Life is Strange: Before the Storm

If you liked the original, you'll like this one too.

meh it was alright at best still better than 2 true colors and double exposure 2 is just barley worse than this dont nod and deck nine are garbage no so say goodbye to life is strange its dead now ruined by dontnod and decknine

I am not really the same person I was before I started the LIS games. This one in particular is so bittersweet. But play at your own risk, a lot of crying ahead.

This game speak to me on so many levels.
I've had trouble with my mom, especially when it came to dating other mans.
I've had harsh problems during my teen years.
Romance looked like it'd save it all but in the end pushed away thoughts and I ended up "worse".

This game can grab you can pull you through trough phases of your life. Or make you dwelve deeper into them and think about nature/nurture.

I love this game so fkn much. Truly changed my perspective on life. Please play

I will never play this game again but it has my heart even still. Completely different person now with a better sense of humor but this story eats fr

I don't know what happened to the writing quality, but Before the Storm is a steaming pile of garbage.

Life is Strange: Before the Storm is certainly an interesting prequel to Life is Strange. Unlike the other titles in the franchise, this game is directly connected to another, specifically the first title, which means it can leave a lot of expectations to fans of the first. To play this game without having played the first, or with no intentions of ever playing the first, would be a mistake that may result in a less than satisfactory takeaway. That is not to say the game doesn't have anything to enjoy, however it was made with the intentions of being connected to a much larger plot, so keep that context in mind.

When it comes to the story, which is the backbone of these titles, there is plenty of emotions to be felt and drama to keep you from boredom. Without spoiling anything, it follows the supporting side character from the first game, Chloe Price, and a character that is--at least to my memory, as of writing this--only ever mentioned in the first game. It serves well enough as a prequel, although some may find certain new lore to either conflict with or provide an uninteresting explanation to established lore or mysteries of Life is Strange. I didn't mind any of it, and welcomed the added lore to the world-building that the first game had started. Again, without the context of the first game, what lore is created by this game maybe insignificant or needless to some. It's interesting to experience a character you only heard of previously, to then see them in action. As it stands, as far as the story is concerned, this game isn't bad on its own, but the first is a must either before or after playing this. If you've played through the first, then I would recommend this game on that alone.

Now for the real downside, not that it's a deal-breaker in any way. For those who've played either the first game, or even any of the other major titles, you may be well familiar with the signature or "gimmick" of the Life is Strange franchise. Every protagonist has some sort of "special gift", to put it simply. Whether that be mind-reading empathy, time control, or telekinesis. This game, however, offers talking your way through conflicts. Take this with a grain of salt, since you're following the first game's supporting character, who is taken aback by that game's protagonist's special ability. It wouldn't make much sense for Chloe to possess her own supernatural ability, but the first game is well known for its signature style of gameplay. This is the compromise; talking your way through. It still has consequences for every action or inaction, so it may still prove fun, especially since these particular moments of gameplay are typically timed, adding a sense of urgency to respond which can result in an unexpected outcome, keeping your play-through unique to you. If you have not played the first game, nor have any intentions of doing so, then this game may prove dull.

Ultimately, Life is Strange: Before the Storm is best enjoyed as an appetizer to Life is Strange, or as a dessert. For anyone who thoroughly enjoyed the first game, or even the other titles and has plans to play the first one at some point, then I highly recommend this game. Especially with a new title coming out, returning to the protagonist of the first game, this may be a "must play" to experience as much world-building and lore! Otherwise, maybe just try it out and do a refund if you aren't hooked. It's not for everyone.

Really good prequel!
Great soundtrack, especially with all the Daughter songs.
This game is so much sadder than the first one in my opinion, especially since you would know what happens (and the very final scene of the game where Rachel's phone is ringing while Chloe keeps trying to call her, but you know she's either dead or about to die - right after the montage!... ouch). Incredibly gay.
And yes, the dialogue is a bit cringe but to be fair you're playing a 16 year old in 2010 who's angsty about life, so what can you do.

It's not the same as Life is Strange, but there is still a very captivating story line. It is worth the play through if you enjoyed the first game.

I loved getting to play as chloe

and the farewell story made me sob. easy 10/10

Loved the first episode, liked the rest. The ending choice is a little confusing as to how it links up to the main game, but as a stand alone story it is great, and it does do the characters justice.

Great prequel and made me feel so many feelings. Allows you to learn more about the original characters.

