solivagant

my thoughts and more. stay tuned.

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hello !!

not quite sure what this blog will consist of, but I plan to add photos, quotes, thoughts, and more. stay tuned !! :)

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Life Is Strange: 2

{SPOILERS}

Yes, I have finally played Life Is Strange 2. I knew that a lot of people enjoyed this game more than the first two. I didn’t expect to be one of those people, but I am and do not regret playing it. This may by far be the best game of the franchise. It had every single element one could ask for in a story. The dynamics and challenges in this game were better than the other two. I haven’t played the others like True Colors yet, but I believe this one is going to be the best one. It was such a good game, that I couldn’t wait to play the next episode. In one day, I played the last three episodes…because I actually had time.

Quick Review (no spoilers):

Life Is Strange 2 will break you, similarly to the justice system. What sets this game apart from the previous ones is its realism. Taking place in 2016, this game unfortunately, is still relevant in today’s political climate. I won’t give many spoilers, but the story involves the prejudice and racism that both immigrants and minorities experience in the United States. It gives us a firsthand experience of hate and reveals the horrors of nationalism. These themes are mixed into a heart-wrenching story that follows two brothers, only one of them with powers. Except this time, the player does not have these abilities and therefore, has to manage and take care of the little brother. Instead of the familiar five episodes that take place in a span of a week, this story’s timeline grows to be around 8 months long. This does not only give the player more scenes, but it also adds a larger timeline that deepens the narrative and the severity of the situation. In addition, there are more characters and settings in this game. Because of this, there is also four different endings. And just like the previous games, the LIS 2 soundtrack was just as phenomenal as the rest. Overall, the plot was created with perfection, including the complex characters and the different experiences throughout the game.

Discussion:

The two main characters: Daniel and Sean Diaz, I believe deserve a comparison. Considering how both are treated during the story and how their desires do not reflect each other, this creates an interesting dynamic between the brothers. It also affects the story to a very large scale; drastically affecting the ending. So, I will be pointing out the main topics that the brothers either disagree or differ from.

Daniel’s Power: His power was a very debatable topic between the Diaz brothers. And depending on your gameplay, Sean either heavily discourages or only slightly encourages the usage of the power. He knows how people will take advantage of Daniel... or even harm him if they were made aware of his abilities. This was the main reason for running away. Sean had no clue how the police officer died but knowing that he died somehow and they were on the scene, Sean knew what would’ve happened. The political atmosphere deeply affects the story from the very start. Therefore, Daniel’s power was a huge problem that layered on top of the main incident. In the first two episodes, Daniel listened to Sean the majority of the time about limiting his powers. However, the rest of the episodes began to develop Daniel’s independency and his ability to make his own decisions. Sean slowly started to lose his influence on Daniel. As soon as this happened, then Finn wrongfully uses Daniel’s powers for his own gain despite Sean denying the permission to do so. Even when Daniel and Sean are at the border, there is still a banter about how and if the powers should be used. Depending on the scale of Daniel’s morality, he either uses his powers to solely help his brother or uses it for his brother and for others as well. I think that Daniel’s telekinesis ability was a way to represent that sibling war, except at a larger scale. They both love each other very much, yet there is always something they are arguing about. The ability represents the power that the youngest sibling has to get away with most things, while the oldest sibling is left without an influence on the environment. This forces the brothers to either work together or split up. Depending on the ending you get, both of these may become true.

The wants: Throughout the game, there are moments when Daniel and Sean disagree on where they wish to end up. However, this is also seen in how they act in the environments they are in. For example, Daniel quickly found his new home with the parents of Karen in episode 2 and even at the farm in episode 3. Wherever they seem to go, Daniel quickly adjusted to his surroundings. The only time I believe that Sean really settled in was in episode 3, but that’s also because they stayed there for the longest time. He also earned money in which he could save up for the travels to Puerto Lobos. This money was another sense of security for him too. I mention it later down the road, but I will also put it here. Daniel wanted a home while Sean wanted security, and this explains why their ideas conflict. Daniel has taken each place and person he interacts with for granted, while Sean is looking into the future and sees every moment as temporary. Sean’s behavior and thoughts of fleeing also developed due to how each time they settled in, it always went south. They would get caught, a freak accident would happen, or they would end up going backwards. This created Sean to be passively attached to the areas and people he discovered. Therefore, Sean wanted to go to the one destination he had decided from the beginning, while Daniel was okay with going anywhere, but not exactly Puerto Lobos.

Sean:

Sean would only receive help when it involved Daniel. They both also had conflicting ideas and mindsets. Their dynamic was unhealthy as they had to depend on each other to make it out alive. Sean had to depend on Daniel’s power to get out of the worst possible situations, while Daniel depended on Sean for reassurance and safety. They were meant to separate. The closest they get to be is when they were grieving (aka a trauma bond). They spent most of their time together surviving, not living.

Sean also wanted to have the powers Daniel had too. Sean had to defend and help everyone else, but himself. So, he probably thought that having Daniel’s abilities would get rid of that powerlessness that Sean felt like he had.

Sean received little to no support by anyone. We’re talking about the emotional aspect here. Although it is a very common theme and is often referenced in modern poetry, Sean’s circumstances seem to root from being the older sibling. The older siblings usually receive little to no aid, are forcefully given the responsibility to take care of the little siblings and expect a higher performance for everything. This seems to fit the situation that Sean is in. Although he doesn’t open up very much, that isn’t a conscious decision made by Sean himself... it’s something he has learned from previous experiences. However, throughout the game, little to nobody personally asked Sean how he felt, what he wanted, or anything that didn’t involve Daniel. This causes Sean’s problems to be unconsidered and left unrecognized. I do appreciate Brody from the first episode talking to Sean one on one, but unfortunately, that was not a consistent thing for the rest of the episodes.

Sean was never given the chance to truly feel his pain either, as he always had to decide which way to go next. His huge responsibility took too much time for him to sit with his emotions. This left a lot of unprocessed feelings hanging in the air and therefore made his outbursts worse whenever it became too much for him. Specifically, that one scene in the car after being humiliated. He screams at the top of his lungs and cries, understanding that this isn’t getting any better.

Daniel:

I feel like the reason he is able to be joyful along this journey is because of his delay on the current situation. At first, he wasn’t told his father died until three days later. Then, throughout the game, Sean usually chooses to make reality seem less harsh onto Daniel. This, therefore, treats him as a kid despite the circumstances and allows him to easily get manipulated. This could also explain why Finn and the church were able to easily convince him to play along with their idea because he remains optimistic about things. Daniel's surroundings are not fit for a child, yet he still contains his childlike behavior and only begins to slowly mature over time.

Due to his age, I believe he is used to being the center of attention. This explains why he gets a bit jealous and angry when Sean makes friends with Cassidy in episode three. Sean basically becomes Daniel's only guardian, so it makes sense that Daniel is slightly possessive of him. Sean is the only person that Daniel has.

The life that Daniel wanted either wasn’t considered or not fulfilled. Daniel did not want to go to Puerto Lobos, he wanted to be with the people he knows and loves. And because of Sean’s inability to change his settlement on their destination, this desire of Daniel was left unconsidered. This probably made Daniel feel ignored and without any ability to make change. This could also explain as to why sometimes he went too far with his power usage. Depending on the ending, Daniel’s wants may have been left behind.

