The year is 2013. You’re living your life as a 12th-grade student in Blackwell Academy when you suddenly experience a vision and develop the ability to rewind time. Disaster strikes the school in unpredictable fashion, and what unravels is a journey to uncover the secrets of Arcadia Bay, where Blackwell Academy and the story are set in.
It’s a familiar memory for those who have embarked on Max Caulfield’s journey back in the days of Life is Strange, and a nostalgic adventure when the remaster drops later this year. Square Enix’s E3 2021 showcase gave a hint of what to expect from the Life is Strange Remastered Collection, which will bring a series of improvements when it releases on 30 September 2021.
Apart from “updated visuals across characters and environments”, both returning and new players can look forward to “vastly improved character animation using full facial mocap performance” and more polished puzzle gameplay. The collection includes the upgraded iterations of the original mainline trio – Life is Strange, Life is Strange 2, and Before the Storm – and will be available on PC, Stadia, Xbox One, and PS4.
Accompanying the announcement is a new trailer for Life is Strange: True Colors, the upcoming Life is Strange game from developer Deck Nine. Scheduled for release a little earlier on 10 September, it follows the story of 21-year-old Asian-American Alex Chen, who has to engage her supernatural power, Empathy, to find out the secrets of a quiet mountain town when her brother mysteriously dies.
In true Life is Strange fashion, the title continues to place a heavy emphasis on decision-making, where the player’s choices will bring about various consequences and impact the story in different ways.
The Ultimate Edition of Life is Strange: True Colors also comes with the Life is Strange Remaster Collection in tow, but those who wish to only revisit Arcadia Bay can opt for a separate purchase of the latter, which is already available for pre-order.
Si Jia is a casual geek at heart – or as casual as someone with Sephiroth’s theme on her Spotify playlist can get. A fan of movies, games, and Japanese culture, Si Jia’s greatest weakness is the Steam Summer Sale. Or any Steam sale, really.
