Ryan bragging to the town about how Steph got the rose is just the most adorable thing. I am glad that the potential male love interest for this game was a genuinely good person, not a "niceguy"tm like LiS1
I agree, it's refreshing to see in this universe, but make the most of it. He's a straight white male. His days of being allowed to be the good guy are surely numbered.
@@catsnorkel I would say more unfortunate than questionable at this point. The LIS universe does a superb job at bigging up the lgbtqia+ community, they get a brilliant display of representation and nobody in their right mind can see that and not be awed by that. However, they often fall into the same trap as most when going for that and often demonise straight wight dudes right along with it and have done consistently since the very first game. Its just an unfortunate byproduct, that shouldn't even be a byproduct. There's nothing wrong with being who you are. Putting Jed and Pike aside, this game is the closest they've come to having straight white guys being fairly represented with Ryan. He still has his faults, sure, but nobody is perfect and he's a decent dude. Its a good thing.
I liked that ending, but I find it strange that it suggests that staying is forever. She's 21, they could stay in Haven for 3 years or much more, and still have so much time to travel the world. That was a great playthrough (^-^)
Same, I felt like Alex needed some space to find her feet on solid ground so she has a place she knows she can return to when she does go on those adventures
"Shots with Jed" lol. I appreciated this as I accidentally went to this video before the 4th one and the intro tipped me off I missed one. It was true but not spoiler. Thanks.
The problem with these games having things be able to turn out so differently ("multiple endings" and "secret endings" like games talk about), is that they're kind of too heavy to play through again and do things differently, especially to see things turn out WORSE. Like... I'm comfortable not really knowing how else things could have turned out. But I do like getting to see the stats. I like that they're comfortable kind of giving "spoilers" for the alternate versions of the story. I don't think the multiple-choice storytelling, in this case, adds "replayability", it's more like it just makes the story YOURS. Like games where you can customize your character to look how you want, don't necessarily add "replayability", they just allow you to make it yours - or to make the character more _yourself,_ if that's what you're going for. Replayability is considered a big deal in game design, and it can be a great quality, but lots of games that I've really loved, especially ones with stories I've really loved, I haven't replayed at all - or if I did it wasn't for many years. These stories, I don't know, I feel like they're best experienced just one way, whichever way it is for you. Incidentally, I watched these all yesterday, but now I've gone back and left comments on the whole playlist, for the sake of the algorithm. Cheers, Johnny!
Can confirm. I did a ‘wrong playthrough’ where I basically did everything the opposite of what I initially chose and some of them felt like blindly cutting the red wire and hoping the bomb doesn’t go off in your face. When you’re emotionally invested in the game, those moments can feel exhausting. By the time I got to Chapter 4, I was like, “Why didn’t I just look these up on RUclips?”
I could not agree with you more! I adore every single one of these games (including LiS 2 and I include Tell Me Why in the group) but I have only ever played them once. I made my choices why would I change?! That said I am going to try and replay LiS 1 when the remaster comes out. I cant imagine it will feel right though ...
Those flashbacks into Alex's life were really devestating. In my playthrough i had to take a break after each one. I love this game and I really enjoyed your insightful commentary, or sometimes the lack of commentary, that showed how invested you were.
Johnny, I love how much heart you put into this. You have the most authentic playthrough that I've seen and that makes it much more immersive. You're thoughtful, sensitive and also allow a healthy space for humour. You really enhanced this whole experience. I would love to see you play more games like this on your channel. 💜
I really think this game shows the concept of “there's no such thing as a good cop because they are willingly part of a broken and corrupt system” because I think Pike is the epitome of a “good cop”. He genuinely cares, and he wants to help people, but he clings to a system that he KNOWS is failing the people who trust him and need him. Pike genuinely did want to help Alex, and he KNEW she was right, but he still chose to help Diane over Alex, and it would have taken literal supernatural powers to change his mind. Because the system prioritizes wealthy corporations, and the ordinary people like Alex get left behind. He knows it, and he still carries out the system's will. I was worried that he would either be a “noble cop” trope or an “incompetent but harmless cop” trope, but he actually showed a very complex, real-world problem extremely well. Hell yeah, Deck Nine.
That is, unless you take his fear. Then he really is a good cop. And saying a cop is bad for engaging with the corrupt legal system is like saying a socialist is a hypocrite for owning capital. It's not his fault the system exists, the best he can do is ensure that one more good cop is out there.
I really like how all the games have such interesting gimmicks, High school drama with time travel On the run but your brother has superpowers Murder mystery but mood rings are back in style.
I chose to stay in Haven and had the same worry about Steph not being as happy staying as she would've been if they left. I hope staying doesn't necessarily mean they stay forever. Maybe they go on tour after a year or two, when they've built a home. Loved playing this and watching your reactions and choices was much needed. 💜
I chose Haven for the same reason. I felt Alex felt so unwanted and so without a home... and Haven was so much of everything Alex needed and deserved. I think when Steph ripped the ticket, it was a clear sign that Alex was more important to her than the road.
I have to admit, Jed trying to murder Alex felt weirdly uncharacteristic to me. I mean, the rest of his story makes sense. His reckless actions in the mine caused the death of seven people, and he was too much of a coward to admit it. Afterwards, he continued to live the lie and made sure that the truth was never discovered. But he obviously felt guilty. Otherwise he wouldn't have kept John Chen's jacket or offered a job and home to both of his children. I would have understood if he had tried to take away/destroy the evidence Alex had gathered, to scare or discredit her or even just to delay her until Typhon had time to fully bury the old mining shaft. But going from "I'm directly responsible for the death of seven people and don't want anyone to know" to "I'm guilty of manslaughter, why not just add actual murder to cover it up" seems too big of a leap to me.
I chose to stay because Alex needed a bit of stability at least for a while, deciding to stay in that moment did not close the door on them leaving 2 or 3 years down the line if that's what they wanted to do. I also felt like Ethan really needed some people around, and for both Steph and Alex to leave so soon after Gabe's death would be a huge blow to him. - Especially in this version of the ending where Ryan is nowhere to be seen and has presumably also left Haven, or at least isn't around much.
As always, my LIS play through didn’t quite feel complete until I had watched yours. Thank you for the lovely (though painful) experience. 💜 Final choice . . . . . . . . I think the fact that I played 4&5 back to back impacted my final choice. I was feeling really raw about it all. It seemed like Alex had been through so much trauma in this place, from the very first day there, and would need some space to heal. I feel like if Haven is meant to be her home she has every option to return someday. Also I’m pretty sure her animal is a songbird. Her opening outfit shirt is “free bird”, her guitar case has a bird on it, and I wanted her to take some time to fly and sing. :)
I didn't end up playing this right when it came out as I kept going back to play Hades. Once I did start it, this ended up being my favorite Life is Strange game. Alex is such a great main character. Thanks for posting all of your playthrough. I really enjoyed watching it.
I watched all the life is strange series on the eurogame channel with you and Aoife, but now that you guys haven't played together... I'll have to watch it twice on both channels! Really enjoyed the videos, looking forward to the next chapter with Steph! Thanks
Thank you for this Johnny! Ive loved watching your LiS playthroughs to see a slightly different view on the games. It always amazes me how they consistently present us with choices that can leave us genuinely torn on how to go. You often chose differently to me but your arguments always had me going "yep, yep ... sound choice". This is a sign of how great these games are to me.
I know this was a will ago, but thank you Johnny for this amazing playthrough of such a great game in such an awesome series, affected me more than I'm willing to admit in these comments. Please do more in the future, the way you do these is inspiring and insightful, so again thank you for being you in these moments with us.
The end choice was hard for me too. On one hand, it felt like holding Steph back, but on the other, after everything she’d gone through, it felt like Alex needed the stability of a home; a place she could call her own. I chose Haven. I figure, they can build a home and a life together and still go out on adventures, but at least now, they’ll always have a place to return to when it’s time to hang up the saddle.
Hearing you say "Let's go kill this motherfucker" was so great and so perfect. This was so good. I'm glad you continued the tradition of playing it. I think we made almost all the same decisions, except with Pike. But I also googled what happened there and he'll stand up for you/be willing to investigate Typhon if you take his fear. Your reasoning for not wanting to take it was 100% totally understandable though so I get why you did it. This was fabulous. Excellent playthrough.
