Top 10 Life Is Strange Songs

Life is Strange is a popular episodic video game series developed by Dontnod Entertainment and published by Square Enix. The series is known for its narrative-driven gameplay and the ability to make choices that impact the story and its outcomes. This is one of my favourite game series of all time. The first game in the series was released in 2015, and it has since expanded to include several titles and spin-offs. Each game in the series focuses on a different set of characters and storylines, but they all share the common theme of choices and consequences.

The decisions players make throughout the games can significantly impact the narrative and lead to different outcomes, making "Life is Strange" known for its branching and emotionally charged storytelling. The series has gained a dedicated following for its unique approach to narrative-driven gaming. With 5 titles under its belt and numerous books and comics Life Is Strange keeps growing, and I hope it continues, and we get another instalment soon. I love the series and its soundtracks, and today I am picking 10 of my fave songs from the games.

Crosses - Jose Gonzalez

"Crosses" adds to the emotional and atmospheric depth of that particular scene or moment in the game. José González's music is celebrated for its ability to create a mood of introspection and contemplation.

The Right Way Around - Daughter

 "The Right Way Around" by Daughter is one of the tracks chosen to complement the game's storytelling and mood. It adds to the overall immersive experience of the game for players.

No Woman - Whitney

"No Woman" is one of Whitney's signature songs and has been widely acclaimed for its soulful and melancholic sound. The song is known for its warm, horn-driven arrangements and Julien Ehrlich's distinctive falsetto vocals. It's often associated with themes of love, longing, and introspection. It's perfect for those melancholy scenes in the game that have lingered with me. 

Banquet - Bloc Party

A fun and freeing experience is having a break while on the run and rocking out to this in a run-down hotel in LIS2. "Banquet" is one of Bloc Party's most popular and recognizable songs and has been a staple in their live performances. The track has been praised for its fusion of post-punk and indie rock elements and is often associated with the mid-2000s indie rock revival. The song's lyrics touch on themes of desire, relationships, and youthful exuberance. "Banquet" is celebrated for its infectious and dynamic sound, and it has remained a favourite among fans of indie and alternative rock music.

On Melancholy Hill - Gorillaz

"On Melancholy Hill" is one of the songs that enhance the emotional and immersive experience of the game and has become one of my fave songs, and it always takes me back to the part of the game it appeared in. 

D.A.N.C.E - Justice

A really fun upbeat dance track in Life Is Strange 2 that has stuck with me since its appearance. Music plays an essential role in setting the atmosphere and mood in the "Life is Strange" games, and the inclusion of "D.A.N.C.E" by Justice adds to the overall experience of the game.

Creep - Mxmtoon

It's a cover but a cover so good that it felt fresh and new. The song sums up Alex life and feelings living in a new town. Radiohead's "Creep" is celebrated for its raw and emotionally charged lyrics, and it has become one of the band's signature songs. Mxmtoon's cover of the song adds her own style and interpretation to this classic track.

Death With Dignity - Sufan Stevens

Love this one, The song is known for its poignant and introspective lyrics and appears in Life Is Strange spin off titled The Awesome Adventures of Captain Spirit. 

On The Flip Of A Coin - The Streets

From the first time I heard this in Life Is Strange 2 it stuck with me throughout my play through such an interesting and catchy song. The streets are great at telling a story and I love how it resonates with myself and with LIS2. The song reflects on themes of luck, chance, and the unpredictable nature of life. Mike Skinner's lyrics often delve into personal and relatable experiences, and "On The Flip Of A Coin" is no exception, as it explores the idea that life's outcomes can be as uncertain as the flip of a coin.

To All Of You - Syd Matters

This always plays in my mind at random points, and it makes me smile, and sometimes it also makes me sad. I always envision Max walking down the school corridor and thinking of all that happens in the first game to her. Tragic, beautiful, powerful. The song is known for its gentle, melodic sound and evocative lyrics. It's often associated with the game's themes of adolescence, friendship, and choices. The song captures a sense of nostalgia and youthful yearning, making it a fitting choice for the soundtrack of a game that explores the complexities of growing up and facing difficult decisions. The emotional and atmospheric quality of "To All of You" has made it a favourite among fans of both the band and the game.

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Emotional Videogame Impact (E.V.I.)

***SPOILERS ARE HERE FOR LIFE IS STRANGE AND TELLTALES THE WALKING DEAD BEWARE!!!!***

I forget sometimes on how much of an impact video games can make on us. 

