4. Episode 4 – Dark Room
The last two I'm combining as they are in a quick bang bang moment. Literally. We finally find out what happens to Rachel Amber. In the midst of tears and my stomach churning like a 19th century butter machine, we are witnessed to what is the most emotional moment in a game I've witnessed to date. In a last ditch effort of self-defense, Chloe fires off a round from her gun (presuming you let her keep it) but misses. What follows next, the slow motion headshot that Chloe takes at the hands of the murderer. Max beginning to succumb to the tranquilizer only to see her last image before passing out: Mr. Jefferson. That's right, it isn't Nathan Prescot as we all expected but Max's photography instructor. I couldn't even move. Shock.
I'm not sure how they are going to end Life is Strange with Episode 5, but the first four episodes have increased emotions as well as the impact on my body on an exponential level. At the end of episode four, I simply placed my controller down, took off my headset and sat there with my hands over my nose and mouth not believing what just occurred. I didn't say a word. I didn't make a sound. I'm not sure how I'm going to react when it's over or how I'm going to recover exactly, but I do know it's going to be a highly charged, emotional moment. Where's my Xanax and Pepto?
3. Episode 4 – Dark Room
This episode has three so I'll just go in order b/c I'm not sure where to start. Off the bat, you're face to face with Chloe and her new injury. Her respiratory system is failing and she knows it. As a result, she asks you to save her from her parents witnessing her death and to have mercy on her by pumping up the morphine – Euthenasia. For me, this wasn't even a question. I said no. After about 2 minutes. Those 2 mins. I sat there but not wondering what to do, but wondering "Wow, DontNod is getting heavy here". I was more shocked to see only 52% of players declined Chloe's request meaning 48% said yes. Sorry, but 48% of people killing another person, their best friend, is insane to me as no person has the right to decide another person's life. An incredible moment.
2. Episode 3 – Chaos Theory
The ending. I have to be honest this part got me really pissed off. At the end of the episode you are forced to make a decision that you have no choice in and watch it play out. For what it's worth, I wouldn't make this decision if I had the choice for all the money in the world. I couldn't live with myself afterwards and not sure how anyone else could either. As you return home to Chloe's house and see the result of your actions Max is in shock and you will probably be too. It's an emotionally charged moment that truly sees you reflect and remember the consquence of your actions and that not everything is what it seems. Sometimes the best of intentions have the worst of effects.
With Episode 5 of Life is Strange, the final episode, releasing soon we wanted to go over some of the best moments of the game so far. It's no secret Life is Strange is an incredibly powerful and emotional experience. I say experience because it's more than just a game as DontNod has done an incredible job in developing self-focus into the title. As 18 year old Max Caulfield, a photography student, we've experienced about 8 hours through 4 episodes of emotional, gut wrenching moments. These moments let you not only see what Max is going through, but the way it is set up by DontNod we find ourselves actually reflecting on our own lives and the decisions we've made in the past. The beauty of Life is Strange is that older people like myself of 36 (yeah, I know it's not that old but compared to the game it is) find ourselves looking back and wondering if we made the right decision in many instances of our own lives. Younger players closer to Max's age of 18 aren't old enough to ask that question as many haven't lived through those experiences, but it provides insight on how to behave and properly interact with people/friends when those moments arise in their lives.
Without further ado, here are our top 4 moments so far in Life is Strange ****SPOILERS***
1. Episode 2 – Out of Time
Kate Marsh. Need I say more. This part of the episode breaks ground in the game as whatever occurs here you can not go back and fix. You're in it to win it and are focused on saving Kate's life by talking her down from the ledge and jumping off the girl's dorms at Blackwell. Luckily, I was able to save her and I'm glad I did. In order to do so, you need to learn a lesson the entire episode is teaching you : pay attention to detail. There is not much action in this episode other than this part, but you can explore and see many details of your friends' lives as you do. If you are invested in your friends' lives, not self centered and care about the little moments in their lives that truly matter to them at their core (which by the way is a real friend) you'll rescue Kate. It's a great life lesson and puts you to the test. Can you save her?