End of game comment: spoiler: What I don't understand is the finality to the final decision. Why not travel and try music for like 5 years and come back. It isn't an exile decision. Everyone loved Alex in like a week, she could come back and crush it again
I think they're deliberately leaving it open. Nothing's forcing Alex to stay in Haven for good, or to stay on the road for good. I can imagine she'd be happy spending time doing both.
@@Amaritudine I enjoyed the story. Just felt a little less LIS. Chloe vs Arcadia Bay. Criminal brother vs personal jail or death. destroying father relationship or living a lie. All the previous endings had a finality to the choice. This one was win win open road. It was nice not to feel the gut punch, but also it is fun to debate ending choice like outsidextra Luke being the one who saved Chloe.
I agree with what someone else wrote, I didn't feel like choosing to stay in Haven had to be a final choice. Nothing keeps them from moving in a couple of years or even better travel/tour with Haven as their homebase that they can always return to. So I had no trouble choosing to stay in Haven, especially when Steph made it clear that she's up for staying.
Thank you for this, Johnny! My only regret at the end was that I couldn't get Ryan to side with me. I couldn't get Pike either, but I figured out what I did wrong with him. Ryan's opinion hurt more, though.
In my opinion, absolutely the best Life is Strange game. The first will always hold a special closeness to me, but this one was just absolutely incredible. One thing that I found really interesting about this game is that both times you get to use Alex's "developed" power, the taking emotions away bit, you can opt not to. Which is truly interesting to me. It'd be like if you could opt out of going into the photos, or opt out of Daniel destroying things with his power, only using it to manipulate objects. It's truly fascinating. Also I like the motif of the hand outstretched to "do the power" continuing. It's probably because it's super easy to animate and just show the character actually using it, but still. (Also I totally guessed it was Jed, especially when he played the King of the town who betrayed everyone in the LARP. Life is Strange doesn't do similes, only metaphors.)
ikr, he loses Gabe, then his only remaining parent, and then if you romance Steph and leave Haven, there’s scene of him just crying bc he’s all alone and it’s the most depressing thing ever
So surprisingly this let's play series was my introduction to Life Is Strange as a series and I've been convinced to get them all from it. My only regret is when experiencing them myself I won't be able to see all Johnny's adorable reactions to the different situations at the same time. Johnny you're a wonderful human and as soon as I can afford to join your patreon I will be. In the meantime thank you for all you do and take care of yourself.
Yup, i was one of that 4% who had no one back them in the meeting. Still managed to talk down Jed tho and bust typhon but man, i was really worried that i got the worst ending for a moment lmao
Finally finished watching this after my playthrough, and it’s even more heartbreaking when Ryan doesn’t believe you after you chose him and gave him the rose!
The only way to get Ryan on your side is to get both Charlotte and Pike to believe you and then at least either Duckie or Eleanor. Otherwise he will always believe Jed. That means that you have to take his fear.
You know, rewatching this I've had kind of a change of heart about the scenes from her childhood. I think it's supposed to be shocking and confronting when a mother tells the 10-year-old standing at her deathbed not to cry, and makes her promise to look after her dad and brother. That's why it skips over that part at first - because Alex took that on, she believed it, she internalised it, she accepted it. She made that obligation part of herself, but the scene is showing that it wasn't ever like that. That obligation was never OF her in the way she felt it was, always stepping up and stepping in and helping people, both in the foster system and in Haven Springs, at huge cost to herself. Her long-lost brother just died and she's comforting Steph, and helping Ryan find joy. That responsibility was put on her by somebody else, and she can and should have opinions about it. As Gabe says, she was eleven years old - she needs to be angry at people, be sad, miss people, feel the things she's allowed to feel. Feel her own emotions for once. Like Steph said last episode, she needs to think about what SHE needs. The family fell apart... but she's still here. The only person left with her choices is her. Not her mother who tried to make it her responsibility, not her father who ran out on them and then couldn't come back, not her brother who caused problems of his own and feelings of his own. In the second scene at first she just remembers drowning them out and letting the fight happen - abandoning her promise, essentially. She needs pushing and prompting to remember just how HARD she worked to keep her promise, not just pacifying the fights but essentially taking over the entire house whether it's dishes, laundry, ashtray cleaning, sorting bills, cooking, and everything else. She couldn't keep them together though - again, the responsibility for the family shattering wasn't hers, even though it seems like she's just accepted that it was. At the end of that scene, Alex has an aura for (I think) the first time in the game. An aura of fear, and it expands to fill the whole world like it does when she properly dives into peoples' emotions... and it stays expanded. She's been living in her fear since that moment. The scene in the home has parents looking to adopt passing judgement on her without ever seeing their faces. Again, they're judgements that come from outside but that feel to her like they're coming from inside. Like they're just true statements, about her. In the third scene, Gabe specifically says that in the system, even your own emotions don't belong to you. Gabe is trying to break her out of that. I think the scenes with Charlotte and pike are both crucial to her arc as a character. With Charlotte, Alex is forced to confront for the first time somebody else having an emotion she can't do anything about. She either leaves Charlotte in her guilt and grief and anger, or she causes her significant emotional damage and things go badly with her own friends because that's who Charlotte's anger is directed at - the anger is a driving, motivating force directed at the people she loves most. She hits up against the wall where she can't fix everything, she just has to walk out. Then with pike, she has an opportunity that's similar but crucially different - take pike's fear, or sign the affidavit. It's pretty strongly implied that signing the affidavit is (or could be, no reason to just assume typhon will keep their word) protecting Steph and Ryan. If she takes pike's fear, she's not doing it to protect them. Pike himself is perfectly safe. He's living with the fear. He's got a comfortable, cozy position helping typhon cover up their shit. If she takes his fear, she's not doing it to protect him. She's doing it for truth? Justice? It's either for Gabe, who is dead (which is still valid) or she's doing it for her. Do the same analysis we did with Charlotte - pike is afraid, a paralysing emotion, directed at typhon, the ones who caused this situation both directly (by setting off the blast when Ethan was missing) and indirectly (by helping Jed retire in return for keeping their secrets). Except - she's already got plenty of good reason to be afraid of typhon. Charlotte's anger makes Alex lash out, but pike's fear is something she has to conquer anyway because it's either his fear or her own. And then at the bar, she's confronted by the town council. People she's grown to know and love. Some of whom have hurt her, threatened her, abused their power over her, and caused her a lot of pain and suffering. Her fear, possibly added to pike's fear, is also this. The community, the home she's found, won't listen to her. They'll side with jed and diane and typhon over her. Which, if she hasn't gone out of her way to build and grow connections with them, they do. But if she has, she hits the peak of her arc. She can control their emotions in a way that's much more powerful than she's ever done before, because before she was doing it quietly, and for their own benefit - because she thinks that's her responsibility. She's internalised that it's her job to keep everybody around her happy and stable and free of conflict, and she does it by minimising herself and making their feelings her entire world, which we see her doing all throughout the game. But in the final scene, it's HER emotions. She's doing it for herself, and she has no way to do that (because there is no other way to do it) but by making herself bigger, louder, by making everybody else see what's she's feeling instead of the other way around. What they feel about her isn't necessarily true, and it doesn't have to be her world. She knows herself, and she knows what she's been through, and that deserves to be recognised. And, just for flavour, I didn't forgive jed. Fuck him. Withholding forgiveness is how I prioritise myself and my feelings and my needs, and I think he's bought into his own personal legend of being the town dad enough that I think it makes a difference. I didn't forgive him, and I hope it hurt.
Also (since clearly that novel wasn't enough) it's fascinating the threads that wind through this story and how well they fit in the final scene at the bar. Throughout, we see that people are people. Gabe is lovely and wonderful and energetic and has a boundless optimism, and also a history of anger issues and violence. Her dad was an abusive asshole who walked out on them rather than stick around, and clearly also a man struggling with multiple addictions, wrung out and exploited and exhausted and with nothing left to give. Charlotte is patient and creative, and also has a lot of anger. The final scene basically gives you the opportunity to take those threads to their conclusion (and, just to clarify, these are my own feelings about the choices I made, I don't actually know for sure how mechanically the choices work). Jed genuinely is a warm, generous guy - who is also happy to kill and let people die to protect his own secrets. I got to him not by calling him a monster or accusing him of seeing himself as a hero (because I don't think he does). Diane just doesn't feel at home in Haven Springs and never has, and she's sad about that. The issue isn't that she's burying evidence because even though she kind of is, what she's doing from her own perspective is securing an exit. She doesn't believe in her work, and she doesn't feel at home in town, she just wants an out from all of it. When people start standing up and giving their speeches, it's really interesting how basically nobody immediately says that you're right. They don't totally abandon jed and diane and typhon, that's not the point. The point isn't that you come in and switch their loyalties on a dime, it's that they're loyal to you AND to jed and they trust you enough to hear you out - because, as we know, the evidence supports you.
