Two teaser trailers and what seems like a lifetime of speculations and theories later, Life is Strange 2 is finally unveiled with full details of its characters and story. Players are introduced to the Diaz brothers, Sean and Daniel, along with the context surrounding the mysterious telekinetic blast of the last trailer. Contrary to what we initially thought, it would seem that 9-year-0ld Daniel is the source of the explosion. Consequently, after the tragic event involving the police officer at their residence in suburban Seattle, 16-year-old Sean makes the drastic decision to run away with his younger brother, hoping to make it to their hometown of Puerto Lobos, Mexico.
Though the time-rewinding mechanic of Max’s powers are no more, players are still required to make personal choices and actions that may alter how the story progresses. Similar to the previous game and set 3 years after the events of the first, the brothers will face all kinds of unknown challenges, meet an all-new cast of characters, and travel to a variety of new settings. While the original title was largely contained in a small town, opting for a tense, mystery-thriller vibe in its world building, the sequel gives off a sense of adventure. Neither the players nor the brothers they control know what to expect from their long road ahead or the dangers they may come to face. It is unclear as of now what new gameplay features Square Enix and DONTNOD have implemented or the new power promised by the developers entails, but the game already seems like it operates on a larger scale than its predecessor. Though fans might be disappointed that Max and Chloe will not return for the sequel, it does still retain the trademark dark-yet-melancholic serenity that the series is known for.
Judging from the focus that Square Enix is putting on the title at Gamescom, it’s safe to say that Jon Brooke, VP of Brand and European Marketing at Square Enix External Studios, wasn’t exaggerating when he said the game is “one of [their] most important releases of the year.” Rauol Barbet, the Co-Creative Director of the title at DONTNOD, has stated that he worked with the original team for Life is Strange to ensure that the sequel kept what made the award-winning series so great: “the mood, the cinematographic work, and of course, the music.” Jonathan Morali, the French composer responsible for the iconic sounds of the last game, will be back to pen a brand new score.
This immersive coming-of-age tale that weaves brotherhood and the challenges of adolescence will have a playable demo at this year’s Gamescom. Square Enix will most likely reveal more details when the convention kicks off tomorrow morning. Episode 1 of this 5-episode graphic-adventure title will launch September 27, 2018 for the PS4, Xbox One, and Windows PC.