Explanation of the endings overall

From the first episode, I believe the story foreshadowed the plot in the scene with the Choko Crisp inside the Diaz house. Sean had to decide whether to give the very last chocolate bar to his father or to his brother. However, you can also choose to give it to yourself. If you give it to Esteban, he just gives it to Daniel. Because of this, it’s more like either Daniel or Sean receives the chocolate bar. Again, they are arguing over something—and in my lenses, the chocolate bar represents their wants. Either Sean can get what he wants or Daniel can, but they cannot share it. This could explain all of the endings as well, but this doesn’t mean whoever you choose to have the chocolate bar directly affects your ending. This is just a mere observation of mine. With the ‘Blood Brothers’ ending, Sean gets what he wants, but Daniel doesn’t. In the ‘Parting Ways’, they both technically go where they want, but are not completely fulfilled because they lack each other’s presence. In the ‘Redemption’ ending, I believe Daniel gets what he wants because he ends up with the grandparents and eventually sees his brother again. However, Sean has to serve his sentence of 15 years for a crime he didn’t commit. And of course, in the ‘Lone Wolf’ ending, Daniel is left without Sean. In Puerto Lobos, where he did not want to go to. Therefore, in all of the endings, the brothers cannot seem to get what they want with each other. They either have to separate or put up with the situation at hand.

Parting Ways: I received the ‘Parting Ways’ ending. When I first experienced this ending, I was angrier at Daniel than sad. As much as I felt betrayed, I didn’t quite understand why Daniel did what he did. However, as I thought about it a bit longer, I understood it was because he didn’t wish to go to Puerto Lobos. Daniel wanted a home, while Sean wanted security. There is a difference between these needs. A ‘home’ does not necessarily equate to a safe one. A ‘home’ is a feeling and may not have to always be a physical place. In this ending, Daniel felt more at home with the parents of Karen. In Puerto Lobos, that would’ve been a foreign place to him. Considering how the story suggests that Sean is more connected to his father’s roots rather than Daniel could also explain this. I don’t understand why the game did this to the brothers, like Sean knew fluent Spanish while Daniel didn’t know a lick of it? I feel like growing up in a household where the language is spoken, the kid had to at least soaked some of it up. This is if we are looking at it realistically. Despite that, Sean wanted security. He understood that no other place in America was safe, as they continued to be hunted. And because they had no other family, Puerto Lobos was the only place Sean had in mind. Being in a different country, it would be much harder for law enforcement to find them. I feel like Sean was never going to feel at home again, so he strived for security rather than for pleasure. I also believe that Daniel was going to need a stable home with a parental guardian and Sean wouldn’t be able to deliver no matter how hard he tried. Sean didn’t ask to become a parent nor knew the amount of effort it would take. He did great at keeping Daniel hopeful for most of the journey, but there were unpreventable moments when they had to split up. They also fought a lot over the smallest to the biggest things. Sean lost his influence on Daniel around halfway through the story, so it would’ve been difficult to try and force them to take the same pathway. What makes this ending terribly sad is how they will most likely never see each other again. Daniel has an ankle monitor, and Sean will be arrested as soon as he enters back into the United States. This ending also goes against the journey and what it once meant. I believe that this ending highlights that these brothers were meant to be separated, no matter how hard they tried to change that.

Blood Brothers: A lot of people like this one, but I did not. One, because Daniel did not enjoy the idea of going to Mexico throughout the story. He doesn’t look so happy. Two, I believe this ending contributes to the stereotype of Hispanics always being involved in illegality. During the scene that shows this ending, we see a piece of a newspaper with the headline describing a local gang's den being looted with two dead. Thus, telling the player that Daniel is still using his power and the type of lifestyle they are in. I understand that due to their circumstances that the experience will stick with them in some way. After the random outbursts of Daniel and the constant running away, it is hard to get out of that lifestyle. The fact that they escaped many situations with Daniel's power, it is probably best that he continues to use it. I just personally think that there could've been another way to create this ending. However, I do appreciate that they are together in this ending like the journey promised them to be. Except, this ending does not give Daniel the kind of home he wishes to have. He may feel unfulfilled without being with his mother or her parents around. He seemed to have really enjoyed his time with them, including Finn. Sean appears to be okay with being in Puerto Lobos, yet he is still at risk of attack due to their involvement with other people. And as I've addressed earlier, this continues the dependability that they have with each other. Overall, this isn't a bad ending--I can get behind the idea of it. However, a part of me wishes that they wouldn't have to be 'criminals' or continue down the road without peace. This one isn't the best one in my opinion, but it also isn't the worst one.

Redemption: I've heard that very little people like this ending... or people only like it because of the reunion it contains. This is the second worst one in my opinion because Sean has to endure the prison life. He has to serve a sentence for a crime that he didn’t even commit. He has to suffer for 15 years before reuniting with everyone he loves (including Lyla). Sean is a completely different person after this. In the cutscenes of this ending, he looks so distraught. He doesn't look as recognizable and due to the environment of the prisons, he looks terrible (with no offense). His appearance suggests the rough battles he probably had to endure in prison. He had to sit in a cell, wondering how he could’ve changed things. This must’ve left him with strong regret as every day was a reminder of his ‘mistakes’. Daniel had the chance to live out his life, even if he didn’t get to see Sean for a while. Due to the extreme differences between their lives, there must be a gap that disconnects them. What connects them is the history and the blood relation they have. When Lyla comes into frame, Sean and her must differ as well. Sean is no longer the shy, innocent boy she once knew. And who knows how much she has changed since high school. Because of the large disconnect Sean has with the people he knows, it must’ve been quite difficult for him to adjust to things when he was freed from prison.

Lone wolf: This is the worst ending ever. After all of the suffering, the running, and the intense care he gave to others, Sean dies from a bullet. Daniel is left in the car, crying while driving into Mexico. Eventually, he dyes his hair blonde when he gets older (most likely to not look like his brother.) And he is still involved in that illegal kind of life as well. What's unfortunate is that Daniel has to grow up all by himself without someone to guide him. This ending is accomplished with the low morality Daniel and with the choice of surrendering. It's hard for me to imagine this ending because it is so unfair. This leaves Daniel without anything he wanted. He didn't get to go where he wanted to, be with his brother, and he won't be able to return to America to his mother or his mother's parents. I am terribly sorry those who received this ending on their first playthrough of the game. I will pay for all of your therapy.

The family dynamic:

Karen’s reasoning for leaving was weak in my opinion. I understand how she may have felt unfulfilled, but why did she completely ghost the family? She could’ve split it, instead of being a full-time parent. But she also never reached out to them at all. I did like how the writers made her character so complex. I also feel like because she left due to her being unhappy with her circumstances, it left the brothers to be unable to do the same thing despite how unhappy they were with their situation in the endings. I think they don’t want to abandon each other to turn out like Karen.

I might be problematic for mentioning this, but I felt like Daniel was the favorite… even before the incident. It had seemed like he had the upper hand when it came to the household. Yes, Sean was mean to his little brother sometimes, however, I understand how it feels to be constantly assumed wrong. It seemed like the people around Daniel (understandably) focused on taking care of him rather than Sean. This led to Sean being mistakenly emotionally neglected, especially throughout the episodes.

Also, Sean and Daniel do not have many family members. I know we have Karen and her parents, yet they remain absent and only show up when the worst possible situation occurs. And I think Esteban's family is in Mexico? So, these children didn't have much family besides their dad, which explains why Sean grew resentment towards his mother for her absence. This is also why their journey was so difficult because they had no one to rely on. And they grew up with no other family members, which means they had no one else to talk to about their issues with their parents. For example, have y'all heard that saying, "it takes a village to raise a child"? Sean and Daniel never had this village. And it explains why Esteban puts some of the responsibility onto Sean when it comes to raising Daniel. Esteban doesn't have anyone else to help out with the parent duties.

