Life is Strange: Episode 1 - Chrysalis (PlayStation 4) Review

These days, graphic adventure games are almost synonymous with Telltale Games, but Dontnod Entertainment and Square Enix are looking to give it a run for its money with their own interactive drama, Life is Strange. Players control Max, a young adult photography student who discovers she has the ability to rewind time, but only a little. The delivery of this concept is surprisingly complex; in games like this, where players choose a dialogue option or an action for the character to perform, it might seem easy if they can simply rewind time and choose a different outcome. This is countered by the introduction of the butterfly effect: how Max's actions will affect her life in the long run is not immediately clear, and only the short term is foreseeable at any given moment.

Being a graphic adventure, there isn't a lot of action in Life is Strange. The game's entertainment comes from the plethora of things hidden around the environment, and even keen-eyed players might miss some of the 'Easter Eggs' or even key plot devices scattered through the playable world. A strong focus is also placed on character development. A simple choice can lead to a fight with Max's worst enemy or a moment of kindness from her instead. Characters tend to be layered and complex, like real people, and things aren't always as they seem. At the centre of it all is the story of a missing girl, and how she relates to people and places in Max's past.