Game Overview:

"Life Is Strange" is an episodic adventure game developed by Dontnod Entertainment and published by Square Enix. Serving as the initial installment in the "Life Is Strange" series, the game was released in five episodes over the course of 2015 for platforms including PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, Windows, Xbox 360, and Xbox One. Subsequently, it was ported to OS X and Linux in 2016 and to iOS and Android between 2017 and 2018. A remastered edition of the game was launched as part of the "Life Is Strange Remastered Collection" in February 2022.

Game Plot:

The game's narrative centers around Max Caulfield, an 18-year-old photography student who unexpectedly discovers her ability to rewind time at will, triggering a chain reaction of events known as the butterfly effect. Players' decisions profoundly influence the unfolding storyline and can reshape it by employing the time travel feature. Alongside traditional puzzle-solving through fetch quests and environmental alterations, branching choices in conversations play a pivotal role.

Game Development:

Development of "Life Is Strange" commenced in April 2013. The episodic format was chosen for both financial and creative reasons. Developers conducted extensive field research in the Pacific Northwest to authentically depict the game's setting and crafted characters that subverted conventional archetypes. Valuable player feedback influenced alterations made to subsequent episodes. The central focus of the game revolves around the story and character arcs. Dontnod collaborated with Square Enix's European branch during the development process.

Reception:

"Life Is Strange" garnered generally favorable reviews, with particular praise for character development, the unique rewind gameplay mechanic, emotional depth, and its willingness to tackle taboo subjects. Criticisms encompassed the use of slang, subpar lip-syncing, and tonal inconsistencies within the story. By May 2017, the game had been purchased by three million unique players. It spawned a prequel, "Life Is Strange: Before the Storm," in August 2017, followed by a sequel, "Life Is Strange 2," in September 2018. A significant addition to the series, "Life Is Strange: True Colors," was released in September 2021.