Ever sinceLife is Strange: Double Exposurewas announced back in June,players eagerly awaited the return of Max from the original game.Finally picking up where the belovedLife is Strangeleft off, things were looking up for fans of the series who wanted to know more about how Max and her powers would grow over time. While the latestDouble Exposurewas met with mostly positive reviews from players, it faced a lot of criticism over its lackluster DLC content that left a lot to be desired.
Starting with the humble origins of a heart-tugging story featuring acceptance and loss, theLife is Strangefranchise has taken on a strange life of its own.Ever since the originalLife is Strangeexploded in popularity, the creators have made a plethora of spin-offs featuring brand-new characters to fall in love with. While the recommendedorder to play theLife is Strangegamescan be a bit messy from their naming conventions,each entry offers a unique experience for fans of the franchise’s unique storytelling format and supernatural world.
Everything Wrong With Double Exposure’s DLC
Overpriced DLC With Limited Functionality
IncludingDouble Exposureitself, eachDouble Exposureedition upgradeincludes a handful of new cosmetics for Max to wear throughout the game’s story, sporting both original or crossover outfits from other franchises. The problems players had with the premium editions started with the outfits, as their designs themselves were either lackluster or broke immersion with the emotionally weighted story for a game likeDouble Exposure.While these incentives weren’t too exciting for players,aside from the two weeks' exclusive access granted by the Ultimate Edition,what drew the eye of many fans was the mysterious Cat Content DLC.
For the Cat Content itself, many players struggled to even justify it as DLC with how little it provides, only allowing a few short cutscenes alongside limited interactivity. After discovering the cat for the first time, Max can pet, feed, and take photos of his feline friend, but is prompted to return the cat to its original owner shortly after, removing it from her home entirely.
Players like Reddit userevanemylhave voiced their disappointment over the DLC, which doesn’t feel like an adequate reward for the upgrade. Some fans likeRoboNeko_V1-0feel likecontent descriptions mislead and even took advantage of players wanting to see Max have her very own emotional support animal,especially after the traumatic ending of the firstLife is Strange.
How The DLC Could Have Been Improved
Adding A Permanent Companion For Max To Bond With
The most glaring problem withDouble Exposure’s DLC, aside from its staggering price increase of $20 from the base game, is how much potential it had for fans. Adding pet functionality to an emotionally heavy experience likeLife is Strangeis what intrigued so many players initially, on top of being an adorable inclusion in a long-awaited sequel. While it was a novel experience at first,players quickly grew bored with how little there was to do with the cat, especially given its lack of any related side quests.
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To make the DLC more impactful,Max could have spent more time searching for the original owner while falling in love with the cat, ultimately making the hard decision to return the cat to its owner or adopt it as her own, further playing intoDouble Exposure’sdiverging experiences. Similarly to befriending the dog in the originalLife is Strange,the DLC could have added more interactivity to the furry friend, ultimately providing more value toLife Is Strange: Double Exposure’s underwhelming DLC post-launch.
Sources:evanamyl/Reddit,RoboNeko_V1-0/Reddit
Life is Strange: Double Exposure
Max Caulfield returns inLife is Strange: Double Exposure, a mystery-driven sequel set a decade after her original journey. Now at Caledon University, Max discovers her friend Safi’s murder—and that she can shift between timelines where Safi is alive but still at risk.