No, I do not like Cassidy or Finn:

They had to be at least 20 years old, considering their history and the lack of their confirmed age. And either way, Finn was manipulative and greedy, and Cassidy was creepy and extremely flirtatious. Also, they are white people with dreads… I don’t trust those people. The oxymoron is very present here as Sean, a Mexican teenager; his only love interests are white people that are culturally appropriating hairstyles? That don't seem right to me. I understood that the developers were attempting to make Cassidy and Finn appear as those stereotypical hippies, but that doesn't mean they need to have dreads. There are plenty of ways to appear connected to nature and a stereotypical weed smoker without appropriating other cultures. However, I've heard that hippies were actually racist, basically those white feminists that exclude POC. So maybe, these two were meant to fit that role.

However, I can judge these characters without even mentioning the pedophilia. Starting off with Cassidy; I didn't think she was necessarily terrible, but it was way too obvious that she wanted to do things with Sean. Maybe I'm a bit of a prude, but I think a traumatized teenager isn't looking for romantic ventures. I don't think that it is the correct way to respond to someone who is battling grief all while trying to keep their little brother alive. Perhaps she believed like Daniel did, that they were going to stay forever. Although she was a bit odd, I did appreciate how she gave Sean a little bit of joy. Happiness was something Sean barely experienced throughout the story.

When it comes to Finn, I actually did like him at first. He stood up for the brothers and recommended Sean to get on the job. However, his actions later on in episode three angered me. He was pretty unrealistic, especially when it came to removing himself from their situation. Also, he manipulated Daniel as soon as he discovered his telekinesis powers. It made it seem like that every nice thing that Finn did for Sean and his brother was a set up. It also jeopardized the entire hideout. It left people with scars, it divided the entire group, and the worst of all, separated the brothers. What also ticked me off was how Finn continued to defend himself and his perspective despite how incorrect his decisions were.

The racist experiences:

There are many instances throughout the episodes that give us an unfortunate firsthand experience of racism and prejudice. Sean had to endure all of these moments—usually by himself. I am white, so I do not relate to these experiences. However, this game gave me a great example on how it is like to be a part of a minority or an oppressed group. What horrifies me more is how I’ve seen people in the comment sections of videos relating to this game discussing how they’ve experienced these things before. And like I’ve mentioned before, this game is still relevant in today’s world. All of these scenes show us that no matter what, there is an irreversible hate that lies in some people’s hearts. Whether minorities try to “fit in” or mind their own business, the oppressor is always waiting for their chance to harm them.

The incident: The very reason as to how this story unfolded was due to a racist assumption made by a white police officer. He shot at Esteban despite his lack of weaponry. This situation occurs too often for the cops to be left without charge. Also, Brett was combating with Sean, even making racist remarks. And the way this scene happened so fast that it left us all in shock, including Sean. What made this part even more disturbing was how Daniel was unaware about it for a few days. He had to see it on the news before hearing it from his brother. And in my opinion, that is one of the worst ways to find out. It’s dystopian to find out the status of someone you know on the TV screen.

The store: When I first played, I thought this entire sequence was my fault. However, I saw that it was inevitable that the event was going to occur. What makes this instance so evil is that Sean and Daniel didn't steal anything (in my playthrough), yet they were assumed suspicious anyway. What made this even worse was how the store owners dealt with the situation (not that it even mattered as their assumptions were horrible already) but considering that they had hurt Sean and tied him up was barbaric. Who knows what they would’ve done to Daniel.

The car scene: This one was definitely the worst one in my opinion. Sean either had to endure physical abuse or humiliate himself with a song. This scene left me with an emotional wound, but not one as big as Sean's. Throughout the rest of the game, I kept recalling that moment. This decision was probably the one I regretted the most out of every other one. I let him sing because I had no idea how badly he would be wounded. He was already in critical condition due to just escaping the hospital.

At the border: This scene also displayed how far extreme conservatives will go when it comes to “protecting their country”. The moment Sean and Daniel get taken into custody flabbergasted me as they were only migrating. What didn’t make sense to me was the logic of this racist couple. If you wanted people to remain in their own country, then why did you stop Sean and his brother from technically going where they came from? This moment just goes to show that it doesn’t matter—you can’t stop hate. And this is when logic is thrown out the window and it is made obvious as to where they stand. Unfortunately, people will always have that hatred inside of them if they cannot learn to reverse their evil ways.

In conclusion:

This game was beautifully written, with tragedy as its lover. The wound this game leaves is different from the others. This is a game where the external problems affect the main characters. It ruins their future from the very beginning. Rather than the main characters falling in love, it is a sibling bond this time. This bond seemed deeper than all of the other connections throughout the game. Without the ability to reverse time, to take back what was once theirs, Sean and Daniel had to persevere no matter the circumstances. The dynamic between the brothers was very realistic considering how many siblings are. The plot development was great as well and was without a boring sequence. I personally enjoyed this game more than the others. I long for the justice that I wish could’ve been served for this particular situation. But furthermore, I wish for everyone to receive justice. And that is what makes this game so painful, is its realistic events and the degree to which the situation reached. I wish I could play this for the first time again.

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HAPPY PRIDE MONTH! ! !

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I hope all of y’all have a great month! Remember, everyone who is a part of the LGBTQ+ community IS with us. Let’s all be kind to one another and educate ourselves on how we got here. I came out around three years ago during this month.

I am so happy that I am getting even closer to finding myself. I am currently bisexual, demisexual, and trying to figure out my gender. I’m so excited to celebrate this month with everyone!

Stay safe out there and be who you are!

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This may not be an original thought or quote, but I thought of it and wish to share it.

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Sometimes you have to rot before you grow.

ꕤ ꕤ ꕤ ꕤ ꕤ ꕤ ꕤ ꕤ ꕤ ꕤ ꕤ ꕤ ꕤ ꕤ ꕤ ꕤ ꕤ ꕤ ꕤ ꕤ ꕤ ꕤ ꕤ

I told this to myself whenever I felt pressured to constantly be productive despite my energy levels being low. Although I am not being as productive at the moment, I’m allowing myself to slowly create art.. to be in the moment, and to deeply reflect on me and my thoughts. Sometimes, you have to allow yourself to play a game a little longer, consume media to create it later, and take a break from major projects. An artist isn’t always creating art, sometimes they are experiencing life.

✦ ✦ ✦ ✦ ✦ ✦ ✦ ✦ ✦ ✦ ✦ ✦ ✦ ✦ ✦ ✦ ✦ ✦ ✦ ✦ ✦ ✦ ✦ ✦

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Here is what I’m currently taking care of! I got the Lavender, Rosemary, and Geranium plant recently. The Arrowhead plant I’ve had for about a month or two. The flowers (obviously cut) I got a few days ago. I can’t wait to see how far they go!

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Valentino <3

TW

My precious baby boy has passed away. I just wanted to make an appreciation post and give y’all a reason as to why I haven’t been posting recently. Feel free to post pictures of your dogs too. Does anyone have any advice as to how to deal with this?

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I wanted to share my art on here. Looking for feedback! (but don’t just shit on it or lie about how perfect it is) Constructive criticism pretty please :). I need to know what I should work on next. I’ve started to use color pencils recently—which, I usually do not use. I never color my sketches, so they get pretty smudged. Some of these drawings, I used a reference and others, I did not. I have been drawing for years, but not consistently, which explains my lack of skill. Thank you in advance for any feedback given! I wish you all some art inspiration!

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Due to the flower field I found, more photos should be coming soon!!! Spring has been very lovely lately.

