The Best Games of August 2017
Honorable Mention: Life is Strange: Before the Storm – Episode 1
Read the Review!
Starting with a couple of honorable mentions, check out the Twinfinite’s Staff picks for our best games of August 2017 which includes of course, our Game of the Month!
Guides Editor Chris Jecks: Deck Nine’s first episode of Before the Storm felt familiar. That’s not a bad thing, in fact, it’s quite the contrary. As I jumped into this prequel series, I was skeptical about just how true to the original this series would be, especially considering the time control mechanics that made the original so unique were absent this time around. However, after a few hours of being back in Arcadia Bay and seeing the opening chapter to Chloe Price and Rachel Amber’s story, I couldn’t be more excited to see what lies in store.
Replacing Max’s time control ability is a Talkback mechanic, allowing Chloe to use her quick wit and smart-talking skills to win people over in arguments. This is not only a perfect fit for a sassy teen protagonist like Chloe, but it helps to divert your attention from the absence of time manipulation, and focuses it on the more in-depth decision system present in Before the Storm.
Outside of these more impactful decisions, the core experience largely remains the same, and that’s exactly what fans wanted. It didn’t take long for Before the Storm to get its hooks into me. Its soundtrack was just as emotive as the originals, the narrative is captivating, and the writing, for the most part, is solid. The scripting for Chloe, in particular, is true to the character, and her complete disregard for authority had me smiling away to myself throughout.
Before the Storm’s first episode is an excellent opening for this prequel. Chloe is more than capable of filling the shoes of Max as an endearing, strong protagonist, a deeper choice and consequence system than the original has me second-guessing even seemingly minor decisions, and some intriguing mysteries surrounding the story have definitely piqued my interest. Returning to Arcadia in Before the Storm is just as immersive and enthralling as the original series, and it feels hella good.