Also also also... am I counting wrong, or do the dates not line up? The radio report says the disaster in the mine was 12 years ago, but Alex is 21. That means that john dies in the mine a year before the scene in his wife's hospital room
Thanks for this great series! I really enjoyed your streams 😀 Are you going to do some kind of discussion video? Maybe with Jane and Luke from O/X, like the good old times.
Great playthrough, enjoyed it a lot. Pity that you didn't check your phone/journal during the flashback sections! I always love when LiS adds these during the "unreal" moments. What hit me only now was that not only Jed and higher-ups at Typhon would have known about the guys in the mine, but also others from that team, no? Meaning even if Jed was definitely responsible, some other people also kept their mouths shut. Even if pressured by Typhon, still not looking great for the honesty in this town... (Not to say I didn't choose to stay in Haven, because I did. You'll have shitty people everywhere, so that's a risk you always have to take.)
Side B is interesting because it basically Alex going through limbo and remembering her life with Gabe...but some of it is altered by your choices in the rest of the game. 40:28 welcome to Alex's emotional Hell...this was the darkest part of the game IMO. Jed is not technically the villain of Season 3...Typhon is...Jed said he was being manipulated by Typhon, he made a deal with them cause he wanted to ensure a better future for the town and his family. i mean yeah he still did something horrible but that's something he has to live with. Typhon are the ones guilty of actual mining operations...thye should have reported what Jed did...a proper mining company would have...instead Typhon lied.
Finished the game for the first time recently so finally I can watch let's plays! 😂 Loved this one. I chose leave with Steph. Are you planning to do Wavelengths?
Ima be honest, I don't really like how they handled Ryan in chapter 5 (hello, big Ryan simp here). There are some really specific choices to make for him to believe you, and if he doesn't, he says some harsh things to you, disregarding everything you've been through. In my first playthrough I romanced him and didn't get him to believe me, which was rather upsetting. However, if you do romance him, he'll at least apologize in person instead of a text. If you don't, he's basically erased from the story. What I'm saying is, Ryan isn't exactly popular, and this outcome of him believing you or not will only make people hate on him relentlessly. He doesn't deserve that. He's a great character, and the scene where he sides with you is really impactful. Sorry for the rant, but like I said, I love this himbo way too much XD
EXACTLY. I love Ryan so much and part of his personality is his pride in his father’s ‘heroic’ legacy and his own desire to follow in those footsteps bc he holds Jed is such high regard. So to get him to believe you, you’ll need to leave Charlotte alone so Ryan sees the flash drive info, and take Pike’s fear so there’s actual evidence against Typhon/Jed (and possibly just Elenor or Duckie needs to support you). I get that he wouldn’t believe someone he’s know for 1 month over his own father, but him saying that he won’t let Alex use her powers on him anymore was a bit too harsh. And the fact that most people don’t get a chance to hear him apologize just leaves Alex’s friendship with him unresolved. Only if you romance him can you hear him apologize, but i feel like that path makes more people regret romancing him bc of how harsh he comes off. Idk, maybe his response to his crush calling his dad a murderer isn’t that unbelievable, but i just wish that it acknowledged all the emotional moments we went through with him so he’d believe Alex a bit more, just like Steph automatically believes her without needing proof.
@@beccazach couldn't have said it better myself. I think that his reaction is very reasonable (he's friends with Alex for a month, while his dad has been with him for over 20 years), and of course I forgave him instantly when I got the chance, but I don't think that other people are that merciful towards him. It's just so sad: we finally get a great male love interest in the series, and only 30% of people who played got the best impression of him. Other 70% probably hate him to bits.
@@keksuntee yeah, i think the fact that apparently less than 30% of people have had Ryan believe them is a bit too big of a split. ultimately i wish there were other paths to get Ryan to believe you more easily than having to do 2 specific things, especially since more people already put him on the sidelines to focus on Steph (and he’s such a complex, likable character, whether you romance him or not). he really does get the short end of the stick.
@@beccazach i think that the least they could do is add the apology scene regardless of who you romance. That would at least make people see that he's actually sorry, and isn't afraid to admit it in person. Hell, maybe people would actually forgive him and think a little higher of him. Oh well, wishful thinking I guess.
@@keksuntee Agreed, it does feel off not to have the apology scene with Ryan, when all three of them were obviously so close before. I loved Ryan from the start and although his disbelief hurt for a moment in my playthrough, I completely understood the reaction and forgave him anyway. It's really a pity that it being so tricky to get him to believe you means he gets even less popular with so many people... :( He deserves more love!
Alex and your choice of partner, are such strongly written characters who earned there happy ending and will have a happy, adventuous life no matter what they do or where they go, i have played thru the game twice as of this video, with some differant choices, i choose to believe that they stayed in haven and left for adventure, always come back to the place they both feel is home, but, thats me, just 1 old mans opinion, BTW, no matter how many times i play thru this game, it will always be STEPH.... ramble complete
So I havent played the game, or any of these games, but this one i think i want to try out. To that forgive/condemn decision, that one is usually best to forgive. If not for them then do it for yourself.
Question, Johnny. Do you think we saw an evolution of Alex's powers at the end? When she said "Stop"!..the shockwave we saw....I felt it was like the Captain Marvel moment when she finally figured out how strong she really was. Way stronger than in the beginning.
It....wasn't really a tough choice. It's just preference. It isn't like saving your best friend or saving an entire town level of "tough". Shame. This game could've been better with more impactful choices.
I'm shocked that Ryan didn't believe Alex. I thought that only happens if you take away Charlotte anger, because it leads to Ryan never seeing the evidence, but Alex didn't do that in this playthrough. What are the conditions to get Ryan to believe/disbelieve you?
I also think alex would be happier on the road. Like you said, she's spent her whole life on the road, whether or not she DESERVES to settle down, I think her life experience will make her really unhappy within a few years in the same place... ...without even mentioning the massive amounts of ptsd triggers in haven, also without mentioning that the small town is definitely gonna die when typhon pulls out...it's an industry town, there's a reason why everyone is scared of them... all they really have to do is leave.
This game is incredible. I came at it as someone who did not enjoy the first LiS game and didn't understand the hype. But Alex is just such a well written protagonist and I actually buy that she's anxious and struggling. The same goes for every other character- they feel like people instead of caricatures. Even the clichés, f.e. Gabe dying so early and Jeb fucking us over, feel weighty and hit very well-written emotional beats. Tl;dr: I didn't expect it but LiS is giving me all the feels.
Yeah pike is the one that feels a bit bad either way but taking his fear is the only way to get him on your side. To me signing just felt like more of a betrayal of the entire struggle the whole game and taking the fear just felt. A lot better and justifiable. Much easier choice than Charlotte's anger
That would have been an interesting third dialogue option. - I condemn you. - I forgive you. - I forgive you (just kidding I reaaally don't, but I'm pretty sure saying this will break you).
The interesting part is I felt the condemn was really bringing down the building on him emotionally and it looked like it. It was so satisfying. The newspaper changes to put him on suicide watch which wasn't the case here. He. Was. BROKEN.
real question, why can't I like you as a youtuber? I'm subscribed but on your channel page, why not let the likes flow too? great game, love the decision breakdowns Johnny you're just the best
Awww Johnny.. I could literally watch your facial expressions to this game all day (Actually I think I have) I just wanted you to know... I love you so much!
Hah I had a similar reaction to the end. I headed into that conversation with the brother thinking "Im getting the hell out of this town" and then they cheat by giving us an incredibly beautiful scene of our life in Haven Springs if we stay and that switched how I was gonna go.
I’ve played through twice now and haven’t had Ryan disbelieve me yet, but I did say I was sorry in the last moment. Maybe that has something to do with it?
