Life Is Strange 2 - Episode 2: Rules Reviews
The second episode of Life is Strange 2 slows down a little bit. There is more focus on the characters, and finally the appearence of Captain Spirit.
Review in Italian | Read full review
“Rules” feels like emotional torture porn without any of the thematic follow through to make it worthwhile.
The second chapter in Sean and Daniel's story asks the hard questions, like can grandmas really be trusted?
Rules continues the compelling journey of the Diaz brothers, further expanding on the supernatural elements teased during the first episode's conclusion with less forcefully controversial and predictable writing. Unfortunately, the episode is hindered by some substantial technical issues.
Bouncing off from the fantastic work in Episode 1: Roads, Dontnod builds on the relationship between Sean and Daniel in more than one way.
Rules is a backwards step after a strong opening for Life Is Strange 2, feeling more like a filler episode which squanders the momentum of the Diaz boys' story.
Regardless of the issues, it's still too early to say whether or not this arc will pay off. Right now it feels like the story has a firm grasp on the concepts they want to touch on, but they don't know how to tell a narrative that fits it. It's clear the next episode will deal with Cassidy the drifter and we will likely meet their mother at some point, but right now the story is spinning wheels. It will be interesting to see if the climax gives us the ability to see two radically different endings or possibly the most common outcome leading to the future franchise canon but we will have to see where the rails take us.
A slump in a promising series, Episode 2 still contains emotional highs and thoughtful choices.
Rules maintains the series' dual coming-of-age narrative, but often undermines its central pillar of choice.
Rules is a good way to continue the story of Life is Strange 2. This chapter that makes us make some tough decisions regarding the situation can be depressing, soothing, shocking, moving and we are really looking forward to know where Sean and Daniel are taken next time.
Review in French | Read full review
Life is Strange 2 continues its streak of excellence with Roads, an episode that advances the story of Sean and Daniel Diaz with a series of brave, unpredictable events. While it fumbles when touching upon heavier political themes, the emotion at the core of this story succeeds, and is ultimately what matters the most.
Life is Strange 2 finally begins to discover his cards, proving to have the ability to repeat the success of the first season.
Despite some questionable moments in the second episode, Life Is Strange 2 is off to an excellent start. Daniel and Sean's journey is a tough, racially-heated story that will draw you in, even as it breaks your heart.
Life Is Strange 2: Episode 2 is a disappointment. While it contains a number of revelatory moments and a couple of scenes that pack real tension, thanks to its lousy pacing and absence of agency, only the most committed fans of this series are advised to pick it up. Here's hoping Episode 3 picks up the pace.
It’s only been just over a day since I finished Life Is Strange 2 Episode 2: Rules, but already the wait for the next installment is killing me.
Life is Strange 2 Episode 2 shows exactly how interactive narrative games can be so powerful. By focusing on your responsibility for two characters and their actions, players can enjoy the heartbreaking story they accidentally unfold.
Life Is Strange 2 feels like it's flying under-the-radar, which is unfortunate because this sequel has all of the hallmarks that made its predecessor a success. Episode 2: Rules is slow, but DONTNOD is still easing its new cast of characters in. There's definitely something good brewing here, but for whatever reason we can't shake the feeling that the developer has utterly failed to capture the imagination of Arcadia Bay's biggest fans.
Story in "Life is Strange 2: Rules" is too slow, full of routine and strange actions. We hope that potential romantic line and the change of setting will bring some variety to the gameplay next time.
Review in Russian | Read full review
Aside from the pacing, the episode is let down by a variety of technical issues which add a layer of frustration and detract from the experience. Fortunately we can see that the pace of Episode 3 is likely to pick up, and hopefully that finally reaches the potential this story is promising.
Episode 2 might be a slower entry in the episodic series, but it gave me enough meaningful content and satisfying gameplay to enjoy playing throughout.