Life is Strange: Before the Storm - Episode Two: A Brave New World (2017) (PC) (Deck Nine)
0Despite awkward pacing, limited gameplay mechanics and hit-or-miss dialogue, the endearing earnestness of Life is Strange is all the more disarming when the focus is squarely on the characters and their relationships; which is what Deck Nine's hella awesome prequel Before the Storm gets so right.
The writers are not content with merely delivering fan service, either, as there are some big but ultimately rewarding narrative risks taken in both the episodes which have been released so far. For instance, including lengthy scenes from a school production of The Tempest could have been far too laborious and on the nose. However, A Brave New World totally nails it by delivering an unabashedly romantic climax with only one downside; since we already know what the future holds for these star-crossed lovers it becomes even harder to accept the disasters which will presumably be at least foreshadowed in the third and final episode.