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LIFE IS STRANGE: Before the Storm

{SPOILERS}

I am back with another review of Life Is Strange! I am currently getting the other games. For now, I will do this review differently than the last one. Instead of going over the choices, I’m going to just yap about my thoughts and mention the choices throughout. I hope y’all don’t hate me for the big decisions I made throughout my gameplay, I had no idea what was going to happen!

Quick Review:

Knowing that I enjoyed the previous Life Is Strange, I had a feeling that I was going to like this one even more. I like Chloe’s character a lot, it’s complex but overall she is a good person. In this version of LIS, we see so much more from her perspective. At this time in the game, she is 15 or 16, with brown hair and no tattoo. Playing this game was like watching history being made. The beginning of the 2010s is our setting, at the old, familiar Arcadia Bay. This is during the time that Chloe attended Blackwell and we get to see the people she interacted with. This is also the point when Joyce and David were dating and not yet engaged. Surprisingly, I liked this game a bit more than the original LIS. I think both have their own standards, but Before the Storm felt so much more raw, intense. Perhaps this is because we do not have the ability to time travel like Max does. However, there were around two instances that I had to return to the last checkpoint to make things right. This game is versatile, deep, and filled with much more symbolism (or maybe I feel this way because I knew what to look at and how to observe the game). Although it is only three episodes, it is packed with many challenges and a great romantic build-up. There is also a bonus episode in which fills us in on how exactly Max moved out of Oregon and how the moment of William’s death was founded out by Chloe. Again, this was a great game, filled with a dangerous adventure and with a compelling storyline.

Discussion:

I was previously trying to do this in a different format, but I found that I just wanted time to explain my thoughts without a forced guideline. So, here we go! I liked this game very much, the overall vibe was set apart from the first LIS game, making it unique. With Max, things felt more sentimental, quiet, and mysterious. While with Chloe, it felt more surreal, exciting, and adventurous. I like Rachel’s character a lot. Great style, soft spoken but bold, and into exploration. I believe that her and Chloe are a better fit for each other rather than Chloe and Max. I honestly support and believe in both of those ships, yet Rachel and Chloe had a larger commonality. Rachel and Chloe wanted to leave Arcadia Bay, create a new life, and do what they wish. Chloe calms the fire that burns in Rachel’s heart whenever she is emotionally provoked, while Rachel gives Chloe happiness, a friend/partner. However, this game has a few parallels with the first one. We play in a very similar scenario: finding a missing person for our lover/crush. Instead, Chloe is searching for Rachel’s mother rather than Chloe and Max searching for Rachel. And this game adds to the reasons why Chloe acts the way she does in the first game. In her mind, it makes perfect sense to talk to drug dealers, break into someone’s house, and cause trouble to do something that she didn’t have to. Although Rachel requested it, it wasn’t a requirement. Yet, it’s clear that Chloe lacks boundaries in relationships. She feels as though she has to do tedious tasks in order to win someone’s love. Her mother cannot even control where she goes, therefore, allowing Chloe to get caught in many terrible situations. I like Joyce, but she isn’t the greatest mother. She takes David’s side most of the time, can barely discipline her daughter, and barely allows Chloe to grieve or even receive help for it. I could probably go more deeper into this in another post. Besides that, we can see where Chloe has developed a lot of her habits from. She enforces Max to help her find Rachel while comparing her to Max and even gaslighting her in certain situations. However, like Chloe was with her blonde lover, Max is obsessed and follows her around without much hesitation. Now understand, Chloe is my favorite character, but she does possess a few flaws. It’s all trauma responses and unhealthy attachments.

Y’all are going to hate me for this choice… but I chose to not tell Rachel the truth about her mother. I was very confused by the scenes and what was going on, that I thought Rachel’s mother was killed inside the mill. I also did not know that Sera would return to Rachel in the ending. The way you make this happen is by choosing the right things to say when you speak to Sera (but choosing to tell the truth may also do this). I chose not to tell the truth because I knew Rachel’s fate was inevitable. I wanted her last few months/years to not be filled with suffering, lies, and betrayal. I cannot imagine what would’ve happened if I told her so. I also wondered if she would’ve gone berserk like she did in the forest. I just didn’t want her to deal with that in her last moments. I recall seeing a clip of what happens if you do tell her the truth, it doesn’t really change anything. But when I first made this decision, I didn’t know the possibilities. I loved seeing the ending scenes with the cute snippets of Chloe and Rachel’s time together. It was almost like we got a happy ending…only to be slapped in the face with reality at the very end. Those cursed camera flickers, the traumatizing sound of the camera clicks, the very camera that Mr Jefferson held. It’s so disgusting and horrific. It makes me recall all of the disturbing items we found in the dark room. Oh what a terrible sequence.

As I’ve previously mentioned, I do ship Chloe and Rachel together. They were meant to be partners, so I want to talk more about that. Throughout the whole game, I chose all of the decisions/words that basically set them up. And their love was almost magical, created with so much symbolism. They bonded through adventures, acting, and discovery. Throughout the game, they support each other with aid no matter the circumstances. Whether they are facing an enemy head on, or if they are in a hospital, the assistance remains. Of course, like the first game, this relationship was sped up to the max (Max.. lol). Unfortunately, this is a lesbian stereotype that is a misrepresentation of sapphic love. I understand that it must be difficult to create a game that is taking place in a span of a few months, but it would add so much more realism. We would get even more scenes too, which means more information and more symbolic imagery. As much as I do like this relationship, I believe Rachel should have either discouraged Chloe’s extreme loyalty to her or shouldn’t have told her to go on her secret mission of finding Sera. Because a relationship is meant to be equivalent on both ends, Rachel should prohibit Chloe from immediately taking her side on everything, and Chloe should warn Rachel of her impulsive decisions. Half of the trouble they endured was because of the toxic mix of loyalty and impulsiveness. Although it was very sweet to watch, this could’ve been solved. But of course, time takes everything away.

Alright, I have seen a post on this little hypothesis/theory about the game. And I myself, even noticed it too. Max, as seen in the first game, has the power to travel through time. However, in Before the Storm, Rachel screams into the fire she created. Whenever she enters the hospital, the fire suddenly dies. Chloe throughout the game has prophetic dreams of her father with slices of advice. It feels as though these major characters have abilities and forces of nature they express. Rachel represents the doe/deer and Chloe is the blue butterfly. This game added more symbolism than the first one which is why it won over my heart. Everything makes so much more sense now when it comes to these characters and how they are all connected. Perhaps these games explain its title: Life Is Strange. In life we see many things that correspond, act as a sign, and even find many connections and ties. I feel as though they demonstrated this idea much better in this game, or maybe that is because I knew what to look for.

The last thing I want to add is the bonus episode. This is what made me cry instead of the third episode. We see Max and Chloe as kids again. It’s funny to see a smaller version of them, still having the traits they’ve had since then. It’s amazing to see them bond before Max left with her family to Seattle. And when we are in Chloe’s room with her, we’re helping her get rid of things. However, everything we try to get rid of, she protests against it. And perhaps I’m looking too deep into this, but her attachment to all of these items may represent how easily she clings onto others (specifically in romantic relationships). This episode in my opinion, holds many similarities to the first LIS game. A more fit description of this bonus episode is a nutshell of the first game. Max and Chloe are bonding, talking, and then they have to go on an adventure and find something. In Before the Storm, this was a treasure. While in Life Is Strange, this was Rachel. Max finds the amulet which is the key to finding the treasure. And in the future, she discovers her time traveling abilities in which also help her and Chloe find out what happened to Rachel. They find the treasure, and then life ruins it all. I chose to tell Chloe that Max was leaving right before Joyce comes through the door, which makes it even more unbearable for Chloe. In Life Is Strange, Max and Chloe realize that they cannot be together in any universe. Chloe ends up getting left behind in both scenarios. It seems like it was doomed from the beginning. And till this day, I do not understand why Max didn’t send any letters, messages, or even a call. That will be something else to discuss. Overall, the bonus episode made me cry when Max left behind that tape of her talking how her and Chloe will remain friends and in contact no matter what.

