Life Is Strange has always focused on the small details, and Double Exposure emphasizes this even more.

I have always been a passionate player, with a strong focus on details in my gameplay, which is why Life is Strange is one of my top choices. I felt responsible for getting the Bible verse question wrong and disappointing Kate Marsh, and I’m happy that I didn’t need to go back even once in the challenging conversation with Frank in Episode Three because I aced it on the first try.

I was upset when I discovered I had watered the houseplant too much. I eagerly signed up to preview Life is Strange: Double Exposure at PAX West this year because I become more engaged when the characters in a story feel realistic and alive, looking forward to experiencing the same attention to detail that these games excel at.

In the fifth game, protagonist Max Caulfield, now ten years older, navigates between two worlds to uncover the truth behind her friend Safi’s death. Max, an artist-in-residence at a university in New England, can be found on-campus chatting with the TAs, becoming friends with the school’s dean (who is Safi’s mother), and notably refraining from using her powers after the first game. Before I could start exploring the campus, I needed to familiarize myself with the person I would be exploring with, as mentioned by our Editor-in-Chief Stacey Henley when discussing returning to Max’s shoes after a long time.

Life is Strange: Double Exposure will not establish an ending from the first game as canon, according to developers who state they will “respect” both endings.

The game’s small alterations to Max’s phone texts or online posts will not always be subtle, as stated by Game Director Jonathan Strauder and Narrative Director Felice Quan, due to the significant shifts between realities. Max realizes her ability to shift realities while attempting to uncover Safi’s murder, finding her friend deceased in one dimension yet alive and at risk in another.

 

While using Max’s phone for the demo, I was particularly interested in messages related to Safi. She is a poet who has a passion for art, sarcasm, and pushing limits. I had the opportunity to view her social media posts before she died, discover her pending book contract, and witness her enthusiasm for an upcoming meteor shower. She posted witty remarks on her friends’ posts, indicating a fragile connection with her mother, and quickly, I felt familiar with Safiya Llewelyn-Fayyad – as much as one can through online interactions.

 

Observing her in the ‘living’ timeline made the decision to shift realities and re-examine Max’s phone in the ‘dead’ timeline even more significant. The abrupt halt to Safi’s social media activity compared to everyone else’s ongoing updates, the overwhelming number of tributes and mournful messages, and numerous subtle shifts in discussions seemed worthy of further exploration. The messages were more distressing, my email full of friends taking responsibility, individuals struggling with their overwhelming sorrow, individuals in despair after losing a loved one.

Not to mention the allusions to the initial game as well. In Double Exposure, a decision made early on carries through to the end of the first title in the new one, as seen when Max chose to save Bay instead of Bae in the demo. Therefore, during Christmas, Joyce sent me a text message hesitantly inquiring if I recalled her, then she shared a photo with me and mentioned on social media that she had gotten some cats since being alone. Similarly online, Max was keeping up with high school popular girl Victoria Chase, who was sharing sneak peek photos from prestigious modeling gigs she had recently secured.

 

I was so engrossed in Max’s phone that I was the final journalist out of four to complete the demo. Strauder and Quan observed my enthusiasm when I joined them for a conversation after, both excited to witness someone immerse themselves in Max’s world. During our interview, Strauder mentioned that the intention behind having Safi’s life on Max’s phone was to make you genuinely want to spend time with her before she is taken away.

If you were impacted by the characters in the original Life is Strange, then it’s worth checking out Double Exposure when it releases on October 29. Max has grown older and more mature as she returns to the series, just like you and I have also matured as we rejoin her. The story of the new game could be as dark as the original, but its small details remain vivid and significant.