Does anyone dislike Max?

[kintyra]

Quiet, unassuming, introverted, someone who fades into the background. Talking of which, what do we really know about her before she came to Blackwells, whereas we seem to know everything about Chloe. Max has parents who seem to be pretty stable, and come to think of it, she also has a journalist friend, but she hasn't responded to her last text message. What's all that about? She's chosen photography as her subject, but she won't enter the Everyday Hero competition for some reason, despite Jefferson buttering her up about it. Why take up a subject if you're not prepared to at least have a go? Not that I dislike her personally.
Just sayin'.

[taxicabmessiah]

I don't dislike her, but she is a pretty boring character.

[Sten]

how can anyone hate Superspiderninjascherlockzombieface Max?

[Valdyr]

Originally posted by kintyra:

Quiet, unassuming, introverted, someone who fades into the background. Talking of which, what do we really know about her before she came to Blackwells, whereas we seem to know everything about Chloe. Max has parents who seem to be pretty stable, and come to think of it, she also has a journalist friend, but she hasn't responded to her last text message. What's all that about? She's chosen photography as her subject, but she won't enter the Everyday Hero competition for some reason, despite Jefferson buttering her up about it. Why take up a subject if you're not prepared to at least have a go? Not that I dislike her personally.
Just sayin'.

She's afraid to enter because she thinks her photos suck and doesn't want to be judged/scrutinized. She's very introverted and shy. I made a topic speculating that she might have clinical depression, most people seem to disagree, although they didn't really try to debunk any of the points I raised. It's probably intended by the writer that she come across as shy rather than having an internal struggle, though, Chloe has more than enough of that for the two of them.

It's hard to really say for sure why they decided to make Max boring. I think there's a good case to be made that this is really a story about Chloe and Max is the player's viewpoint into that, and it's beneficial for Max to be kind of a muted presence personality-wise to avoid distracting from that. It also further sets up the contrast between the two of them, although I think Max would still be very different from Chloe if she were just a -little- more adventurous and a bit less lame. I was disappointed that you never even get the chance to at least TRY to get drunk or smoke weed with Chloe, or something else typical of teenage experimentation, and maybe Max would like it, or maybe she wouldn't, but Max has no interest. She's kind of a square. Her "coolest" moment so far was wearing another, much more dynamic girl's clothing at somebody else's insistence. She doesn't have to be a badass guns blazing action hero, but I was hoping after 4 episodes she'd lift her head up a little bit and show some nerve, some fire. Maybe the writer intends to have an ending where Max dies and they want to soften the blow by not having her be the most awesome and beloved character, because if she was, no one would ever choose that ending. Thinking about that makes me think of Persona 3 where the protagonist has to die at the end to save the world, and it's not sad because of the attachment you had to him, personally, because he was mostly silent and kind of a "blank slate", but everyone's reaction to it was what made it sad. I think it would've been less bittersweet and more anger-inducing if he had been a cool and lovable character.

[kintyra]

Originally posted by Valdyr:

She's afraid to enter because she thinks her photos suck and doesn't want to be judged/scrutinized. She's very introverted and shy. I made a topic speculating that she might have clinical depression, most people seem to disagree, although they didn't really try to debunk any of the points I raised. It's probably intended by the writer that she come across as shy rather than having an internal struggle, though, Chloe has more than enough of that for the two of them.

It's hard to really say for sure why they decided to make Max boring. I think there's a good case to be made that this is really a story about Chloe and Max is the player's viewpoint into that, and it's beneficial for Max to be kind of a muted presence personality-wise to avoid distracting from that. It also further sets up the contrast between the two of them, although I think Max would still be very different from Chloe if she were just a -little- more adventurous and a bit less lame. I was disappointed that you never even get the chance to at least TRY to get drunk or smoke weed with Chloe, or something else typical of teenage experimentation, and maybe Max would like it, or maybe she wouldn't, but Max has no interest. She's kind of a square. Her "coolest" moment so far was wearing another, much more dynamic girl's clothing at somebody else's insistence. She doesn't have to be a badass guns blazing action hero, but I was hoping after 4 episodes she'd lift her head up a little bit and show some nerve, some fire. Maybe the writer intends to have an ending where Max dies and they want to soften the blow by not having her be the most awesome and beloved character, because if she was, no one would ever choose that ending. Thinking about that makes me think of Persona 3 where the protagonist has to die at the end to save the world, and it's not sad because of the attachment you had to him, personally, because he was mostly silent and kind of a "blank slate", but everyone's reaction to it was what made it sad. I think it would've been less bittersweet and more anger-inducing if he had been a cool and lovable character.

