This review contains spoilers
THIS REVIEW CONTAINS SPOILERS FOR LIS TRUE COLORS
Where do I begin with this one? Everything in this game was phenomenal. I truly believe this was a return to the original formula from LIS 1 after a long detour in Before the Storm and LIS 2.
Everything in this game was done spectacularly well. The music, the visuals, the artwork, the dialogue- everything. I don't have any gripes about this at all, and it is truly a game that is now special to me. From so many banger songs in the soundtrack to the spectacular use of color palettes and visual imagery throughout the game, this entire game feels like an artistic masterpiece.
The story is somewhat like the usual LIS premise- a seemingly "broken" or lost individual (or duo) arrives somewhere new or is faced with a big challenge, then they find some form of "corruption" or tragedy, which most of the game is spent trying to solve. This game returns heavily back to the "investigation" aspect from LIS 1, but they do it refreshingly and interestingly which sets it apart from other games in the franchise.
Alex's character is really special- and her journey throughout the game is just so enthralling to watch. Every time I sat down to play the game I got lost in it, and it's been all I have thought about the past few days. Her journey starts as a girl just wanting to find a place to call home- and a reunion with her brother after eight years in the mining town of Haven Springs seems to promise just that. However, like in other LIS games, tragedy strikes- when a rescue mission goes from successful to fatal in seconds- as her brother is killed in a mining explosion. Convinced there was more to her brother's death than just an accident, Alex and her newly acquired friends set out to investigate that night's events, all while Alex is left trying to pick up the pieces from her brother's untimely death and adjust to her new life in Haven Springs. During the game, she faces not only obstacles from solving her brother's death but many interpersonal struggles with the other residents of the town as well. The core themes of this game seem to speak of " grief", "moving on from the past", and "finding a home/found family" as Alex struggles to find comfort and stability in her new life amidst the chaos of tragedy. She meets new people, attempts to let go of her past trauma/pain, has a chance to fall in love and is finally given a proper chance for a fresh start and a support network that cares about her.
The addition of Alex's power mechanic was truly wonderful, and I feel like it was put to use in an effective way that contributed immensely to gameplay. Where Max's power was that of time travel, Alex's was her ability to read into and feel other's emotions or memories. Throughout the story, the game gives many chances for the player to utilize this power, whether it be through helping folks around the town or interacting with objects that trigger memories or certain emotions. This power, while it does seem to genuinely cause Alex pain sometimes, also seems to help her by helping her process her pain and trauma.
I am so glad that the LIS team kept the "plurality of endings" choice made in LIS 2 and Before The Storm because I genuinely don't think I would have been satisfied with only having a choice between 2 endings. I also love the fact that they gave us 2 romanceable characters- who are both pretty much equally good pairings for Alex. Steph and Ryan both are great matches for her, and players will not be disappointed with whichever one they choose- if they choose to romance anyone that is. But back to the ending, I got I think the best outcome possible one of the best outcomes possible, and it was so worth it. Everything in the final 2 chapters was stunning and enthralling, from the twist of Jed being the main antagonist, to Alex's dream sequence and visit with Gabe, all the way to the final moment when Alex reveals all to the city council members. These are some of the LIS team's best storytelling moments, and it shows.
I think this game is my second favorite of the LIS franchise- it's not QUITE as loved for me as the first Life is Strange, but I don't think it could or should be expected to. The first game is truly just special. But this game is also special in its unique way. I truly enjoyed every moment of this game, and I cannot wait to return to it someday to play again- or see how my choices will differ then.
Also, Alex and Steph are some of the best sapphic couple representations that I know of today (aside from Max and Chloe), and I would do ANYTHING for both of them. They so rule.
Where do I begin with this one? Everything in this game was phenomenal. I truly believe this was a return to the original formula from LIS 1 after a long detour in Before the Storm and LIS 2.
Everything in this game was done spectacularly well. The music, the visuals, the artwork, the dialogue- everything. I don't have any gripes about this at all, and it is truly a game that is now special to me. From so many banger songs in the soundtrack to the spectacular use of color palettes and visual imagery throughout the game, this entire game feels like an artistic masterpiece.
The story is somewhat like the usual LIS premise- a seemingly "broken" or lost individual (or duo) arrives somewhere new or is faced with a big challenge, then they find some form of "corruption" or tragedy, which most of the game is spent trying to solve. This game returns heavily back to the "investigation" aspect from LIS 1, but they do it refreshingly and interestingly which sets it apart from other games in the franchise.
