@hans_maulwurf: My read on BTS is that even if you play it without making any explicit passes at Rachel, it's still 100% a story about budding queer romance. The thing is Chloe isn't out, or even aware that she's gay yet. But the story makes very little sense if you don't assume that these characters are crushing on each other extremely hard. There's so much actual chemistry between them - looks, touches, innuendos - and they go to such lengths for each other despite knowing each other for all of 3 days by the end, that it just doesn't square if you assume they're "just friends". However, I've yet to play the game (or see anyone else play it) without going full gay, so maybe that changes some of their interactions significantly, but based on the variables in other aspects of the game I doubt it, and of course the story is still the story.
HOWEVER. That doesn't mean that I think it's okay at all that the lead writer is out there on twitter saying shit like "idk maybe Chloe just hasn't met a guy she liked yet in the player's mind". Like, that is some weak shit. Commit. This story is super queer, yet they can't help but placate the (small) segment of the player base that, for some reason (homophobia), wants Chloe to be straight. They're leaving in a margin for error for players in bad faith interpreting the characters are purely straight, because they never talk about sexuality directly. Which bums me out. To be clear, I think anyone engaging with the game in good faith won't be confused about the fact that it's queer as hell. But by still keeping up some appearance of plausible deniability, they leave room for bad-faith interpretations, which is just disappointing.
I get that this is the worst part of the first episode but it's bad enough it's got me scared for how up and down the whole series is going to end up. Life is Strange could be pretty cringey at times but I could forgive it for the Frenchness of it whereas this thing feels like they got my 65 year old police dispatching aunt in the writing room to describe how the teens talk about drugs. Maybe I'm hearing it because I'm looking for it but the not-Ashley-Burch sounded like she was doing her absolute best to simulate Ashley Burch and just couldn't get her pitch on point.
I'll wait until it's finished to see how things shake out.
The first episode alone is already worth it imo. It's really not up and down - only the first part is slightly bad, and even then I'd say it's fine outside of that terrible bouncer backtalk part (which really is unfortunate). I wish they'd shown just like, 15 minutes past what they did, Chloe interactions with her mom and schoolmates are great. My main sentiment is if you liked the original at all, I can pretty much guarantee you'll like this one too.
I was super skeptical about this prequel but it's really, really good. Better than the original, I daresay. The opening part of it is by far the weakest though, it's unfortunate that's what's shown here, but I understand why they would. Also I think the new VO is great. It's unfortunate that it's a scab game, but it doesn't mean the quality is worse.
Feels like GB had more Tacoma coverage than many other sites combined. The game kind of came and went.
It did. It's quite good but also very low-impact. It just feels like Gone Home in space but with a much less personal and affecting story and the plot felt kind of rushed. I liked it, but it felt kind of... slight.
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