Life Is Strange: Before the Storm – Remastered

Life Is Strange: Before the Storm – Remastered is a remastered version of the 2017 prequel to the original Life Is Strange game, set three years before the events of the first title. The game follows Chloe Price, a rebellious teenager, as she navigates her complex relationship with Rachel Amber in the fictional town of Arcadia Bay. The remastered edition features redesigned visuals, updated gameplay puzzles, and engine upgrades, along with additional content like the Farewell bonus episode and Chloe outfits from the Deluxe Edition.

Life Is Strange: Before the Storm – Remastered: A Definitive Retrospective

Introduction

Life Is Strange: Before the Storm – Remastered is more than just a visual upgrade—it’s a poignant revisitation of one of gaming’s most emotionally resonant narratives. Released in 2022, this remastered edition of the 2017 prequel to Life Is Strange invites players back into the tumultuous world of Chloe Price and Rachel Amber, offering refined visuals, enhanced animations, and a chance to relive (or experience for the first time) a story that redefined character-driven storytelling in video games. This review will dissect the game’s legacy, its technical and narrative achievements, and its place in the broader Life Is Strange franchise.

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Development History & Context

The Birth of a Prequel

Life Is Strange: Before the Storm was developed by Deck Nine Games, a studio that had previously worked on narrative-driven projects but found its breakthrough with this title. The original Life Is Strange (2015), developed by Dontnod Entertainment, had garnered critical acclaim for its time-rewinding mechanics and deeply personal storytelling. Square Enix, the publisher, saw potential in expanding the universe and tasked Deck Nine with crafting a prequel centered on Chloe Price, the rebellious best friend of the original game’s protagonist, Max Caulfield.

The development began in 2016, with the team aiming to explore Chloe’s backstory and her relationship with Rachel Amber, a character whose fate was a central mystery in the original game. The project was ambitious: it had to honor the lore established by Dontnod while carving its own identity. The writers, led by Zak Garriss, crafted a 1,500-page script, drawing from psychological research to authentically portray Chloe’s grief and Rachel’s hidden vulnerabilities.

The Voice Actor Strike and Its Impact

One of the most notable challenges during development was the 2016–17 SAG-AFTRA voice actor strike, which prevented Ashly Burch, the original voice of Chloe, from reprising her role. Instead, Rhianna DeVries stepped in for voice acting, while Burch remained involved as a writing consultant, ensuring Chloe’s character stayed true to her established persona. This collaboration resulted in a performance that, while different, captured Chloe’s essence—her sarcasm, her pain, and her yearning for connection.

The Remastered Edition

The 2022 remastered edition was part of Square Enix’s broader initiative to revitalize the Life Is Strange franchise, coinciding with the release of Life Is Strange: True Colors. The remaster included:
– Redesigned character models and environments with improved textures and lighting.
– Full facial motion capture for more expressive animations.
– Refined gameplay puzzles and UI improvements.
– Inclusion of the Farewell bonus episode, which bridges the gap between Before the Storm and the original game.

The remaster was not without controversy, however. Some players criticized its technical issues, such as occasional glitches and inconsistent visual upgrades, which led to debates about whether it was a true “remaster” or merely a polished re-release.

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Narrative & Thematic Deep Dive

A Story of Grief, Rebellion, and Connection

Before the Storm is a coming-of-age tragedy disguised as a teen drama. Set in Arcadia Bay, Oregon, in 2010, the game follows 16-year-old Chloe Price, a girl still reeling from the death of her father and the abandonment of her best friend, Max. Her life takes a turn when she meets Rachel Amber, the school’s golden girl with secrets of her own. Their friendship—fraught with intensity, rebellion, and mutual healing—becomes the emotional core of the game.

The narrative is divided into three episodes, each covering a single day:
1. “Awake”: Chloe and Rachel’s first meeting at a punk concert, their impulsive train ride, and the revelation of Rachel’s family secrets.
2. “Brave New World”: The duo’s school play performance, Chloe’s confrontation with her stepfather David, and Rachel’s discovery of her biological mother.
3. “Hell Is Empty”: The climax, where Chloe must decide whether to protect Rachel from the truth about her father’s betrayal.

Themes: Loss, Identity, and the Illusion of Control

The game explores several profound themes:
– Grief and Trauma: Chloe’s anger and self-destructive tendencies are manifestations of her unresolved grief. Her father’s death left her adrift, and her mother’s new relationship with David only deepens her sense of isolation.
– The Facade of Perfection: Rachel, despite her popularity, is trapped in a gilded cage. Her father’s political ambitions and her family’s secrets force her to wear a mask, making her relationship with Chloe a rare moment of authenticity.
– Choice and Consequence: Unlike the original Life Is Strange, Before the Storm lacks supernatural elements. Instead, it relies on dialogue choices and the “Backtalk” mechanic, where Chloe’s sharp tongue can either defuse or escalate situations. These choices subtly alter the story’s trajectory, though the overarching narrative remains fixed.