Especially the interactive story games. I have recently completed Life Is Strange: Before The Storm and during the process I've teared up and had my emotions go all over the place. From smiling one minute at how happy the characters are to mistrusting and being suspicious to people to missing them to annoyance to tears of sadness to gobsmacked-ness (if it aint a word auto correct well it is now!).

I originally completed the first LIS (Life Is Strange) on Xbox 360 when it first came out back in 2015, and i originally found Chloe to be such an annoying character who was only using Max.

However after before the storm i understand so much more and i feel for her, i feel so sorry for her, its crazy, god it sounds so stupid out loud as we all know and you know she aint real at all, just a piece of writing pieced together with code, cgi and a voice actor. I feel so sorry for Chloe and I just want to hug her but alas i cannot.

It's truly amazing how some games can take you out of all that and make you feel as if the characters are real because that's damn good writing! Sorry it seems like i grew too attached to these characters but this is only the beginning of this blog post lol. Now let's get spoiling and opening up more. 

As my post indicates I grew quite attached to the game series Life Is Strange. I've finished all of them and even though I did Before The Storm last, there was apart of me that felt like I could do it, I can actually save Rachel from dying! I was happy at the end of Before The Storm to see Rachel and Chloe messing around being so happy BUT It's only when after the credits roll you realise that's not the case, you can not save her! 

She was doomed to die from the start. It's so sad, just tragic, depressing even. It's crazy that this girl whom you never really meet in the first Life Is Strange made so much of an impact in that game because all you really know about Rachel is her name and the fact she was this perfect student who has up and vanished one day. 

I will say she makes a hell of an impact in Before The Storm and on every character that ever came in contact with her. This girl who was full of life, so well known yet she is taken so young. This girl whom I made happy playing as Chloe and who made Chloe happy there's no saving her, you couldn't. 

God damn this series is so bleak, even its soundtrack is bleak but it's quite beautiful, poetically speaking.

I can only hope that as a writer I can create characters which can give people the same effect as these characters have made on me. If any of the Life Is Strange writers do read this I want to say THANK YOU SO MUCH! 

I talked about the tragedy of Life Is Strange and how beautiful it is even in it's bleakest of moments but now to talk about a game and a man from another interactive episodic game series. 

Now it's time to talk about Telltales The Walking Dead with Lee Everett!

Season 1 of Walking Dead by Telltale games featured a man named Lee. Now we don't know a whole lot about Lee besides he was on his way to prison when all of a sudden his life got flipped upside down and boom, it's the apocalypse! The other thing we know about Lee is he has a family who runs a pharmacy. Mostly we are Lee, the player is Lee and so we choose what he does and says.

So you go through this episodic first season looking after a little girl you meet named Clementine who is the sweetest girl in all of gaming let's be honest. 

She's helped us the player out at times aswell during the game. 

Now one thing happens in episode 4 which leads you to get bitten (it happens no matter what sadly). So your then infected and on your way to become a zombie. After losing some friends and encountering massive odd of bandits and zombies of course Sweet Pea gets kidnapped by some psycho and we have to get her back. 

We fight through the hordes of zombies to get to Clem even though we suffer great blood loss and the fact we are losing our time to live and we save her BUT then as we try to escape together our time is up together. 

Here we lay unable to move as our body gives out and we are faced with a decision and the first one we ever make with Clem. 

Kill Lee or let him turn into a monster? 

It's tough because we want a different way Clem does. She is so upset she does not want to lose this man who's been like a dad to her but we have no choice.

I personally shed a tear and shot Lee. 

I didn't want him to turn into a monster and Lee end up killing her. I raised Clem to not let the monsters get to her and she's a tough badass woman now.

After shooting Lee the credits song rang and I'll never forget that. The song still makes me sad now when I hear it. 

The brilliant tense adventure of Lee and Clem has come to an end.

Now flash forward years later Telltale has their final season of Walking Dead coming and I have a sinking feeling this will be it for Clem she won't be surviving the end of the season but who knows for sure.

As for Life Is Strange well a sequel is coming so who know's what will happen and how much more heartbreak we gamers will suffer with that!

That's all I have for you another slice of emotional gaming memories. If you did read this, thank you! I got a lot of this on my mind right now, along with the sad thoughts and songs that followed each sad scene of the games. I've grown so attached to these characters and games it's crazy I know. 

Share yours below!

#EmotionalVideogameImpact

Written by Scott Jones