As far as I understand it, you need to have every council member stand up for you for Ryan to join them. It's his dad their talking about after all and he's the most difficult to convince. For him to doubt Jed, everybody else has to doubt him too. And because Johnny choose to not take Pike's fear away Ryan didn't side with them in the end.
ryan is the hardest to get on your side there are 2 main ways to get him to support you but if you mess up one of the main ways there are 4 other ways to get him to support you
What a wonderful playthrough. I had to binge it all. I made almost all the same decisions as you, with the exception of taking Pike's fear. I have far less integrity than you. I refused to interfere with Charlotte, but when it came to Pike, I couldn't resist giving Alex the best possible chance of success.
final comment.......I think if we choose to romance Ryan Staying in haven is the more logical Choice, however if we romance steph and choose to stay in haven then we are no better than gabe forcing her to stay in haven we are binding her to haven even tho she wants to leave and pursue other career aspirations but leaving doesn't mean you can't come back, i dunno i think forcing steph to stay in haven is incredibley selfish if we romanced ryan then staying in haven is the best option but romancing steph we are forcing her to stay in haven because of us and what happens if alex and steph break up? Steph has no reason to stay in haven
I sure hope that people who don't want spoilers aren't reading the comments before they've watched the video My name is Alex Chen You killed my father Prepare to die
you can convince Ryan to believe you if you say the right thing, you also need more evidence from Pike i think for him to believe you. regarding Pike he didn't side with you because you didn't take away his fear.
You're the first playthrough of this I've watched so i can't say for sure but I'd bet Ryan would've believed you if you'd let yourself be a little closer to him (hug him instead of handshaking, saying something nice in the LARP). I think maybe by trying not to lead him on you missed opportunities to strengthen the friendship. Also... Writing this before I get to the end of the video so maybe there's an explanation later, but.... Their dad in that mine how?? Isn't this a tiny community in the middle of nowhere? Weren't they all separated and bumped around the country for years? Did I miss something where Jed had tracked Gabe down and specifically invited him to Haven out of guilt or something? I think that's my one major issue with this game if there's not some explanation, that level of coincidence is too much.
Gotta wonder why Alex didn't whip out her father's pendant when they said she doesn't have evidence. "So I found this in the mines....that's me and that's Gabe. You were saying?"
Well, it'd be hard to prove that it actually came from the mines. I mean, it was hers, until she threw it at her dad when he was leaving. And the only people who witnessed that (Gabe and their dad) are dead.
Anyone else think that "Left and Leaving" by The Weakerthans would have been a great closing song? Not necessarily better, but equally really good. I just would have loved to hear that song in a Life is Strange game at some point. It just seems like a perfect match that hasn't been done yet.
@@JohnnyChiodini I definately agree, "Bigfoot" is another one that I could see working really well in an LiS game. Thanks for the input! It is great to get a reply from someone who's work I enjoy so much. (Also, was surprised at the lack of a reference to The Cure when Steph was thinking "Kiss me, kiss me, kiss me". I am sure some form of horrible pun could have been made, and there was enough levity at that point for it not to feel too forced or out of place.)
can we just acknowledge how messed up Jed and Typhon is - Jed Left 7 men to die 1 of which was Alex And Gabe's Father - Jed got Gabe Killed - Jed tried to kill a 10 year old child - Jed tried to kill his own son - Jed tried to kill Alex Twice just to keep the fact Jed let 7 men die..........i understand you can't save everyone but at least own up to your mistake
Thanks for this Johnny. This isn't really my type of game, but I have enjoyed watching you play through, along with the previous ones, there's only a few minor options I would have done differently. I must say though I thought the "superpower" in this was really pathetic as it could just be anyone who is mindful of others feelings (maybe that's what they were going for) and the story was pretty weak. Thanks for doing it though, there were some moments I really struggled with as my Mam died only a few years ago, but it is great that you put it all up at once making it a coherent experience.
On my first playthrough, I took Pike's fear away, which helped Alex to get the entire council on her side. Ryan believed her, too - not sure if that's a result of the rest of the council believing her, or a result of dialogue choices during the confrontation. I condemned Jed instead of forgiving him. With Pike also having the courage to stand up to Typhon, this led to some small but important differences in the council confrontation, and the news coverage at the end. Leaving town with Steph to pursue Alex's musical ambitions was an ending I was happy with, though there are clearly a lot of alternatives to explore. This game was emotionally weighty, but I see several re-plays ahead.
Home is where your love is. Wherever you go with Steph is home, and you can always settle down again. If you're staying just for yourself, then that seems a bit selfish. To be honest though, I'm a doormat. So whatever makes someone else happy works for me.
You don’t have to romance him…but if you don’t you have to get every other minor decision concerning him right. And even if you romance him he can still side with his father. SPOILER FOR HOW TO GET RYAN TO AGREE WITH YOU. ONLY READ IF YOU WANT TO KNOW. 1. Tell him to choose the Red Wire when he asks you in Chapter 1 2. Support his claim about the call in Chapter 2 3. Hug him in Chapter 2 4. Do not have an anger outburst in front of him and Steph when looking at the laptop in Chapter 3 5. Ask „You believe me, right?“ in Chapter 5 Those are the ones you have to get right that are possible without romance. Still have to try sending him instead of Steph to distract Diane. That’s another one. Also giving him the Rose is another. You have to get a certain number of these right to get him to side with you. It’s 5 or more I think. I had 4 of those in my first playthrough (only messed up the wire) and he still sided with his dad. P.S. After the comments below and further own testing, that’s almost all irrelevant. The things that matter are sending him to distract Diane as well as having everyone agree with you. One alone doesn’t do it, you have to get both.
@@likealightning4139 I really appreciate it when someone finds the stuff I would be far to impatient to figure out on my own. Thank you very much for this run down.
@@likealightning4139 Interesting - Ryan took Alex's side in my playthrough, but I didn't give advice about the wires, didn't hug him, and didn't give him a rose. It looks like there are multiple factors that can influence his decision in a variety of ways.
I think this too, he sided with Alex in my playthrough and then just disappeared except for one shot of him looking sad in the mountains (which had no audio?). He didn't even turn up to say goodbye when Alex and Steph left town. It's super weird.
The Adventure is the better option. Typhon keeps Haven allive with jobs. Without Typhon the People leave Haven an seek Jobs in other Towns so Haven will Dying
(Light) Spoilers... Honestly, I didn't feel great at the end of this. I was fine with the main story, but for the entire credits section was I just going "where the hell is the rest of it?? Where is me catching up with Steph and telling her I want to be with her and us ACTUALLY HAVING A LIFE here, not just the fantasy that Gabe built??"
"We did shots with Jed"
First of all, how dare you
absolutely underrated moment of the channel
your reasoning for forgiving him - "let's absolutely body him" - is gold, I lol'd.
Let the bodies hit the floor
Let the bodies hit the floor
Let the bodies hit the
_FLOOR!!!_
Ryan bragging to the town about how Steph got the rose is just the most adorable thing. I am glad that the potential male love interest for this game was a genuinely good person, not a "niceguy"tm like LiS1
Also, I apologised to him and he backed me up against his dad
I agree, it's refreshing to see in this universe, but make the most of it. He's a straight white male. His days of being allowed to be the good guy are surely numbered.
@@shanustheanus your last sentence is... Questionable
@@catsnorkel I would say more unfortunate than questionable at this point. The LIS universe does a superb job at bigging up the lgbtqia+ community, they get a brilliant display of representation and nobody in their right mind can see that and not be awed by that. However, they often fall into the same trap as most when going for that and often demonise straight wight dudes right along with it and have done consistently since the very first game. Its just an unfortunate byproduct, that shouldn't even be a byproduct. There's nothing wrong with being who you are. Putting Jed and Pike aside, this game is the closest they've come to having straight white guys being fairly represented with Ryan. He still has his faults, sure, but nobody is perfect and he's a decent dude. Its a good thing.
@@shanustheanusAt last the straight white guys are getting represented
I liked that ending, but I find it strange that it suggests that staying is forever. She's 21, they could stay in Haven for 3 years or much more, and still have so much time to travel the world.
That was a great playthrough (^-^)
Same, I felt like Alex needed some space to find her feet on solid ground so she has a place she knows she can return to when she does go on those adventures
I like to think that while Alex will travel, Haven will be her home. The home she can come back to after her trips are done.
"Shots with Jed" lol. I appreciated this as I accidentally went to this video before the 4th one and the intro tipped me off I missed one. It was true but not spoiler. Thanks.
I finished watching your play through yesterday and it just dawned on me that Jed plays the King AND the Villain omg
I remember thinking at that point "oh I really hope this isn't foreshadowing"
The problem with these games having things be able to turn out so differently ("multiple endings" and "secret endings" like games talk about), is that they're kind of too heavy to play through again and do things differently, especially to see things turn out WORSE. Like... I'm comfortable not really knowing how else things could have turned out. But I do like getting to see the stats. I like that they're comfortable kind of giving "spoilers" for the alternate versions of the story.
