How Life is Strange: True Colors Tells of a Bright New Future For the Series
Anyone who’s come within 20 feet of me knows that the original Life is Strange is one of my favorite games ever released. It’s a game that’s lived rent-free in my head for years now, bringing about the desire to rewatch bits and pieces of it for the umpteenth time no matter how familiar I am with it. Its time-twisting story, combined with well-written, likable characters makes it some of my favorite game writing, even if much of its more cringy dialogue ironically hasn’t stood the test of time. Its key twist still lives on as one of my favorite twists in gaming, standing as a shocking revelation while making a ton of sense once you think about everything that came before. It’s a beautiful experience that, despite its aging, I still recommend anyone who hasn’t played to do so.
Dontnod’s future outings unfortunately haven’t been quite as successful. Deck Nine’s Before the Storm is a game I’ve grown to love as more time has passed, but Life is Strange 2 was quite the step down from its previous outing. It didn’t lack well-executed narrative beats, such as the masterfully crafted ending to Episode 4: Faith, but it was much slower to gain traction and relied on nostalgia towards its concluding moments. Characters were still likable, though far less than even side characters in both Life is Strange and its side game. I can’t count the number of times Daniel frustrated me, even if his more redeeming qualities still showed from time to time.
Tell Me Why is an incredibly important game, especially for the transgender community, yet even it suffered from flaws that hampered it from being great, such as a revelation that didn’t hit anywhere near as hard as previous work. Don’t even get me started on Twin Mirror though, which was a shining reflection of how low Dontnod had fallen from its heyday. This all isn’t even mentioning the Remastered Collection, which wasn’t terrible but struggled to find a reason for it to exist in the first place.
As much as I’ve been tearing apart the studios and franchise I love, much of this naturally had sowed heavy doubts about the franchise’s future. I long was aware at this point that no Life is Strange or similar outing would ever be able to give that same feeling the first game did. Still, it seemed on a steep decline and was a former shell of what it once was. It’s why even a year after its release, I hadn’t played Life is Strange: True Colors. I was confident that what I’d find would be of the same quality, and that we’d continue on this downward spiral until the series faded into obscurity.
Yet about a week ago, after having spun a wheel to decide what games I’d play next, I landed on True Colors. I was naturally a little apprehensive to start it, but after a day or two, I opened it up and dove right in. Naturally, I was very attentive, looking for reasons to group it with the rest as my brain tends to do.
To my shock, there was next to nothing bad. Quite the opposite.
Within the first hour, I was hooked and wanted to learn more about Haven Springs and its people. When Gabe died in the first episode, I felt sadness despite only knowing him for a short time. Each time Alex used her power, I was eager to see just how she’d choose to use her newfound information. Each choice I made, I made upon serious deliberation for a few minutes at the pros and cons of each. It’s a game that had its hooks in me quickly and continued pulling me in as the story went forward. There’s a good reason it took such a short amount of time for me to finish, as it just gave that “just one more episode” feeling I had been craving for years.
Yet unlike the original Life is Strange, I didn’t cry at the sadness of making that choice. Rather, it was a deep feeling of uncertainty that’s still affecting me to the point where it’s probably unhealthy. The mixed swirl of emotions flowing around in my head didn’t produce tears, or joy, but rather nothing at all. Not because I didn’t care, but rather because I cared so much that my mind couldn’t piece together my thoughts accurately. Depressed over never seeing this group of characters together again, happy that I got to experience such a phenomenal game, and confused about how a game I expected so little of will dethrone Life is Strange 1 as one of my favorite games ever made.
I’m still trying to piece my thoughts together, but one thing is certain. Deck Nine managed to not only reach Dontnod’s previous high but surpassed it. With more likable characters, likely better aging of its humor and storyline, great twists and turns, and a deeply interesting protagonist, Life is Strange: True Colors is hands down the best LiS outing we’ve ever gotten, period. I don’t know how they did it, but they pulled it off. I’ll always have a soft spot for the dynamic duo of Chloe and Max, but Alex and Steph are a pairing I never thought would work so, so well. Hell, it makes me emotional just thinking about what they have.
Alex herself also stands far taller than Max once did, thanks to a much deeper backstory that’s far more fleshed out later in the game. It’s one of trauma, loss, and hardship, along with many themes that I sadly am all too familiar with. I’d rather not spoil them here, but select parts of Episode 5 hit a little close to home. Perhaps that is part of why I see this game as a step up, but there’s far more to it than that.
I want to make it clear that I don’t expect Deck Nine to top this, let alone reach the same heights on every future outing. It’s hard to create a game this strong, but it’s a massive achievement they were able to do so at all. If it’s at all indicative of the level of quality, and of the emotions they’ll draw out of me, then this franchise is in unbelievably capable hands.
