Life is Strange: Episode 5 - Polarized

 PlayStation 4
Life is Strange: Episode 5 - Polarized Image
Metascore
81

Generally favorable reviews - based on 30 Critic Reviews What's this?

User Score
8.2

Generally favorable reviews- based on 276 Ratings

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  • Summary: In Episode 5: Polarized Max learns that time is impossible to control as she moves inexorably towards the most agonizing decision of her life. Arcadia Bay, meanwhile, is preparing to weather a huge storm as Life is Strange comes to a gripping and gut wrenching conclusion.

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Life is Strange - E3 2015 Trailer

Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 24 out of 30
  2. Mixed: 6 out of 30
  3. Negative: 0 out of 30
  1. GameOver.gr
    Nov 11, 2015
    100
    A superb ending in what came to be as a great story of well written characters. Now that the package is complete you will understand the greatness of this game.
  2. Everyeye.it
    Oct 26, 2015
    90
    Since the first chapter, Life is Strange has been more a story than a videogame. There are some interesting turning of events in this final chapter, and some will make you think about the meaning of being the protagonist, or just a spectator. In the end, Dontnod has found a great way to end this great project.
  3. games(TM)
    Dec 9, 2015
    90
    The best episodic game out there right now. [Issue#168, p.94]
  4. PlaySense
    Nov 4, 2015
    85
    If you've played the previous episodes, buying this one should be a no-brainer. If you haven't, then what are you waiting for? This series is more than worth every dollar you spend on it.
  5. Vandal
    Oct 23, 2015
    83
    Maybe it's not the ending we expected, but that doesn't mean that Dontnod's first episodic series isn't great. As its own title says, this ending will get its audience polarized.
  6. CGMagazine
    Oct 26, 2015
    80
    Despite its awkward dialogue and handful of plot missteps, Life Is Strange’s conclusion cements its story as one of the more noteworthy in recent videogames. This final episode may not be the strongest, but its impressive level of wit and emotional honesty encapsulates what makes Dontnod’s titles special.
  7. USgamer
    Oct 23, 2015
    60
    Life is Strange comes to its ultimate conclusion by asking players what's more important: one person or an entire town? This is an emotionally strong episode that's unfortunately padded out by sequences that justify its overall running time and reinforce that you're playing a game. Life is Strange was great as a whole, but there are missteps in this episode.

See all 30 Critic Reviews

User Reviews

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Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 13 out of 17
  2. Mixed: 2 out of 17
  3. Negative: 2 out of 17
  1. josh671
    Oct 20, 2015
    10
    Fantastic final episode that really does draw from the previous 4 episodes in a surprising way. Highly recommended, if you were waiting forFantastic final episode that really does draw from the previous 4 episodes in a surprising way. Highly recommended, if you were waiting for the final episode to purchase the game you have a great 5 part series ahead.… Expand
  2. makakz
    Oct 24, 2015
    10
    Good ending of a good game.The must-have if you like good and sad stories like this.And the only minus is your heart broken and your feelings crushed.
  4. keithjonjonson
    Oct 21, 2015
    10
    This was by no means a perfect finale, as it felt just a bit muddled, with similar hits and misses in the dialogue. BUT THIS EPISODE NEEDS TOThis was by no means a perfect finale, as it felt just a bit muddled, with similar hits and misses in the dialogue. BUT THIS EPISODE NEEDS TO BE STUDIED AND ABSORBED by future episodic gaming teams. It is still unquestionably a 9.9 in my view. Polarized was brilliantly inventive, and in all the chaos, still hammers home the point it's been making all along: Life is... f****'d up. But no one is alone.… Expand
  5. doboszsite
    Oct 24, 2015
    9
    I'm very happy to see story base game which do not feature deus ex machina at the end. Limiting player choice this time proved to be the rightI'm very happy to see story base game which do not feature deus ex machina at the end. Limiting player choice this time proved to be the right approach.… Expand
  6. TheDestroyer
    Oct 24, 2015
    9
    The ending feels rushed!!! Not gonna sugarcoat it. I love this series with all my heart, but the amount of endings you can get doesn't feelThe ending feels rushed!!! Not gonna sugarcoat it. I love this series with all my heart, but the amount of endings you can get doesn't feel satisfying at all considering the amount of decisions and build-up before then. Don't let this stop you from purchasing it though - it is still worth every nickel and dime.

    Episode 5 - 9 out of 10    … Expand
  7. roshi82
    Nov 23, 2015
    9
    I loved the entire series but the ending just didn't do it for me. But all together the game was AMAZING and I would highly recc to ANYONE!I loved the entire series but the ending just didn't do it for me. But all together the game was AMAZING and I would highly recc to ANYONE! The ending which I wont spoil... I wanted it a bit darker. (maybe it was for some)… Expand
  8. Atreidesx
    Jan 8, 2016
    0
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Episode 5 doesn't ruin the previous 4, but definitely does it's best. None of your choices up until this point matter. You make a choice in the end and everything you've done up until this point is invalidated. I've heard others discussing this game say "it's the journey, not the destination" that matters, but after the ending the journey never happened. SO many things do not make sense.

    -Why did Max get the powers? She got her first vision warning her about the storm, which only occurred because she got time travel powers? Not saving Chloe stopped the tornado. Why? Other things still changed. There is not way Max behaves and says EXACTLY the same things in the timeline where Chloe dies. Everything would be different and the time travel still resulted in a "new" timeline compared to Max being a normal student.

    -If you save Chloe, does every man, woman and child in the town die? This would have been a perfect place to show the people you befriended survive. Max's parents are still alive... so do Chloe and Max just drive to Seattle and live with them now? Did Max text them to let them know she's ok? The town looked beat up but the diner was still standing... did the dynamic duo check to see if her mom was fine?

    -Really, a stealth sequence? I didn't find it very difficult, but a stealth sequence?!? AND they had the nerve to wink at the camera and put some jokes in about how tedious the bottle collecting thing was in episode 2? During a stealth sequence that was much worse.    … Expand

See all 17 User Reviews

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44
#44 Best PS4 Game of 2015

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