I knew Life is Strange would be special from the moment it wasannounced. The concept was intriguing and developer DontnodEntertainment had previously delivered one of the most captivatingstories I had experienced in gaming, Remember Me. Little did I knowhowever that Life is Strange would grow not only into a spectaculargame, but one of the best games I have ever played and one thatdelivers the best story I have ever had the pleasure of experiencing.The games final chapter, Polarized, not only provides a heartwrenching three hour run time, but is also the best episode of thegame so far in terms of it's gameplay and character depth.
Professional photographer and lecturer at Blackwell Academy, MarkJefferson, was the mastermind behind the disappearance and murder ofRachel Amber. Along with his apprentice, a vulnerable Nathan Prescottwho he used and manipulated to his will.
The episode begins with Max strapped to a chair in the Dark Roomunder the Prescott's barn. With no way to escape the restraints ofthe chair, Max begins a journey of rewinding time and changing thepast using photographs. Of course the danger of repeatedly rewindingtime becomes more and more apparent to Max as she attempts to rightall the wrongs in Arcadia Bay, creating numerous alternate realitiesand eventually realising what she must face in order to stop ArcadiaBay from being destroyed by a tornado.
Polarized delves into the nitty gritty of time travel and alternaterealities in a way I haven't seen done so well in mainstreamentertainment since Donnie Darko. It's complex and it's also prettyfrightening to say the least. You'll be confused, you'll begin toslowly lose your mind, you'll have your perceptions of people messedwith, you'll question every decision you have made so far andultimately only you have the choice of how it all ends.
The last four episodes have downplayed Max's abilities quite a lot.Only allowing us to use it for menial tasks such as receivinginformation we need to proceed, solving a puzzle or moving Alyssa outof the way of something being thrown at her every god damn episode.
It was only in Episode 3: Chaos Theory, that we really got to seewhat Max was capable of by delving into her past and attempting torewrite history by saving William's life. But that was also a glimpseof what was to come, creating an alternate universe with a paralysedterminally ill Chloe.
Polarized lets Max explore her destiny, by jumping through herhistory using photographs. Exploring the past, the present and thefuture all in a single episode. Allowing us glimpses of what lifewould be like for her if she had done things differently.
The only real bad part of Polarized comes if you have been thinkingabout it religiously leading up to your actual journey through it.Creating your theories, analysing previous episodes for clues and ifthat's the case, more likely than not, already having worked out howthe game is going to end. It is a little predictable, it is a littlecliché, but that doesn't stop it from completely destroying youemotionally.
The connections you have made with the characters over the last fourepisodes, people like Warren, Kate, Joyce, David, Victoria and ofcourse Chloe aren't developed on by uncontrollable dialogue. It's inPolarized that you are given full control over how you respond tothese key characters and ultimately how you are going to end yourtime with them. Do you try to convince Joyce to take David back? Doyou finally stand your ground against Victoria? Do you see thingsfrom David's perspective? Do you finally acknowledge Warrensaffections for Max? That's your choice to make. Some are pretty easychoices for you to make based off your personal attitude on theperson thusfar, but some of them are a little harder thanks to thecurveballs LiS has been throwing along the way. But ultimately youwill end Life is Strange with a personally tailored ending, it'ssatisfying to allow a game to let you tailor how you're going to haveyour last interactions with the characters and it will give thealready impactful ending so much more weight.
I walked away from Polarized with tears in my eyes and the knowledgethat I had done right by the people that deserved it and that my Maxwas my Max, not just a template that had been slightly altered in thelast few seconds of the game like numerous games with choice basedgameplay will give you.
Life is Strange is a phenomenal game. It is unlike anything I haveplayed before and I cannot see anything else taking it's place as mygame of the year, even with all that is left to be released. It's notflawless, you only have to look at my reviews of previous episodes tosee that, but what it does provide is a story unlike anything elseyou will experience in video games. One that takes risks with leaps,not tentative steps. One that's not afraid to tackle taboo subjectsin an adult and respectful manner. One that gives the player a senseof control of their destiny and doesn't funnel them throughsupposedly meaningful choices to give them a handful of identicalendings.
Life is Strange doesn't give you unlimited possibilities, but thatjust makes it all the more meaningful.
I'm proud to say that Life is Strange is the best story I have everbeen told and I believe that every one, gamer or not, shouldexperience the tale of Max Caulfield and her extraordinary, yetstrange life.
Lifeis Strange
Episode5: Polarized – 10/10
+Everything...ICan Do That Right?
-The Ending Is Slightly Predictable
