Life is Strange: True Colors is a single-player graphic adventure video game developed by Deck Nine and published by Square Enix’s European subsidiary. The game launched on 10 September 2021 for Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, and Stadia. The Nintendo Switch version will launch at a later date. True Colors is the fifth installment in the Life is Strange series and the third major title after Life is Strange 2. The game was released in its entirety unlike previous Life is Strange games. Check out our review of Life is Strange: True Colors.
| Life is Strange: True Colors | |
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| Developers | Deck Nine |
| Publisher | Square Enix |
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| Release Date | 10 September 2021 |
| Genre | Action Adventure |
| Mode | Single-player |
Gameplay
Life is Strange: True Colors is a third-person graphic adventure game. The player controls the protagonist, Ms. Alex Chen. She is a 21-year-old, almost 22-year-old woman. The player can control Alex’s movements, interact with objects, and communicate with other NPCs. The player is also required to take important decisions that define Alex’s actions.
Communication takes place in the form of a pre-determined dialogue tree. Some dialogues have consequences, including determining how the game progresses. Others are optional. Some don’t frame the story, while the rest are skippable.
Alex has a psychic empathy power that enables her to perceive the NPCs’ emotions. The game refers to Alex’s ability as a superpower. She can interact with NPCs facing trauma or hardship, which transfers the world the way the NPC imagines it to be. Alex then can walk around it and work out what troubles the NPC. The game has several mandatory and optional instances of Alex helping NPCs by using her superpower.
Development
Deck Nine began developing True Colors in 2017. Square Enix unveiled the game on 18 March 2021 as a part of a live digital event. Alongside True Colors, Square Enix also announced a remastered version of the original Life is Strange from 2015 and Life is Strange: Before the Storm. These two titles will be available as a part of Life is Strange: Remastered Collection, which will release in 2021. A Nintendo Switch port of True Colors and Life is Strange: Remastered was also announced, which will launch in late 2021.
Recently, the Remastered Collection was delayed until 2022.
Series creator Dontnod Entertainment expressed their interest in developing future Life is Strange titles, although they ascertained that Square Enix owned all rights concerning the Life is Strange series and their decision will be final. Although, Eurogamer stated that the release of True Colors confirmed that the series has passed over to Deck Nine.
Setting
The game is set in a fictional miner town, Haven Springs, Colorado. The town is scenic, and almost all residents take some part or the other in the course of the story. Most of the settlers are either self-employed or work at Typhon, the company that carries out Uranium mining in the surrounding mountains.
Most of the game takes place in Haven Springs, and the mines and hills surrounding this fictional town. Parts of the game allow the player to freely explore a major portion of the settlement. The player can interact with almost every character. A large number of interactable items across the town makes free roam very enjoyable.
Haven Springs is the perfect setting for Life is Strange: True Colors. The game’s progression and character development are largely impacted by the small-town culture of Haven Springs.
Editions and Release
Life is Strange: True Colors was released on 10th September 2021, for Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, and Stadia. A Nintendo Switch version is scheduled to launch in 2021.
Three versions of the game are available.
| Base Edition | Deluxe Edition | Ultimate Edition | |
| All five Life is Strange: True Colors chapters | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| ‘Wavelengths’ DLC for Life is Strange: True Colors | ✔ | ✔ | |
| Life is Strange: Remastered Collection | ✔ | ||
| Zombie Crypt outfit for Life is Strange: Remastered Collection | ✔ |
The Wavelengths DLC for Life is Strange: True Colors was released on 30th September 2021.
Music
Life is Strange: True Colors has some awesome music. Most of the tracks belong to the alternative/indie genre. The title track Haven was written and composed by Novo Amor specifically for this title. Other great tracks from the game include Creep by mxmtoon, the singing voice of Alex Chen, Let Me Know by Angus and Julia Stone, You by Keaton Henson, and When You Call by Cyrus Reynolds featuring BELLSAINT.