Info about Life is Strange: True Colors: Official game description: Deluxe Edition ============== The Life is Strange: True Colors Deluxe edition contains: * Life is Strange: True Colors: the complete game. * Exclusive Bonus Story: ‘Wavelengths’: play as Steph in the year before Alex came to Haven Springs, in a standalone story set in the iconic Rocky Mountain Record Traders store and KRCT radio station. * Exclusive Life is Strange Hero Outfit Pack: change up Alex's look with 4 new outfits inspired by past protagonists. The pack includes clothing inspired by Chloe’s Misfit Skull, Sean’s Wolf Squad, Daniel’s Space Mission, and Max’s Jane Doe outfits, with one outfit available for Alex to wear in each chapter of the main game. Ultimate Edition ================ The Life is Strange: True Colors Ultimate edition contains: * Life is Strange: True Colors * Exclusive Bonus Story: ‘Wavelengths’ * Exclusive Life is Strange Hero Outfit Pack * Life is Strange Remastered * Life is Strange: Before the Storm Remastered Reviews & Accolades =================== _“Fantastic game that offers a great story.”_ IGN – 9/10 _“Beautiful and brilliant.”_ Eurogamer – Recommended _“An incredible new addition to the series.”_ TheSixthAxis – 9/10 _“Truly something special.”_ TheGamer – 5/5 _“At its heart, True Colors is a story about community and what it means to not be alone.”_ Gayming Magazine – 5/5 _“Shows off what the next-generation of the series can deliver.”_ GamesRadar+ - 9/10 _“It’s been a long time since a narrative resonated with us the way True Colors did.”_ CBR _“Made me laugh, made me cry, and made me fall in love with its characters.”_ CGMagazine _“Incredible piece of art.”_ Escapist _“As beautiful as it is heart-wrenching.”_ NME - 4/5 _“My game of the year so far.”_ Kinda Funny Games _“Highly refreshing.”_ Metro - 8/10 _“Players will be heartbroken to leave the imperfectly perfect town of Haven Springs.”_ GameRant _“The most intimate game of the last decade.”_ Inverse _“Best game I’ve played in 2021.”_ UPROXX _“In a world that’s so vastly divided by difference, True Colors is a pertinent and urgent story.”_ Pink News - 4/5 _“True Colors is the peak of the Life is Strange series to date.”_ Shacknews _“Life is Strange: True Colors is one of those rare follow-ups to a classic that not only outshines the original but also reinvents itself from the ground up without losing what made the series great.”_ TechRaptor _“A big-budget experience from beginning to end.”_ Tom’s Guide _“A beautiful story of empathy and new beginnings.”_ Noisey Pixel _“Emotionally resonant.”_ ComicBook . com – 4.5/5 _“An artistic achievement.”_ Common Sense Media – 5/5 _“Deck Nine has taken the franchise to the next level.”_ PC Invasion – 9/10 _“A hit.”_ MP1st – 9/10 _“An absolute gem.”_ App Trigger – 10/10 _“Near perfect.”_ GamerHeadquarters – 9.5/10 About the Game ============== A bold new era of the award-winning Life is Strange begins, with an all-new playable lead character and a thrilling mystery to solve! Alex Chen has long suppressed her 'curse': the supernatural ability to experience, absorb and manipulate the strong emotions of others, which she sees as blazing, colored auras. When her brother dies in a so-called accident, Alex must embrace her volatile power to find the truth – and uncover the dark secrets buried by a small town. THE TRUTH WILL HURT ------------------- Discover the shocking secrets behind your brother’s death in an emotional roller-coaster of an adventure. FEEL _EVERYTHING_ ----------------- Change fate and change lives with the psychic power of Empathy. FORGE DEEP RELATIONSHIPS ------------------------ Build trust with the townsfolk – and embrace friendship or romance with Ryan and Steph. A TRULY PERSONAL STORY ---------------------- Make tough decisions and choose your own future. Freely roam the streets, stores, and hidden spaces of Haven Springs and meet unforgettable characters. FIND YOUR VOICE --------------- And decide Alex's style, with up to 24 outfits in your wardrobe. EXCLUSIVE SOUNDTRACK -------------------- Original score by Angus & Julia Stone, new tracks by mxmtoon and Novo Amor, and extensive licensed songs including Radiohead, Phoebe Bridgers, Gabrielle Aplin, and more. Release date: Sep 9, 2021 Categories: Choice-based Narrative, Character Relationships & Romance, Dialogue-driven Gameplay, Emotional Storytelling, Narrative Adventure, Exploration, Character Customization, Companion System Feature scans: - MTX: score 60; verdict: Aggressive DLC Monetization; summary: Life is Strange: True Colors' monetization strategy is primarily criticized for its 'Wavelengths' DLC, which users perceive as overpriced, low-effort, and resembling cut content. The DLC's short length (2-4 hours) and single-location design contribute to a sense of exploitation, particularly for fans of the series who feel compelled to purchase it for narrative closure. However, the game avoids predatory mechanics like pay-to-win or lootboxes, with monetization limited to optional cosmetic items. The primary issue lies in the DLC's value proposition and perceived rushed development. - Steam Deck: score 60; verdict: Tinkering Required; summary: Life Is Strange: True Colors on Steam Deck and Linux presents a mixed experience. While some users praise its native compatibility and smooth performance, others encounter significant technical barriers, including crashes, frame drops, unreadable text, and input-related freezes. The need to manually adjust settings for stable performance or back up save files adds unnecessary