My choice of game that you must try in 2015 is a new series, and a little less high profile the previous picks, the download only Life is Strange. This was an episodic game that was slowly released throughout the year, with its evolving story gradually becoming more and more involved.
It is a fascinating tale about an art student in college who discovers she has the ability to manipulate short chunks of time. Cue lots of going up to people asking them a question, reversing time, and trying a different course of action until you have got the result you want. It’s pretty much everything every teenager has ever wanted – adding a touch of sci-fi to a teen drama.
It is an adventure game though, so the use of this rewind feature is not limited to conversation. You must find the required information and objects to continue, so expect some sneaking around bedrooms to find the key you need – then rewinding so you can do it all again only faster so you don’t get caught.
All par for the course really, but it is how many of these situations play out, with you manipulating catty rivals at school or learning of people hidden agendas, that really makes it something special.
But what makes this story so wonderful not its teenaged angst, but that it is unafraid to tackle serious issues. From domestic violence to drugs, Life is Strange runs a surprisingly full gamut of real world issues, while offering the catharsis of at least having a little control to find solutions to them.
Yes, there is an overarching story about a natural disaster coming to kill hundreds that you must somehow stop – but the specter of this feels almost secondary to the personal relationships the game creates.
It is a fascinating tale about an art student in college who discovers she has the ability to manipulate short chunks of time. Cue lots of going up to people asking them a question, reversing time, and trying a different course of action until you have got the result you want. It’s pretty much everything every teenager has ever wanted – adding a touch of sci-fi to a teen drama.
It is an adventure game though, so the use of this rewind feature is not limited to conversation. You must find the required information and objects to continue, so expect some sneaking around bedrooms to find the key you need – then rewinding so you can do it all again only faster so you don’t get caught.
All par for the course really, but it is how many of these situations play out, with you manipulating catty rivals at school or learning of people hidden agendas, that really makes it something special.
But what makes this story so wonderful not its teenaged angst, but that it is unafraid to tackle serious issues. From domestic violence to drugs, Life is Strange runs a surprisingly full gamut of real world issues, while offering the catharsis of at least having a little control to find solutions to them.
Yes, there is an overarching story about a natural disaster coming to kill hundreds that you must somehow stop – but the specter of this feels almost secondary to the personal relationships the game creates.
Category
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Tech