Developed by Deck Nine and Engine Software, Life is Strange: Double Exposure is a sequel to the original Life is Strange game. This new game invites both new and returning players to enjoy it. Play through this new adventure and solve the mystery of a friend’s death, where your choices influence the outcome.
Max Caulfield is a young woman that loves photography and is currently working as a university lecturer. In the past, she had a mysterious power to rewind time and change the outcome of fate. But after many years without using it, she has lost it and is now used to a normal life. But with the shock of her friend’s suspicious death, suddenly new powers awaken. The Shift ability to travel between two parallel worlds, one where her friend is gone and the other where she is still alive.
Life is Strange: Double Exposure is a very story driven game, with many cut scenes where you can sit back and relax. When it’s time to play, there’s clues to be uncovered by exploring the world around you. You can interact with many objects, solve puzzles or speak to characters to unravel what really happened. When you get stuck, there’s hints on Max’s phone on what to do next, however it isn’t always clear if you need to complete those tasks in the living world or the dead world, so be sure to search thoroughly in both.
Using Max’s Shifting power requires you to find specific places on the map, but her Pulse that gives you a temporary peek into the alternate world can be performed anywhere. In the options menu there are some great features to turn on that can help with finding things in the environment, such as sound queues or even disabling the puzzles if those are not to your liking.
As Max is a photographer, there are random moments where you can take pictures and even frame up the shot how you like. As someone who also loves photography, I really enjoyed this feature. Max’s phone always has messages and social media posts to keep up with like any normal persons, but most of it seems fairly inconsequential to your progress and more of an extra immersion into her life. The task list will of course specify if any messages need to be replied to for you to advance through the story.
I’ve been playing on PlayStation 5 and the graphics on the characters look really great, which is especially important when you are watching longer sequences of them talking. Animations, expressions and the voice acting all come together to deliver the story and make you interested in each character.
Since we are investigating a potential murder, I’m naturally suspicious of everyone. There are choices you make during dialogue sequences that can change the outcome of the story, and the game will warn you as such. For those that want the full experience, this offers a lot of replay gameplay if you want to see the other dialogue outcomes throughout the game and unlock both alternate endings.
While I felt Life is Strange: Double Exposure has a little bit of a slow start before you get Max’s abilities, this adventure-action game definitely gets more interesting as you proceed further in. If you love deep and emotional stories with a slower paced gameplay that doesn’t require button mashing, then Life is Strange: Double Exposure is well worth your time!
Life is Strange: Double Exposure is available now on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X and Series S, PC and Nintendo Switch. The physical edition for Nintendo Switch will be launched January 31, 2025.