Life is Strange Reunion - spoilers ahead - my character observation blurb and disappointment at the unfortunate tunnel visioned and lack of Max character dev in LIS Reunion - but as a standalone OR LIS direct sequel - it's lovely and Chloe shines in every scene (IN PROGRESS)
DISCLAIMER: Oh my goodness, the fact I need to even mention this is astounding, but here we are. These are purely my own observations and opinions of LIS DE and LIS Reunion (primarily). You don't have to agree, it's really okay - but the fact that this is the only fandom that appears to have hyper reactive folks who get so angry and insulting with others that just simply don't share in the same views or opinions - especially when it comes to how you may or may not ship Max and Chloe together (as friends or romantic partners) - is wildly immature and negatively impacts the LIS fandom. Just simply move on, maybe touch some grass, take a breath - it'll really be okay.
FYI - if you're coming to comment how Reunion was a 'stick it' to how snubbed Pricefield fans were when Double Exposure launched, or how DE 'changed the narrative' (DE was literally setting up the subplots for Reunion, aka Safi and alternative realities, Chloe's return, but sure 👌 ) or that LIS characters got older (you don't say!) - all it's showing is the lack of awareness in the gaming space, because Reunion had far bigger issues outside of what its romance options were. This game could have easily encompassed more than what it gave to players - including pre existing-characterization and development, less isolated choices, regression of characters and LIS lore, etc.
The point has never been to remove other people's choices, but that the options that existed previously, are still present with the new selection of Reunion choices. Also it's very reminiscent to me, like Mass Effect 3, and its original ending before Bioware released their extended DLC (due to fans being outraged, rightly so, as the creative director and team kept saying ME3 would NOT be an A, B or C choice - which it ended up being) cut all over again with Reunion's lack of distinct choices, but I'm guessing the average LIS gamer hasn't ventured into the ME world much.
Also the specifically toxic LIS 1 Pricefield stans (aka the ppl spending any energy telling everyone how Pricefield is the only option and insulting others because they share a difference of opinion), is just wildly immature, and only feeds into the unnecessary divide.
Moving on from that though, the VA performances were *chefs kiss* all around, so I definitely appreciated Reunion's addition to the LIS story as it was very entertaining and enjoyable (albeit disjointed at how they shifted POVs, sometimes it felt more organic and others just felt like it was a last minute splice). I found that it was mainly when I looked a little deeper and, as someone who really enjoyed Max and DE's characters and their individual progression, Reunion became harder overall to digest as a proper progressive continuation.
BUT as a stand alone or DLC add-on to LIS 1? It's extremely enjoyable on its own merit, but felt too disjointed as part of the larger narrative for me. And fortunately I can compartmentalize or separate them, and enjoy it as a separate entity, despite the caveats I found as a smaller piece in a much larger puzzle.
First off all, I want to say that I enjoyed Double Exposure as a whole, and how Max became her own, fully developed character that showed actual growth and change from the first LIS without being a character who was mostly existing within Chloe's shadow. That was the biggest area of improvement I noticed in Max by far, and one of my favourite areas of character dev for her. That and how DE was a lot more unpacking around Max a trauma and how her choices impact others regardless of her good intentions (which continues into Reunion a bit)
DE still showed Max and her awkward goofiness, but it expanded on her as a character and showed maturity in many new ways (and in some other ways, she was still the same woman with PTSD amongst a variety of other MH conditions).
Also, I found in DE, and having taken the option - that Max romancing Amanda, was so much more natural, organic, self accepting, loving, considerate, wholesome, funny, and nurturing, and respectful - in almost every way Pricefield was not (especially in LIS 1). I was looking forward to Max being with someone who helps her want to do and be better - not remain largely stagnant. And yet, Reunion drew a (IMO) very disgusting line in the sand that ultimately forces Max to choose romancing Chloe, or no one at all by the end of LIS R. 😶 Which is... a bold move to give players more story and choice control in DE and then rip that completely away for Reunion. It seems pretty easy to have given numerous options, Chloe romance, friendship Chloe, romance Amanda, friendship Amanda, no romance, etc.
I personally kept Chloe as a friend across all games, and I have still loved their dynamic throughout Reunion.
As someone now closer to their 40s, I feel like it's gotta be people who have been (or are) in such massively toxic relationships in their lives, that could 100% blindly support Pricefield (from LIS 1) as healthy - specifically in the first LIS game. Again, if you're going to comment about something on Pricefield in LIS 1 (because you feel a personal attack that their relationship was never healthy) I will reiterate - this is about Pricefield in LIS 1, not Pricefield in Reunion. It really is okay to admit a relationship can be considered toxic one minute, and not toxic in others. These two sides can coexist in the same relationship.
