Just Finished 1st Playthrough. Loved it until Ep. 5

[Tonks]

OK, so I have never left a comment/review of a game on steam EVER but I've literally just finished playing LiS and oh I'm conflicted.

The first 4 episodes were absolutely amazing. Everything about them was just unbelievable and I was soooo immersed- I couldn't wait to find out what might happen next. I was also *so* keen to get to the bottom of the mysterious rewind power, the doe spirit-guide, and the perfect storm. I couldn't wait for the ending and hopped into episode 5 so eagerly!

But wait...this, this episode seems a bit strange? Lot's of loooong talking scenes, barely any of the awesome problem solving bits...strange and (even post-ending) unexplained dream-walking that seems to bear no real relevance to the plot...what on Earth is going on? So, I maneuvered through the weird dream sequence, having finally escaped Jefferson and saved Chloe. I thought - finally - I'll get some answers and the wonderful, feel-good, possibly bittersweet ending I've been seeking! Yes...Oh no wait, what? I HAVE TO CHOOSE TO SACRIFICE CHLOE OR EVERYONE ELSE?! Cue several minutes of slight panic before I suddenly think "no...surely they would never set up an entire game with the premise that the protagonist gains a power solely to save her friend...only to kill her at the very end, because I used said power to save her???"
Nah!!! That would be madness! They couldn't possibly end the game that way. There must be some final plot twist at the end where I save Chloe and Arcadia Bay... Surely... But no, it wasn't to be. :'(

I chose to save Chloe and sacrifice the Bay, hypothesising that surely I was never meant to end Chloe's life after *everything* I had done up until that point to save her... Doing that would unwrite every single choice I had made in the game - making them totally redundant and me feel more than a bit disappointed - what would have been the point in playing at all?
So I made my choice, fully believing that the game would offer the ending I hoped for - a happy ever after (where, oh yes, I save everyone and finally find out where the powers come from and what the super doe is all about)... But no. Instead, despite having just killed *everyone* for the sake of Chloe, both Max and Chloe drive into the sunset with no discussion of the momentous choice just made, or the hundreds of lives that have just been lost (including Chloe's mother and Max's beau Warren.)

I have literally never been more disappointed with an ending! Sadly, I feel like it has ruined my entire experience of the game, and yes - I kinda wish I'd sacrificed Chloe now, but then - why should I have bothered playing at all if I was never meant to save her? Ah!

On the whole, this game is one of the most beautiful narrative driven games I've played. The puzzle aspects and the sound design/music are wonderful. Up until Ep.5 I would have given this game 10/10 and would have wanted it never to end! However, ep.5 feels like a cheap, rushed, scrambled attempt to tie up loose ends, without really answering some of the key plot loopholes that I'd always assumed would be answered. So much potential, wasted at the end. Despite the lacklustre ending, this game will probably stay with me for a long time. I just wish I'd gotten the ending I so craved - and this game so deserved.

[Farel]

Originally posted by VintageOrigins:

I was also *so* keen to get to the bottom of the mysterious rewind power, the doe spirit-guide, and the perfect storm.

When it comes to the doe, you might want to have a look at spirit animals in connection with Life is Strange. It's not just the doe: There are multiple animals throughout the game, that likely symbolize certain characters or events. The doe is usually theorized to be eithe Max' or Rachel's spirit animal (the later one explaining why the doe spirit is present, when Max and Chloe find the grave). The butterfly is Chloe. And birds are apparently a symbol of death, while whales represent the very power of creation, meaning that the dead birds and whales were a huge hint towards the coming catasrophe and the unstable state the universe is apparently in because of all the time travel stuff.