I have to agree with you on just about everything you've said there Valdyr. I was also hoping that her experiences would liven her up a bit without becoming a Chloe clone. Possibly she's become slightly more outspoken, but only by a shade.

[Valdyr]

Originally posted by kintyra:

I was also hoping that her experiences would liven her up a bit without becoming a Chloe clone. Possibly she's become slightly more outspoken, but only by a shade.

I should've been clear before in answering the OP question, now that I think about it. I don't dislike Max. But if she weren't the player character, would anyone remember her? I'm not sure. I think she would just be that quiet girl in the dorm who you don't really know anything about, but she seems nice enough. Talking about her character just keeps making me think of the Red Letter Media Star Wars Episode 1 review where Mike asks people to describe the character of Queen Amidala. "Um...normal, I guess. Just...normal." "She's very...monotone?"

[Alyx]

Haha! No. Max is the most loveable character on the show! She's sweet, shy, delightfully nerdy, attentive, investigative, kind, smart, funny, empathic, and way above average attractive. And she's not boring at all. Max is the epi-center of cuteness and adorability. :) Seriously, if I was offered the chance to be Max, irl, I'd take it.

[Mirage]

I think it works because this game is a lot more about wht Max thinks about stuff, rather than what she says or does.
At first I found it a bit annoying that when I made a decision, Max pretty much told me how I should feel about it... she isn't always supportive of your decisions and suggests that maybe she should reverse and change it.

You really get to know what is going on inside her head, which would probably works a lot better with someone who is more of an introvert and thinks more than she talks.

Just imagine playing as Chloe, I don't think it would be even half as interesting.

[Tesco Meal Deal]

Originally posted by kintyra:

Quiet, unassuming, introverted, someone who fades into the background. Talking of which, what do we really know about her before she came to Blackwells, whereas we seem to know everything about Chloe. Max has parents who seem to be pretty stable, and come to think of it, she also has a journalist friend, but she hasn't responded to her last text message. What's all that about? She's chosen photography as her subject, but she won't enter the Everyday Hero competition for some reason, despite Jefferson buttering her up about it. Why take up a subject if you're not prepared to at least have a go? Not that I dislike her personally.
Just sayin'.

I don't think she's that bad but the one thing that irritates me, though it is for the purpose of the game, is how nosy Max is... imagine just going into someones room and just snooping around infront of them, turning their laptop on and checking their emails and their FB.... I was actually glad that Dana spoke up when Max was able to pick up the pregnancy test, I was thinking about time, how could anyone feel comfortable with someone going through their private stuff like that.

[Valdyr]

Originally posted by FluorescentSoap:

Originally posted by kintyra:

Quiet, unassuming, introverted, someone who fades into the background. Talking of which, what do we really know about her before she came to Blackwells, whereas we seem to know everything about Chloe. Max has parents who seem to be pretty stable, and come to think of it, she also has a journalist friend, but she hasn't responded to her last text message. What's all that about? She's chosen photography as her subject, but she won't enter the Everyday Hero competition for some reason, despite Jefferson buttering her up about it. Why take up a subject if you're not prepared to at least have a go? Not that I dislike her personally.
Just sayin'.

I don't think she's that bad but the one thing that irritates me, though it is for the purpose of the game, is how nosy Max is... imagine just going into someones room and just snooping around infront of them, turning their laptop on and checking their emails and their FB.... I was actually glad that Dana spoke up when Max was able to pick up the pregnancy test, I was thinking about time, how could anyone feel comfortable with someone going through their private stuff like that.

Classic video game character behavior, especially for something with point-and-click adventure elements. Gotta obsessively root through everything for items or clues...at least Max doesn't go into a pottery shop with a sword and start smashing everything to see if there's money hidden inside.