Similarly, the above fans in said cringe category, seem to forget what constitutes a toxic relationship (here's one article) and how yes, Chloe and Max were primarily toxic in LIS 1 - mainly romanced. It was wildly unbalanced, dishonest, they were also mostly trauma bonded, felt abandoned, the romance option was mostly unrequited, Max was used (and abused) by Chloe effectively coercing Max to use her powers all the time, and Chloe was still infatuated/hung up on Rachel (which immediately meant Max was never a serious romantic focal point). Then there was also Max giving in to everything to people please, etc. etc. If you're someone that really truly thinks that's healthy in a relationship, that's horrible, and I wish you better.
With that said, if I pretend the first LIS doesn't exist and play LIS Reunion as its own standalone for viewing Pricefield as a relationship? It's far more healthly and heartfelt in comparison to LIS's depiction and I really enjoyed it (platonic or romantic for Pricefield). It's really, really lovely.
Honestly regardless of whether you chose the LIS Save Chloe (as friends or lovers) or the Save Arcadia Bay (which to me, is the most obvious morally sound choice to save everyone vs sacrificing all for 1 person aka Chloe) option - I will say again that Double Exposure is monumental to Réunion to show how both Chloe AND Safi are of similar importance to Max.
(And Safi is absolutely in love with Max, my goodness me that initial chat at the Turtle 👀).
However, I digress - Max has so much fucking trauma she's never worked through and that carries on throughout every game she's in. And really Chloe was never (until Reunion) someone that Max could actually emotionally rely or depend on. If anything OG Chloe relied on Max for support - so Reunion was a nice shift of that at plotline at least and I loved how selfless Chloe was.
Separately the slander against Max's character is just outlandish because she's one of the strongest LIS characters (unrelated to powers) and far surpasses the infamy of Chloe for still being the sweetpea she is with alllll of the lived trauma she has. Max has literally lived through current and past trauma of LIS, DE, and has trauma from alternative realities or scenarios that she's rewound that no one else will ever know about unless Max literally shares them with another person. Uhhh, who else would still be a functioning human in this case? 👀
LIS Reunion IMO completely undoes all of that separate characterization and maturity we got to see of Max in DE, as well as player choices, and truthfully - that was the most disappointing thing in LIS Reunion that overall felt like you're only meant to play LIS, and then LIS Reunion as more of a DLC plug in experience. Which is fine, if that's all you care about.
To my other disappointment - who you romanced in DE, such as Amanda in my playthrough's case - just ends in breakup (apparently the Vihn relationship as well which seems obvious from his story arc), and so there is only one possible romanceable option (Chloe) - which I've never enjoyed, in any game, when you the player are pigeon holed to a one or two very binary choices after given platters of many options previous.
TLDR for me - LIS Reunion is really going to be considered a 'good' game in one of three scenarios:
1. It's enjoyable as a direct sequel to LIS 1 and for those who want a definitive conclusion to Pricefield in whatever way you feel you need it. I think separately it can be quite beautiful on its own, romanced Chloe or friend Chloe. However, with Max reverting almost bar for bar back to the same as she was in LIS, it makes Chloe's character development look that much stronger and Max so one note, that it feels like a gross disservice to Max's overall character. Which I personally, am not a fan of the character regression.
2. It's good as a standalone game, negating all other LIS lore or backstory to Max and/or Chloe. Which feels...underwhelming and ridiculous tbh, but you can definitely enjoy it as a first LIS experience.
3. It's good if you truly don't care about any choices you made between LIS 1 and Reunion with regards to Max or her relationships, as Reunion forces you into a far narrower story (and romanceable) pipeline anyway.
Don't even get me started on Amanda 'a characterization (and just overall lack of time in Reunion) . That'll be another addition when I feel like it. 😑
Now don't get me wrong, I absolutely appreciated Chloe's character arc in Reunion and she's hilarious, selfless (and thoughtful) a lot of the time.
I was absolutely not a fan of Chloe throughout most of LIS 1 because she was self absorbed and unhealthly for Max, used Max a lot in the first game, and tbh I could only digest Chloe's alternative disabled verison of herself because she was finally fleshed out more. But Reunion Chloe is, I think, everything I was hoping the first LIS would be for her character - which is a massive improvement.
But Chloe shines a lot in this (Reunion) game, and again, I do think it's even more glaringly obvious in part due to to Max's stagnation and lack of dynamic character evolution from LIS 1 to LIS Reunion, but I digress.
Overall, I'll give the game a 6.5 /7 out of 10. I'm disappointed to say that if you're not a hardcore Pricefield fan (or didn't play DE to understand Safi's storyline in the grander Reunion plot), you could honestly skip this game or just watch a walkthrough. It feels very intentionally written to be absorbed as more of a standalone piece, or a direct sequel to LIS 1. I feel like there were so many opportunities to continue Max's character dev, and the potential story for multi-relationships options while keeping Max and her character's integrity in tact. And it just fell short on all fronts - so perhaps, go into Reunion with lower expectations and you'll be pleasantly surprised?
