Start playing Life is Strange and don't stop until it's over. Your mind will break and you will enjoy every second of it. You can generally plow through it in about 12 hours or so. There are so many screwed up things that happen in that game (and are different depending on your seemingly inconsequential choices) that you will completely lose your shit at some point. I'm generally not one to cry in movies or games or really ever, but I completely lost it during one of the later scenes. They even include many parts of the game for you to simply just sit down. All that happens is that you sit there. It's generally because you are just trying to comprehend the insanity that just happened, and trying to literally just be relaxed enough to handle and cope with the next thing you are up against. It's moments of reflection in life. There are enough relateable moments to anyone who's actually experienced any level of difficulty in life that you are guaranteed to get attached to one or more characters to the point that you absolutely do not want anything bad to happen to them. And it could, depending on your choices. You can also save them, depending on your choices. The music and soundtrack is incredible, the style and feel is unrivaled. It's simply a series of moments in life that turn your world upside down, all mixed into one story. The gameplay is simply a series of approximately 67 different choices that affect dialogue and outcomes in future situations. The first screen you see when you start the game is: "Life is Strange is a series of choices that affect the past, present, and future. Choose wisely." 10/10, would pay $2000 to wipe my memory and experience it again for the first time. That being said, the replayability is still high since you can make different choices and get an entirely different mood throughout the game. Though in general even the least heavy hearted timeline is very screwed up due to certain story elements that are guaranteed to occur. Life is Strange's subtitle should be: "Throw Donnie Darko in the trash can, it's useless now".
Fantastic endorsement! I was excited enough to check out how much it costs. The only thing stopping me was that I'd have to get a Steam card. But your description was really persuasive. I watched a couple gamers play the beginning of the game and lost interest. Maybe it's one of those games that you have to play yourself to enjoy.
It also takes some time to get going. They have to introduce the characters, the setting, the atmosphere of what's "normal". And it does take some time. It's the only video game that the characters actually feel like real people to me. And yeah I think you have to play it yourself. That being said, if you are with someone who is watching (significant other?), they'd enjoy it too because they can be a part of the decision making processes which are the largest part of the game.
I'll actually tell you one thing, the best place to put the game down (once) and get some sleep is between episodes 2 and 3. You're not going to want to put it down during the craziness that is 3-5, and generally you'll need a nap in between. I just got to the end of episode 2 for the fourth time in a row and I know (because of past experience) that I've lead the story down in about 4 different places that I've never experienced before, so it will be interesting to see how they play off each other. There's already been dialogue I've never heard before and the real choice impacts haven't occurred quite yet. It's also interesting to be able to figure out how everything plays off each other I guess with multiple playthroughs. Combining X with Y choice can cause outcome 1 of 3, let's try to get outcome 2 next time around, etc. There are also entire locations that you will not be able to go to every time. There's no reason to because the plot doesn't develop that way for you. This game is so intricate and the sheer quantity of meaningful items laying around is staggering. I do have to say this is probably a masterpiece.
I think I got myself hyped up for the game. I've played through it many times already, and I think I'm going to play it again now. It's a perfect game for playing when you have time for and need to reflect on your own decisions in life.... and now is a good time for that for me. Additional: They apparently are called "Moments of Calm" on Youtube and you can see them all by searching: Literally. Just. Sitting. Yet your mind is going completely nuts.