Chloe has done some bad things. She's late to another moment that will impact her future. Life is Strange: Before the Storm is a game that is all about moments that impact the future. There's no right, there's no wrong, there's just action and consequence. What makes the game's plot move forward is that consequence is not always immediately clear.
For the second episode of Before the Storm, we return to the world wherever you left off, in the principals office, recapping what happened in the first episode; where you're faced with the first of the many actions you must take to witness the consequence unfold.
There's tension, there's suspense, and there's the ribbon that you must follow to keep the story going. The dialogue itself is forced; like the first episode, but this time around, it tells more story, and places hints as to how things unfold in Life is Strange (with Before the Storm being the prequel).
The music is great, just like the first episode, and fits the mood and atmosphere of the game perfectly, it's a coming of age soundtrack, a mix of indy rock, heavy on the obviously meaningful lyrics. I still miss the Unreal engine used in the original title, and the shift to Unity really dials down the detail in the second installment, while still managing to retain the charm and style of the original; just less resolved.
Still, it remains capable of some brilliant, picturesque storytelling:
Storytelling is exactly what Life is Strange is about, and in this second episode, it manages to do this very well, with (slightly) better voice acting; and the second episode sets the stage for the finale; which will lead into the original game. It makes playing this episode all the more difficult, knowing what will unfold.
The relationship between Chloe and Rachael grows deeper in this second episode, tugging ever so gently at the heart strings that will no doubt be ripped clean apart in the final episode of Before the Storm.
