Life is Strange: Arcadia Bay Collection Review

Life is Strange: Arcadia Bay Collection brings two wonderful games to our Nintendo Switch, allowing us to explore and learn about the story of Max and Chloe. Are they worth playing this time on Switch?

Life is Strange: Arcadia Bay Collection, the original release of the game that kicks off this collection dates back to 2015 with Life is Strange, this game definitely set the precedent for upcoming narrative based games.

Those who have played the games already know that this is quite a deep story and all too well told. This collection is about Life is Strange and Life is Strange: Before the Storm in a remastered collection coming to Nintendo Switch.

It’s a pretty positive horizon for these games to reach new audiences. I can definitely say that the story that surrounds Chloe and Max is something quite special and it is a game that, if you are a lover of good stories, you should play.

These games definitely aren’t for everyone, but they do deliver powerful messages, and that’s especially true for the first title in the series. So that’s where I’m going to start.

The game begins with you taking control of a teenage high school student, Max Caulfield in the midst of a storm hitting Arcadia Bay. Soon enough, he wakes up, safe and sound, in the middle of his photography class. However, as if that dream wasn’t stressful enough, the teenager is about to discover something incredible. She has the ability to turn back time. She discovers this gift after a certain event occurs, one that brings her childhood best friend, the one and only Chloe Price, back to her life.

This is what this story is about, two old friends who reconnect, who get back together in an unexpected way that has a clear impact on both of them, especially since the girls are not the same people they were before.

They both accept this turn of events as well, as Max longs to make amends for the way he essentially cut off contact with Chloe after they moved out.

Ultimately, the bond they still share leads them to solve a great mystery: the disappearance of Rachel Amber. A girl who disappeared from a party at Blackwell Academy six months ago.

Life is Strange has it all, and the mystery at its heart has so many twists and turns that you need to embrace your inner Sherlock to solve it. Of course, Max’s powers are vital to this and serve as a central part of the game, as does his love of photography. The game is divided into five chapters, all of which require you to get creative with your time control abilities.

When Max reverses time, only she knows. Since Chloe is aware of his gift and tests him extensively. Throughout the game, you can converse with various characters, each of which offers different options.

Along this magical journey you’re faced with some tough choices, which is part of what makes Life is Strange brilliant yet brutal. You feel the repercussions of your choices. Each one forces you to question whether or not you did the right thing and, well, it’s hard to tell if you did or not.

However, I must say that there are some tricky things going on in this game and while Don’t Nod handles it beautifully, it can be triggering. The way Don’t Nod makes you care for these characters when you’re faced with such difficult situations ensures that your heart will break no matter what. Regardless of how you choose to play this story.

As for Arcadia Bay, the city in which the game takes place is a truly charming place, with a sweeping view of the ocean, noisy streets, and a lighthouse that is strangely cathartic.

The soundtracks of the game are quite well chosen, it is definitely music that captures every moment perfectly. The sound design is second to none, as the notable songs are meticulously placed to play a crucial role in the scene and are a catalyst in terms of the emotions you are likely to feel as it unfolds.

Does Life is Strange: Before the Storm produce similar dilemmas? Not quite. At least not on the same scale as the first game. As the name suggests, this title serves as a prequel to Life is Strange and takes place a couple of years before Max returns to Arcadia Bay.

You take control of Chloe this time, and while she may not have the means to turn back time, she’s far from helpless. As for the characters, if the first game made you want to know more about Rachel Amber, you’re in luck, as she has a significant role in this story.

It’s quite curious and entertaining to go back a couple of years to see what he was like before in order to gain a deeper understanding of his character. She is so filled with hate, mistrust and negative emotions all over the place, and now you can understand why, as Before the Storm shows you how badly her father’s death impacts the teenager.

The story of Before the Storm revolves around Rachel and a family secret that threatens to tear her and her loved ones apart. A friendship between the two girls leads them to discover things that could have dire consequences.

I can say that both games run very well on Nintendo Switch, except for some frame drops from which we are never exempt. Another thing is that as a remaster, it doesn’t add as much graphical value to the game.

In conclusion

The Life is Strange: Arcadia Bay Collection takes us back and re-experience two of the best, best-crafted, narrative-driven games ever, all on a Nintendo Switch that runs them beautifully.

This review was made thanks to a copy for Nintendo Switch provided by Square Enix