Life is Strange: Before the Storm
Last updated: 2026-02-13
- Chloe's character depth highly praised.
- Chloe-Rachel relationship central and acclaimed.
- Storytelling and emotional impact highly acclaimed.
- Visuals, soundtrack, and narrative-driven gameplay praised.
- Weaker than original with underdeveloped characters.
- Rushed ending, inconsistent moments, and lack of impact.
Emotions
The emotional impact of the story, particularly the tragic elements and character deaths, resonates deeply with players. Many players feel a strong personal connection to the characters, especially Chloe, and are affected by the themes of loss, pain, and identity search.
Players find joy in the engaging storytelling, beautiful visuals, and heartwarming character relationships, particularly between Chloe and Rachel. The enjoyable gameplay, memorable scenes, and emotionally resonant writing contribute to a positive and uplifting experience.
The story and gameplay did not meet expectations for many players, with criticisms directed at the rushed ending, weak climax, and underdeveloped characters. Some players also expressed disappointment in the lack of emotional impact and the game's failure to add meaningful content to the Life is Strange universe.
Players feel a strong connection to the original game's characters and story, evoking memories of their past experiences. The game's setting, themes, and soundtrack contribute to a sense of nostalgia, reminding players of their teenage years and previous playthroughs.
The engaging storytelling, characters, and high-quality graphics, audio, and story generate excitement among players. The fascinating atmosphere, beautiful locations, and the desire to replay the original game contribute to this excitement.
Verdict
Mostly positive
Summary
Positive 81% · Negative 19%. Score: 19 / 100
Verdict
Tinkering Required
Summary
The analysis of user feedback for 'Life is Strange: Before the Storm' on the Steam Deck reveals several key themes. Interface scaling issues and performance stability are notable concerns, with users reporting crashes and screen tearing. Additionally, some users have had to use Proton Experimental to run the game on Linux, which adds complexity. However, there is also positive feedback regarding the game's native Linux support, indicating a smooth experience for some users. Overall, while the game is playable and offers a solid experience, there are technical barriers that require attention. Score: 55 / 100
Top points
- Interface Scaling Issues - Medium
- Performance and Stability - High
- Proton Experimental Requirement - High
- Positive Feedback on Linux Support - Positive
Positives:
- Players appreciate the complex and well-developed portrayal of Chloe's personality, background, and relationships, making her a favorite character.
- The intense, emotional, and well-developed relationship between Chloe and Rachel is a key focus, providing context and depth to both characters.
- The game's story is widely enjoyed for being engaging, well-structured, and emotionally impactful, with a thought-provoking ending.
- The game's beautiful and unique visuals, combined with its atmospheric and highly praised soundtrack, enhance the overall experience.
- The game's emotional and raw storytelling creates a deep connection with characters, leaving a strong impact on players.
Negatives:
- Rachel Amber is criticized for feeling rushed, underdeveloped, and nonsensical. She is often seen as an archetype or plot device rather than a fully developed character.
- The game is considered not as strong as the original in terms of gameplay, plot twists, and overall impact. It lacks the novelty and emotional depth that made the first game memorable.
- The game is criticized for its lack of character development, with many characters feeling rushed or underdeveloped.
- Many moments in the game feel rushed, underdeveloped, or driven by convenient plot twists, leading to inconsistencies and wasted plot points.
- The episodes are noted to feel shorter than expected, leaving the story feeling incomplete and players wishing for more content.
Gameplay:
- The game is heavily focused on character development, emotional depth, and the exploration of relationships, particularly between Chloe and Rachel. It delves into character backstories and their interactions.
- The game emphasizes a drama-focused narrative with interactive storytelling and choice-driven consequences. Players experience a story-driven gameplay with significant narrative choices.
- The game includes choice-based mechanics where decisions have significant consequences, affecting the story and character relationships.
- The gameplay involves extensive dialogue trees and simple interactions, with a focus on dialogue choices and their outcomes.
- Players can explore environments and engage in light puzzle-solving sections, adding variety to the gameplay.
Performance:
- The game requires at least an entry-level PC to run smoothly, with specific mentions of needing GPUs like GTX 1050 or RX 460 for optimal performance.
- The game has improved visuals and runs well on most modern PCs. It is noted for good optimization and stable performance for a narrative experience.
- The remastered version has notable bugs, including issues that require reloading save files and frequent crashes, especially on Steam.
- Players experience screen tearing and stuttering. There is no vsync option, which contributes to these visual problems.
- The game is verified for Steam Deck, but the interface isn't always perfectly scaled for the Deck's screen. Controls generally work well, though touchscreen use is sometimes necessary.
Recommendations:
- The game is praised for its narrative and emotional impact, making it ideal for those who enjoy emotional and narrative-driven games.
- Fans of the first game are highly recommended to play this game as it is considered a must-play for those who enjoyed the first game.
- It is recommended to play the first Life is Strange game before this one to better connect with the characters and understand the story.
- The game is recommended for those who enjoyed Chloe's character in the first game and want to learn more about her backstory.
- The game is considered worth the price and worth playing, even if bought on sale.
Miscellaneous:
- Some players mentioned the use of Chinese and Japanese fonts in the game. This could indicate an interest or issue related to the game's localization or design choices.
- A player mentioned that the game was a gift from their boyfriend. This point is more personal and does not provide specific feedback about the game itself.
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