In conclusion, I loved this game. Prequels are usually very interesting, so I knew this game was going to be great. And because of this game, we know so much more about Chloe and her life. We get to see all of the occurrences that Max never saw. The soundtrack is great as well, Daughter made most of the songs, yet they all seemed to fit very well. I do not know when I will be playing the next game (Life Is Strange 2), but I need to catch up soon because of the new game coming out (if not already): Life Is Strange: Reunion. Yes, I know Chloe comes back, but NO SPOILERS PLEASE. Alright, I will catch y’all later, bye!

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Happy Spring Equinox!!! I had some good food too but I did not take a picture of it :(. I made the cake, a strawberry cake box mix but with extra ingredients/replacements, pecans and strawberries, vanilla frosting, and a crumble of a lemon blueberry streusel! Anyways, I wish for all of us to have a great year and be blessed throughout the spring! Blessed be!

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The Spring Equinox is almost here!! Sorry I haven’t been posting a lot lately. :( I’m lacking inspiration.

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Saw the moment and took it with me. I love birds, how about y’all?

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Nature is with us everywhere; no matter if we try to flee or recreate it. Nature is with us at all times.

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The full moon with Jupiter right at the very first minute of this month. I’m hoping to get even more pictures to post. :)

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Offline experiment:

I think we have all seen the trend or promotion of going offline and returning to non-digital devices. Because of this, I decided to choose a day when I can completely turn off all of my electronics and not lay my hands on them for 24 hours. I wouldn’t say it was life changing, but I certainly felt refreshed and grew a deeper appreciation for the technology we have today. I despise technology however, as it has now taken every part of our lives and is slowly replacing every human. However, without it, we wouldn’t have our jobs, be able to do our schoolwork, or even have access to our bank account. This is clearly a tactic the world uses to trap everyone into a digital world. I left this world for one day. During this day, I looked forward to making my meals, seeing something new outside of my window, and what I could create. The day felt longer, like I actually had time to do what I wanted. Unfortunately, my patience would shrink whenever I heard the notifications (seen later and they were not important). I grew anxious whenever I heard vibrations and dings from the device. This was my moment of realization of how our phones hold us hostage. We have the sense of urgency to check our phone and what the notification says. And when it’s our friend messaging us, we reply and then wait for their response by scrolling on another app. And an hour later… we have completely forgotten our previous task. I know these are all easily drawn conclusions that everyone is aware of, but I don’t think we truly understand its impact until we endure it ourselves. Here are some other things I noticed throughout my day with zero electronics:

At the beginning of the day, I was able to concentrate and read pretty well. However, once night began to approach and the timer was going down, I could only somewhat focus on books with visuals and short descriptions. (Basically reflecting our attention spans).

I took longer on tasks as I felt no rush or need to speed up the process. This included making bracelets, reading, coloring, etc.

Oddly began to reminisce about my childhood experiences. I think this is because I didn’t have any devices and I resorted to playing Barbies and doing random stuff with whatever I had as a kid.

The biggest issue for me during this day was the lack of background noise and music. I unfortunately do not own a piece of physical music :(.

If you would like to do this challenge as well, here are the rules I used during the experiment:

Before you attempt to do this challenge, notify others the night before that you will not be on your phone. Hopefully they won’t spam you and they won’t be worried about your whereabouts. And CANCEL everything or choose to do this on a day off with no work or school demands.

Stay off of all digital devices. This includes TVs, laptops, anything with a screen and pixels. CD players and Vinyls are okay!! (Cameras too)

Yes you can go outside and visit places (I didn’t because it was very cold and we have ice all over the roads.)

Report/journal throughout the day, try to include a summary and report on how many notifications were important that you received throughout the day.

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Hope y’all like this post and successfully accomplish the challenge if you participate! :)

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{LIFE IS STRANGE SPOILERS} !!!

This is my first post, so welcome if you are seeing this. I recently completed the story game, Life Is Strange. I have been meaning to play this game for a while, but never have until now. I played with no idea what it was about, no guide or spoilers. Because I keep thinking about it after completing the final episode a few days ago, I now want to yap about it on here! I’ll also talk about the choices I made throughout.

Quick review

Life Is Strange definitely changes your perspective on almost everything within your existence and the universe. The almost impossible yet scary scenario this story forces you into puts you inside Max Caulfield’s shoes. The combination of scientific theories, natural disasters with the intimate interactions of the characters all sets it beautifully. The soundtrack is niche, reminding you and trapping you inside nostalgia whenever you listen to it outside the game. The graphics and scenery were excellent, despite my gameplay on mobile. Because Life Is Strange is a choice-based narrative game, everyone’s gameplay is slightly different. This adds to the idea of alternate universes that are within the game. The ending destroys you, almost wishing to go back in time to when it was more simple, as if you possess the power Max has. And once you shut off the game, it doesn’t leave your mind for a while.

My choices and why

1st Episode:

Reporting Nathan: After seeing the events that went down in the bathroom, of course I chose to report Nathan for that. Despite no one believing me, it was best to stir that rumor than to paint him as completely innocent. Now that I look at this, it saddens me that he was in an emotional turmoil against his will. He was a pawn, not the manipulator. I cannot remember if it was this episode that we received a threat from Nathan, but I was a little nervous when he did so. I wondered if one day he was going to come after us. I’m assuming he didn’t for a while because he wanted Max to find out the truth, he could tell she was investigating.

Comforting Victoria: Despite me not liking her, I didn’t want to stir up any drama. The other option seemed unlike Max. Yes, she did purposely cause the paint to coat Victoria, however her true character does not convey that she would bully in plain sight. Max is more of a character to do sneaky pranks behind the scenes instead of telling someone to scram. Like I said before, I didn’t want to cause drama or my name to become more tainted.

Intervening between Kate and David: I didn’t understand the purpose of a photo, which is why I immediately chose to intervene. I was a little worried if the cop was going to report Max or get her in trouble. Luckily, my defense sent him away and helped Kate. In this episode, we had no idea what was going on with her at all. Reflecting over this now, it devastates me how she couldn’t even receive help from police. Instead, she received harassment and stalking.

Taking the blame for Chloe: I do not recall why I couldn’t hide, but I believe something fell and got in the way. After completing the episode, I saw that I could’ve stayed hidden. However, taking the blame had a higher percentage, so I didn’t change it. It slightly frustrated me that Max, someone who would never go near drugs took the blame. Especially considering how I stood up to David, I was afraid he would dislike me even more and try to frame me for a crime. From this point, I could see the potential of Max and Chloe. She listened to Max about her powers despite how insane it sounded and complimented her a few times (as well as the other times throughout the series).

This episode is a great introduction to the game. So pure and innocent, yet slightly dark to add suspense and the want for purchasing the rest of the episodes. There was plenty of mystery, such as the vanishing of Rachel Amber. The ending was real nice and sentimental as well. The snow peacefully falling as Chloe questions Max and asks to tell her everything. I felt the weight of the mysterious power leave my shoulders as Max finally found someone to discuss it with. I enjoyed how each of the episodes had these kinds of cutscenes to embrace the scenery. Because this game is placed in 2013, it adds onto the overall vibe of the game. Not too old, but old enough to reminisce about.

