Life is Strange 2: Episode 2

While there were a few technical hiccups throughout the episode, it stands as one of the best in this already stellar series. From the conversations that wonderfully introduce passing characters and flesh out their relationships to the way the narrative forces you into tough decisions, this is what a narrative adventure should feel like. Black Mirror: Bandersnatch might have got all the attention, but Life is Strange 2 Episode 2 deserves all the praise.

Essentially, Life is Strange 2: Episode 2 takes away any complaints I had about the first episode. Not only is it an excellent continuation of the story, but it also stands well on its own. With an abundance of character development and much more gameplay than the first episode, it hits you where it hurts and makes you know it was your fault.

One minor issue is the meta-knowledge that the Diaz brothers are two episodes into a five-episode journey, so you have an acute awareness that no matter how positively things are going, you're never too far from it all unraveling. However, even if you can see where things are going, there's a joy in taking each new step of the adventure and in managing the careful balance between being a guardian and a friend to Daniel.