I don't think the multiple-choice storytelling, in this case, adds "replayability", it's more like it just makes the story YOURS. Like games where you can customize your character to look how you want, don't necessarily add "replayability", they just allow you to make it yours - or to make the character more _yourself,_ if that's what you're going for. Replayability is considered a big deal in game design, and it can be a great quality, but lots of games that I've really loved, especially ones with stories I've really loved, I haven't replayed at all - or if I did it wasn't for many years. These stories, I don't know, I feel like they're best experienced just one way, whichever way it is for you.
Incidentally, I watched these all yesterday, but now I've gone back and left comments on the whole playlist, for the sake of the algorithm. Cheers, Johnny!
Can confirm. I did a ‘wrong playthrough’ where I basically did everything the opposite of what I initially chose and some of them felt like blindly cutting the red wire and hoping the bomb doesn’t go off in your face. When you’re emotionally invested in the game, those moments can feel exhausting. By the time I got to Chapter 4, I was like, “Why didn’t I just look these up on RUclips?”
I could not agree with you more! I adore every single one of these games (including LiS 2 and I include Tell Me Why in the group) but I have only ever played them once. I made my choices why would I change?! That said I am going to try and replay LiS 1 when the remaster comes out. I cant imagine it will feel right though ...
"She's gotta have broken bones, right?" Her glasses are still on. After that miracle nothing but bruises would just be a minor happy.
"we did shots with Jed" lmaooooo too soon
Those flashbacks into Alex's life were really devestating. In my playthrough i had to take a break after each one.
I love this game and I really enjoyed your insightful commentary, or sometimes the lack of commentary, that showed how invested you were.
Johnny, I love how much heart you put into this. You have the most authentic playthrough that I've seen and that makes it much more immersive. You're thoughtful, sensitive and also allow a healthy space for humour. You really enhanced this whole experience. I would love to see you play more games like this on your channel. 💜
I really think this game shows the concept of “there's no such thing as a good cop because they are willingly part of a broken and corrupt system” because I think Pike is the epitome of a “good cop”. He genuinely cares, and he wants to help people, but he clings to a system that he KNOWS is failing the people who trust him and need him. Pike genuinely did want to help Alex, and he KNEW she was right, but he still chose to help Diane over Alex, and it would have taken literal supernatural powers to change his mind. Because the system prioritizes wealthy corporations, and the ordinary people like Alex get left behind. He knows it, and he still carries out the system's will.
I was worried that he would either be a “noble cop” trope or an “incompetent but harmless cop” trope, but he actually showed a very complex, real-world problem extremely well. Hell yeah, Deck Nine.
That is, unless you take his fear. Then he really is a good cop. And saying a cop is bad for engaging with the corrupt legal system is like saying a socialist is a hypocrite for owning capital. It's not his fault the system exists, the best he can do is ensure that one more good cop is out there.
I really like how all the games have such interesting gimmicks,
High school drama with time travel
On the run but your brother has superpowers
Murder mystery but mood rings are back in style.
This series was a really good experience. Basically blasted through it in one sitting. Absolutely loved it. Thanks so much.
I chose to stay in Haven and had the same worry about Steph not being as happy staying as she would've been if they left. I hope staying doesn't necessarily mean they stay forever. Maybe they go on tour after a year or two, when they've built a home. Loved playing this and watching your reactions and choices was much needed. 💜
I chose Haven for the same reason. I felt Alex felt so unwanted and so without a home... and Haven was so much of everything Alex needed and deserved. I think when Steph ripped the ticket, it was a clear sign that Alex was more important to her than the road.
Oh... and I wondered the same thing about Alyssa!
Thank you for this. 'Oh the stats' was a great mood lightener after all the good and bad seriousness.
As a note, I chose music instead of a place to belong and Steph still did the ticket tearing scene.
I have to admit, Jed trying to murder Alex felt weirdly uncharacteristic to me.
I mean, the rest of his story makes sense. His reckless actions in the mine caused the death of seven people, and he was too much of a coward to admit it. Afterwards, he continued to live the lie and made sure that the truth was never discovered.
But he obviously felt guilty. Otherwise he wouldn't have kept John Chen's jacket or offered a job and home to both of his children.
I would have understood if he had tried to take away/destroy the evidence Alex had gathered, to scare or discredit her or even just to delay her until Typhon had time to fully bury the old mining shaft.
But going from "I'm directly responsible for the death of seven people and don't want anyone to know" to "I'm guilty of manslaughter, why not just add actual murder to cover it up" seems too big of a leap to me.
I chose to stay because Alex needed a bit of stability at least for a while, deciding to stay in that moment did not close the door on them leaving 2 or 3 years down the line if that's what they wanted to do. I also felt like Ethan really needed some people around, and for both Steph and Alex to leave so soon after Gabe's death would be a huge blow to him. - Especially in this version of the ending where Ryan is nowhere to be seen and has presumably also left Haven, or at least isn't around much.
OK - I have to ask again - when are you going to do Wavelengths? I've been so excited to see you (of all people) do the Wavelengths episode!
As always, my LIS play through didn’t quite feel complete until I had watched yours. Thank you for the lovely (though painful) experience. 💜
Final choice
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I think the fact that I played 4&5 back to back impacted my final choice. I was feeling really raw about it all. It seemed like Alex had been through so much trauma in this place, from the very first day there, and would need some space to heal. I feel like if Haven is meant to be her home she has every option to return someday.
Also I’m pretty sure her animal is a songbird. Her opening outfit shirt is “free bird”, her guitar case has a bird on it, and I wanted her to take some time to fly and sing. :)
I can’t stop myself. Steph is a sparrow via her tattoo by her heart. Birds of a feather flock together.
Did Johnny ever actually play wavelengths, I just finished watching all the let’s plays for the second time
I didn't end up playing this right when it came out as I kept going back to play Hades. Once I did start it, this ended up being my favorite Life is Strange game. Alex is such a great main character. Thanks for posting all of your playthrough. I really enjoyed watching it.
I watched all the life is strange series on the eurogame channel with you and Aoife, but now that you guys haven't played together... I'll have to watch it twice on both channels!
Really enjoyed the videos, looking forward to the next chapter with Steph! Thanks
Thank you for this Johnny! Ive loved watching your LiS playthroughs to see a slightly different view on the games. It always amazes me how they consistently present us with choices that can leave us genuinely torn on how to go. You often chose differently to me but your arguments always had me going "yep, yep ... sound choice". This is a sign of how great these games are to me.
I know this was a will ago, but thank you Johnny for this amazing playthrough of such a great game in such an awesome series, affected me more than I'm willing to admit in these comments. Please do more in the future, the way you do these is inspiring and insightful, so again thank you for being you in these moments with us.
The end choice was hard for me too. On one hand, it felt like holding Steph back, but on the other, after everything she’d gone through, it felt like Alex needed the stability of a home; a place she could call her own. I chose Haven. I figure, they can build a home and a life together and still go out on adventures, but at least now, they’ll always have a place to return to when it’s time to hang up the saddle.
"We did shots with Jed" in more than one sense of the word, like damn...
Is it weird that even during the end credits I kind of expected life is strange to yank on that heart string one more time?
Looking forward to the thing “in the pipeline”! ❤️ thanks for this, Johnny
Hearing you say "Let's go kill this motherfucker" was so great and so perfect.
This was so good. I'm glad you continued the tradition of playing it. I think we made almost all the same decisions, except with Pike. But I also googled what happened there and he'll stand up for you/be willing to investigate Typhon if you take his fear. Your reasoning for not wanting to take it was 100% totally understandable though so I get why you did it.
This was fabulous. Excellent playthrough.
End of game comment: spoiler: What I don't understand is the finality to the final decision. Why not travel and try music for like 5 years and come back. It isn't an exile decision. Everyone loved Alex in like a week, she could come back and crush it again
I think they're deliberately leaving it open. Nothing's forcing Alex to stay in Haven for good, or to stay on the road for good. I can imagine she'd be happy spending time doing both.
@@Amaritudine I enjoyed the story. Just felt a little less LIS. Chloe vs Arcadia Bay. Criminal brother vs personal jail or death. destroying father relationship or living a lie. All the previous endings had a finality to the choice. This one was win win open road. It was nice not to feel the gut punch, but also it is fun to debate ending choice like outsidextra Luke being the one who saved Chloe.
