes.
Life is Strange: Before the Storm is off to a not unpromising start, but it feels like Chloe and the game are both still finding their feet.
I've got plenty of minor quibbles, but this is still an impressively solid start to a product that has an awfully special predecessor to live up to. I'm just hoping that this doesn't end up feeling like a prequel that nobody really needed.
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.
Deck Nine's Life Is Strange prequel ditches time travel, but finds power of a different sort.
Episode One: Awake of Before the Storm is a surprisingly promising entry for the short three-episode series. There's the right amount of callbacks to the series that made so many fans fall in love with Chloe and Max in the first place. While I still wish the dialogue wasn't as teenager cringe-y in a not-realistic way, there's far more of it this time around that plain isn't. Hell, even Chloe's eventual over-usage of "hella" is explained in a tongue-in-cheek nod to the future. For everyone who was worried about Before the Storm's authenticity under the reigns of a new developer: don't be.
For a mini series, Before the Storm is a worthy prequel, the drama around Chloe, attractive and lovely characters, just like the first season and the all-new gameplay system consisting of the Backtalk option which is amazing, makes this episode a satisfactory one and a "Must" for the fans. If you're missing the Arcadia bay and its people, do not miss Before the Storm
Review in Persian | Read full review
It will give you and your friends a lot to talk about, and that's all you really want from a Life Is Strange game. And trust, you will have raging emotions about your life decisions in Life Is Strange: Before The Storm.
Life is Strange: Before the Storm is here. Who wants to talk about feelings! No major spoilers.
Life is Strange: Before the Storm - Episode 1: Awake is a bit different from the original, but at the same time the game is no less intense in atmosphere department, which slips a little at the very beginning, but then quickly picks up. If developers gonna keep the same level of production in the next two episodes, then one of the most interesting adventures of this year awaits us.
Review in Russian | Read full review
Dontnod's first season of Life is Strange is a wonderful work, and one of the finest episodic adventure games of its kind. That's a lot to live up to, but Deck Nine does a top job recreating what fans love about the series while setting up a new story to be told about a pair of young women bound by new, exciting feelings and a shared distrust of the world around them.
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
Deck Nine’s take on the cult hit episodic series delivers a more grounded experience without losing the compelling drama and hard-hitting emotion
The good doesn’t stop there. The new entry into the series wouldn’t be anything without a legitimate sense of place. Luckily, the game’s soundtrack provides that, and so much more.
Life is Strange: Before the Storm Episode 1 fails to live up to the promise of the original. While providing a great soundtrack, updated visuals, and better animations it struggles to realise just what made Life is Strange special.