The idea of a bonus episode to Life is Strange: Before the Storm could be a good or bad thing. With both stories finding a satisfying conclusion and Life is Strange being the continuation to Before the Storm, there was only so much the bonus episode could cover. With it being exclusive to the deluxe edition and offering one more trip to the world, is it something fans need to experience or was it marketing hype to sell the prequel?
This episode takes place prior to the events of Life is Strange: Before the Storm and details the final moments before Max moves away from Chloe. It’s a fascinating story, if only for the fact this event had a huge impact on Chloe’s life. But, before that can happen, it gives a slightly less mature and innocent look at Chloe.
Keeping true to the characters, 8-year-old Max and Chloe buried pirate treasure and it falls on them to figure out where they hid it. Even if it’s a low stakes adventure, it deals with the difficulty of confronting issues and figuring out when is the right time to give bad news.
Instead of following Chloe, players control Max, who battles with the idea of telling Chloe she is moving in a couple days and not ruining the day. The conclusion is one that is both heart warming and sad, touching on some of the issues of doing the right thing and how different people approach problems. Where Max wants to discuss it, Chloe is more than happy to ignore it in hopes it goes away.
Without revealing too much, the bonus episode builds to another larger event and might just be a prologue for the next entry in the franchise. While it probably isn’t enough to justify a $9.99 increase from the base game, it’s certainly something to consider for newcomers or those looking for the full experience. It’s definitely one of the more gripping chapters, even if it lacks any twist.