2nd Episode:

Told Kate to go to the police: I actually didn’t tell Kate to go to the police at first, I told her to look for evidence. I thought this would be said politely and not come off the wrong way, but it did. I thought the police wouldn’t believe her which is why I recommended that to her, but I reversed time and that decision. I understood that perhaps the more allegations against Nathan, the more likely he would be investigated. After finding out about Kate’s story and why that video was going viral, it saddened me. She was drugged, humiliated and kidnapped. And when the big plot twist happens later on, it disgusted me even more. I’m glad Max actually believed Kate unlike everyone else. It shows Max’s character of no matter if she regularly talks to them or not, she will aid someone in times of hardship.

Answered Kate’s call: I didn’t understand why this was a huge choice, until I considered if the phone call would ruin Max and Chloe’s relationship, but it didn’t. Of course I was going to answer because, why not? Max and Chloe spent the whole day together afterwards either way. Plus, I wanted to be there for Kate as she was suffering. I cannot image how it must feel to see a false image of you planted everywhere. It haunted her, like a traumatic memory, except it’s one she can’t remember.

Didn’t try to shoot Frank: When this choice came upon me, I do not remember if the choices said ‘try to shoot’. Otherwise, I might have chosen that one. However, I thought I would accidentally commit a crime and shoot him. Especially since some decisions cannot be reversed. I’m thankful I didn’t because I believe it made Max & Chloe’s relationship better with Frank in the end. If we dealt with him with violence, it would’ve ended up worse. At this point in the story, Max cannot afford to have any more people on her case.

Couldn’t save Kate: Yes, I know. I am so sorry I couldn’t save Kate. I was doing great, until I mentioned her mother caring about her. I guess that was the wrong choice. At that moment, I didn’t remember who in her family deeply cared about her or who didn’t judge. Even now, I regret not paying attention to our conversations more. It felt like I actually lost her, when it was Max who did. And throughout the rest of the game, you see how it deeply affected her. Max kept thinking about her, mentioning Kate whenever she discussed her powers, she was haunted by Kate as much as she felt haunted by her video. It really puts a burden on not only Max, but also us, the player.

Blamed Nathan: I was surprised at how many options it gave us here. I didn’t know why Mr. Jefferson was an option, besides him being the last teacher to talk to her. I believe this was an easy choice because everything was connecting to Nathan. Now, David did seem suspicious, but I had no evidence against him and considering he is a police officer, no one would believe my claim.

With my failure to save Kate, I thought this was a really dark episode. However, this is not even close to being the most disturbing one. This episode was like a seed that’s barely sprouting up to the surface. It is only getting worse from this point. After this episode, I kept thinking on what I could’ve done. Max most definitely did the same. I was slightly relieved that Warren and Chloe comforted and supported her. Again, this episode did a good job with the use of aesthetics and nostalgia. The ending was drowned with grief as Kate’s body was in the rain. The eclipse was also an interesting factor, a meaningful one. Eclipses symbolize great change, perhaps even devastating ones. So upon seeing this eclipse, I knew things were about to get a whole lot weirder. However, I didn’t think the events later on would be so much worse than this episode.

3rd Episode:

Leaving the money: I did see that choosing to steal it did have a higher percentage, but I didn’t want to get into any more mess. At this point, Rachel is missing, Nathan almost killed Chloe, David is strange, and now Kate committed suicide. I feared that Max would be suspected due to her investigative behavior. Although Frank was someone Chloe needed to pay back, I thought perhaps somehow we could extend the due date or create peace with him. However, it was difficult to not be persistently anxious about it when Chloe kept mentioning the fact I let him take our gun. She quite literally made Max feel guilty as if she doesn’t already have enough problems. This is no hate to Chloe, I like her character but she has her own flaws and drawbacks.

Kissing Chloe: Okay, who wouldn’t? From the very first episode, their romance is obvious. They’ve known each other for years and easily connected after a long wait. I saw more of their romantic elements displayed during the scene at the train tracks and inside the pool. And then the next morning, they wake up next to each other, taking a photo together. These are the cute moments that romance authors write in their books. I was slightly disappointed when the kiss wasn’t fulfilled, but the insinuation was enough for me to be satisfied. I like how this scene is enough for us players to gawk at, but not to completely fulfill the side plot of romance. It keeps us awaiting for their confession, building up the amount of love that will be poured into it.

Siding with Chloe: This was another easy choice for me. First of all, I thought David was an odd one, stalking students and creating their profiles… it all seemed strange. David and Max also didn’t get along, so it wouldn’t make sense to side with him. And second of all, siding with him most likely betrays Chloe too. Therefore, I sided with her, especially since she has seen some sides of David that Max has not. When he departed from the house, I felt a bit guilty. I felt like I might have crashed a promising family. It saddened me, yet I knew we had bigger issues at hand.

Keeping Frank’s dog from harm: Of course I wouldn’t harm a dog! It was quite simple to throw the bone off to the side in the parking lot. Pompidou is a very cute dog despite his aggression. Wouldn’t want to be near him however. This decision was important and I was able to tell because of how this pet was the only thing Frank had left. He had lost Rachel and wasn’t living the greatest life. I couldn’t imagine attempting to make it even harder for him to get through day by day.

This was probably the least devastating and the most entertaining episode of them all. I describe it as such because of all the time we spent with Chloe, the kiss Max initiated, and the lack of darkness within this episode. It wasn’t a pointless episode, though. I believe it was placed in the middle to trick us players into thinking we are sailing smooth without the knowledge of a storm heading our way. In fact, the tornado was supposed to happen in two days from this point. I also think it was an episode for intimate interactions, to highlight character development, and draw us closer into the lives of these people. However, the episode ended off with something disturbing. The developers mixed the atmosphere of Arcadia Bay with the frightening fate of Chloe in the alternative universe. Chloe was not her usual self. No dyed hair, original style, nor the mobility Max knew she had. I feared that we were trapped in this universe as I wondered what else might have gone wrong. As a fan of the Spider verse movies and the Netflix Series Arcane, I understand how different universes completely flip the script. After this episode, I couldn’t wait to play the next one.

4th Episode:

Refused Chloe’s request: This is another one of those decisions that I reversed. At first, I fell into Chloe’s trap with convincing me to assist her suicide. When seeing her in the wheelchair, my heart dropped. She wasn’t herself at all, completely different. Max saw the similar face, but not the dyed hair or the natural spunk. It saddened me how she couldn’t do the adventurous and dangerous things she once did. Therefore, I originally chose to follow her wishes. However, I saw the percentage of the choice and Max telling us to rewind, so I did. Although I did upset Chloe, it was for the better in that universe. She was kept alive despite that car wreck for a reason. I left the universe alone and decided to not leave it tampered with.

Stopped Warren from beating up Nathan: I knew that this fight could have escalated very quickly. It was an easy choice to block Warren from fighting Nathan, considering he had a gun on him and I didn’t want Max to lose another friend. I also care about Warren and I knew Max did as well. I admire Warren’s ability to defend Max and others. With his stereotypical nerdy appearance, you wouldn’t have guessed he could fight so well. I also like his character because he supported Max without the knowledge of her powers.

No one got hurt: Surprisingly, it took many attempts to correct this decision. So, Frank did get shot multiple times, but Max reversed it. Upon experiment, I discovered that commenting on Rachel’s photo doesn’t upset him. I thought it would because it was something found in his trailer. Luckily, no one got hurt and like I hoped for, Chloe and Max were able to recover their relationship with Frank. I had a feeling that a resolution or a deal would happen between these three. When Max brought up Rachel Amber in the conversation, it was clear how sentimental Frank was. He’s been reminiscing over her ever since her disappearance. I have mixed opinions when it comes to Frank’s character. Due to his age gap between him and Rachel and the outbursts noted in her letters to him, it is slightly off-putting, but similarly to Chloe, he has his own faults and issues. However, I am sure that Frank was great at protecting her with Pompidou and his sheer will. Unfortunately, his effort wasn’t enough against the perpetrator.