[PreciousHearts]

I don't think pointing out the text messages are reasonable. Dontnod has given situations where I wished we could have done, like Courtney's make-over, but nope. The Everyday Hero contest was also a big one, but the point is, it's not her fault.

We're just not allowed to see some things due to the time constraints an episodic game has.

[Tesco Meal Deal]

Originally posted by Valdyr:

Originally posted by FluorescentSoap:

I don't think she's that bad but the one thing that irritates me, though it is for the purpose of the game, is how nosy Max is... imagine just going into someones room and just snooping around infront of them, turning their laptop on and checking their emails and their FB.... I was actually glad that Dana spoke up when Max was able to pick up the pregnancy test, I was thinking about time, how could anyone feel comfortable with someone going through their private stuff like that.

Classic video game character behavior, especially for something with point-and-click adventure elements. Gotta obsessively root through everything for items or clues...at least Max doesn't go into a pottery shop with a sword and start smashing everything to see if there's money hidden inside.

Hah, that'll be the next thing.. I'd die of laughter if Max started smashing up their rooms.

[Valdyr]

Originally posted by aim4thetop1:

I don't think pointing out the text messages are reasonable. Dontnod has given situations where I wished we could have done, like Courtney's make-over, but nope. The Everyday Hero contest was also a big one, but the point is, it's not her fault.

We're just not allowed to see some things due to the time constraints an episodic game has.

I hope they use the success of this game to make a longer and deeper game. I would love for a more realized "high school experience" element to the game similar to the Persona series, where there are social and academic events to contend with besides the usual saving-the-world business. I would love to get a makeover from Courtney, and I really wanted to see the Halloween party too. It would be so fun to choose a costume and a date to go with and have different possible events based on your choices.

[Jeckenn]

I love Max, she is caring, insightful, extremely intelligent, and Max and her best friend Chloe are two of the most complex characters I have ever seen in any game. Props to Dontnod for the ability to have such amazing characters in a video game and if they don't win a ton of awards for Life is Strange it will only be because those awards need to be paid for and not earned.

[Elyzian]

Originally posted by Alyx:

Haha! No. Max is the most loveable character on the show! She's sweet, shy, delightfully nerdy, attentive, investigative, kind, smart, funny, empathic, and way above average attractive. And she's not boring at all. Max is the epi-center of cuteness and adorability. :) Seriously, if I was offered the chance to be Max, irl, I'd take it.

And if you were like max IRL i would marry you !

Yeah i like her character a lot but as Valdyr said she's really too shy and introverted. That is what make the friendship between Chloe and her really interesting. Chloe need Max to be less crazy and impulsive (but still a funny girl) and Max need Chloe to be more confident and crazy(but still a smart geeky girl).

The best character would be a perfect mix between those 2, and if the 2 of them solve their personnal issues it would be the best ending for this game. (with stopping the big tornado and the creepy teacher, but it's not that important ? Right !?

[Alyx]

Originally posted by Elyzian:

Originally posted by Alyx:

Haha! No. Max is the most loveable character on the show! She's sweet, shy, delightfully nerdy, attentive, investigative, kind, smart, funny, empathic, and way above average attractive. And she's not boring at all. Max is the epi-center of cuteness and adorability. :) Seriously, if I was offered the chance to be Max, irl, I'd take it.

And if you were like max IRL i would marry you !

Yeah i like her character a lot but as Valdyr said she's really too shy and introverted. That is what make the friendship between Chloe and her really interesting. Chloe need Max to be less crazy and impulsive (but still a funny girl) and Max need Chloe to be more confident and crazy(but still a smart geeky girl).

The best character would be a perfect mix between those 2, and if the 2 of them solve their personnal issues it would be the best ending for this game. (with stopping the big tornado and the creepy teacher, but it's not that important ? Right !?

Hehe; yeah. Funny thing is, I'm less shy than Max, irl, but I'm so into her, emotionally, I really feel I *do* need Chloe to get me out of my supposed shyness. :) If anything, these writers are hella good, I'll give em that!