Life is Strange 2 - Episode 1: Roads Reviews
It starts badly for the characters, but very well for the players. It's a sad story for Sean and Daniel. And we already know with some sequences of this episode that Life is Strange 2 has a chance to be a successful heir to the first season, thanks to its unique atmosphere, well-written characters and some tough choices to make. Potential is here. It's clear DONTNOD has the power to fulfill it.
Review in French | Read full review
Life is Strange 2 is entirely separate from the it's predecessor in terms of story and characters, yet it manages to capture the same atmosphere that makes the series so special. It isn't always subtle in its message, but the game is a powerful story about injustice and family all the same.
A capable introduction and healthy foundation.
Effortlessly balancing the poignant storytelling and realistic characters the series made its name with, Roads is a superb first chapter in a series which keeps growing with confidence.
The highly anticipated sequel to Dontnod's narrative adventure has begun, and it's off to a strong, tense start.
That being said, Life is Strange 2 boldly covers subject matter that so often is tiptoed around or completely ignored in entertainment, and it's refreshing to see the studio address topics like racism and police brutality head-on. While I'd like to see some technical aspects polished up (the facial animations still lack a decent range of expression, for example), Episode 1 is a solid start on this new saga in the series. I look forward to seeing what becomes of the Diaz brothers as they continue to head towards Mexico over the course of the next four episodes.
Life is Strange 2 is a fantastic start to a new journey. While you can see elements of the original, Sean's journey is different to the point where he isn't another Chloe. Even though Roads establishes an unsustainable story, it will be interesting to see where Sean's journey ends. Whether it's something happy, sad or just simply discovering the importance of family and becoming the hero his brother needs, the journey should be quite interesting. Sure, right now we have more questions than answers and maybe some things won't be explained but based off this episode it looks to be going in the right direction.
Life is Strange 2 isn't re-writing DONTNOD's rulebook when it comes to gameplay, but the tale being told this time around is a far bigger statement than their last. And it's only just begun.
Delivers a heavy dose of truth through beautiful narrative.
Life is Strange 2 tells a brand new and almost independent story which focuses on teenagers' strange life, and Episode 1 is a good start. The dramatic beginning of episode 1 is shocking, and the characters are impressive. Choices are not as important as I wish, but the money management system greatly makes up those flaws.
Review in Chinese | Read full review
Compared to Life is Strange, this thread of relationship and bond is reminiscent to the friendship between Max and Chloe – albeit very different in terms of specific elements.
Life is Strange 2 excels on many levels but also has its evident flaws. Following the Diaz brothers through traumatic and unnecessary events will have you empathizing with their circumstances. However, Daniel's supernatural powers are a whole other conundrum.
Episode 1: Roads is a shining example of a developer that has built on the success of the first title and only continued to improve with the experience it has under its belt in episodic gaming.
Sean gets to offer us a new way of interacting with drawing challenges but I found them clunky to use and not that much fun while also breaking immersion as Sean is far too brooding, too much on his mind as he tries to lead them to safety to care about drawing right now.
Life is Strange 2 sets up a very different story that cares a lot of the original game's strengths with it, and leaves some of its weaker points behind.
Life is Strange 2 is easily a worthy successor to the original by both remaining true to the tone of the series and finding refreshing ways to separate itself from it. In the first game, I definitely felt a lot of emotions but in Life is Strange 2, not only do I feel, but I found myself involuntarily emotionally reacting to the events of the game. Dontnod has created something truly special once again and the wait for these remaining episodes will be harder than it has been waiting in the past.
Roads' is a fantastic first episode in what promises to be one of the best episodic series the games industry has ever seen
A line from a certain character is very apropos to how this game sees our current year politics and culture: "Everything is political, Sean." I think the game has a good road movie story in there with the two brothers, however the heavy-handed politics are written for pretty much only one crowd: the folks who think our current president is literally Hitler..
First episode of Life is Strange 2 starts even more brilliantly than its prequel and targets crucial political issues without feeling forced. The next four episodes might completely ruin the experience of the first one, but there is so much potential here.
Review in Persian | Read full review
A beginning of a political and troubling story, with some “uncanny valley” animations and dark themes - Dontnod once again proving they are the top of this genre.