Life Is Strange: Before the Storm – Deluxe Edition

Life Is Strange: Before the Storm – Deluxe Edition is a narrative-driven compilation that includes the complete three-episode prequel season exploring the tumultuous friendship between Chloe Price and Rachel Amber, alongside the bonus episode ‘Farewell’ set in the original game’s timeline. Set in the rain-swept town of Arcadia Bay, the game focuses on themes of identity, rebellion, and loss through impactful dialogue choices and moral decisions that shape relationships and story outcomes.

Life Is Strange: Before the Storm – Deluxe Edition: Review

Introduction

The Life Is Strange series has long been celebrated for its emotionally charged narratives, complex characters, and exploration of adolescent angst. As a prequel to the critically acclaimed 2015 original, Life Is Strange: Before the Storm – Deluxe Edition dares to revisit the pivotal relationship between Chloe Price and Rachel Amber—a bond central to the franchise’s tragic tapestry. Developed by Deck Nine Games and published by Square Enix, this expanded compilation (featuring the main three-episode season and the standalone bonus episode Farewell) offers a raw, unfiltered glimpse into the formative years of Arcadia Bay’s most defiant duo. While it inherits the series’ signature themes of grief, rebellion, and fleeting connection, it charts its own course through grounded storytelling and mechanical innovation. This review posits that Before the Storm succeeds as a bittersweet character study and a vital piece of Life Is Strange lore, despite narrative inconsistencies and a prequel’s inherent constraints.

Development History & Context

Deck Nine Games, previously known for narrative-driven titles like What Remains of Edith Finch spin-offs, was handpicked by Square Enix to helm the prequel after impressing with proprietary tools like StoryForge—a screenwriting and cinematic engine built atop Unity. Development commenced in 2016 with close collaboration from Square Enix London Studios, aiming to preserve Life Is Strange’s essence while introducing new dynamics. A significant challenge arose from the 2016–17 SAG-AFTRA voice actor strike, which prevented Ashly Burch (the original Chloe) from reprising her role. Instead, Rhianna DeVries provided motion capture and voice work, with Burch contributing as a narrative consultant. This compromise, though politically fraught, resulted in a performance indistinguishable from Burch’s, ensuring character continuity.

The game’s episodic structure (released August–December 2017) mirrored its predecessor but condensed five acts into three, with each episode clocking in at roughly two hours. Deck Nine’s writers, led by Zak Garriss (of Criminal Minds fame), adopted a “writers’ room” model to craft the 1,500-page script, prioritizing authentic teen dialogue and psychological depth. British indie band Daughter was tasked with the score, using piano for isolation, electric guitar for rebellion, and layered vocals for friendship—a sonic palette that became the game’s emotional anchor.

The Deluxe Edition, released concurrently, bundled the main season with Farewell (a bonus episode set in 2008, featuring Max Caulfield), three outfits for Chloe, and Mixtape Mode (a custom soundtrack feature). While the outfits and Mixtape were peripheral, Farewell was a masterstroke, offering closure for fans and highlighting the series’ range.

Narrative & Thematic Deep Dive

Set in 2010, three years before Life Is Strange, Before the Storm chronicles Chloe Price’s descent into rebellion following her father William’s death. The narrative hinges on her unlikely friendship with Rachel Amber, a popular girl whose perfect facade shatters upon discovering her father’s affair. The story unfolds through three acts:

• Episode 1: Awake introduces Chloe’s nihilism and her first encounter with Rachel at a punk concert. A stolen bottle of wine leads to a wildfire, symbolizing their chaotic bond.
• Episode 2: Brave New World deepens their alliance as they confront Rachel’s family secrets, culminating in a powerful school play of The Tempest that mirrors their own tempestuous lives.
• Episode 3: Hell Is Empty escalates with drug dealer Damon Merrick’s violence, Rachel’s stabbing, and Chloe’s quest to uncover James Amber’s corruption. The ending forces Chloe to choose between revealing the truth to Rachel or shielding her, with subtle variations in the narrative based on prior choices.

The narrative excels in portraying adolescence as a minefield of raw emotion. Chloe’s grief is visceral—her sarcasm masks profound loss, while Rachel’s vulnerability humanizes her beyond the “it girl” archetype. Themes of found family and the illusion of control permeate the story. Chloe’s graffiti art symbolizes her defiance against a world that took her father, while Rachel’s search for her biological mother, Sera, underscores the yearning for authenticity.

