Life Is Strange: A Critical Review
Video games that provide an
immersive experience usually contain the same primary components. Player choice
is a key component because part of being immersed is feeling as though one has
influenced the storyline. Another important aspect is realistic thematic
elements; the better the dialogue, music, and character development, the more
realistic the gaming experience feels. The game Life Is Strange immerses players using a unique game mechanic as
well as the traditional components of immersion. Furthermore, the game also
takes advantage of its immersive qualities to convey profound messages to the
player. In this paper I will explain how Life Is Strange addresses relevant
social issues using timeline manipulation to give the player insight into their
own personal sense of morality.
Countless video games have been
produced since their origin. Many games appeal to specific target audiences in
order to increase their popularity and make them more competitive in their
market. One could most likely find a game that they enjoy that suites their
age, gender, and genre preference. With that in mind, it is also important to
understand that not all games are created equally. If one desired to play a
horse racing video game, they would find themselves faced with very limited
options. Adversely, if one desired to play an action packed adventure game,
they would have numerous options of varying quality to choose from. In order
for a game to be popular and appeal to a wide audience spectrum it must have a
unique competitive edge. Life is Strange
stands out from others in its genre by pervasively addressing relevant social
issues as a primary function of its gameplay. The player assumes control of the
protagonist “Max Callfield” who is a student enrolled in a private high school
for gifted art students. Throughout the game the player is exposed to a wide
array of characters with whom they must interact with. Beyond the trials and
tribulations of a high school student, the player is presented with relevant
social issues to react to as well. For instance, a “straight-laced” student
named Kate is consistently bullied by her peers from the very beginning of the
game. Kate is being bullied because a scandalous video clip of her was put onto
social media. This is a prime example of cyber bullying which unfortunately is
a common occurrence in our society. In fact the Cyberbullying Research Center
states that the percentage of middle school students who admitted to being
bullied in this fashion has increased from 18.8 percent to 34.0 percent since
2007. The player chooses how Max reacts to the harassment she witness through
the game. At a certain point in the story Kate is overwhelmed and decides to
take her own life by jumping from the roof of the school. The player has a
chance to talk Kate down away from the ledge; however, this is a difficult
task. Regardless of the result of this encounter, the player will still have
been presented with an extremely serious social issue that is a potential
outcome of an instance of poorly addressed bullying. Making difficult decisions
and being presented with dire circumstances is common amongst games in which
the player has influence upon the end result of the story. Life is Strange gives the player the unique ability to change the
choices made and potentially the overall outcome entirely.
Part of being human is undoubtedly
making mistakes an attempt to learn from them. Many people wish there were a
way to go back in time to prevent negative things from happening to them or to
preemptively fix mistakes before they are made. Max possesses the supernatural
ability to travel back in time to the recent past at will. This timeline
manipulation game mechanic allows the player to see the outcome of their
choices and then decide how they would rather have seen it turn out. Even in
seemingly minor dialogues, the things that the player chooses for Max to say
will affect her relationship with that character. Taking back hurtful words that
were accidently uttered in an impossible ability in real life which is why time
travel is so important in this instance. Some outcomes are always negative and
the player will discover that it is wisest to occasionally accept things as
they occur naturally. This causes the important realization that changing
something in the past with good intentions would not guarantee a positive
future outcome. In our daily lives it is important to understand there are
things we cannot change and must simply accept. This inspires the notion that
by being proactive in our relationships with others in the present we decrease
the chances of having to be reactive in the future.
The
answer to the question of “Why does this game’s message need to be conveyed?”
is somewhat obvious yet does not lack complexity. By being mindful of the way
our actions and words affect others we are more likely to avoid creating
problems for ourselves in all aspects of social interaction. With the increase
of interactions taking place on social media and as technology continues to
advance, it can be difficult to teach the new generations the significance of
their actions and the depth of their words. This game attempts to demonstrate
the importance of observation and social awareness to potentially decrease the
number of people who make destructive decisions such as drug use or suicide due
to instances of bullying by their peers. Aside from providing an enthralling
and exciting storyline, this game provides a plethora of experiences for
players to learn from. With the popularity of video games being so high it
seems apparent that the creators of the game saw an opportunity to convey an
important message through a unique outlet. The complexity arises with the use
of timeline manipulation. While providing the player with multiple possible
outcomes to their choices, the game also provides players with varying examples
of behavior. For younger players it is important to see examples of both
positive and negative choices and how they may potentially affect the future.
This can demonstrate different ways of handling situations and prove as
practice for similar real life situations. The result of having a player make
decisions that affect themselves and others is that they may tend to reflect on
their choices in the game. If a player is surprised by a decision that was
made, they may gain new insight into their own morality. Often times, people
speculate how they would react to situations without ever having experiencing
it. When presented with a hypothetical scenario people like to assume that they
would do the morally right thing. This game provides the opportunity for
players to be wrong about themselves. This can be very useful to someone who
may be unaware of defects in their moral compass or character. Bringing the moral shortcomings of the player
to their attention meanwhile providing a learning experience on social
interactions is why this game is important for people to play and be aware of.
It is this unique immersive learning experience that Life Is Strange has brought to the world of gaming.
Time
travel and character choice are not new elements to video games;however, the
way Life Is Strange combines them is.
Exposing players to situations they may or may not have experienced is a good
way to inspire introspective thoughts. When players experience a real life
connection to a video game they are more likely to internalize its message.
This game gives players the opportunity to view themselves in a new way as they
make moral choices and attempt to resolve conflict. This game serves as a
learning experience for players without them having to take any actual risks. Life Is Strange uses timeline
manipulation to prepare players to make careful decisions when presented with
difficult social situations in their daily lives.
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