Life is Strange Remastered

Developer: Deck Nine
Release: Feb 1st 2022
Platforms:
Action
Adventure
Emotional
Narrative-driven
Immersive
Slow pacing
Minor bugs
Life is Strange Remastered Poster

" Emotionally gripping action-adventure with innovative time-rewind mechanic but slow pacing "

Life is Strange Remastered Review

Life is Strange Remastered remains a deeply emotional and narratively rich game years after its original release. Players praise its compelling story centered around Max Caulfield's time-rewinding powers, exploring themes like friendship, trauma, and difficult moral choices. The game’s episodic structure and character development, especially the dynamic between Max and Chloe, create a heartfelt experience that resonates with many.

While the remaster offers updated visuals and improved audio, opinions on the graphical enhancements are mixed, with some preferring the original’s charm. Gameplay focuses on choice and consequence, though some find pacing slow and repetitive dialogue a drawback. Minor bugs and occasional glitches are reported but generally do not detract significantly from immersion. The replay value is moderate, with different choices altering scenes but ultimately converging on two main endings. Overall, it is highly recommended for fans of story-driven games and those seeking an impactful, emotional journey.

Highlights

Players highly praise the game's emotional storytelling, well-developed characters, and impactful choices. The time-rewind mechanic adds depth to gameplay, encouraging thoughtful decision-making. The soundtrack and atmospheric audio are frequently noted as superb, enhancing immersion.

Graphical improvements in the remaster bring richer colors and more polished visuals, though some players prefer the original’s style. The narrative’s focus on heavy themes like queerness, trauma, and friendship provides a memorable, heartfelt experience. The game’s episodic format and character interactions keep players engaged throughout.

Criticisms

Common criticisms include slow pacing and repetitive dialogue, especially when using the rewind mechanic, which can disrupt story momentum. Some players find the remaster’s graphical updates inconsistent, with character models occasionally looking less appealing than the original. Minor bugs and glitches, such as unclickable interactions, have been reported, though usually fixable by reloading checkpoints.

Replay value is seen as limited since choices mostly affect dialogue and minor scenes rather than drastically altering the ending. Additionally, some players express disappointment with the romance options, feeling the alternative to the main romance is underdeveloped.

Pros

  • Emotionally gripping and well-written story with memorable characters.
  • Innovative time-rewind mechanic adds strategic depth to choices.
  • Superb soundtrack that enhances the game's atmosphere.
  • Strong character development, especially between Max and Chloe.
  • Rich thematic content tackling complex social issues.
  • Episodic format delivers satisfying plot progression.
  • Engaging dialogue with realistic and relatable conversations.

Cons

  • Slow pacing and some tedious walking sections.
  • Repetitive dialogue when rewinding can frustrate players.
  • Minor bugs and glitches occasionally break immersion.
  • Remaster graphics sometimes less appealing than original.
  • Limited replay value due to mostly similar endings.
  • Romance options feel unbalanced and underdeveloped.
  • Some players find the story’s impact diluted by choices.

Rating Criteria

Story
Difficulty
Graphics
Duration
Stability
Worth the Price
Capsule image

Experience the BAFTA award-winning story of Life is Strange now beautifully remastered with enhanced visuals and vastly improved animation using mocap technology.

Release Date Feb 1st 2022
Publisher Square Enix
Developer Deck Nine
Required Age 17+
Platforms

User Reviews

Very Positive (3,048)
90% Positive 10% Negative