Life is Strange: True Colors: Official EU Nintendo Switch eShop

Release Date:

• Nintendo Switch Digital: December 7, 2021

Life is Strange: True Colors is a critically acclaimed narrative adventure game developed by Deck Nine and published by Square Enix. It marks a bold new chapter in the award-winning Life is Strange series, moving away from the episodic release model to deliver a complete story from day one.

The game introduces Alex Chen, a new playable protagonist who carries a long-suppressed "curse": the psychic power of Empathy. This unique ability allows her to experience, absorb, and even manipulate the strong emotions of others, which she perceives as vibrant, blazing, colored auras. For years, Alex viewed this power as a burden, fearing its volatility.

Her life takes a dramatic turn when she moves to Haven Springs, a beautiful, idyllic small town nestled in the mountains of Colorado, to reunite with her estranged brother, Gabe. However, their reunion is tragically cut short when Gabe dies in what is officially deemed an accident. Deeply suspicious and heartbroken, Alex must now embrace her volatile power to uncover the truth behind her brother's death and expose the dark secrets buried by the seemingly perfect town.

Key Gameplay Elements:

• Psychic Power of Empathy: Alex's unique ability is central to the gameplay. Players can use Empathy to:
  • Read Emotions: See colored auras around characters, indicating their emotional state (e.g., red for anger, blue for sadness, purple for fear).
  • Experience Emotions: If an emotion is particularly strong, Alex can physically feel it, experiencing the world from that person's perspective. This often leads to environmental shifts or auditory cues that provide insight into a character's inner turmoil.
  • Manipulate Emotions: In critical moments, Alex can choose to "absorb" and "manipulate" someone's overwhelming emotion, taking on their burden to help them or to extract vital information. These decisions have significant consequences for the characters and the town.
• Choice and Consequence Narrative: True to the series' roots, player choices are paramount. Both major and subtle decisions made throughout the game have meaningful impacts on the story's progression, character relationships, and the ultimate fate of Haven Springs. The game encourages replayability to explore different outcomes.
• Rich, Immersive Small Town Setting: Haven Springs is a meticulously crafted town filled with quirky, memorable characters, local businesses, and hidden areas. Players can freely explore its streets, stores, and scenic spots, engaging with the community and building relationships with its residents.
• Diverse Cast of Characters: Beyond Alex and Gabe, players will interact with a diverse cast of well-written and relatable characters, including the charming DJ Steph Gingrich (from Life is Strange: Before the Storm), the kind-hearted park ranger Ryan, and various other townspeople, each with their own stories, secrets, and emotional depths.
• Investigation and Mystery: The core plot is a thrilling mystery surrounding Gabe's death. Alex must gather clues, interrogate townsfolk (using her powers), and piece together the conspiracy that threatens to tear Haven Springs apart.
• Emotional Storytelling: The game excels at delivering a deeply emotional and poignant narrative, exploring themes of grief, family, community, corporate greed, and finding a place to belong.
• Cinematic Presentation: Featuring stunning visuals, fully motion-captured performances that convey subtle emotional nuances, and a beautiful soundtrack by Angus & Julia Stone, mxmtoon, and other licensed artists, the game offers a highly cinematic experience.
• Self-Contained Story: Unlike previous Life is Strange games which were episodic, True Colors was released as a complete experience, allowing players to enjoy the entire narrative without waiting.

Life is Strange: True Colors is celebrated for its powerful storytelling, engaging characters, and a unique take on supernatural abilities that truly puts empathy at the forefront of its compelling mystery.