I always come back to this game when I need help dealing with my own daddy issues. Daughter in this ost is perfect. Also gay. 10/10

If you loved playing the first game of the Life is Strange series, you'll love this one too! :) Highly recommended! :)

Much better than the remaster. Don't be tempted by the discounts,
it's definitely worth spending money on the original.
I have a separate review of the remastered version.

bawling my fucking eyes out whilst writing this review but this is such an amazing game. pls buy this as soon as u can this is a game worth investing in

Great story and lovable characters as always. Not quite as good as the original but still very good. Definitely recommended if you enjoyed the original game or games with good stories and characters. Not the longest game, only took me just over 12hrs to do including bonus chapter with Max, but can always go back and do another play through making different choices and see the alt ending :)

10/10 story
10/10 characters

Chloe is always awesome

The story is really good - the game play is good - graphics - characters - everything is good with the game, The only reason I do not recommend is because the game is not for me, it's slowly building up everything, the dialouges are longer than I would like, and I have to listen actively in order to choose my options you can't just guess the answers, plus skipping is not available most of the times, that's the only reason, other wise you can check out multiple streamers or internet to see how good this game's story line is, the developers keep coming up with new versions of the game too, In the past when there was a sale I purchased the DLC pack ,it feels good to know the story before hand - then play the main story

Very good game - with some great info before the Original Life is Strange Game. Now keep in mind you can't change much BUT the story is solid. More like watching a movie :)

Out of the three games that I have played, I LOVE THIS ONE THE MOST HONESTLY. I wish they further explained how did it led up to Rachel's kidnapping but honestly love the nostalgic parts.

very very good! i enjoy the ending, they do something interesting even though we know what happens because of life is strange

This standalone explains so much about how Chloe feels about Rachel. It adds a lot to the first Life is Strange.

One of my all time fav games, right up there with tlou1&2 , stardew valley and sally face :)

гра зробила з мене лесбійку грайте на свій страх і ризик

I really like this story and feel it's a good prequel to the original game.
The graphics are slightly better but you play this game for the story anyway.
Although some plot lines are a bit off and very unrealistic, it still seems ok.
8/10

Original Life is Strange is attractive game with the good storytelling, emotional impact etc. all of which recommended playing this sequel. It didn't take me much to realize it is to much LGBTQ+ content involved in a game and enforced through, in looks alike, every crucial decision in the game.
I have nothing against mentioned orientation, however, it's just felt wrong making decisions and playing that game overall. In addition to that, character lacks special ability that would interactively enhance the game-play.
Can't tell much, maybe the game is great, especially because it is story based. Graphic is an obvious improvement against the former but I wasn't enjoying as previous part and decided to stop playing after 3 monotonous hours.

Life is Strange: Before the Storm is a deeply emotional prequel that beautifully explores the complexities of relationships, particularly through the lens of Chloe Price's interactions with her father. As a person reflecting on this game, I found myself captivated by the poignant scenes where Chloe meets her dad in various contexts, each encounter steeped in nostalgia and longing.

The narrative effectively captures Chloe's struggle with loss and her desire for connection. Each meeting with her father serves as a reminder of what she has lost and what she yearns for. The game does an incredible job of portraying the bittersweet nature of these interactions, where moments of warmth are often tinged with sadness. It’s as if each scene is a window into Chloe’s past, revealing her vulnerabilities and the impact of her father's absence on her life.

Character Development and Emotional Depth
Chloe's character is richly developed, showcasing her rebellious spirit and deep-seated pain. The dialogue feels authentic, reflecting the raw emotions that come with navigating grief and the desire for parental approval. The way Chloe grapples with her memories of her father—sometimes idealizing him while at other times confronting the reality of their relationship—resonates deeply. These scenes are not just flashbacks; they are integral to understanding who Chloe becomes throughout the game.

Visuals and Soundtrack
The art style complements the narrative perfectly, with its vibrant colors and evocative imagery that enhance the emotional weight of each scene. The soundtrack further amplifies this experience, weaving a tapestry of sounds that evoke nostalgia and introspection. It’s a fitting backdrop to Chloe’s journey, making each moment feel significant.

Conclusion
Overall, I feel Life is Strange: Before the Storm is more than just a prequel; it’s a heartfelt exploration of love, loss, and the complexities of family relationships. The moments where Chloe meets her dad are beautifully crafted, leaving players with a sense of longing and reflection. This game has not only enriched my understanding of Chloe but has also left an indelible mark on my heart. I would highly recommend it to anyone looking for a narrative-driven experience that resonates on a personal level.

If you like games where you play 1% and the rest is just watching a movie, then this game is for you. You can not skip the "cinematic/conversational" scenes that last 20 min. You make a small action and there is loooong conversation afterwards. Also Rachel is such a b!tch.

The first Life is Strange video game is great because you have some moments to watch but you can play an 80%. But in this case, woaaah, you can not skip anything and it is basically like watching a movie.