Regarding the rewind power: It think this is kept vague on purpose. LiS is not a science-story, where the protagoists try to find the reason for their mysterious powers. The power is just an element in the game, supporting the narrative, but not controlling it. The time travel stuff is used in a much more poetic way. Some people mentioned, that Max' powers kinda match her personality as a photographer. She can turn back time until everything is right for the perfect "shot", she can freeze time just like a photo is a moment frozen in time and she can travel back in time through photos, which is pretty similar to nostalga when looking at old photos.
It's not quite clear why she has her powers, but I think there are multiple explanations, each having it's own charme, ranging from the universe going crazy and her powers being the result of it, the reason for it and the solution to it (complicated time travel stuff), to her discovering her inborn abilities in a moment of need or some more destiny-like explanation.
But again: No character in this story really cares about quantum-mechanics or other time-travel related stuff and even if they did, it's unlikely that they would get a satisfying explanation on why a time-traveling girl is related to dead whales on the beach. I get why you would want an answer, but some mysteries would simply lose their point, if they were solved.

Originally posted by VintageOrigins:

surely they would never set up an entire game with the premise that the protagonist gains a power solely to save her friend...only to kill her at the very end, because I used said power to save her???

I think there are various ways to look at the ending or the point of the whole time-travel stuff. Suffering through a week of time-travel madness to safe your best friend, just to fail to do so in the end, might sound pointless, but it had it's effects: Maybe not on your friends life, not on the people in town, but on Max.
Max is the only person, who remembers all the stuff she went through. All the events made her realize things about herself and her relationships to other people and made her grow up as a person. This week, that never happened, probably thaught her quite a bit about the world.

And when it comes to Chloe: The time traveling gave Max an opportunity to spend a week with Chloe, that she wouldn't have had otherwise. Sure, they may not be together in the end, but they were for a short time. That's an other photgrapher thing: Remembering (taking photos of) moments, that don't last forever.

[Mook]

I prefer the other ending, the one you experienced in my opinion is too sudden and vague.

[amcjkelly]

I opted for the same ending you did. Had the same feelings you did as well. Was a huge fan of the first four episodes, hated the last half of the final one.

I was also really angry for awhile to be honest. Reasonable minds can disagree, but I really felt like we were promised that our choices would matter and in the end... they didn't. All things being equal, I got the bad feeling that the developer opted for just two endings because it was way less expensive than if they tried to create a lot of different endings. In other words, while the first four episodes were wonderful, we kind of were sold snake oil in the end.

As you can see, a lot of people try to cope by saying that it really is the journey that matters, you cannot really change fate for long. I wish them well, but to me that is kind of hollow. I mean really, did anyone really need another boring story about not being able to change fate. Yawn. I really thought, based on the first four episodes that Dontnod was going to do something bold, interesting. But, no... just the same boring time travel tropes.

Obviously, an F on the final exam seems to hurt even more when you did so well all year. Still hoping they fix it someday!

I doubt it will happen, as I really do think, in the end, the real reason we got only two lame endings to the game was due to the cost it would have been to have 8 or so quality ones. That makes it very unlikely they will ever be willing to open up their pockets to make things right.

All I can say, is that you are not alone in your disappointment. Too bad. They could have made a game for the ages!

[talemore]

So have you made up your mind? Do you want to save the town and erase all your choices along with Chloe or save the town and all its inhabitants.

[Yanarsen]

I saved Chloe as well, without any thinking. I looked on that on some different way. Yes, I agree with you that you saved her million times in game, and then, poof *SACRIFICE CHLOE*, holly s*it no. I look on that like on best friend in real life, damn I won't let him get killed for anything (ofcourse in real life it won't be like "smash your Town" as second opinion), but best friend should be respected, its not best for no reason.

I also agree wih 5th chapter. Its confusing and nothing actually happened. In 4 chapters, you had 2 times time travel by photo, which are great time travels looking from story side (Oh I saved William... but hey, then I have to kill Chloe. Ok, fu*k that, I want Chloe alive). In rest of game, its just few seconds of rewind. But 5th part, time travels are without any point, going back and forward constantly, confusing and other... Rest of game have perfect story, every event is following another one. Still, I don't know why, but I love the ending... somehow, and after I've decided to save Chloe (as said, without any thinking), I started to cry, because, Arcadia Bay is only place in game. On the other side, Its not like final decision changes a lot, because I think there won't be 3rd sequal (and the second one is actually prequel to the first game), so It has to be like that lads. Im more disappointed with events in chapter 5 more than ending, but yea, they could make ending way better.

