Life Is Strange: Reunion Review – A Fitting Swan Song

Life Is Strange: Reunion sees Max and Chloe reunited years after the events of the first game, honoring the entire series in the process.

“The first love is the only true love” is a constant myth repeated when the topic of relationships comes around. This can be easily dispelled considering how most people are young, immature, and impulsive when they experience their first love, very likely ruining any chance for a healthy, long-term relationship. At the same time, it could be the most passionate, foolishly making them think that they are star-crossed lovers meant to be together. Life is Strange: Reunion takes this idealism to heart, finally delivering a tender narrative that will satisfy the most fervent Pricefield fans.

For the uninitiated, Pricefield means the “shipping,” or pairing, of time traveler Max Caulfield and blue-haired punk Chloe Price. The original protagonists of 2015’s Life is Strange, which kickstarted this melancholic, supernatural saga, always shared love in the face of a traumatic event. Having to choose between Arcadia Bay or Chloe by the ending, it has become a hotly debated topic. Over the years, it became something more, tackling heavy subjects like institutional abuse and immigration in the US in Life Is Strange: True Colors and Life Is Strange 2, respectively.

Leaving small crumbs for those holding their breath still hoping to see that original couple, an inkling of hope appeared in 2024 with Life Is Strange: Double Exposure. Now in her late 20s as a seasoned photographer, Max is reintroduced as an artist-in-residence at the prestigious Caledon University. Solving the murder of her friend Safi while jumping through two different timelines, it left audiences wanting due to the inherent nature of its cliffhanger ending. To avoid the catastrophe of a storm destroying the town of Lakeport, Max merged the timelines, simultaneously saving Safi from certain death.

Retroactively improving that entry, Life is Strange: Reunion picks up right where Double Exposure left off. As it turns out, Max’s merging of the timelines caused lasting repercussions. Regardless of whether players chose to sacrifice Bay or Bae in the first title, they now both exist, causing a rift in reality. Fully aware of how this might be a controversial decision for certain players, it allows for Chloe to be back without narrative inconsistencies.

Using her powers to return from a Caledon in flames, Max has three days to solve the mystery of where the fire originated and why. With the help of Chloe and several returning characters, the investigation blows up thanks to intricate plots and various influences vying for power. The new dean is hellbent on hiding a dark secret as the town of Lakeport is boiling from the university trying to destroy it. Overall, it is a solid whodunit with tinges of the supernatural.

At this point, Life is Strange has certain staples that inspire comfort for returning players. Every soundtrack, mainly consisting of indie folk, rock, and pop, has always been immaculately curated. Artists like Foals, Daughter, Syd Matters, or Angus & Julia Stone set a bittersweet tone in line with the sentimental acting. To offset this otherwise mellow vibe, a refreshing constant is the series’ sense of humor. Dad jokes, puns, and running punchlines abound.

The main course is, as usual, the characters’ relationships. Reunion unflinchingly shows Max and Chloe’s unbridled love, if you choose to go there. Delivering heartwarming lines such as “I didn’t know I could feel this happy,” it might be the most emotional entry of them all. It defies any criticism by completely committing to their unconditional love. Put simply, it is a love letter to the daydreamers of high school sweethearts growing old together.

Of course, there is no good drama without conflict. The now famous “This action will have consequences” line whenever the game makes you decide between two tough choices is as prominent as ever. Lying, confronting someone, or deciding to flee from a situation are among the choices presented. These will change the behavior of some people and close avenues depending on your allegiances. Taking it as a single entry, its various branching options entice replayability to see all it has to offer.

Then again, some players will be unhappy in how it sacrifices choices made in previous games in lieu of definitively putting a bow on this love story ten years in the making. It is understandable for players overly focused on their way of ending things to be respected, but small design choices do aim to please every type of Life is Strange fan. With the return of Chloe’s talkback and untouched punk attitude and Max’s trademark sleuthing and rewind powers, there’s something to enjoy in this celebration of the series.

Not everyone will agree with the handling of this storyline, but developer Deck Nine Games did it for a simple reason: Life Is Strange: Reunion is for those aching to see Max and Chloe have a true happy ending. This comes at the cost of sidelining certain characters. It also honors the series itself, with musical nods, nostalgic dialogues, and artifacts of previous entries. In the end, it becomes a fitting swan song for Life is Strange as a whole while still carving a path for new stories.