This game brings back the magic that the first game had and that the second failed to emulate which I find surprising for a prequel. We get to go back to Arcadia Bay, where it all began, and see into Chloe's struggles, failings and successes while Max was away. When I first started this one I wasn't too sure if I'd like it, but after a short while of playing I was completely invested in the interesting characters, the compelling plot and the unique story. Like the first game, I felt genuine empathy for the characters (unlike LIS 2 which seems dead set on making you hate the protagonists) and was in a roller coaster of emotions the entire time despite knowing how it eventually ends. The only complaint I would have is probably the weird walk that Chloe does whenever you are controlling her. Who struts like that?

Side note: The bonus episode "Farewell" was a wonderful add on that allowed us to see a bit more of Max and Chloe's relationship by putting us back in the shoes of Max right before she left for Seattle.

All around I loved this game!

I really enjoyed the game. It was a nice perspective from Chloe that we didn't really get from the first game. If you haven't played any of the Life is Strange games then I recommend starting with this one first that way you have a better understanding of what Chloe has kind of went through and what shaped her into being the way she is.

awesome story

i love life is strange so much this game has genuinely changed my life and ive only played the first two games seriously download!!!

worth playing if you liked the first game.
does not stand on it's own.

I love the original part of "Life is Strange" series. As a teenager, I literally admired the atmosphere and soundtracks of the game, as well as its plot to some extent. The way the authors were able to press on the emotions of me as a teenager is truly commendable. Even after going through the first part again as adult, some part of my soul responded to me, although some moments already seemed rather stupid. And yet, these mistakes could be forgiven.
After completing this part of the series, I only had one wish - that the game Life is Strange: Before the Storm never, NEVER existed.
You may disagree with me. And you have the right to do so. Everything said below is just my opinion.
I will indicate what I generally liked: the general atmosphere, soundtracks, graphics are generally pleasant too.

(!) There are spoilers below!

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My English is not perfect, so if you see any incorrect moments here, I apologize. I tried to express my thoughts as clearly as possible.
So, my main complaint about this game is Rachel. You know, in the first part of the game, she was presented to us as an "angel", as the most holy and innocent person in this world, as an understanding and kind friend, whom everyone, literally EVERYONE adored. The fact that she died was really very sad and shocked many - after all, the star of the college was gone. Yes, there were moments of hatred towards her. However, they were so few that it seemed as if she was an ideal and beloved character.
Rachel in this part is a selfish, childish, absolutely irresponsible, manipulative and insensitive character. A typical Mary Sue.
Literally from the very first seconds of meeting Chloe, she begins to put pressure on her, manipulate her as she wants, while Chloe herself, desperately needing a friend, succumbs to this. Chloe literally falls in love with this character. And I sincerely wondered how such a disgusting character can be loved.
You will say: hey, but they are 16 years old and they are still children! Everyone behaves like that at that age - it's normal! And I'll tell you: the way this character behaved is not normal. Rachel knew what she was doing. She knew how to put pressure on Chloe. She knew that Chloe would be dependent on her and would run after her like a devoted dog.
And in this case, Chloe was always blamed for everything, literally EVERYTHING, even when it turned out that Rachel was actually to blame for something that happened. Chloe was just a scapegoat, and Rachel is always a saint.
The way she put pressure on Chloe when she expressed indecision about leaving their hometown disgusted me. Rachel did not think about the possibility of restoring the family, did not think that perhaps Chloe would want to restore the family, no. Everything is bad for her - therefore everything is bad for everyone.
The moment when Chloe tried to show sympathy and support also caused sincere anger in me. If you remember, Chloe tried to give Rachel a bat at the junkyard to let out her anger. What did this girl do? She was rude to her. That's all you need to know about this character. An ungrateful piece of sh*t.
Speaking about restoring the family - if in the first part David was presented to us as a bad character, then in this part I will argue with it. He really tried to help, he tried to be a good stepfather. The only thing is that he, as well as Joyce and Chloe, needed the help of a professional therapist. He really tried, although with very questionable methods at times, yes. However, I still believe that no one in the family tried to understand each other - this is mainly why conflicts arose.
Chloe is going through a difficult period in her life - the departure of her biological father, whom she loved, who was a part of her life. Her rebellion, her desire to express herself and the desire to let out all her pain and sadness can be understood - I think each of us experienced similar feelings. For a teenager, it is especially painful. And in this state, we are always the most vulnerable. And if in the first part Chloe was rude and even rebellious for some, then here we can understand that she is, in fact, a good person, but she need a help (and certainly not in the form of Rachel, who is pushing her to self-destruction). It's just that no one tries to understand how much pain she is in, not even her own mother. Don't get me wrong, I don't sympathize with Chloe completely - she is just as irresponsible and infantile too. But I can understand why she behaves so rebelliously.
Oh yeah, and for some reason the writers of "Before the Storm" decided to completely ignore the relationship between Rachel and Frank. They literally behave like strangers with each other, although in the first part they were described as those who have romantic feelings between them. And here is... Nothing? Just - wtf?
I could go on and on about what kind of character Rachel was made into, but that would take too much time. All I will say is that when she died at thr end of this game, I didn't feel sorry for her. I really felt sorry for her when the fact of her death was shown in the first "Life is Strange" part. However, this version of this character did not cause any emotions in me at all, except disappointment and anger. This is such an annoying character (even worse than Chloe, which is surprising) All the things she did to Chloe, the way she acted like a hysteric and a manipulator, can't evoke sympathy. Believe me, I tried.
This part basically came out pretty crumpled and even more illogical than the first. Conflicts in some situations just arise out of nowhere and I really wish "Before the Storm" had never existed. The developers of this part, apparently, did not understand at all what exactly made the first part so successful. Oh, and I haven't even touched on the plot itself - it also seemed too strange to me. If in the first part the authors tried to reveal other characters as best as possible, then here all we see is the authors' cheap attempts to reach that level. We can talk about this for so long that I'm afraid one review won't be enough.
Honestly, I would rather just ignore this part of the series. And the fact that the authors made a remaster, but did not change the main plot to a more logical one at least at the level of the first "Life is Strange" sincerely upsets me.
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I really wish I could recommend this game to others. But I just can't. This part was a slap in the face for me as a fan of the first part. Thank you if you read this review to the end and good luck in completing this project if you still decide to do it.