Originally posted by amcjkelly:

I mean really, did anyone really need another boring story about not being able to change fate.

Its sad that "Before the Storm" is actually prequel to this part, so we all already know any decision won't make Rachel survive... Or maybe we could save her, but then, 1st game won't have any point.

ANYWAY!!!
Game is epic, best story I've seen in my life, its more like 15 hours of movie where you are an actress. I wouldn't think in my dreams that David Madsen is so fu*king cool guy and Mark Jefferson is the a**hole, also to see Nathan as victim, not the evil guy, and I'm glad throughtout the game, I haven't killed anyone - Saved Kate (after 2nd attempt, haven't killed Frank, only thing I'm shamed about is I suspended Nathan, but who would expect Jefferson to be the bad guy at that point of the game.

And for anyone else who haven't completed the game, read line below!
***SPOILER ALERT***

[Tonks]

Really, really appreciate all of your comments. It's 24 hours later and I've cooled off ':) But still, there's the lingering disappointment of what this game could have been.

@Farel - thanks so much for for your reply. I was aware of the spirit animal references, and suspected it was along those lines - I'd just hoped for a more concrete conclusion on that front! I was also sure the doe was somehow a spirit guide for Max since she wore them on her t-shirt so much and they seemed to be a recurring emblem for her, so when it seemed like it was actually Rachel's guide I was wayyyy confused. haha.

That's a fair point about the rewind power remaining vague. I guess from a personal perspective I just expected something that was so key to the plotline to be resolved and have its big reveal. So there was an added disappointment there for me when that was left unexplained. I was also a bit puzzled by the opening (Where Max wakes from the premonition oof the storm) - clearly she has some sort of powers already, belying the theory that Chloe is the factor that awakens her time bending abilities. I kinda hoped this would all be answered - the mystery is killing me! Haha.

That's a really lovely theory you have for the ending, and I'm really glad that's what you took from it. I feel like I'm a bit more cynical and the ending really undid all the wonderful work of the previous episodes.

@amcjkelly yes! So glad I'm not alone here. That is *exactly* how I feel. Episode 5 stands out like a sore thumb compared to the others, which leaves me wondering if budget and perhaps (crosses fingers and hopes not) laziness got the better of 5. :( Honestly, the first thing that crossed my mind after that hideous ending was...I hope they rewrite it! Seriously, if ever there was cause for a game to revisit it's story - this is it! I feel like this game *deserves* it. I never even considered multiple endings! That would actually be amazing - we should petition for this.

@Yanarsen aww that's so lovely you had such a sweet reaction to the ending! Tbh, that's all I wanted! *high fives*

[NeoMan5]

Originally posted by Yanarsen:

I also agree wih 5th chapter. Its confusing and nothing actually happened. In 4 chapters, you had 2 times time travel by photo, which are great time travels looking from story side (Oh I saved William... but hey, then I have to kill Chloe. Ok, fu*k that, I want Chloe alive). In rest of game, its just few seconds of rewind. But 5th part, time travels are without any point, going back and forward constantly, confusing and other... Rest of game have perfect story, every event is following another one.

I personally never found anythign wrong with the 5th chapter at all. You were trapped trying to use any means at your disposal to escape the dark room and save your friend. But as with previous attempts (ie saving william only to have chole become paralyzed), you slowly begin to realise that regardless of your efforts, the end result is always an unfavorable outcome. So in the lead up to the final decision the game presents you, you are internally torn (ie the nightmare sequence sneaking around everyone) about what to do and are feeling trapped by your decision. By this point you must have a feeling (at least, I personally did) that you are going to eventually make a choice to let Chole die at the start of the game, or save the town with all these people you have spent the entire game getting to know and helping with their own personal issues.

I had to sit and think about what my choice was going to be for at least 5 minutes. Do you sacrifice Chloe to save the town and bring order back to the chaos you had caused from your time manipulations (ie prevent the tornado from happening), or do you continue to try to save your friend, knowing all the pain you will be inflicting on anyone who survives, unsure if this would be the end or if another tornado will come again later on?

