The new Life is Strange has arrived. New character, new power, but still a story that makes you shed a little tear... Let's see what this True Colors is worth!
By Franck FischbachPublished onLe Courrier VendéenSee my newsCreated by the Parisian studio Dontnod Entertainment, the Life is Strange series is back this September, with a new opus published on PS4 and PS5, Xbox One and Xbox Series, and on pc. A Nintendo Switch version has also been announced by publisher Square-Enix, but it will arrive later this year, at an undetermined date.
For the development of this new episode, Dontnod handed over to the American Deck Nine Games, which the oldest know for the series of sliding games Coolboarders. And that Life is Strange fans had already seen at work on the spin-off of the series, Life is Strange: Before the Storm, in 2017.
What is this new episode about?
Life is Strange: True Colors takes us to a town called Haven Springs, a small mining village in Colorado. The player embodies a 21-year-old young woman by the name of Alex (andra) Chen, a young American of Asian origin. After navigating from homes to foster families, she travels to Haven to find Gabe, her brother, and start a new life.
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Like all the characters in the series, Alex is gifted with supernatural powers. In the first game, Max could go back in time. In the second, Daniel was learning to master telekinesis. In this new episode, Alex has a power of empathy. In other words, she can perceive the emotions of those around her in the form of a colored aura (red for anger, purple for fear, gold for joy, etc.). She can then read their minds by concentrating.
Considering this power as a curse, Alex has always hidden it, rejected it. But when her brother dies in a tragic accident, she must learn to accept this "gift" in order to disentangle the true from the false, to discover the truth...
It's my choice
Lovers of games with sustained action, virtual shootouts or jumps between buildings, go your way! Life is Strange plays in a whole different category. This new episode is no exception to the rule, and offers you a narrative adventure.
The game phases alternate between sequences of dialogue, exploration during which you can search the area, and choices that will have consequences for the rest of the adventure. And it will not be uncommon for the game to put you face to face with your moral sense.
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In this episode, a new mechanic appears, in the form of colored auras (hence the name of the game) representing the emotions of the other protagonists. And it is by interacting with these luminous halos that Alex will unravel the plot of the game.
Two novelties, and not the least, are appearing. The first is the complete dubbing of the game in the language of Molière, finally! The second is the end of the division of the game into episodes: for the first time, you no longer have to wait months to know the outcome of the adventure, sold here in its entirety.
The perfect game? No!
Until then, the game of Deck Nine ticks, one by one, the boxes that could make it an unmissable hit! But, Life is Strange True Colors will soon reveal its (small) flaws.
The first is obviously its lifespan. Allow 8 hours (maximum) to complete the story. A correct lifespan for a narrative title but... An adventure far too short for the player who has fallen under the spell of Alex and his small mountain village. Fortunately, there is also an additional episode devoted to Steph (another character of the game), but it is paying.
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Second defect which can, in turn, be disappointing: some choices are not really choices! With such a short lifespan, we had the opportunity to finish the game several times. By trying several paths. And alas, some (but not all) lead to the same outcome, regardless of your choices. And in the end, we follow the adventure over the water, without really encountering any difficulties.
Finally, regulars of the series will doubtless wink at its price, around 60 euros. Admittedly, this is the average price of a video game, but the Life is Strange series has, in the past, accustomed us to prices around 30 euros (and around 60-70 euros for the Deluxe or Collector versions). Here, the asking price may seem unreasonable in view of the lifespan offered in return.
Incredible music
This is one of the strengths of the Life is Strange series: it has never disappointed us with its soundtrack, between rock-folk, electro, lounge... And it is clear that in Life is Strange: True Colors, a well-placed piece, in the right sequence, always has its little effect! As usual, the soundtrack of this new opus is caviar.
And we can't help but think of this moving sequence during which Alex covers a timeless Radiohead hit: Creep (we poured our small tear). We let you savor:
As the game progresses, music lovers will recognize Kings of Leon, Phoebe Bridgers, Bonobo, Gabrielle Aplin, Fenne Lily, Ape, Dos Mil, Dido, and Metronomy. Featuring original designs by Angus & Julia Stone, MXMToon or Novo Armor (listen to the game's playlist on Spotify here).
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In conclusion
Life is Strange: True Colors is a title that can be consumed like watching a series on Netflix. Unlike other usual games, this representative of the narrative genre also takes up the codes. Lying on the sofa, the controller on the knee, we greedily follow the chapters of this story as "feel good" as a season of This is Us. But unfortunately too much, not to say "much" too short!
Alex Chen seduced us. At his side, we laughed, we cried, we were moved… In short, we went through many emotions, as is customary in the Life is Strange series. And finally, with our heads still full of colors, we end up torn between the feeling of having had a great time... And the frustration of having to turn the page so quickly.
Useful: Life is Strange: True Colors, by Deck Nine Games for Square-Enix, on PS4/PS5, Xbox One/Xbox Series X/S, PC. From 16 years old, 59.99 euros.Was this article useful to you? Note that you can follow Le Courrier Vendéen in the My News space. In one click, after registration, you will find all the news of your favorite cities and brands.
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