If you like narrative-based games, then you’ve probably heard of or come across the Life is Strange series. There have been two games in this popular franchise by the developer DONTNOD Entertainment.
These games always feature an amazing cast of characters and take players on emotional journeys in more ways than one. Although the two games differ, they have a lot of similar elements that fans have come to love over the years.
If you haven’t yet played the sequel, then you’re in luck. Right now, the very first episode of Life is Strange 2 is free on most platforms. These include Steam, PS4, and Xbox One. Although this free offering is just one episode, it gives you a good representation of the characters and story elements.
The story this time around revolves around two brothers, Daniel and Sean Diaz. They once had a normal life, but after a crazy series of events, they go on the run. They’re heading to Mexico, but along the way, they’ll have to evade the police and interact with a diverse cast of characters.
Speaking of characters, they have a lot of depth in this game. That’s been a mark of DONTNOD Entertainment as a developer. They know how to create in-depth characters that you can’t help but fall in love with. They go through interesting story arcs that combine both highs and lows.
The first episode gives you a good snapshot of the brother’s relationship. You can tell they have a strong bond that won’t be broken easily, even when they fall into some extreme lows. Sean is the older brother so naturally, he assumes a father-like role. He struggles to guide Daniel in the right direction.
As for Daniel, he’s conflicted about his secret telekinetic powers. Normally this would seem like a godsend, but with great power comes great responsibility. Daniel will have to learn this one way or another.
Episode one quickly gets into the thick of the action. After experiencing the aforementioned tragedy, the brothers head for the woods. They’re forced into some pretty dramatic situations, which will have consequences. Like the first game, your choices have consequences that affect subsequent chapters.
It’s amazing that this first episode is free to play right now. A whole new audience can see what they’ve missed and get sucked into the gripping story that is featured in Life is Strange 2. The entire game is filled with twists and turns and episode one sets things up beautifully.