As a die-hard fan who’s been along for the ride since Max Caulfield first graced our screens back in Arcadia Bay, I can confidently say that Life is Strange: Double Exposure has me hooked all over again! Ten years have passed since Max last donned her camera and time-traveling powers, but she’s as sharp as ever.
The Life is Strange series is commemorating its decade-long journey by reintroducing the original heroine who kick-started the franchise, Max Caulfield. In this latest installment, titled Life is Strange: Double Exposure, she assumes the leading role once more, navigating a fresh environment alongside an entirely new group of characters. A captivating enigma awaits her resolution. Alongside these novel abilities, Max will have at her disposal a set of powers to aid her on her journey; however, it seems she remains unaware of the full extent of her extraordinary capabilities. Shacknews had the pleasure of testing Life is Strange: Double Exposure during our visit to PAX West 2024.
About ten years since her initial escapade in Arcadia Bay, Max Caulfield now works as a staff photographer at Caledon University. Along the way, she’s forged new relationships. Unfortunately, one of her acquaintances has been brutally murdered and the murderer remains at large. Max is hot on the case, though she isn’t alone in her pursuit. What sets her apart is her unique abilities.
Max possesses a unique skill called Shift, which enables her to move back and forth between two distinct timelines: One in which her friend, Safi, was tragically killed, and another where Safi continues to live. Although these simultaneous timelines exhibit significant disparities, they share one consistent trait – the perpetrator of Safi’s murder is on the prowl in both realities.
In the initial part of Chapter 2, the focus was given to a significant change, namely the presentation of Moses, a companion of Max and Safi. Recently, Moses has emerged as a prime suspect in the eyes of Detective Alderman, who has recently taken charge of the case. Alderman’s suspicion towards Moses stems from his close relationship with Safi, making him an individual under scrutiny. Unfortunately for Moses, he hasn’t made things easier by taking Safi’s camera away from the crime scene where she was murdered.
To alleviate tension for Safi, Max embarked on a quest to find her missing camera, hidden within Moses’ lab. In the primary narrative, this lab is locked down, so Max employs his ability called Shift to enter an alternative timeline, casually walking into the lab where Moses is currently engrossed in work. Utilizing Shift in specific locations can create technical and logical complications, making it usable only under certain conditions. The nearby Shift rift location where Alderman is interrogating Moses offers crucial hints for his next destination and also provides cover, enabling Max to transition to the alternate timeline unnoticed.
In an alternate reality, Max inquires from Moses about a hypothetical situation involving a valuable item. By using the interactive dialogue system from Life is Strange, she discovers that Moses would secure important items in a safe place. However, this turns out to be a coded message and players must investigate the lab in both timelines to decipher Moses’ true intention and locate Safi’s camera in the present timeline. One useful feature for doing so is Pulse, which enables Max to glimpse through the dimensions to possibly observe how events unfold in both realities.
During Double Exposure sequences, it seems light stealth segments are included as well. Upon locating Safi’s camera, Max found himself needing to tiptoe around Detective Alderman who had entered the scene to investigate. The objective then shifted; moving between timelines to locate something that could divert Detective Alderman’s attention, allowing Max to snatch the camera and make a swift escape.
What makes things intriguing is that it seems Max’s abilities may be greater than we initially thought. In one of the timelines, Moses’ lab is closed and contains numerous unopened shipping containers, as Safi has perished in this reality. Conversely, in another timeline, the lab is bustling with activity and Moses has decked it out for the holidays. An unexpected event occurs when Max nearly gets caught by Detective Alderman, at which point she seemingly transfers objects from one timeline to another – specifically, a telescope from the alternate space into her current one. This occurrence leaves everyone puzzled, including Max, suggesting that she might not be aware of the full extent of her powers.
1. To wrap up, the significant junctures where choices significantly impact the storyline, characteristic of the Life is Strange series, return. In our gameplay, Detective Alderman separated Max and inquired about any intel she might have on pertinent individuals, suggesting Moses. The player can either take his business card or ignore him, possibly creating an adversary from him. The game suggests that this decision will affect the outcome, but we didn’t get to see the immediate impact in our playthrough.
As a dedicated fan, I can’t wait to dive back into the world of Life is Strange with its upcoming installment, Double Exposure! It’s great to hear that our beloved Max Caulfield, voiced once again by Hannah Telle, will be back and matured since we last saw her. Regardless of how Arcadia Bay’s story concluded for Max, she’s now at the heart of a new, intriguing mystery, eager to lead the way. Mark your calendars for October 29, as Life is Strange: Double Exposure will be available on PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S!
This preview is based on an early Xbox Series X|S build played behind closed doors at PAX West 2024. The final product is subject to change.
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2024-08-31 16:28