friction. Accessibility features like text size adjustments exist but are inconsistently implemented. The game's optimization for the Steam Deck is uneven, with some players enjoying a seamless experience while others face critical stability issues. - Hardware Profile: No data Feature extractions: - Community Price: No data - Playtime Metrics: No data - Time-to-fun: No data - Player Archetypes: No data Below are summaries of things people say about the game per category. Each point is assigned a weight that represents how often it is mentioned across all reviews. What players like: - Engaging and emotional storytelling (weight 0.99): The narrative is described as emotionally rich, well-paced, and impactful, with themes of grief, empathy, and belonging. Players appreciate the mature handling of complex themes and the game's ability to evoke strong emotional responses. - Exceptional visuals and art direction (weight 0.81): The game is praised for its stunning visuals, beautiful environments, and carefully crafted art direction. Players highlight the immersive scenery, detailed character expressions, and vibrant landscapes that enhance the overall experience. - Outstanding soundtrack and music (weight 0.78): The soundtrack is frequently mentioned as a standout feature, with players noting its emotional resonance, situational adaptability, and high-quality licensed tracks. The music enhances immersion and elevates key moments in the story. - Innovative and well-integrated gameplay mechanics (weight 0.59): The empathy power and other gameplay elements, such as the LARP chapter and exploration mechanics, are highlighted as innovative and well-integrated into the story. These features add depth and replayability to the experience. - Optimized performance and accessibility (weight 0.53): Players appreciate the game's smooth performance on various hardware, including low-end systems, as well as its extensive accessibility options. The game is described as well-optimized and stable. - Short but impactful runtime (weight 0.52): The game's length is noted as being well-suited to its story, allowing characters to shine without overstaying its welcome. Players appreciate the concise yet emotionally rich experience. - Steph Gingrich's return and romance options (weight 0.39): The return of Steph Gingrich from previous Life is Strange games is highly appreciated, and her romance plotlines are described as endearing and well-developed. Players enjoy the depth and variety of romantic options. - Life is Strange series consistency (weight 0.35): The game is celebrated for maintaining the core elements of the Life is Strange series, such as emotional storytelling, strong character development, and a focus on player choices. It is often regarded as one of the best entries in the franchise. Common complaints: - Underutilized protagonist powers (weight 0.57): Alex’s empathy ability is described as underwhelming, inconsistent, and rarely impactful. Unlike previous protagonists, her powers fail to add mechanical or narrative depth, making them feel like a gimmick. - Declining series quality (weight 0.54): Many players feel the game fails to live up to the standards set by earlier entries, describing it as a step backward in storytelling, gameplay innovation, and emotional impact. Comparisons to *Life is Strange 1* and *2* are overwhelmingly negative. - Unsatisfying ending (weight 0.45): The finale is widely criticized for being abrupt, rushed, and riddled with plot holes. Players report a lack of closure, emotional payoff, or meaningful resolution for key characters and storylines. - Repetitive and limited setting (weight 0.35): The game’s confined, small-town environment becomes monotonous, with repetitive locations and minimal interactivity. Players note the lack of variety in exploration and quests, which diminishes replayability. - Forced themes and representation (weight 0.31): Some players criticize the game for prioritizing LGBT and political themes over narrative richness, feeling these elements are heavy-handed or detract from character development and plot cohesion. - Poor value for price (weight 0.2): The game’s short length (6–12 hours) and lack of content are frequently cited as mismatched with its price point. Players feel the experience is over too quickly for the cost, especially compared to predecessors. Gameplay feedback: - Empathy power as key mechanic (weight 0.75): Alex’s ability to read and influence emotions is central to gameplay, used for dialogue, mysteries, and relationship-building. It replaces traditional mechanics like time manipulation with emotional insight. - Choice-driven narrative core (weight 0.74): The game is heavily narrative-driven with choices impacting relationships, endings, and character interactions. Players influence romance paths, dialogue outcomes, and minor plot variations through decision-making mechanics. - Romance and relationship mechanics (weight 0.64): Players can pursue romantic relationships (e.g., Steph, Ryan) with branching paths. Choices affect trust, dialogue options, and character dynamics in later chapters. - Episodic structure with replayability (weight 0.61): The 5-episode format (plus DLC) encourages multiple playthroughs to explore different endings and choices. Chapter selection allows revisiting key decisions. - DLC expands Steph’s backstory (weight 0.56): The DLC includes mini-games (e.g., radio host simulator) and explores Steph’s life pre-Alex, adding depth to her character and side activities like arcade games. - Exploration and side