Alex's character is really special- and her journey throughout the game is just so enthralling to watch. Every time I sat down to play the game I got lost in it, and it's been all I have thought about the past few days. Her journey starts as a girl just wanting to find a place to call home- and a reunion with her brother after eight years in the mining town of Haven Springs seems to promise just that. However, like in other LIS games, tragedy strikes- when a rescue mission goes from successful to fatal in seconds- as her brother is killed in a mining explosion. Convinced there was more to her brother's death than just an accident, Alex and her newly acquired friends set out to investigate that night's events, all while Alex is left trying to pick up the pieces from her brother's untimely death and adjust to her new life in Haven Springs. During the game, she faces not only obstacles from solving her brother's death but many interpersonal struggles with the other residents of the town as well. The core themes of this game seem to speak of " grief", "moving on from the past", and "finding a home/found family" as Alex struggles to find comfort and stability in her new life amidst the chaos of tragedy. She meets new people, attempts to let go of her past trauma/pain, has a chance to fall in love and is finally given a proper chance for a fresh start and a support network that cares about her.
The addition of Alex's power mechanic was truly wonderful, and I feel like it was put to use in an effective way that contributed immensely to gameplay. Where Max's power was that of time travel, Alex's was her ability to read into and feel other's emotions or memories. Throughout the story, the game gives many chances for the player to utilize this power, whether it be through helping folks around the town or interacting with objects that trigger memories or certain emotions. This power, while it does seem to genuinely cause Alex pain sometimes, also seems to help her by helping her process her pain and trauma.
I am so glad that the LIS team kept the "plurality of endings" choice made in LIS 2 and Before The Storm because I genuinely don't think I would have been satisfied with only having a choice between 2 endings. I also love the fact that they gave us 2 romanceable characters- who are both pretty much equally good pairings for Alex. Steph and Ryan both are great matches for her, and players will not be disappointed with whichever one they choose- if they choose to romance anyone that is. But back to the ending, I got I think the best outcome possible one of the best outcomes possible, and it was so worth it. Everything in the final 2 chapters was stunning and enthralling, from the twist of Jed being the main antagonist, to Alex's dream sequence and visit with Gabe, all the way to the final moment when Alex reveals all to the city council members. These are some of the LIS team's best storytelling moments, and it shows.
I think this game is my second favorite of the LIS franchise- it's not QUITE as loved for me as the first Life is Strange, but I don't think it could or should be expected to. The first game is truly just special. But this game is also special in its unique way. I truly enjoyed every moment of this game, and I cannot wait to return to it someday to play again- or see how my choices will differ then.
Also, Alex and Steph are some of the best sapphic couple representations that I know of today (aside from Max and Chloe), and I would do ANYTHING for both of them. They so rule.
Loved it. Music was great, characters were great. Story was great. Memorable AF
My wife and I have played all of the LiS games together over the last few years, and to say the series is hit-or-miss would be wildly inaccurate.
It's more like one hit, one weirdo thing that occasionally hits, and then two complete misses.
Unlike the two mainline LiS games, True Colors is another effort from Deck Nine, the same studio that gave us the abysmal Before the Storm. So I wasn't really holding my breath on this one.
Thank goodness I didn't, either, because this wasn't good!
True Colors suffers from a fundamental misunderstanding of what people liked about the other two games: meaningful choices and unique superpower mechanics. Rather than give in-game choices any impact, they do almost nothing to affect the main plot of the game. And Alex Chen's "empathy" superpower is intensely lame. She basically just reads minds, but only sometimes, and the mechanic to use it is barely there. It hardly does anything to impact the story either!
I can't knock everything about the game: the characters are solid, some of the "mind palace" stuff is pretty neat, and I even got a little invested in the main plotline and romance stuff. But in the end, it's insanely frustrating to put time into a choice based game where none of your choices matter. I wouldn't play this again.
Oh, and the Deluxe Edition comes with a DLC, Wavelengths, that lets you play as a different character from True Colors and learn her backstory. This, while occasionally fun and inventive, has the same issues as the base game.
It's more like one hit, one weirdo thing that occasionally hits, and then two complete misses.
Unlike the two mainline LiS games, True Colors is another effort from Deck Nine, the same studio that gave us the abysmal Before the Storm. So I wasn't really holding my breath on this one.
Thank goodness I didn't, either, because this wasn't good!
True Colors suffers from a fundamental misunderstanding of what people liked about the other two games: meaningful choices and unique superpower mechanics. Rather than give in-game choices any impact, they do almost nothing to affect the main plot of the game. And Alex Chen's "empathy" superpower is intensely lame. She basically just reads minds, but only sometimes, and the mechanic to use it is barely there. It hardly does anything to impact the story either!
I can't knock everything about the game: the characters are solid, some of the "mind palace" stuff is pretty neat, and I even got a little invested in the main plotline and romance stuff. But in the end, it's insanely frustrating to put time into a choice based game where none of your choices matter. I wouldn't play this again.
Oh, and the Deluxe Edition comes with a DLC, Wavelengths, that lets you play as a different character from True Colors and learn her backstory. This, while occasionally fun and inventive, has the same issues as the base game.