I agree with what someone else wrote, I didn't feel like choosing to stay in Haven had to be a final choice. Nothing keeps them from moving in a couple of years or even better travel/tour with Haven as their homebase that they can always return to. So I had no trouble choosing to stay in Haven, especially when Steph made it clear that she's up for staying.
Thank you for this, Johnny!
My only regret at the end was that I couldn't get Ryan to side with me. I couldn't get Pike either, but I figured out what I did wrong with him. Ryan's opinion hurt more, though.
In my opinion, absolutely the best Life is Strange game. The first will always hold a special closeness to me, but this one was just absolutely incredible.
One thing that I found really interesting about this game is that both times you get to use Alex's "developed" power, the taking emotions away bit, you can opt not to. Which is truly interesting to me. It'd be like if you could opt out of going into the photos, or opt out of Daniel destroying things with his power, only using it to manipulate objects. It's truly fascinating.
Also I like the motif of the hand outstretched to "do the power" continuing. It's probably because it's super easy to animate and just show the character actually using it, but still.
(Also I totally guessed it was Jed, especially when he played the King of the town who betrayed everyone in the LARP. Life is Strange doesn't do similes, only metaphors.)
25:15 Does anyone else hear that opening and suffer confusion, not sure if it's "Thank You" or "Stan"? I can never tell right away.
Poor Ryan; he just loses everything 🤷🏼♀️
ikr, he loses Gabe, then his only remaining parent, and then if you romance Steph and leave Haven, there’s scene of him just crying bc he’s all alone and it’s the most depressing thing ever
@@beccazach right!! ryan is done so dirty if you choose not to romance him... like why can't we still be friends...??
he lost his best friend
he almost lost his life because of his father
he loses both alex and steph if they choose to leave
This may be the first time I've seen anyone forgive someone out of spite. That's fun.
life is strange: [moves on to more emotions]
me: [continues to aggressively sing along to "thank you"]
So surprisingly this let's play series was my introduction to Life Is Strange as a series and I've been convinced to get them all from it.
My only regret is when experiencing them myself I won't be able to see all Johnny's adorable reactions to the different situations at the same time.
Johnny you're a wonderful human and as soon as I can afford to join your patreon I will be. In the meantime thank you for all you do and take care of yourself.
That was beautiful, thanks Johnny
Yup, i was one of that 4% who had no one back them in the meeting. Still managed to talk down Jed tho and bust typhon but man, i was really worried that i got the worst ending for a moment lmao
Just finished watching the full series, that was an emotional rollercoaster.
Thanks so much for posting these all at once! What a ride
This was amazing, very intense. Thank you, Johnny.
Finally finished watching this after my playthrough, and it’s even more heartbreaking when Ryan doesn’t believe you after you chose him and gave him the rose!
Man the console version is really showing there at the end.
That was great fun, Wavelengths play through when?🙂
The only way to get Ryan on your side is to get both Charlotte and Pike to believe you and then at least either Duckie or Eleanor. Otherwise he will always believe Jed. That means that you have to take his fear.
You know, rewatching this I've had kind of a change of heart about the scenes from her childhood. I think it's supposed to be shocking and confronting when a mother tells the 10-year-old standing at her deathbed not to cry, and makes her promise to look after her dad and brother. That's why it skips over that part at first - because Alex took that on, she believed it, she internalised it, she accepted it. She made that obligation part of herself, but the scene is showing that it wasn't ever like that. That obligation was never OF her in the way she felt it was, always stepping up and stepping in and helping people, both in the foster system and in Haven Springs, at huge cost to herself. Her long-lost brother just died and she's comforting Steph, and helping Ryan find joy. That responsibility was put on her by somebody else, and she can and should have opinions about it. As Gabe says, she was eleven years old - she needs to be angry at people, be sad, miss people, feel the things she's allowed to feel. Feel her own emotions for once. Like Steph said last episode, she needs to think about what SHE needs. The family fell apart... but she's still here. The only person left with her choices is her. Not her mother who tried to make it her responsibility, not her father who ran out on them and then couldn't come back, not her brother who caused problems of his own and feelings of his own.
In the second scene at first she just remembers drowning them out and letting the fight happen - abandoning her promise, essentially. She needs pushing and prompting to remember just how HARD she worked to keep her promise, not just pacifying the fights but essentially taking over the entire house whether it's dishes, laundry, ashtray cleaning, sorting bills, cooking, and everything else. She couldn't keep them together though - again, the responsibility for the family shattering wasn't hers, even though it seems like she's just accepted that it was. At the end of that scene, Alex has an aura for (I think) the first time in the game. An aura of fear, and it expands to fill the whole world like it does when she properly dives into peoples' emotions... and it stays expanded. She's been living in her fear since that moment.
The scene in the home has parents looking to adopt passing judgement on her without ever seeing their faces. Again, they're judgements that come from outside but that feel to her like they're coming from inside. Like they're just true statements, about her. In the third scene, Gabe specifically says that in the system, even your own emotions don't belong to you. Gabe is trying to break her out of that.
I think the scenes with Charlotte and pike are both crucial to her arc as a character. With Charlotte, Alex is forced to confront for the first time somebody else having an emotion she can't do anything about. She either leaves Charlotte in her guilt and grief and anger, or she causes her significant emotional damage and things go badly with her own friends because that's who Charlotte's anger is directed at - the anger is a driving, motivating force directed at the people she loves most. She hits up against the wall where she can't fix everything, she just has to walk out.
Then with pike, she has an opportunity that's similar but crucially different - take pike's fear, or sign the affidavit. It's pretty strongly implied that signing the affidavit is (or could be, no reason to just assume typhon will keep their word) protecting Steph and Ryan. If she takes pike's fear, she's not doing it to protect them. Pike himself is perfectly safe. He's living with the fear. He's got a comfortable, cozy position helping typhon cover up their shit. If she takes his fear, she's not doing it to protect him. She's doing it for truth? Justice? It's either for Gabe, who is dead (which is still valid) or she's doing it for her. Do the same analysis we did with Charlotte - pike is afraid, a paralysing emotion, directed at typhon, the ones who caused this situation both directly (by setting off the blast when Ethan was missing) and indirectly (by helping Jed retire in return for keeping their secrets). Except - she's already got plenty of good reason to be afraid of typhon. Charlotte's anger makes Alex lash out, but pike's fear is something she has to conquer anyway because it's either his fear or her own.
And then at the bar, she's confronted by the town council. People she's grown to know and love. Some of whom have hurt her, threatened her, abused their power over her, and caused her a lot of pain and suffering. Her fear, possibly added to pike's fear, is also this. The community, the home she's found, won't listen to her. They'll side with jed and diane and typhon over her. Which, if she hasn't gone out of her way to build and grow connections with them, they do. But if she has, she hits the peak of her arc. She can control their emotions in a way that's much more powerful than she's ever done before, because before she was doing it quietly, and for their own benefit - because she thinks that's her responsibility. She's internalised that it's her job to keep everybody around her happy and stable and free of conflict, and she does it by minimising herself and making their feelings her entire world, which we see her doing all throughout the game. But in the final scene, it's HER emotions. She's doing it for herself, and she has no way to do that (because there is no other way to do it) but by making herself bigger, louder, by making everybody else see what's she's feeling instead of the other way around. What they feel about her isn't necessarily true, and it doesn't have to be her world. She knows herself, and she knows what she's been through, and that deserves to be recognised.
And, just for flavour, I didn't forgive jed. Fuck him. Withholding forgiveness is how I prioritise myself and my feelings and my needs, and I think he's bought into his own personal legend of being the town dad enough that I think it makes a difference. I didn't forgive him, and I hope it hurt.
Also (since clearly that novel wasn't enough) it's fascinating the threads that wind through this story and how well they fit in the final scene at the bar. Throughout, we see that people are people. Gabe is lovely and wonderful and energetic and has a boundless optimism, and also a history of anger issues and violence. Her dad was an abusive asshole who walked out on them rather than stick around, and clearly also a man struggling with multiple addictions, wrung out and exploited and exhausted and with nothing left to give. Charlotte is patient and creative, and also has a lot of anger.
