It’s been a hot minute since we last saw Max Caufield from Life is Strange. For those who may need a refresher, the original game was released in 2015 as an episodic adventure, similar to Telltale’s format. Nearly a decade later, we are introduced to Life is Strange: Double Exposure, the fourth standalone title in the series, marking the triumphant return of Max Caulfield.

Although we do not have all the answers to the pivotal questions about her life, we had the opportunity to experience nearly 2 hours of gameplay from Life is Strange: Double Exposure at various points in the narrative. This allowed us to uncover what Max has been up to and what transpired during these previously unexplored chapters of her life.

We’ll try to be as vague as possible here with regard to story beats to avoid spoilers!

Life is Strange: Double Exposure Preview

Following the events in Arcadia Bay, Max has relocated to a new city where she has formed new friendships with Safi and Moses. Now older and more mature, Max has traded her polaroid camera for a digital SLR.

Max’s life is flourishing, and in true Deck Nine fashion, the game captivates with stunning visuals and a soundtrack filled with indie folk music that sets the mood perfectly. However, seasoned players of the Life is Strange series will recognize the deceptive calm, knowing that unexpected twists are inevitable.

The gameplay mechanics and character interactions are reminiscent of Life is Strange: True Colors. Players navigate from an over-the-shoulder perspective, interacting with objects and experiencing the protagonist’s inner monologue. As Max, you will capture snapshots of intriguing moments, whether they involve characters or other points of interest.

Max’s journal remains a key feature, providing dossiers on new characters and updates on familiar faces from previous games. The collections return, but unlike the original game where you take snapshots with your polaroid, in Life is Strange: Double Exposure, you will find random polaroid photos scattered across each of the episodes.

Timeline Trouble

In the second part of our preview of Life is Strange: Double Exposure, we delve deeper into the evolution of Max’s powers. At the conclusion of the first part, Max began to experience the ripple effects of her powers returning. Although we did not witness the actual return of her powers, this second episode we played demonstrates how they can be utilized.

As the episode begins, Max needs to gain access into Moses’ office without being caught by the police. As the mission requires of you to collect information before the police finds a way inside Moses’ office, this scenario perfectly showcases the evolution of Max’s powers from the previous Life is Strange installment.

In Life is Strange: Double Exposure, Max has the unique ability to access two distinct timelines. The primary narrative unfolds in the main timeline, while the alternate timeline serves as a valuable resource for acquiring specific items or accessing otherwise unreachable areas.

Max’s primary skill is her ability to shift between these timelines. This capability allows her to gather items and information, which are essential for solving puzzles that span both interconnected timelines. To keep track of differences between the timelines, Max can use a pulse ability to peer into both. This helps Max in gaining access to Moses’ office while also locating necessary items or hints for gaining said items.

As the puzzle-solving progresses, Max will face the episode’s main antagonist, Detective Alderman. To avoid getting caught by the detective, the shifting mechanic becomes particularly useful here. It enables Max to escape into the alternate timeline and retrieve items that can distract Alderman, evading capture.

In a surprising twist, Max possesses the ability to shift specific items between timelines, enabling a version of the same item to switch places in the alternate timeline. This opens up numerous possibilities for Max to fully realize her powers in Life is Strange: Double Exposure.

As with previous instalments of Life is Strange, your actions will have significant consequences. Critical decisions will shape the narrative, influencing the overall progression of the story. Choose wisely, as these choices will determine whether you benefit or face repercussions later on.

What happens next? We’ll just have to wait until Life is Strange: Double Exposure launches to find the full extent of this as our demo ended after the event has resolved.

Life is Strange: Double Exposure is scheduled to release on October 30, 2024, for PS5, Xbox Series, and PC.