activities (weight 0.09): Players explore Haven Springs, uncovering backstories via collectibles, side quests (e.g., LARP, mini-games), and NPC interactions. Exploration is slow-paced but rewards immersion in the world. - LARP and JRPG gameplay segments (weight 0.05): Chapter 3 features a LARP event with temporary gameplay shifts (e.g., D&D-style mechanics, turn-based combat). These segments serve as character exploration tools and pacing breaks. - Investigation and mystery elements (weight 0.05): Light detective mechanics involve uncovering clues (e.g., brother’s death, NPC secrets) through environmental scans and dialogue. The structure mirrors classic adventure games with episodic chapters. - Emotional triggers and realism (weight 0.05): Themes of trauma and grief are handled with realism, including optional scenes for reflection. Some players note potential triggers in the narrative’s introspective focus. - Relaxed and accessible gameplay (weight 0.04): The game is designed for low difficulty, with intuitive mechanics (e.g., point-and-click, slow pacing). Zen moments and optional activities (e.g., karaoke) cater to casual players. - Minimalist interactivity (weight 0.02): Gameplay is often limited to dialogue choices, cutscenes, and simple interactions (e.g., pressing ‘Look’). Some criticize the lack of skip options or manual saves, emphasizing a cinematic experience. Performance notes: - Inconsistent loading times (weight 0.04): Players report varying loading experiences, from short load times to excessively long delays, especially with textures and animations. Some describe loading screens as longer than booting a computer. - Responsive controls with minor flaws (weight 0.04): Controls are generally responsive and fully remappable, but some players experience dialogue cutoffs and rare crashes. Audio mixing is clear, but occasional technical hiccups occur. - Optimization issues cause lag (weight 0.04): The game suffers from occasional freezes, FPS drops in crowded areas, and lag on high-resolution settings. Optimization is inconsistent, particularly on less powerful hardware. - Controller and resolution support (weight 0.02): The game supports various input methods and resolutions, but desktop controller support has issues. Players must adjust settings for stable performance on devices like the Steam Deck. - Advanced graphics options (weight 0.02): The game uses Unreal Engine 5 and offers DX11/DX12 support, providing high-quality visuals. However, this can strain graphics cards and impact performance on lower-end systems. - Crashes during transitions (weight 0.01): The game crashes intermittently during chapter transitions, disrupting gameplay. This issue is reported frequently but not universally. - Lack of post-release updates (weight 0.01): Players criticize the lack of patches and updates after the game's release, which could address lingering performance and stability issues. Recommendations: - Highly recommended for narrative fans (weight 0.34): The game is widely recommended for players who enjoy narrative-driven, emotional, and choice-based experiences, particularly fans of the Life is Strange series. Many reviewers highlight its suitability for those seeking introspective or character-focused stories. - Best for series fans or sale buyers (weight 0.33): While strongly recommended for fans of the franchise, several reviews suggest purchasing the game on sale or only if deeply invested in the series. Full-price value is debated, with some advising against it unless discounted. - Atmospheric with emotional depth (weight 0.03): Reviewers praise the game’s cohesive, polished, and deeply emotional atmosphere, noting its ability to deliver genuinely great moments. The experience is described as soulful and immersive, particularly for those connecting with its themes. - Side characters lack depth (weight 0.03): Criticism focuses on underdeveloped side characters like Gabe and Steph, though the Wavelengths DLC is noted as a valuable addition for Steph’s storyline. Romance options are also cited as needing expansion. - Replay value for endings (weight 0.02): Players are encouraged to explore multiple endings for better value, with some planning replays to achieve a more satisfying conclusion. However, others warn against the game if time or money is a concern. Other player notes: - Nostalgia and character attachment (weight 0.04): Players express strong emotional connections to the game's town and characters, particularly Steph's record store, and compare it favorably to other *Life is Strange* titles. Some reviews include personal anecdotes and spoilers about plot arcs. - Desire for sequel amid innovation concerns (weight 0.02): Players express a strong desire for a sequel but voice concerns about the saga’s future due to perceived lack of innovation in this installment. - Humor and niche critiques (weight 0.01): A few reviews include humorous or niche critiques, such as the absence of animal paws (a joke) or requests for Ukrainian localization, which are not central to gameplay. - Themes of empathy and connection (weight 0.01): Players highlight the game’s focus on empathy and emotional connections as key strengths, reinforcing its narrative depth. - Technical tips for save files (weight 0.01): Some reviews provide practical advice for managing save files on Linux and Windows, catering to players seeking technical workarounds. Emotions: - Disappointment (weight 0.17): Players felt the game lacked depth and richness compared to previous entries in the series, with underutilized