Screenshot by Bonus Action
When it comes to cold-blooded murder and paranormal storylines, I’m not the most durable gamer – but an early preview of Life is Strange: Double Exposure during PAX West 2024 has me putting on my bravest face to follow Max Caulfield on her most recent, harrowing adventure.
Double Exposure sees the original Life is Strange protagonist Max return to the spotlight. Older and wiser, she has followed her dreams of becoming a renowned photographer. But after finding her friend dead, she must rely on her powers – and a few new abilities – to try and fix what’s been done.
The demo Bonus Action was given the opportunity to play during PAX West 2024 covered content from the second chapter of the game, as Max is learning her new ability to rip open space and time to step between parallel universes.
A Bone-Chilling Mystery With Stunning Visuals
In the segment we played of the Life is Strange preview, we follow Max as she attempts to help her friend Moses, who has hidden evidence from Safi’s murder in his workroom.
Max, unwilling to let Moses take the heat for a bad decision in the moment, decides to use her ability to step between parallel universes to retrieve the evidence and prevent the detective interrogating Moses from finding it.
I cannot understate how beautiful Double Exposure is. Both timelines Max is shifting between have stark color differences. In the universe where Safi lives, beautiful oranges and bright sunlight fill the workroom as Moses goes through the activities that would have filled his time if his friend hadn’t been murdered.
The timeline in which Safi is killed is dark and moody. Somber grey tones and shadows make your heart pound as you avoid detection and execute important tasks. The environment created in the space is just as consuming as any thriller novel and leaves you thirsty for every new drop of narrative.
Max’s New Abilities Solve Puzzles Between Timelines
In Life is Strange: Double Exposure, Max can locate areas where she can tear holes between parallel universes. However, her skills don’t stop there. She can also call on her ability to see people and objects that exist in the opposite timeline.
In our Life is Strange preview, we used this ability to solve several object puzzles in Moses’ workroom. When using the Pulse ability, Max can see outlines of what the same space looks like in the opposite timeline.
In this chapter, she uses the ability to locate an Allen wrench that the “Alive” timeline Moses needs to finish a telescope, as Max attempts to understand where he would hide something important inside the workroom.
Max can pulse the room to locate the Allan Wrench in the “Dead” timeline, stepping between universes to retrieve it and bring it back to the “Alive” timeline. She is also able to use a key in the “Alive” timeline in the “dead” timeline to open a cupboard that holds a clue to the missing evidence.
While I was worried that jumping between the two timelines could become confusing, the game does an excellent job of orienting players so they don’t lose track of where they are. The environments are rich with dynamic areas of investigation, and the coloration of the locations provides clear direction to the players as they work through the tasks at hand.
Life is Strange: Double Exposure is Positively Addictive
In just the short amount of time we had with the game, my excitement for Life is Strange: Double Exposure has quadrupled. I’ve always strayed away from thriller or murder-mystery games, as I’m not the sort of person who enjoys being scared on purpose.
However, Double Exposure uses the thrill of the mystery to keep players engaged and doesn’t torment them with unneeded jump-scares. I was completely sucked in and the demo has taken up much of my idle headspace since returning from PAX West.
Life is Strange: Double Exposure releases on October 29, 2024, and it isn’t a game to miss. Fans of good mysteries, engaging gameplay mechanics, and supernatural powers are in for a treat – this game isn’t just something to take up space on a shelf, it’s a narrative masterpiece that you won’t be able to put down.
Looking for another narrative treat? Check out the announcement for Rue Valley, an isometric RPG from Owlcat Games. You can also check out our other PAX West preview for Spray Paint Simulator.
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