Victoria believed the warning: Another fairly easy choice, why wouldn’t I? Why wouldn’t Max? I will admit that Victoria was a bully towards us and Kate. She dragged on the horrors that Kate experienced from the video, yet I didn’t want anyone else to die and neither did Max. I also wondered if she was getting manipulated by Nathan as they were close. I’ll never forget what she did, but I do believe she possibly changed. This scene of her and Max was a little unexpected. Of course, I wanted to give her the warning, but the fact that she was telling Max how she secretly admires her photography skills and personality was interesting. All along, it may have been jealousy… which is why I am glad to see their acquaintance leveled friendship improve.

This episode is comparable to the peak of a rollercoaster. Everything is about to drop. This episode kept us on our toes throughout it, waiting for something to pop off. With the solved case, we were on a roll with it. However, everything went wrong as soon as Max and Chloe entered the junkyard. In search for Nathan, they instead meet their fates. Max, injected with a sleeping liquid, as Chloe gets shot and falls to the ground. I almost believed this scene wasn’t real or that none of it happened. I thought perhaps it was my fault because I followed Chloe, but I soon realized it all at the end of the episode. Before Max is forced by the injection to shut her eyes, Mr. Jefferson, the photography teacher, stands over her. This might have been one of the biggest plot twists I’ve experienced. I may have been blinded by the fingers pointing at Nathan that I didn’t exactly notice anything strange with Mr. Jefferson or it may have been like that on purpose. Either way, it was a perfect stab to the back. I felt betrayed, left with confusion and the wish to reverse time. We get a quick clip of Mr. Jefferson inside his designated space for photographing his victims. After this episode, I needed to play the very last one. I had to wait a whole day due to my busy schedule and it was painful. This episode is the definition of “what the fuck”.

5th Episode:

For the very last episode, I am going to describe the scenes with the final decision at the end. There is a lot to dissect from this episode, so focusing on that singular decision is not going to cut it.

The dark room: This scene is one of the creepiest I’ve seen in a game. The music is very unsettling and the room’s colors mixed with black and white adds onto the evil symbolism. The white backdrop of the photos represent the purity and innocence of Mr Jefferson’s victims. The black ceiling and walls show the darkness surrounding them, the disgusting fetish of picturing people in their last moments. When Max goes back to when she was being photographed, Jefferson explains his obsession with capturing someone’s fear and hope in a moment of desperation. This whole entire segment of the episode, I expressed shock and the disgust of this perversion. I call it this because he preys on very young women, shooting the same hopeless moments out of them. Men like him have the gross need of asserting control and dominance. Unfortunately, the developers did a great job at coding this sequence and making it equally disturbing as it is in real life situations. These kind of men exist, lurking, hiding away in a dark room.

Returning back to the beginning of the week: I felt relief when Max was able to return to the very class this all started in. The scene where she holds Victoria and Mr. Jefferson accountable were awkward to me because this moment is one sided. However, Max’s sassiness expressed all the words she never got to say. I loved when Max reconnected with Kate and comforted her. I was happy to see Kate again as well, considering what she was going through at this time. Max and I were so unaware of this and the persistent nightmare she endured. After the repainted classroom scene, Max won the Everyday Hero’s contest and flew to San Francisco, but with the principal. Jefferson and Nathan were thankfully arrested and Arcadia Bay were saved. Many people complimented the photo Max took and she had her dreams in front of her. However, we get the same predicament we’ve known about since the beginning of the game, the tornado. Bound with destruction, we receive a call from Chloe. She’s scared, the excessive wind is crashing into the phone’s speaker. I didn’t know what to do at this point, besides reverse time again. Max teared the winning photos into pieces, making sure she never went to San Francisco. We ended up back in the dark room once again despite our order of action.

Continuing through the gameplay’s universe: It was clear that we had to push forward in this universe where everything reeked of death. The tornado was rumbling the room, Chloe and Kate are dead, and Max was very close to her ending as well. I do not recall if it was this specific time or if it was when we originally entered the dark room, but Jefferson also mentions how he killed Nathan and explained their father-son relationship. This explains Nathan’s character as he was being manipulated and tortured before his death. I even felt sympathy for him. Jefferson is seeking the results of the photos and the death of Max. As he attempts to give Max her final dosage, David comes in unexpectedly from the right. When the cards are played right, David defeats Jefferson and pins him down. However, this scene also saddens me when Max reveals the death of Chloe to David. We can see him drowning in regret and grief. There was barely any anger besides him taking it out on Jefferson with his gun. This, to me is what makes this part the saddest. Seeing a soldier who only wanted to protect Blackwell and his family, now sitting with the knowledge of his dead daughter and with the corpse of Jefferson. I chose to reveal the truth to him because I believed it was the right thing to do. I didn’t want him to search for her without knowing or then get angry at Max for not telling the truth. We later receive the phone call from Nathan as we drive on to see Warren. Oh and how this phone call broke me. Throughout this whole game, we’ve been seeing the worst out of Nathan. Painting him as a villain because that’s all we knew from him. Yet, this phone call reveals otherwise. He’s shaken with fear and regret. This phone call might’ve been the best thing Nathan has done, as it warned Max. However, she missed the phone call due to other events and circumstances. Now we continue to navigate through the storm to Two Whales diner. Max finds Warren, Joyce, and Frank. I slightly talked you Joyce before heading to Warren. I told her that Chloe was safe because I wanted some of the stress to leave her. Then, Max reunites with Warren and she tells him the truth about her abilities. Okay, now this might be the most problematic choice I made in the entire game. PLEASE I BEG OF Y’ALL, do not hate me for this!! I left Warren without a hug or a kiss. I was scared that if I chose to do those things, it would mess another thing up. This interaction between Max and Warren had romantic potential, so I thought these decisions would affect the relationship between me and Chloe somehow. I do apologize for choosing this. When I have time to do another run, I WILL choose to at least hug him instead of leaving him. I will also look out for more details that signify and connect to Max and Warren. Because of my gameplay, it appears to me that Chloe and Max have more chemistry.

Returning to the original universe: I felt much better to see Chloe again. I thought that we could prevent the destruction of the time. Max convinced Chloe to not look for Nathan or Jefferson to instead to nothing and warn David. We skip to Max and Chloe at the beach, with the E6 tornado swirling in the background. (I looked up an E6 tornado to find out it is a fictional category of tornados, but I guess that adds on to the amount of strangeness in this game. As well as creating the scenario of the idea of what could happen if realities began to break.) As the storm approaches the bay, this moment is so sweet but dangerous. A huge threat is blocking the two from success. They discuss everything from their feelings, to Rachel, and the previous events. Again, this scene isn’t enough for us viewers to be satisfied, but it is good enough for us to see their relationship build even more in times of crisis. As they attempt to flee to the lighthouse, Max passes out once again. I was not only nervous from this, but also the fact that we were trying to escape to the lighthouse, as that was in Max’s vision from the very start.

