Life is Strange is this series where everyday life mixes with superpowers and where the acoustic guitar ambiance makes us want to roll up in a blanket while drinking tea. With Double Exposure, Max Caulfield returns to the spotlight, and this time, she juggles two realities to solve the murder of her new friend, Safi. The idea of jumping between a world where Safi is dead and one where she's still alive promised drama, tension… and a few narrative headaches. So, does this new adventure live up to expectations or a simple exercise in style?
In Double Exposure, we find the classic recipe of the series: exploration, choice of dialogues with (sometimes questionable) consequences, and a hint of puzzle-oriented gameplay. Max manipulates both realities well thanks to a power that activates naturally, as if she had never stopped saving the world with rewinds. That said, his movements remain a little slow and stiff at times. Nothing too serious, but it's not the smoothest adventure to take on either.
The transitions between the two realities, on the other hand, are really well done. It's fluid, intuitive, and adds a nice depth to the puzzles. But sometimes, we come across moments that break the immersion a little: transporting a stepladder from one universe to another via a sort of magical inventory without any particular animation, by hiding it in our XXL pocket? Seriously ? It smacks of laziness in development, and it's unfortunately quite common in video games.
The story is undoubtedly one of the strong points. The concept of investigating a murder in two parallel realities is intriguing, and finding Max as a multiverse detective is a pleasure. The writing is quality, with well-thought-out dialogue and memorable scenes. However, the pace is a little less controlled than in True Colors or the first Life is Strange. There's a lot of unnecessary back and forth and side characters that seem to have been added just to artificially inflate the lifespan. Result: it drags a bit, especially in the first third of the game.
Graphically, Double Exposure is superb. The characters are expressive, the cutscenes are neat, and the play of light between the two universes brings a real artistic touch. But the environments are very restricted: the school, its exterior, a bar, and Max's chalet. It's light for a 12 to 15 hour adventure. Fortunately, these places are detailed enough for us to enjoy lingering there… Well, at the beginning.
The music is faithful to the DNA of the series: soft and melancholic acoustic guitar, perfect to accompany Max's moral dilemmas. The sound effects and French dubbing are also of good quality. If you are a fan of the sound atmosphere of the previous opuses, you will not be disappointed.
Life is Strange: Double Exposure is a good episode of the series. The story is intriguing, the characters are endearing, and finding Max again is a real pleasure. But it's clearly not the best opus. The uneven pace and small gameplay flaws tarnish the experience a little. That said, the charm works enough for us to want to follow this adventure to the end. Because, well, a Sherlock from the multiverse with Max cannot be refused, even if she transports stepladders in parallel dimensions without asking too many questions.
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