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.
IGN
Top Critic
7.5 / 10.0
Sep 5, 2017

Life is Strange: Before the Storm shows a lot of promise in its first few hours despite the same weaknesses in its script as the original Life is Strange series.

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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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Aug 31, 2017

Chloe's enhanced angst might grate a little, but there's no denying Before the Storm is going to be another brilliant Life is Strange game.

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8 / 10.0
Aug 31, 2017

Awake is at its best when it focuses on Chloe and Rachel's complicated lives, making you feel each character's struggle

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8 / 10.0
Sep 5, 2017

That story stops in a beautiful place at Episode One's end: a cliffhanger that makes me want Episode Two, stat. I'm a little nervous about having to deal with more of Chloe's pop-punk-esque "I'm not OK" pontificating. But based on what I've seen from Before the Storm's premiere, I'm willing to tough it out alongside her, and Rachel, and the rest of Arcadia Bay.

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8 / 10
Sep 1, 2017

Deck Nine's Life Is Strange prequel ditches time travel, but finds power of a different sort.

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VG247
Top Critic
Unscored
Sep 1, 2017

Life is Strange: Before the Storm is here. Who wants to talk about feelings! No major spoilers.

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Unscored
Sep 5, 2017

Before the Storm is at its best when it focuses on the untold elements of Life Is Strange. So far, those moments capture the spirit of the original, but I'm anxious to see if it can hold up as the timelines converge. Buy it.

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4.5 / 5.0
Aug 31, 2017

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.

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Unscored
Aug 31, 2017

It struggles with characterisation and motivation at times, BUT it also made me laugh out loud and furnished me with an unexpected weepy moment.

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7 / 10.0
Aug 31, 2017

Before the Storm is an eagerly awaited second album, but it's one we're going to have to pay attention to before we can see what it really is.

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Unscored
Sep 1, 2017

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.

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8 / 10.0
Sep 12, 2017

The first episode of Life is Strange: Before the Storm doesn't contain a lot of exciting events or game-changing decisions, but it seems like a good start for a story filled with tense and touching moments. It sets up the spotlight on Chloe and her relationship with Rachel as well as it offering a tutorial of sorts for the new power Backtalk which helps our heroin talk other characters into doing whatever she wants.

Review in Arabic | 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

6.5 / 10.0
Aug 31, 2017

Life Is Strange: Before the Storm's Episode 1: Awake focus on themes of depression, loss, and the inability to fit in, which it does an excellent job at presenting throughout this first episode. Sadly, the episode's main focus on Chloe and Rachel's friendship can feel a little forced early on, but inevitably lands on plausible after learning about the mental state of each of the characters.

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8.5 / 10.0
Sep 7, 2017

Before the Storm's first chapter has already deflected most of the pre-release concerns that "This doesn't need to exist." Maybe it doesn't because Life is Strange's story was self-contained. Then again, maybe Life is Strange is better off with this complementing it. After its debut, I'm fully willing to argue that Before the Storm deserves to exist because this story is important too. In true Chloe fashion, anyone who disagrees gets two one-finger salutes.

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79 / 100
Aug 31, 2017

The first episode of Life is Strange: Before the Storm is a continuist and respectful graphic adventure with the original game. A good start for the story of Chloe and Rachel who still has a lot to offer. It's time to go back to Arcade Bay!

Review in Spanish | Read full review

Unscored
Sep 1, 2017

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.

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Metro GameCentral
GameCentral
Top Critic
8 / 10
Aug 31, 2017

An excellent start to a prequel series that taps into the same style of sincere storytelling as the original, making a previously unsympathetic character seem vulnerable and likeable.

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8.5 / 10.0
Sep 6, 2017

Despite feeling hesitant going into Before the Storm, Deck Nine Games' rendition of Arcadia Bay quickly reminded me of why I loved the series and its characters in the first place. Any fears of this being a cash-in on a beloved game melted away, and I was able to fully enjoy Awake without any second thoughts. I'm excited to see where Chloe and Rachel's story goes from here, even if I already know how tragic it ultimately ends.

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