Life is Strange: Before the Storm Reviews
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.
Life is Strange: Before the Storm, despite a great second episode, ends feeling rushed and loses the focus on Chloe and Rachel's relationship.
Despite an uneven final episode, the bond between Chloe and Rachel cements the surprising prequel, sometimes even soaring above the heights of the original game. It still has all the faults of Life Is Strange as a series, but its domestic focus helps it resonate even greater than its successor. If Rachel Amber is the Laura Palmer of Life Is Strange, then Before the Storm is her much-deserved Fire Walk With Me.
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
If you're looking for a game that presents a story that is pretty grounded in reality yet presents some twists and interesting character development, you should consider checking out Before the Storm. Still, you should be wary of the game's performance issues and don't expect mind blowing writing.
Due to the different scenario settings, Life is Strange: Before the Storm has to abandon the rewind system which is the most interesting part of the original LiS game. Therefore, this prequel might lack the originality and interactive quality. Luckily, Before the Storm only takes three chapters to tell audience a brilliant story. And the characterization of two different girls Chole and Rachel is impressive. Like the original story, the finale chapter is a mess. But still, Before the Storm is just a simple love story. Maybe most of the player will not judge the logical problem as a very serious faultiness.
Review in Chinese | Read full review
It's a fine prequel, yet not without problems. A couple of scenes, many easter eggs and emotional ending make up for its flaws and this one particular moment will grab you by the heart for sure.
Review in Polish | Read full review
A streamlined peep at the events which build up to Life is Strange. Emotionally satisfying, but sometimes clunky.
The story and characters in Life is Strange: Before the Storm help to make it a valued addition to the universe. An alluring friendship between the two main characters is the key to its success. It's just a pity that ineffectual player choice, weak adventure mechanics, and a lacklustre ending prevent it from creating a lifelong bond with the audience.
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.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review
Before the Storm is a good pit-stop between the first and second part of Life is Strange. The game itself is pleasant but not memorable. Chloe and Rachel’s relationship is portrayed very convincingly but there is too few new things and the whole thing relies too much on the first game.
Review in Polish | Read full review
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.
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.
This short season acts as a nice prequel to the lead-up into Life is Strange. It attempts to expand on the same story concepts with a different gameplay dynamic.
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
No, a great thing.
Life is Strange: Before the Storm isn't as groundbreaking as its predecessor, but it's an excellent refinement of those ideas and a solid prequel.
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.
Life is Strange: Before the Storm is a masterful prequel, then. Easter eggs and fan service exist peacefully alongside a fantastic new narrative filled with characters I wish I could spend even more time with. Its story fills all the gaps it needs to while never feeling as though it steps on the toes of what is yet to come, and still manages to carve out its own space. In some ways, Before the Storm is only the start of the Life is Strange journey, but in many others it is a joyous adventure in its own right.
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.