The final scene basically gives you the opportunity to take those threads to their conclusion (and, just to clarify, these are my own feelings about the choices I made, I don't actually know for sure how mechanically the choices work). Jed genuinely is a warm, generous guy - who is also happy to kill and let people die to protect his own secrets. I got to him not by calling him a monster or accusing him of seeing himself as a hero (because I don't think he does). Diane just doesn't feel at home in Haven Springs and never has, and she's sad about that. The issue isn't that she's burying evidence because even though she kind of is, what she's doing from her own perspective is securing an exit. She doesn't believe in her work, and she doesn't feel at home in town, she just wants an out from all of it.
When people start standing up and giving their speeches, it's really interesting how basically nobody immediately says that you're right. They don't totally abandon jed and diane and typhon, that's not the point. The point isn't that you come in and switch their loyalties on a dime, it's that they're loyal to you AND to jed and they trust you enough to hear you out - because, as we know, the evidence supports you.
Also also also... am I counting wrong, or do the dates not line up? The radio report says the disaster in the mine was 12 years ago, but Alex is 21. That means that john dies in the mine a year before the scene in his wife's hospital room
I really enjoyed this playthrough! Does anyone know if Johnny plans on playing the wavelengths dlc?
Thanks for this great series! I really enjoyed your streams 😀
Are you going to do some kind of discussion video? Maybe with Jane and Luke from O/X, like the good old times.
Great playthrough, enjoyed it a lot. Pity that you didn't check your phone/journal during the flashback sections! I always love when LiS adds these during the "unreal" moments.
What hit me only now was that not only Jed and higher-ups at Typhon would have known about the guys in the mine, but also others from that team, no? Meaning even if Jed was definitely responsible, some other people also kept their mouths shut. Even if pressured by Typhon, still not looking great for the honesty in this town... (Not to say I didn't choose to stay in Haven, because I did. You'll have shitty people everywhere, so that's a risk you always have to take.)
46:27 Me when I walk up the stairs
would have loved to have seen you play Wavelengths...
Side B is interesting because it basically Alex going through limbo and remembering her life with Gabe...but some of it is altered by your choices in the rest of the game.
40:28 welcome to Alex's emotional Hell...this was the darkest part of the game IMO.
Jed is not technically the villain of Season 3...Typhon is...Jed said he was being manipulated by Typhon, he made a deal with them cause he wanted to ensure a better future for the town and his family. i mean yeah he still did something horrible but that's something he has to live with. Typhon are the ones guilty of actual mining operations...thye should have reported what Jed did...a proper mining company would have...instead Typhon lied.
Finished the game for the first time recently so finally I can watch let's plays! 😂 Loved this one. I chose leave with Steph. Are you planning to do Wavelengths?
"ya cry about it" is perfect gif/meme/tshirt material
Ima be honest, I don't really like how they handled Ryan in chapter 5 (hello, big Ryan simp here). There are some really specific choices to make for him to believe you, and if he doesn't, he says some harsh things to you, disregarding everything you've been through. In my first playthrough I romanced him and didn't get him to believe me, which was rather upsetting. However, if you do romance him, he'll at least apologize in person instead of a text. If you don't, he's basically erased from the story.
What I'm saying is, Ryan isn't exactly popular, and this outcome of him believing you or not will only make people hate on him relentlessly. He doesn't deserve that. He's a great character, and the scene where he sides with you is really impactful.
Sorry for the rant, but like I said, I love this himbo way too much XD
EXACTLY. I love Ryan so much and part of his personality is his pride in his father’s ‘heroic’ legacy and his own desire to follow in those footsteps bc he holds Jed is such high regard. So to get him to believe you, you’ll need to leave Charlotte alone so Ryan sees the flash drive info, and take Pike’s fear so there’s actual evidence against Typhon/Jed (and possibly just Elenor or Duckie needs to support you).
I get that he wouldn’t believe someone he’s know for 1 month over his own father, but him saying that he won’t let Alex use her powers on him anymore was a bit too harsh. And the fact that most people don’t get a chance to hear him apologize just leaves Alex’s friendship with him unresolved. Only if you romance him can you hear him apologize, but i feel like that path makes more people regret romancing him bc of how harsh he comes off.
Idk, maybe his response to his crush calling his dad a murderer isn’t that unbelievable, but i just wish that it acknowledged all the emotional moments we went through with him so he’d believe Alex a bit more, just like Steph automatically believes her without needing proof.
@@beccazach couldn't have said it better myself. I think that his reaction is very reasonable (he's friends with Alex for a month, while his dad has been with him for over 20 years), and of course I forgave him instantly when I got the chance, but I don't think that other people are that merciful towards him.
It's just so sad: we finally get a great male love interest in the series, and only 30% of people who played got the best impression of him. Other 70% probably hate him to bits.
@@keksuntee yeah, i think the fact that apparently less than 30% of people have had Ryan believe them is a bit too big of a split. ultimately i wish there were other paths to get Ryan to believe you more easily than having to do 2 specific things, especially since more people already put him on the sidelines to focus on Steph (and he’s such a complex, likable character, whether you romance him or not). he really does get the short end of the stick.
@@beccazach i think that the least they could do is add the apology scene regardless of who you romance. That would at least make people see that he's actually sorry, and isn't afraid to admit it in person. Hell, maybe people would actually forgive him and think a little higher of him. Oh well, wishful thinking I guess.
@@keksuntee Agreed, it does feel off not to have the apology scene with Ryan, when all three of them were obviously so close before. I loved Ryan from the start and although his disbelief hurt for a moment in my playthrough, I completely understood the reaction and forgave him anyway. It's really a pity that it being so tricky to get him to believe you means he gets even less popular with so many people... :( He deserves more love!
Alex and your choice of partner, are such strongly written characters who earned there happy ending and will have a happy, adventuous life no matter what they do or where they go, i have played thru the game twice as of this video, with some differant choices, i choose to believe that they stayed in haven and left for adventure, always come back to the place they both feel is home, but, thats me, just 1 old mans opinion, BTW, no matter how many times i play thru this game, it will always be STEPH.... ramble complete
So I havent played the game, or any of these games, but this one i think i want to try out. To that forgive/condemn decision, that one is usually best to forgive. If not for them then do it for yourself.
You didn't end up playing Wavelengths (Steph's DLC), then? I can't find it anywhere in the channel.
Question, Johnny. Do you think we saw an evolution of Alex's powers at the end? When she said "Stop"!..the shockwave we saw....I felt it was like the Captain Marvel moment when she finally figured out how strong she really was. Way stronger than in the beginning.
thanks for sharing bud, means a lot
That was a really tough choice: Do I have a nice life with my girlfriend in Haven Springs or do I have a nice life with my girlfriend elswhere :)
It....wasn't really a tough choice. It's just preference. It isn't like saving your best friend or saving an entire town level of "tough". Shame. This game could've been better with more impactful choices.
@@Finny_03 The comment was meant to be sarcastic. I agree that choices in this game have no impact in any meaningful way.
@@MrLennyShelby Then I like that sarcasm. Nice.
There was no Ryan in "the future". Wonder what happens to him
I'm shocked that Ryan didn't believe Alex. I thought that only happens if you take away Charlotte anger, because it leads to Ryan never seeing the evidence, but Alex didn't do that in this playthrough. What are the conditions to get Ryan to believe/disbelieve you?
Thank you soooo much for uploading and sharing this journey!! This game is amazing
I also think alex would be happier on the road.
Like you said, she's spent her whole life on the road, whether or not she DESERVES to settle down, I think her life experience will make her really unhappy within a few years in the same place...
...without even mentioning the massive amounts of ptsd triggers in haven,
also without mentioning that the small town is definitely gonna die when typhon pulls out...it's an industry town, there's a reason why everyone is scared of them... all they really have to do is leave.
And now we're playing Until Dawn!
I hope you do Wavelengths soon!
“Did shots with Jed” cue comedy riff
This game is incredible. I came at it as someone who did not enjoy the first LiS game and didn't understand the hype. But Alex is just such a well written protagonist and I actually buy that she's anxious and struggling. The same goes for every other character- they feel like people instead of caricatures. Even the clichés, f.e. Gabe dying so early and Jeb fucking us over, feel weighty and hit very well-written emotional beats.
Tl;dr: I didn't expect it but LiS is giving me all the feels.
Yeah pike is the one that feels a bit bad either way but taking his fear is the only way to get him on your side. To me signing just felt like more of a betrayal of the entire struggle the whole game and taking the fear just felt. A lot better and justifiable. Much easier choice than Charlotte's anger
A great stat would be how many people chose to forgive for the same reason you did.