The Farewell Bonus Episode: A Heartbreaking Prelude

The Farewell episode, set in 2008, is a masterclass in emotional storytelling. It follows 13-year-old Max and Chloe on the eve of Max’s move to Seattle. Their treasure hunt, filled with childhood nostalgia, is shattered by the news of Chloe’s father’s death. The episode’s ending—where Max leaves Chloe behind—is one of the most devastating moments in the series, setting the stage for the events of Before the Storm.

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Gameplay Mechanics & Systems

A Focus on Dialogue and Exploration

Before the Storm is a graphic adventure game with minimal puzzle-solving. The gameplay revolves around:
– Exploration: Players navigate Arcadia Bay, interacting with objects and uncovering environmental details that flesh out the world.
– Dialogue Trees: Conversations are the heart of the game. Chloe’s “Backtalk” ability allows players to challenge authority figures, with outcomes ranging from triumphant to disastrous.
– Graffiti and Journal Entries: Replacing Max’s photography from the original game, Chloe can tag walls with graffiti or write unsent letters to Max, offering insights into her psyche.

The Backtalk Mechanic: A Double-Edged Sword

The Backtalk system is the game’s most innovative feature. It turns conversations into high-stakes verbal duels, where players must:
1. Listen carefully to opponents’ arguments.
2. Choose responses that either exploit weaknesses or escalate tensions.
3. Face consequences, such as altered relationships or new opportunities.

While praised for its uniqueness, some critics argued that the mechanic occasionally felt scripted, with outcomes that didn’t always align with player expectations.

Pacing and Player Agency

The game’s episodic structure creates a sense of urgency, with each episode building toward an emotional crescendo. However, some players felt that the lack of supernatural elements (compared to the original’s time-rewinding) made the stakes feel lower. The remastered edition attempted to address this with refined puzzles, though the core experience remains dialogue-driven.

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World-Building, Art & Sound

Arcadia Bay: A Character in Its Own Right

Arcadia Bay is more than a setting—it’s a living, breathing entity that reflects the characters’ emotions. The remastered edition enhances this with:
– Improved lighting and textures, making the town’s gritty charm more immersive.
– Dynamic weather effects, such as the ever-present fog and rain, which mirror the characters’ turmoil.
– Detailed environments, from the cluttered Blackwell Academy to the eerie junkyard, each location tells a story.

Visual Design: A Mix of Realism and Symbolism

The game’s art style blends realism with symbolic imagery:
– Chloe’s blue hair represents her rebellion.
– Rachel’s golden locks symbolize her outward perfection.
– Fire and smoke recur as motifs, representing both destruction and catharsis.

The remaster’s facial animations are a significant upgrade, making emotional scenes more impactful. However, some players noted inconsistencies, such as occasional T-posing glitches during cutscenes.

A Soundtrack That Resonates

The game’s soundtrack, composed by British indie band Daughter, is a masterpiece of atmospheric storytelling. Tracks like “Burn It Down” and “Dreams of William” underscore the game’s themes of loss and longing. The licensed music, including punk and indie rock, further immerses players in Chloe’s world.

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Reception & Legacy

Critical Reception: Praise and Criticism

Upon its original release, Before the Storm received generally favorable reviews, with critics praising:
– Character depth, particularly Chloe and Rachel’s dynamic.
– Emotional storytelling, with the Farewell episode singled out as a standout.
– The Backtalk mechanic, though some found it gimmicky.

Criticisms included:
– Pacing issues, with the middle episode (Brave New World) feeling slower.
– Limited player agency, as major plot points remained fixed regardless of choices.
– Technical flaws in the remaster, such as bugs and inconsistent visual upgrades.

Awards and Accolades

The game was nominated for several awards, including:
– Best Adventure Game (Game Informer’s Reader’s Choice).
– Games for Impact (The Game Awards 2017).
– Best Soundtrack (Game Informer’s Adventure Game of the Year Awards).

Influence on the Franchise

Before the Storm expanded the Life Is Strange universe by:
– Humanizing Rachel Amber, a character who was previously a mystery.
– Deepening Chloe’s backstory, making her more than just Max’s sidekick.
– Setting the stage for future entries, such as Life Is Strange: True Colors, which continued the franchise’s focus on emotional, character-driven narratives.

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Conclusion: A Flawed but Essential Experience

Life Is Strange: Before the Storm – Remastered is a flawed but essential entry in the Life Is Strange series. Its strengths lie in its emotional depth, rich character development, and atmospheric storytelling, while its weaknesses—technical issues and limited player agency—are notable but not deal-breakers.

Final Verdict: 8.5/10 – A Poignant, If Imperfect, Masterpiece

• For fans of the original: The remaster is a must-play, offering a deeper understanding of Chloe and Rachel’s bond.
• For newcomers: It’s a strong standalone story, though playing the original Life Is Strange first enhances the experience.
• For critics of the remaster’s technical issues: The emotional payoff outweighs the glitches, making it a worthy addition to any narrative-driven game library.

In the pantheon of Life Is Strange, Before the Storm stands as a testament to the power of storytelling in games. It may not have the supernatural hooks of its predecessor, but its raw, human drama ensures its place as one of the most memorable prequels in gaming history.