Life is Strange: Before the Storm Reviews

Life is Strange: Before the Storm is ranked in the 79th percentile of games scored on OpenCritic.
8.6 / 10.0
Jun 17, 2019

Before the Storm is a great game to be experienced by a fan of the first game. It focuses on Chloe and her friendship with Amber after and before Max was in the picture. The only thing that makes me wonder is what happened after the storm...

Review in Polish | Read full review

7.5 / 10.0
Nov 24, 2018

Life is Strange: Before the Storm is a game that makes you think about every single aspect of your life thanks to a very strong plot. Because the developers have a relatively predictable story, this game being a prequel, some points were flawed, but it's still an overall enjoyable experience. Despite some graphical and gameplay shortcomings, this prequel is able to honour the Life is Strange name.

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5 / 10.0
Aug 14, 2018

The first Lift is Strange game set the bar quite high. Before the Storm just did not have enough to live up to the first. The story was lacking any interesting plot elements to reel you in. The gameplay lacked...pretty much anything. The puzzles were slow and boring. Chloe's behavior was so frustrating at times. For the most part it felt like all of this stuff was there to serve as a distraction from a story that is mediocre at best.

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8.9 / 10.0
Jul 31, 2018

In spite of its faults, Life is Strange: Before the Storm is a fantastic follow-up to an already great game. It improves upon the formula of the original title while offering a fascinating look into two of the series' most captivating characters. Beautiful, charming, and devastating, Before the Storm is a must-play for fans of the series and a phenomenal way to tide players over until the release of Life is Strange 2.

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8 / 10
Apr 18, 2018

Before the Storm is an impactful prequel that accomplishes something very different than the original Life is Strange.

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Mar 21, 2018

Is this game as good as the original Life is Strange? Personally, I don't think so. But it's still great nonetheless and definitely shouldn't be missed by fans of the first game.

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86 / 100
Mar 13, 2018

Life is Strange: Before the Storm presents itself without riddles, but with purity, to offer us an excellent narrative adventure that helps us to complement Chloe's story and other holes of Arcadia Bay's life. Despite its shorter duration, it has not lost its charm. The extra episode, Farewell, it will thrill you to tears.

Review in Spanish | Read full review

7.7 / 10.0
Mar 11, 2018

Life is Strange: Before the Storm delivers on its promise of a captivating story that brings humanity to the idea of presumably senseless teen angst.

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4.5 / 5.0
Mar 10, 2018

Life is Strange: Before the Storm is a powerful series that blends in touches of the supernatural while telling a grounded narrative.

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8 / 10
Mar 9, 2018

Life Is Strange: Before the Storm isn't a story that needed telling, and it was a risk for Deck 9 to try and add to a beloved series, but they've pulled it off. It answers the question of who Rachel Amber was and what she really meant to Chloe, showing something that feels more grounded like a TV teen dramas and speaks to the struggle to find your place in the world.

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8 / 10
Mar 7, 2018

Deck Nine have finished off Life is Strange in sterling fashion. Saying farewell to Arcadia Bay with Before the Storm is sad, but the best farewells usually are.

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8.3 / 10.0
Mar 7, 2018

Between lighthearted and somber moments, Before the Storm shows the complexity of life and how our loved ones help us get by

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8 / 10
Mar 7, 2018

Farewell is a short but sweet episode that allows fans to celebrate the beauty of Life is Strange as the series moves on without Chloe and Max.

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Mar 4, 2018

Standing alone, Before the Storm has an emotional arc, which goes to say that the experience is not an inherent waste of time. The nature of truth that is at the heart of the narrative is not without merit—a worthy exploration of an important theme to be sure. Overall, Deck Nine does as the best as any studio could be expected to in trying to recapture the magic of the first season, even if the experience ultimately leaves players wanting more of that original magic. Perhaps these shortcomings are simply a testament to the quality of the initial installment. Any attempt to replicate Life is Strange would always fall flat, and no one can be faulted for failing at such an impossible task. In the end, even with all the proper precautions and setup in place to capture the same lightning in a bottle, the emotional maelstrom that is Life is Strange is so potent because of the storm at the heart of the game. Anything that comes before is just the calm.

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70 / 100
Jan 26, 2018

A streamlined peep at the events which build up to Life is Strange. Emotionally satisfying, but sometimes clunky.

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8.1 / 10.0
Jan 23, 2018

If you’re looking for more Life is Strange, Deck Nine has delivered a fantastic and consistent prequel that is a must-play for fans.

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7 / 10
Jan 17, 2018

Fortunately, there is no room for worrying; all fans of the previous season can now play “Before the Storm” with piece of mind. Having a true understanding of the first season’s pros and cons has helped its creators to produce a game carrying high standards and satisfy its players. Therefore, playing “Life Is Strange: Before the Storm” is highly recommended to all of the fans of adventure games!

Review in Persian | Read full review

Yes
Jan 15, 2018

Life is Strange: Before the Storm is undoubtedly a risk that Square Enix didn’t need to take. The original Life is Strange ended in a way that left fans expecting nothing more, so the prequel’s announcement came as quite a surprise. Thankfully, newcomers Deck Nine have created a mini-series that is not only respectful of the original but stands on its own as an essential prequel. The visuals may suffer from slight blemishes, and the uneven voice acting can be off-putting at times, but the game quickly makes up for this through its engaging characters, excellent pacing and great plot twists. It’s a no-brainer for fans of Life is Strange and an equally perfect starting point for newcomers.

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8 / 10.0
Jan 13, 2018

Life is Strange: Before the Storm's 3rd episode has a simpler approach to its narrative. It doesn't go out of its way to amaze the player. So it might not be the best or the most memorable but thanks to an incredibly bitter ending to a great story, Rachel's and Chloe's adventures connect to the main game and that is the biggest achievement of Hell is Empty

Review in Persian | Read full review

VG247
Top Critic
Unscored
Jan 12, 2018

Have you played Life is Strange: Before the Storm? Let's talk about that ending. Spoilers for both Life is Strange games ahead.

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