Nightmare sequence: I cannot tell you how creepy this sequence of the game was for me. I think others relate to this as well. They noticed a lot more than I did. We enter the classroom again with the same lecture, yet blood splatters the windows. I was terrified when this started happening, having no clue what was next or what could happen. The eerie silence that followed after the bell rang and everyone disappeared. One of my fears is being completely isolated with zero chance of human interaction or being put in a situation where I think I am alone, but I am not alone. I never expected to have Jefferson pop up behind me once I tried to leave the room. He asks Max the most disturbing question of the whole game. “Would you like to spend the rest of your life in the Dark Room?” The way he continues to describe the photos he would take and how he likes the purity within Max. Again, disgusting, terrifying, and perhaps traumatizing. This scene makes us uncomfortable within our skin by forcing Max to say something against her character or intentions. I tried every choice of words and each one ended up gross. Either way, we can leave the classroom once we tell him something. We enter the girl’s dorm hallway and see Kate crying by her altar. Oh how devastated I was to see her like this. When Max tries to talk to her, Kate makes us feel guilty for being responsible for her life or death situation. As if I didn’t feel bad enough for being unable to save her, this nightmare adds onto it. We then find keys and go through Rachel and Victoria’s point of view/painted nightmare. After completing that part, we enter the school again, except, everything is in reverse. It sounds and feels so wrong. The same doe we saw at the beginning of the game guides us to the bathroom, only to enter into a deeper nightmare. This part of the sequence took me the longest. I do not know if I’ve already said this, but I was a bit stupid when it came to this game. Some of the parts were difficult for me and this one was one of them. However, once we got past this torturous disturbing escape room, we then are placed inside the snow globe that sat above the fireplace when Chloe’s Dad was alive. Max sees her younger self burning the photo and knowing what happens next. We then burn into the Dark Room again, Max with less clothes on, which was even more frightening. We see clips of Chloe, Warren, Victoria, Jefferson, Nathan, and more people only serving as nightmare fuel for Max. We know these people would never say the things they do in this dream, yet it’s still disgusting and hurtful to hear. The only thing that slightly normalized me was Chloe’s “No mosh pit for you, shaka brah!”. Again, we clip into another scenario. This time it is inside a bathroom with the walls painted in codes. I can understand why Max absolutely despises digi-codes. After you discover the code, we enter Two Whales diner again, with everyone Max has interacted with. They all say their lines, some mild and less touching, while the others make her feel like a failure. As if Max could control everything that happened. Near the end of the room, we see Max.. as we play as Max. This is even more creepy, as this kind of Max represents the part of her that beats herself up for the events that have occurred. The guilt-tripping here is horrible, brutal, almost convincing us and Max that maybe this is all of our fault. She accuses Max of having StockHolm Syndrome because of how she hangs out with Chloe so much. The other Max begins accusing Chloe of possibility of murdering Max. However, I knew not to believe her because we’ve seen Chloe and how much she genuinely cares about us. And that’s when she comes into the diner and disproves all of the words the opposite Max says. At this point in the game, I feel lobotomized and disoriented. I slowly began to realize that maybe the ending is not with Chloe. All of these universes, reversals of time, and effort Max has put into saving Chloe is still not working. What more can she do at this point? We then teleport to a pathway of this whole week

with Chloe. The lines, familiar scenes, and lighting all make us reminisce when the plot of the game was simple, less complex. Everything was a mystery and mostly everyone was innocent. As Max continues walking along the path, the scenes get darker and sadder towards the end. All leading us back into our current situation. Max awakes with Chloe, all the way up to the lighthouse.

The final decision: I am not ready to write this… here comes the worst part of the game (by emotion, not like it’s bad, it’s got to be the best scene ever). We are with Chloe again and the storm still persists, just waiting to destroy Arcadia even more. Max is overwhelmed with fear, distress, and the final understanding that it all starts with Chloe. She herself, also pieces together that her life must be sacrificed in order to save everyone else. Chloe describes the burden she has put on everyone, how her life doesn’t matter, and how Max should save everyone else and let Chloe die. Chloe pulls out the photo that Max took in the restroom at the start of the week, when Chloe was supposed to die. “Maybe you’ve just been delaying my real destiny…” This line hit me so deeply. Destiny, fate, a thing we cannot control in our universe (the players), yet it was something Max could control. However, it all led up to this no matter how much she tried to help others. People would still die no matter what. Chloe would die if Max never reversed time. Someone had to meet their fate. Chloe’s selfishness begins to wear off as she is set for her death. She then appreciates Max and describes the best week she has ever had in her life. “You did nothing but show me your love and friendship. You made me smile and laugh, like I haven’t done in years.”. You can feel and hear her deep love for Max as well as how much she enjoyed this week with her. Despite the death, disappointing news, and the devastating storm, Chloe found something great from this chaos. She found joy in life again, she found someone who deeply understood her and stood up for her no matter what. And now Max and us the player, are met with the worst decision we have ever had to make. Sacrifice Chloe or Sacrifice Arcadia Bay. I sat on this screen for like five minutes. My eyes were already watery and I wanted everyone, especially Chloe to stay alive. However, I reconsidered the wish she had in the alternate universe; she wanted to be put out of her misery. So, I chose to sacrifice Chloe. She not only convinces Max to do so, but I feel as though it was the most respectable thing to do. Not only did Chloe want to meet her fate, but it is more reasonable to let one person die than everyone else. Max and Chloe hold their final embrace, knowing what is coming next. Chloe reminds Max to never forget about her and hesitantly runs off before she could turn around. And Max unwillingly returns to the very moment this all started. We rewatch the unfortunate event unfold, leaving Chloe dead and cold. We then watch the last scene of this game, viewing the funeral of Chloe Price and everyone who knew her attend. The blue butterfly also attends and gently sits on Chloe’s coffin. Spanish Sahara by Foals plays in the background as we all cry (or at least I did) to this depressing ending. The soundtrack is beautiful. I haven’t stopped listening to it since I’ve played the game.

Final thoughts: I’ve been working on this post for a few days, so it feels accomplishing to finish it. But never as accomplishing and life-changing as it was completing this game. I haven’t played a story game before, so perhaps that explains my awe with this one. However, I have watched another story game, Fire watch. That was a great game as well, especially watching Caseoh play it. But, I felt so much more connection with Life Is Strange because I was able to play it and choose my own decisions, look deeper into the detailing of the rooms, and play how I wish to play. This story is tragic because it perfectly develops the relationship of Chloe and Max throughout the short timeline. It also includes sci fi and real scientific theories into the plot which adds onto the mystery of it. Without the depth or knowledge on how Max received her powers makes it even better. There is no such thing as “Oh if Max didn’t do ___ then she wouldn’t have her abilities”. No, there is no way around her receiving these abilities unfortunately. Not only is this crazy, but there are more crazy parts of this story as well. The biggest question I have is about the alternate universes and what went down after Max leaves them. I cannot imagine how horribly the other universes are tampered and how everyone at Arcadia Bay must be dead. It’s disturbing to think about. As well as the possibility of Max being a villain in the other universes. The nightmare reflects this, as the text messages reveal her as being a puppet, a poser to Mr. Jefferson. I am not an expert, so I do not know if that is what I think it means, but alternate universes have an infinite amount of possibilities, anything can happen within them. For example, the alternate universe where Max is hanging out with Victoria. This shows that in these universes, anything and anyone can change including her. Therefore, the plots in the other universes have been twisted and turned into unrecognizable worlds. I will most likely make other posts about this game, as I plan to go into more depth about whether Chloe is better with Rachel or Max, or if Max is better with Warren. What do y’all think? I hope to go through this game again and take in more details, as well as helping out Alyssa more. Apparently, she is vital to the game because why is she in every episode? And in the mini decisions, the option to help her is always present. I would like to hear your thoughts, just be cool and respectful with different opinions. Okay, I have to stop yapping NOW. Stay tuned for more, bye!

(i am so fucking done editing this so i apologize for errors. i was trying to insert an image after i proofread twice and it deleted all my little edits so im done, but i hope yall enjoyed this post either way)