Yet the prequel format strains narrative credibility. Key choices (e.g., Chloe’s Backtalk outcomes) rarely alter the story’s trajectory, and contrived plot devices (e.g., Damon’s sudden villainy) feel artificial. The bonus episode Farewell mitigates this by focusing on Max and Chloe’s final day before William’s death, offering a poignant exploration of childhood innocence and impending tragedy. Ashly Burch’s return as Chloe (and Hannah Telle as Max) delivers a gut-wrenching conclusion, cementing Farewell as the Deluxe Edition’s emotional crescendo.

Gameplay Mechanics & Systems

Deck Nine streamlines Life Is Strange’s formula, emphasizing dialogue over environmental puzzles. As Chloe, players navigate conversations using a branching tree, with options ranging from empathetic to confrontational. The standout mechanic is Backtalk, a rapid-fire rebuttal system where players de-escalate conflicts by selecting keywords from NPCs’ dialogue. While thematically fitting (Chloe would “shout at the problem”), it often feels mechanical and superficial, with success/failure rarely altering outcomes beyond minor dialogue tweaks.

Environmental interaction is minimal but purposeful: Chloe can leave graffiti, inspect objects, and occasionally solve trivial puzzles (e.g., fixing a truck). The Outfit Pack allows cosmetic customization (punk, Illuminati, or “Hawt Dawg Man” attire), though these choices lack narrative impact. Mixtape Mode lets players curate playlists from the game’s licensed soundtrack, enhancing atmospheric immersion—a thoughtful touch if underutilized.

Notably, Chloe has no time-rewarding powers. This grounds the narrative but sacrifices the original’s interactivity. Episode reloading is cumbersome, forcing players to revisit entire chapters to change choices—a frustrating limitation for those seeking agency.

World-Building, Art & Sound

Deck Nine’s Arcadia Bay is a character in its own right. The Oregon coastal town retains its rainy, melancholic ambiance but expands its geography: decaying lumber mills, junkyards, and Blackwell Academy’s hallways breathe with lived-in authenticity. The art direction shifts from the original’s dreamlike softness to Chloe’s gritty perspective—skull motifs, anarchy symbols, and gritty textures reflect her rebellious mindset. Character animations excel, particularly in intimate moments (e.g., Rachel’s trembling hands during confessions), though minor glitches (e.g., floating feet) occasionally break immersion.

Daughter’s score is the game’s soul. Tracks like Burn It Down and Flaws underscore sorrow with haunting vocals, while licensed songs (e.g., Bros by Wolf Alice) amplify teenage longing. The sound design equally shines, from the crunch of gravel underfoot to the distant crackle of wildfires. Together, these elements forge an atmosphere that is both oppressive and tender.

Reception & Legacy

Before the Storm received generally favorable reviews (Metacritic: 77/100). Critics praised Daughter’s soundtrack, Chloe’s nuanced characterization, and the emotional authenticity of Chloe and Rachel’s dynamic. GameSpot lauded it as “heartbreaking joy,” while PC Invasion called it a “sterling fashion” farewell to Arcadia Bay. However, criticisms centered on pacing (Episode 3’s rushed climax) and the “forced” speed of Chloe and Rachel’s bond. The player base was divided, with Steam users scoring it 7.9/10—some hailing it as a “pure success,” others lamenting its lack of originality.

The Deluxe Edition’s Farewell episode earned particular acclaim, with RPG Site deeming it a “great epilogue.” Awards reflected its impact: it won “Best Soundtrack” and “Most Touching Moment” at Game Informer’s Adventure Game Awards and was nominated for Games for Impact at The Game Awards 2017.

Legacy-wise, Before the Storm solidified Deck Nine as a steward of the Life Is Strange universe, leading to True Colors. It also highlighted the franchise’s power to explore marginalized experiences—here, queer female friendship and grief—without supernatural gimmicks. While divisive, it remains a vital chapter, enriching Chloe’s arc and deepening the series’ emotional resonance.

Conclusion

Life Is Strange: Before the Storm – Deluxe Edition is a flawed yet indispensable addition to the franchise. As a prequel, it grapples with inevitability, transforming Chloe’s journey from nihilism to resilience into a tragedy foretold. Deck Nine’s strengths—character-driven storytelling, evocative art, and a masterful score—shine brightest in Farewell, which elevates the Deluxe Edition from a mere expansion to a love letter to the series’ core themes. While the main season suffers from pacing issues and mechanical limitations, its exploration of adolescent passion and loss resonates with raw power. For fans, this Deluxe Edition is non-negotiable: it contextualizes Chloe’s pain, deepens Rachel’s mystique, and reaffirms that Life Is Strange’s true magic lies in its humanity. In the end, before the storm, there is this—a fragile, beautiful bond worth cherishing. Verdict: 4/5 Stars.