mechanics like Alex's powers and shallow character development. Technical issues, rushed storytelling, and an unsatisfying ending further contributed to the sense of unmet expectations and wasted potential. - Frustration (weight 0.12): The game's rushed pacing, repetitive gameplay loops, and lack of meaningful choices frustrated players, particularly when compared to earlier *Life is Strange* titles. Technical issues like long loading screens, optimization problems, and abrupt endings exacerbated the frustration, along with poorly explained mechanics and forced narrative elements. - Enjoyment (weight 0.08): Players enjoyed the game's engaging story, charming characters, and the creative use of Alex's empathy powers. The relaxing atmosphere, immersive setting, and nostalgic elements from the *Life is Strange* series also contributed to a positive experience, despite some flaws. - Satisfaction (weight 0.07): The game's emotional storytelling, well-written side characters, and immersive visuals left players satisfied, particularly those who appreciated its narrative depth and character arcs. The DLC 'Wavelengths' and the protagonist's development were also highlighted as standout features that enhanced the overall experience. - Appreciation (weight 0.06): Players appreciated the game's respectful handling of difficult themes, its atmospheric storytelling, and the emotional resonance of its characters. The music, visuals, and world design were frequently praised, along with the franchise's evolution and the effort put into creating a cohesive and immersive experience. - Joy (weight 0.04): The game's beautiful world design, emotional storytelling, and Alex's personal journey brought players joy, particularly through its immersive setting and heartfelt character interactions. The romantic and emotional moments, along with the game's themes of representation, were also key sources of happiness. - Nostalgia (weight 0.03): Fans of the *Life is Strange* series felt nostalgia for the familiar art style, storytelling, and atmosphere reminiscent of earlier games. The emotional connection to the series and the desire to relive the experience contributed to this sentiment. - Admiration (weight 0.03): Players admired the game's cohesive storytelling, character development, and its ability to handle heavy themes without becoming melodramatic. The protagonist's relatability, the quality of the writing, and the game's visual and audio presentation were also widely praised. - Surprise (weight 0.03): The game exceeded players' expectations with its gentle and warm storytelling, unexpected twists, and engaging gameplay segments. Many were pleasantly surprised by how much they enjoyed the experience despite initial skepticism. - Sadness (weight 0.02): The game's emotional storytelling, particularly its depiction of loss, dementia, and Alex's repressed memories, evoked sadness in players. The decline of the *Life is Strange* brand and fear of further deterioration also contributed to this emotion. - Affection (weight 0.02): Players developed affection for the game's soundtrack, environment, and characters, particularly Alex's emotional journey and relatability. The comforting and immersive atmosphere of Haven Springs also fostered a strong sense of attachment. - Excitement (weight 0.02): The game's immersive locations, engaging story, and Alex's empathy power excited players, particularly those new to the series. The introduction of intriguing characters and the potential for emotional storytelling also contributed to this excitement. - Attachment (weight 0.02): Players formed strong emotional bonds with the characters and the town of Haven Springs, appreciating the well-written stories and immersive atmosphere. The game's ability to make players care deeply about its world and inhabitants fostered this attachment. - Boredom (weight 0.02): The game's slow pacing, monotonous setting, and lack of variety in gameplay led to boredom for some players. Excessively long segments, filler dialogue, and a tedious finale also contributed to this sentiment. - Love (weight 0.01): Players loved the game's sensitivity, emotional storytelling, and immersive characters, particularly Alex's relatability and the town of Haven Springs. Fans of the series also expressed love for the music and the return of familiar elements. - Comfort (weight 0.01): The game's relaxed and cozy atmosphere, along with its familiarity to fans of the *Life is Strange* series, provided a comforting experience. The therapeutic and calming setting of Haven Springs also contributed to this feeling. - Amusement (weight 0.01): Players found amusement in the game's wordplay, unique scenes like the dancing grandfather, and creative details such as the LARP segment. These lighthearted moments added a fun and enjoyable layer to the experience. - Awe (weight 0.01): The game's artistic design, soundtrack, and emotional storytelling left players in awe, particularly during key moments like Episode 1. The vivid imagery and immersive cutscenes also contributed to this sense of wonder. - Empathy (weight 0.01): The game's focus on emotional storytelling and Alex's ability to feel others' emotions evoked strong empathy from players. The realistic character animations and expressions further deepened this connection. - Curiosity (weight 0.01): The game's mystery elements, protagonist's backstory, and episodic structure kept players curious about what would happen next. The themes of emotional discovery and the unfolding narrative also fueled this curiosity.}