MyMMO demon Cortyn has a small game tip for the cold season. Life is Strange: True Colors is sure to please many story fans.
The cold season is always the perfect reason for me to finally take my time to play a few games that I didn’t have the chance to play throughout the year. This time it was “Life is Strange: True Colors.” This is the (currently) latest installment in the series, filled with exciting stories, quiet adventures, and a touch of supernatural abilities.
Don’t worry. There won’t be any big spoilers in this article. Life is Strange lives mainly from its story, and I don’t want to spoil that. Of course, I still have to use a few key details – and describe at least one scene, which has little to do with the main plot.
In Life is Strange, you generally take on the role of people equipped with some special abilities, which are usually both a curse and a blessing. In the first part, it was the ability to rewind time; in the current installment “True Colors,” it is the ability to perceive emotions and the thoughts associated with them.
For the protagonist Alex, however, this is a heavy burden. She can not only perceive feelings in the form of distinct auras, but is often overwhelmed by them. If someone nearby is particularly restless, that feeling transfers to her. If someone gets angry and wants to start a fight, Alex becomes affected too and clenches her fists.
This has led to Alex rarely letting people close to her and generally keeping her distance during strong emotions – at least until she finally moves to her brother’s small town after a long wandering and starts a new life.
A visit to the flower shop is grand
One of the most impressive yet seemingly simple scenes takes place in a flower shop that Alex visits during the game. The somewhat older saleswoman does not notice us right away and then gets incredibly startled when we speak to her.
This small, panicked reaction triggers an emotional outburst that Alex can perceive. Using her power, she can read some memories from objects and perceive thoughts. The shop owner’s condition is rapidly deteriorating dementia. All her fears and worries come to the surface – but especially the fear that due to her health condition, she will lose the flower shop and will have to close it.
This torn feeling and the loss of order are also beautifully depicted in the game world. As Alex engages with the thoughts and feelings of the old woman, the numbers on the clock jump and rearrange themselves. The large inscription that just said “FLOWERS” suddenly reads “FERWOLS” and the “Closed” sign at the entrance of the shop suddenly says “Edlosc.” Just moments ago, the windows faced outside, but now the white veil of oblivion has settled over them, threatening to swallow more and more of the shop.
Alex helps the old woman restore order and structure to her day and combat the impending dementia – at least for the moment. They recap the day and step by step go over how the owner’s day must have gone.
From opening the door to accepting a phone call, processing an order, and evaluating a check.
Although this is a scene that actually has little to do with the main protagonists of the game, it was quite impressive. The confrontation with the topic of dementia – a dreadful disease that many probably fear – has burned itself into my memory.
Especially because at the very end of the scene, the terrible realization stands that the shop owner has forgotten something else, much more important due to the disease: The last rites of a recently deceased person who meant a lot to her.
Here the game directly confronts you with a difficult decision. Do you tell the old woman that she has forgotten this person’s death? Or do you keep quiet and hope she won’t be burdened by the topic any further?
Although the scene actually happens almost “on the side,” I had to swallow hard. It was immensely intense despite not much happening. It is just a visit to a flower shop with a bit of neighborly help. Yet it not only touches the characters but the players themselves – at least that was the case for me.
Life is Strange – Accessible for all
“Life is Strange: True Colors” is also suitable for people who usually have little to do with video games. The game has a whole lot of “training wheel” functions that might seem strange in other games. You can optionally set a whole range of warnings, such as for these incidents:
- Especially loud game scenes
- Particularly bright or flashy effects
- Decisions with significant consequences
- Additional time when making a decision
- Warning when a sequence with fast action is about to start
What “true gamers” might roll their eyes at, casual players or newcomers appreciate. It takes a lot of pressure off someone who may not have played many games and has to ease into it.
For those, like me, who spend the time between the holidays mostly alone or just with one other person, Life is Strange: True Colors offers a somewhat different gaming experience with some sad, but also many beautiful scenes. Because at its heart, the game is a somewhat supernatural adventure with many important messages and an interesting story that you can influence yourself.
It is a game that encourages reflection and deals a lot with emotions, emotional outbursts, and other human sensations. Something that at least I find appealing during the dark winter months.
The message behind Life is Strange is completely unobtrusive and actually so obvious: Try to understand the feelings and wishes of others and do something good for them. In the end, it makes it better for everyone.
You can embrace this not just at Christmas but throughout the entire year.
