Life is Strange 2: Episode 3 - Wastelands

Episode 3: Wastelands might be a shorter experience compared to past episodes, but that doesn’t stop Dontnod from pulling off an excellent story at the halfway point of Life Is Strange 2. Just when Cassidy’s charm caught the attention of players in Episode 2: Rules, her story is fleshed out brilliantly in this episode and introduces another memorable character to the series’ ever-growing roster. Sean and Daniel’s relationship continues to hit the rocks and reiterates the devastating impact that Esteban’s death had on the duo. That’s not to mention that Sean is put in a more difficult position ...

Life is Strange 2: Episode 3 Wastelands is a fantastic journey that provides players what they expect from this acclaimed series. Great characters with unique personas and lots of difficult decisions towards the end. Players will have to endure some busy work before things start to ramp up but this is a minor issue. You won't see the ending coming and when it does all you'll think about is what's next for Sean and Daniel.

Dontnod's excellent series gets its most mature, and most emotional, moments yet in an episode that only suffers by its own chosen format.

Life is Strange 2: Episode 3: Wastelands provides some much-needed breathing room for Sean and Daniel, allowing them to unwind and relax a little. The result is the tightest, most rewarding episode yet with a top-notch cliffhanger.

There’s no question that Sean and Daniel leave Life is Strange 2‘s third episode with more scars than they began with. Scars have a way of robbing innocence and dispiriting the spirited. It’s no wonder Daniel is disillusioned. But that headstrong attitude leaves Wastelands feeling like an episode without much development. Deep in the California forest, the weed is growing but that’s about it.

That said, I must repeat something. I understand games are hard to make and there are bugs that can occur. It’s the nature of an industry constantly trying to frantically fight against deadlines, a particularly hot topic at the minute. Bugs still are problematic, particularly in a game that wants me to be immersed. So, when Daniel starts floating off the ground or lines of dialogue from the same character overlap, I feel ripped out of the game. I understand that fixes will be made but to hold the industry to a high standard, it must be said that Wastelands continues the disconcerting trend of ...

The beginning is very slow and we move between scenes inconsistently. I also question whether children could survive such conditions, then Daniel reminds me there is also magic at play here. The topic of racism being in a game is not new but how it is the center of this story is. I would have been more comfortable were these adult characters and not children because of certain scenes though I am unsure I would be as emotionally invested were that the case. Life Is Strange 2 has you on the ed...

On their way toward Mexico, brothers Sean and Daniel have had harrowing experiences change their lives and complicate their relationship. This episode continues following the ups and downs of their bond as the boys take refuge at a hippie camp and marijuana farm. It’s a wild premise, but new characters are boxed-in stereotypes and the episode struggles with poor pacing.