Life is Strange 2 review: the first episode puts politics in the spotlight

After a summer of teasing, Dontnod's sequel to his award-winning episodic adventure series Life is strange is there, and he has a strong and clear message to deliver.

The first Life is strange tackled issues such as cyberbullying, suicide and aggression through the eyes of his teenage protagonist Max and his friendships. Life is strange 2 is much more ambitious. Although designed to be a family story through the eyes of two Hispanic brothers, the game quickly addresses more political and timely topics. The first episode is clearly set in October 2016, a few weeks before Donald Trump's election. The characters scream about "building walls" and worry about what will happen if Trump wins. One of the least subtle moments of the game includes a character declaring that "everything is political".

Here, game publisher Andrew Webster and journalist Megan Farokhmanesh discuss the first episode, "Roads," from Dontnod's sequel to his award-winning series. Light spoilers follow.

Megan Farokhmanesh: I should be clear on something in advance: I was skeptical Life is strange 2. I loved the first game – his staging, his heroine, his handling of real-life problems – but he still derailed several times and felt messy on some of the beats the hardest. But I have felt grateful for having existed and that has tried to talk about topics that most games avoid as a plague.

With Life is strange 2, I doubted it could be as relevant or moving as some LiS 1Most powerful moments. I am pleased to say that I was wrong. He still shares the same messy DNA as his elder but Life is strange 2 feels like a powerful statement on American politics during a very tense time.

Andrew WebsterYeah, what's really remarkable for me about the second season, at least so far, is how she's able to do both of those things. Initially, it is a story of a teenager who is going through all the difficult moments of adolescence. Sean, the main character, begins the episode concerned about a date. He asks his father to lend him money and Skypes with his best friend to give him advice on how to talk at a party. The dialogue is embarrassing and one has the impression that it was run by a teenage translator, but there are moments that feel authentic. If you light up music in Sean's room, he will sing while doing other things. When his younger brother Daniel interrupts a phone call, Sean is completely insane to him.

But things are bad. There's a twist that I'm not going to ruin that makes Sean and Daniel have to hit the road, with a plan that's not very well thought out: they'll find a way between Washington and Mexico where their father is the owner. a piece of land. There are racist nuances when the boys are still in Seattle – like when a neighbor wonders if their father understands how things are going in America – but things get much more obvious once out of the big city. The kids are called insults by doing their shopping and being questioned about the theft of items that they paid for. These two people are already going through terrible trials, having been separated from their father while also dealing with Daniel's emerging psychic powers. It only gets worse because of the time and place in which the game takes place. And Life is strange 2 do not stop at all of that.

MFIt's refreshing to see a developer reject the idea that games should not be political. Independent developers already do it (think: Papers pleaseamong others)but Life is strange is a title published by Square Enix. Developers of today will play football with political topics, but they will eventually avoid becoming too serious. Dontnod, on the other hand, is really interested in the subject. We love to talk about how games are a way to do fantastic things, but the most important part of Life is strange is much more commonplace than that. It offers people the opportunity to play in someone else's shoes.

The first match was a nostalgic review of old friendships and family scars. He captured the spirit of adolescence and innocence. LiS 2, on the other hand, is facing the front. He does not want to talk about the past. Instead, he asks you to consider the very present problems. Now we will call it "timely", but in years it will be an element of pop culture created to reflect its time, which is … rather terrifying, honestly.

AW: I should also note that, although she has covered much more important themes this time and has a completely new story, Season 2 is still in the news. feels as Life is strange. It was a big worry for me. The first season had such a flavor that we seldom see it in games, much like an independent film on high school, and this tone is still largely in place for Life is strange 2.

For a game that consists of making really difficult decisions, it is also filled with beautiful quiet moments. One of my favorite scenes in the first Life is strange The heroine Max walked early into a crowded room at her school, listening to headphones, discreetly watching the world around her. Daniel, meanwhile, is an artist and his best moments of contemplation are to draw what he sees, be it his room or a lush park. And yes, the soundtrack is always amazing.

Another important point: you can take full advantage of Life is strange 2 even if you have not played at the previous entries of the series (which includes the first season as well as the Before the storm prequel and a unique teaser episode). Besides the decor and some Easter eggs, the stories are not really related. I mean you should play the original Life is strangebut you do not have to do it.

There are still four episodes left, so it's impossible to say if Life is strange 2The mix of teen dramas and timely politics withstands a full season. But the start is solid and it shows that the format can tell all kinds of stories.

Life is strange 2The first episode of "Roads" is now available on PS4, Xbox One and PC.