Life is Strange: Before the Storm - Episode 1: Awake Reviews

Life is Strange: Before the Storm - Episode 1: Awake is ranked in the 75th percentile of games scored on OpenCritic.
8.5 / 10.0
Sep 3, 2017

If you were a fan of Life is Strange and its formula, this prequel will be perfect if you desired more from Arcadia Bay.

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9 / 10
Sep 3, 2017

This is a perfect start to a new Life is Strange saga and left me wanting more as the original series did so expertly. If you're already a fan of the series you'll feel right at home (although I do miss Max…) and if you're new, it ain't a bad place to start. If anything I would envy the chance to play this first before the original game, as my final choice and decisions throughout the original might have been very different having become attached to Chloe before Max.

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9 / 10
Sep 3, 2017

A solid and long episode with great characters and story. Must play for Life is Strange fans.

Review in Turkish | Read full review

Sep 3, 2017

Before the Storm evokes everything wonderful about the first game, with even the loss of Max Caulfield and her time-rewind mechanic not as great as one might think. This is fan service at its best. If you were a fan of Life is Strange, you'll love this opening episode and the tease of what's coming in the following episodes.

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Wccftech
Top Critic
8.8 / 10.0
Sep 4, 2017

Before the Storm is a glimpse into a struggling mind. It is a not a blank canvas to create your own character, but the story of one person meeting another. Beautiful and flawed.

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7 / 10.0
Sep 4, 2017

Which fails to reach the same heights of the original, and feels a little forced.

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GameSpew
Top Critic
9 / 10
Sep 4, 2017

As an introductory episode to a three-part series, Awake absolutely nails it.

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85 / 100
Sep 4, 2017

Despite being a story prior to the original, Life is Strange: Before the Storm is best enjoyed if you consider it as a sequel. By far, the heart of the episode is the Chloe and Rachel encounter and we can finally learn more about this character that all Arcadia Bay loves. In the end, the story is interesting and prepares us for a second episode that will possibly bring strong feelings. The biggest problem of the episode are some graphics bugs and the control.

Review in Portuguese | Read full review

8.5 / 10.0
Sep 4, 2017

Life is Strange Before The Storm: Awakening sets the stage for what promises to be a more than worthy prequel to the acclaimed Life is Strange.

Review in Spanish | Read full review

Sep 4, 2017

Life is Strange: Before the Storm's first episode recaptures the magic that endeared the series to fans during its first run, and we can't wait for more.

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Sep 4, 2017

Though it doesn't feel quite as "high stakes" as its predecessor, Life is Strange: Before The Storm - Episode 1: Awake is a very promising start to Deck Nine's new prequel miniseries.

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Sep 4, 2017

Deck Nine has shown an extraordinary understanding of a delicate formula. For fans, it's a return journey to one of the most vivid, joyous settings in gaming. For them, and for everyone else, it's a brave effort which, at times, surpasses the original.

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7.8 / 10.0
Sep 4, 2017

Life Is Strange: Before the Storm follows the path of what became the first title in 2015. Deck Nine has done the work of developing a graphic adventure to meet the expectations of fans but with the virtues and shortcomings of the previous title. Anyway is an ingenious proposal of mechanics that the most edicated fans will love.

Review in Spanish | Read full review

Unscored
Sep 4, 2017

From the tremendous soundtrack to the details of the side characters and story crumbs, Before the Storm is like a carbon copy of the first game.

Review in Turkish | Read full review

8.1 / 10.0
Sep 4, 2017

There’s only one way to really describe Life is Strange: Before the Storm – Awake – it’s more of the same, for better or worse. If you were a fan of the original game then you’re going to really enjoy what’s on offer here, with the whole angsty yet touching vibe carrying over this time around too. There are a few differences, most notably with the time-bending powers replaced with Chloe’s Backchat, but in general it all feels the same. If you weren’t a fan of the original game though, nothing on offer here is going to change your mind. I was a massive fan of the original game though and in turn really enjoyed playing through Life is Strange: Before the Storm – Awake. It has set up a story that I want to see more of, and whilst I might already know the fate of both characters, I’m still intrigued to see how their relationship blossoms and what issues they face going forward. Life is Strange: Before the Storm has got off to a great start, so hopefully there’ll be more of the same in the next two episodes.

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8.5 / 10.0
Sep 4, 2017

If you are a fan of Life is Strange this is a no brainer and you've probably already downloaded the game and are playing through it. Before the Storm was made with you in mind.

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90%
Sep 4, 2017

Life is Strange: Before the Storm had no easy task, but at least the first episode managed to deftly follow in shoes of its extremely successful predecessor.

Review in Slovak | Read full review

6 / 10.0
Sep 5, 2017

Life Is Strange: Before The Storm gets off to a moderately good start. Its characters are interesting, but the plot is entirely unclear right now, and is moving in a direction I'm not all that invested in.

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NZGamer
Top Critic
8.5 / 10.0
Sep 5, 2017

Ben received a digital copy of Life is Strange: Before the Storm from Square Enix for review.

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8 / 10.0
Sep 5, 2017

Life is Strange: Before the Storm Episode One - Awake is a great start to Deck Nine's mini-prequel series. Despite some hiccups, Before the Storm establishes a compelling cast and endearing game world that is just begging to be explored further.

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