I think you really need to comprehend the larger themes at play during the last chapter to fully understand and appreciate it, as it wasn't as straight forward as the others were in presenting its them. And also, if you just ran through the game without talking to everyone and taking in all the little things, you probably wouldn't feel as connect to either choice.

[RE-L124C41]

Originally posted by NeoMan5:

Originally posted by Yanarsen:

I also agree wih 5th chapter. Its confusing and nothing actually happened. In 4 chapters, you had 2 times time travel by photo, which are great time travels looking from story side (Oh I saved William... but hey, then I have to kill Chloe. Ok, fu*k that, I want Chloe alive). In rest of game, its just few seconds of rewind. But 5th part, time travels are without any point, going back and forward constantly, confusing and other... Rest of game have perfect story, every event is following another one.

I personally never found anythign wrong with the 5th chapter at all. You were trapped trying to use any means at your disposal to escape the dark room and save your friend. But as with previous attempts (ie saving william only to have chole become paralyzed), you slowly begin to realise that regardless of your efforts, the end result is always an unfavorable outcome. So in the lead up to the final decision the game presents you, you are internally torn (ie the nightmare sequence sneaking around everyone) about what to do and are feeling trapped by your decision. By this point you must have a feeling (at least, I personally did) that you are going to eventually make a choice to let Chole die at the start of the game, or save the town with all these people you have spent the entire game getting to know and helping with their own personal issues.

I had to sit and think about what my choice was going to be for at least 5 minutes. Do you sacrifice Chloe to save the town and bring order back to the chaos you had caused from your time manipulations (ie prevent the tornado from happening), or do you continue to try to save your friend, knowing all the pain you will be inflicting on anyone who survives, unsure if this would be the end or if another tornado will come again later on?

I think you really need to comprehend the larger themes at play during the last chapter to fully understand and appreciate it, as it wasn't as straight forward as the others were in presenting its them. And also, if you just ran through the game without talking to everyone and taking in all the little things, you probably wouldn't feel as connect to either choice.

Did you like the ending of Donnie Darko?
I am just curious. Mostly agree on the points you made.

[Palatine Katinka]

I loved Episode 5 at first, the mad jumps through photos to change a little thing to get access to another photo and so on to eventually manage to escape. I felt that built a sense of purpose and desperation in Max, so was going to save Chloe and do whatever that takes, even bending reality and sacrificing her greatest career opportunity. The nightmare sequence I also loved as it reminded me a lot of Eternal Darkness: Sanity's Requiem and in my opinion gives a good insight into Max's internal thoughts and fears (Warren being one of the men stalking her in the maze and his little shrine to her, Chloe's birthday being the 'important' number Max needs to get out of the diner toilets and other little things). Then there was that final choice... I knew what I was going to choose immediately but it took a while to click it as I was so stunned and disappointed that they were pulling that over played time traveller's dilemma. Earlier in the game, Episode 4 I think, Max writes in her journal about this kind of choice being in an old episode of Star Trek and how terrible a choice it is to have to make. She compares it to her saving Chloe for the first time and comes to the conclusion that it was her 'DESTINY' to be there and be able to do it. When I first read that I thought great, they've lamp-shaded that cliche and we can move onto some new ground that time travel stories don't normally end on. Boy was I wrong, and so disappointed...
I've come to terms with there only being two endings (they wanted to split the playerbase with a dilemma, the episode is even called 'Polarized') but I know which ending I choose and always will.

PS:

Originally posted by Yanarsen:

Its sad that "Before the Storm" is actually prequel to this part, so we all already know any decision won't make Rachel survive... Or maybe we could save her, but then, 1st game won't have any point.

BtS is set about two and half to three years before Rachel disappears so I doubt her fate will be anything to do with the plot. Yes, we'll be playing it knowing what will have happened to her in 2013 but we still wont know what's happened to her in 2010. About the only thing we do know is neither Chloe nor Rachel die in 2010 so they should both be alive at the end of BtS ep.3 (and hopefully happy, for a couple more years).