Second best game in the franchise.

Basically a big fan service of the first LIS, but I still teared up so don't let me put it down.

Awesome game, I think my critiques would be:
1. The initial LIS was a story game with the hook of rewinding time. Unfortunately that means this, is kinda just a story game.
2. Feels slightly less love cooked than the first but to be fair, LIS is one in a million.

Absolutely suggested if you're a fan on the first like me.

LiS: Before the Storm was a game I was always excited to try, but never gave the proper chance because I didn't think it'd live up to the original. It absolutely did. I absolutely loved Life is Strange, but the characters in this game, the dynamic between Chloe and Rachel's relationship, the amount of insight this game gives into the side characters that make the series great, it all bunches up into one truly incredible game. I loved the photo opportunities that the first game presented to collect for the achievements, but being able to Graffiti felt so satisfying, sometimes it entirely changes the meaning of what you're tagging and I loved that.

9.8/10

The game is the perfect sequel, showing you more about Chloe as a character and getting to know her story better before the events of the first game.

even sadder then life is strange 1 10/10

everyone loves chloe price

It's a great story game. The options that let you affect the story are pretty limited in this one so you can't get as varied of a story as you can in life is strange 2. It's still a nice story though and a good compliment to the first life is strange game.

I have never, in my 19 years of existence, EVER cried this much playing a video game. I am in absolute shambles right now. I write this review with tears streaming down my face. PLEASE, if you loved Life Is Strange, play this game.

One of the best games I've played. The main story of Before the Storm is noting special, but the bonus episode made me cry. A lot. And I haven't even really cried over any other media before. Breathtaking story. Worth 10x of it's actual cost.

One of my favourite installations in the Life is Strange series. Stands out for its great soundtrack and ability to develop detailed relationships between characters. Great game, would recommend if you like a good story.

god where do I even start with this, this game changed me. These games get more sad as they progress. The first three episodes were already sad and the last episode just made it even more sad. Then we go to farewell, i would definitely recommend to pay the extra money for it. That episode was already kinda sad knowing that Max was moving and wasnt telling chloe until the end of the day. BUT WHEN JOYCA CAME HOME WITH THE NEWS AND CHLOES REACTION MAKES ME SO SAD. Not to mention maxs voice message on the casset at the end and the way chloe holds it while curdled up sobbing makes me even more sad. 10/10 would definitely recommend to buy this game.

Great game despite the plot holes about Rachel's superpower.Some things are open to interpretation which I thought should have been made clear.

Why did the forest fire stopped suddenly after Rachel was stabbed ? There is a lot of symbolism about fire yet the studio reveled amber didn't have any super powers ?

Why did Rachel left price and both never moved out of Arcadia bay

Rachel my fav video game character. You can never make me hate her cuz shes dead and never got a chance to have a lame sequel lol

This game is a masterpiece to say the least. The soundtrack easily attaches you to the environment and characters. The art style is beautifully put together. The character story lines are breath-taking, though I agree I wish we got more details after everything, and how Rachael and Frank knew each other from what we saw in LIS 1. The Life is Strange games are all well put together and deserved to be given a chance.

As a fan of the Life is Strange series, I can only recommend this one.
No bugs and the story is more than great and the game takes an estimated 10 hours.
I recommend Life is Strange: Before The Storm and you won't regret buying it. ;)
Bonus episode made me cry.
11/10 game