Wow. The latest installment in the episodic marvel that is Life is Strange ended on one hell of a cliffhanger—and I don\’t know how I feel about it. I know it made me feel uneasy and troubled. I know that I am anxiously awaiting the next episode more than ever and I know that this is one of the better games I’ve played in a while. What makes Life is Strange so engrossing is the world and characters. They feel relatable and grounded. My only real issue from the beginning has been with the dialogue, specifically coming from Chloe, but you can\’t change her personality just because some of the things hella annoy you.
Chaos Theory picks up where the emotionally charged episode before it left off and manages to keep you on the edge of your seat straight through to the exceptional ending. Not only does this episode have better pacing but the dialogue is less forced. Finally. As you may have seen in the brief teaser for this episode Max and Chloe break into the school to infiltrate the principal\’s office and there is a much darker and creepier tone felt throughout due in part to sparse lighting. There wasn\’t a lot of raw action but there was always a puzzle to keep you busy and there was never a dull moment as Max and Chloe try to sneak out of the school undetected. Max is really coming to grips with her powers as the puzzles she faces evolve and she acquires a new one by surprise at the end of Chaos Theory. I am interested to see if she ends up discovering any more in the two episodes that remain.
It\’s difficult to review an episodic game without giving having spoilers but what I can say is that this is the episode to beat. While some minor annoyances like lip syncing are still present, the team at DONTNOD has shown us the potential the game showed blossom. It may have been a slow build but it had to be in order to deliver on what I expect to be an explosive emotional ending. I really feel invested in Max and Chloe and I hope the game does well enough to warrant a sequel if the story permits because I really like these characters. If you still have yet to play this I can\’t recommend it enough. It\’s one of the best ways I\’ve spent $20 and is currently available on PlayStation 4 and Xbox One.