That would have been an interesting third dialogue option.
- I condemn you.
- I forgive you.
- I forgive you (just kidding I reaaally don't, but I'm pretty sure saying this will break you).
The interesting part is I felt the condemn was really bringing down the building on him emotionally and it looked like it. It was so satisfying. The newspaper changes to put him on suicide watch which wasn't the case here. He. Was. BROKEN.
real question, why can't I like you as a youtuber? I'm subscribed but on your channel page, why not let the likes flow too? great game, love the decision breakdowns Johnny you're just the best
Awww Johnny..
I could literally watch your facial expressions to this game all day (Actually I think I have)
I just wanted you to know...
I love you so much!
Hah I had a similar reaction to the end. I headed into that conversation with the brother thinking "Im getting the hell out of this town" and then they cheat by giving us an incredibly beautiful scene of our life in Haven Springs if we stay and that switched how I was gonna go.
I’ve played through twice now and haven’t had Ryan disbelieve me yet, but I did say I was sorry in the last moment. Maybe that has something to do with it?
As far as I understand it, you need to have every council member stand up for you for Ryan to join them. It's his dad their talking about after all and he's the most difficult to convince. For him to doubt Jed, everybody else has to doubt him too. And because Johnny choose to not take Pike's fear away Ryan didn't side with them in the end.
ryan is the hardest to get on your side
there are 2 main ways to get him to support you
but if you mess up one of the main ways there are 4 other ways to get him to support you
What a wonderful playthrough. I had to binge it all. I made almost all the same decisions as you, with the exception of taking Pike's fear. I have far less integrity than you. I refused to interfere with Charlotte, but when it came to Pike, I couldn't resist giving Alex the best possible chance of success.
Let's be honest, a lot of us would give up everything to be able to spend the rest of our life in a place like Haven. I would
final comment.......I think if we choose to romance Ryan Staying in haven is the more logical Choice, however if we romance steph and choose to stay in haven then we are no better than gabe forcing her to stay in haven we are binding her to haven even tho she wants to leave and pursue other career aspirations but leaving doesn't mean you can't come back, i dunno
i think forcing steph to stay in haven is incredibley selfish
if we romanced ryan then staying in haven is the best option but romancing steph we are forcing her to stay in haven because of us and what happens if alex and steph break up? Steph has no reason to stay in haven
I sure hope that people who don't want spoilers aren't reading the comments before they've watched the video
My name is Alex Chen
You killed my father
Prepare to die
you can convince Ryan to believe you if you say the right thing, you also need more evidence from Pike i think for him to believe you. regarding Pike he didn't side with you because you didn't take away his fear.
The "Only 1 kiss" rule SUUUUCKS! hahahaha
You're the first playthrough of this I've watched so i can't say for sure but I'd bet Ryan would've believed you if you'd let yourself be a little closer to him (hug him instead of handshaking, saying something nice in the LARP). I think maybe by trying not to lead him on you missed opportunities to strengthen the friendship.
Also... Writing this before I get to the end of the video so maybe there's an explanation later, but.... Their dad in that mine how?? Isn't this a tiny community in the middle of nowhere? Weren't they all separated and bumped around the country for years? Did I miss something where Jed had tracked Gabe down and specifically invited him to Haven out of guilt or something? I think that's my one major issue with this game if there's not some explanation, that level of coincidence is too much.
Edit: "when Gabe walked in looking for his father..
" Ok fair! Concerns averted, good job game
Gotta wonder why Alex didn't whip out her father's pendant when they said she doesn't have evidence. "So I found this in the mines....that's me and that's Gabe. You were saying?"
Well, it'd be hard to prove that it actually came from the mines. I mean, it was hers, until she threw it at her dad when he was leaving. And the only people who witnessed that (Gabe and their dad) are dead.
Anyone else think that "Left and Leaving" by The Weakerthans would have been a great closing song? Not necessarily better, but equally really good. I just would have loved to hear that song in a Life is Strange game at some point. It just seems like a perfect match that hasn't been done yet.
Utilities would be my shout for a weakerthans song in LiS. Or maybe bigfoot.
@@JohnnyChiodini I definately agree, "Bigfoot" is another one that I could see working really well in an LiS game. Thanks for the input! It is great to get a reply from someone who's work I enjoy so much.
(Also, was surprised at the lack of a reference to The Cure when Steph was thinking "Kiss me, kiss me, kiss me". I am sure some form of horrible pun could have been made, and there was enough levity at that point for it not to feel too forced or out of place.)
can we just acknowledge how messed up Jed and Typhon is
- Jed Left 7 men to die 1 of which was Alex And Gabe's Father
- Jed got Gabe Killed
- Jed tried to kill a 10 year old child
- Jed tried to kill his own son
- Jed tried to kill Alex Twice
just to keep the fact Jed let 7 men die..........i understand you can't save everyone but at least own up to your mistake
What a fabulous game
Thanks for this Johnny. This isn't really my type of game, but I have enjoyed watching you play through, along with the previous ones, there's only a few minor options I would have done differently. I must say though I thought the "superpower" in this was really pathetic as it could just be anyone who is mindful of others feelings (maybe that's what they were going for) and the story was pretty weak. Thanks for doing it though, there were some moments I really struggled with as my Mam died only a few years ago, but it is great that you put it all up at once making it a coherent experience.
On my first playthrough, I took Pike's fear away, which helped Alex to get the entire council on her side. Ryan believed her, too - not sure if that's a result of the rest of the council believing her, or a result of dialogue choices during the confrontation.
I condemned Jed instead of forgiving him. With Pike also having the courage to stand up to Typhon, this led to some small but important differences in the council confrontation, and the news coverage at the end.
Leaving town with Steph to pursue Alex's musical ambitions was an ending I was happy with, though there are clearly a lot of alternatives to explore. This game was emotionally weighty, but I see several re-plays ahead.
"We did shots with Jed".
I wasn't ready. Way too soon.
Man, the flashback parts were brutal. Thanks for playing through this. What a gem of a game.
Wavelengths when?
Home is where your love is. Wherever you go with Steph is home, and you can always settle down again. If you're staying just for yourself, then that seems a bit selfish.
To be honest though, I'm a doormat. So whatever makes someone else happy works for me.
I'm not entirely sure but I think you have to romance ryan to see him after the vote
You don’t have to romance him…but if you don’t you have to get every other minor decision concerning him right. And even if you romance him he can still side with his father.
SPOILER FOR HOW TO GET RYAN TO AGREE WITH YOU. ONLY READ IF YOU WANT TO KNOW.
1. Tell him to choose the Red Wire when he asks you in Chapter 1
2. Support his claim about the call in Chapter 2
3. Hug him in Chapter 2
4. Do not have an anger outburst in front of him and Steph when looking at the laptop in Chapter 3
5. Ask „You believe me, right?“ in Chapter 5
Those are the ones you have to get right that are possible without romance. Still have to try sending him instead of Steph to distract Diane. That’s another one. Also giving him the Rose is another. You have to get a certain number of these right to get him to side with you. It’s 5 or more I think. I had 4 of those in my first playthrough (only messed up the wire) and he still sided with his dad.
P.S. After the comments below and further own testing, that’s almost all irrelevant. The things that matter are sending him to distract Diane as well as having everyone agree with you. One alone doesn’t do it, you have to get both.
@@likealightning4139 I really appreciate it when someone finds the stuff I would be far to impatient to figure out on my own. Thank you very much for this run down.
@@likealightning4139 thanks for clarifying
@@likealightning4139 Interesting - Ryan took Alex's side in my playthrough, but I didn't give advice about the wires, didn't hug him, and didn't give him a rose. It looks like there are multiple factors that can influence his decision in a variety of ways.
I think this too, he sided with Alex in my playthrough and then just disappeared except for one shot of him looking sad in the mountains (which had no audio?). He didn't even turn up to say goodbye when Alex and Steph left town. It's super weird.
The Adventure is the better option. Typhon keeps Haven allive with jobs. Without Typhon the People leave Haven an seek Jobs in other Towns so Haven will Dying
(Light) Spoilers...
Honestly, I didn't feel great at the end of this. I was fine with the main story, but for the entire credits section was I just going "where the hell is the rest of it?? Where is me catching up with Steph and telling her I want to be with her and us ACTUALLY HAVING A LIFE here, not just the fantasy that Gabe built??"