Life is Strange is not a game that’s known for its positive outlook. It forces players to make tough decisions that could drastically alter the course of the game’s narrative. Which is why it’s odd that The Awesome Adventures of Captain Spirit, a free-to-download prequel to Life is Strange 2, feels so quaint in comparison.
In this brief demo, only a few of the decisions feel as though they carry any consequence. While the opening levels of both Life is Strange (2015) and its prequel Life is Strange: Before the Storm (2017) started with decisions that felt inconsequential, many of those choices would come back to either haunt or help the player. While there are no “bae or bay” types of choices in Captain Spirit, every major decision in this vignette will likely play an important role in the greater narrative of Life is Strange 2, which will be available Sept. 27.
Captain Spirit introduces Chris Eriksen, a 10-year-old boy with an uninhibited imagination. Chris creates a superhero alter-ego for himself named Captain Spirit who fights the evil forces of Mantroid, Water Eater and Snowmancer. He lives in Beaver Creek, Oregon, with his dad, Charles. Over the course of the game’s two-hour runtime, players discover that Chris’ mom, Emily, was killed in a hit-and-run, which resulted in Charles using alcohol to cope with the grief.
Throughout the game, players can accomplish a list of optional tasks that include fighting Mantroid on his home planet, assembling the pieces of Captain Spirit’s costume and sneaking around the house to find secrets and “hidden treasure,” such as the fact that Emily went to Blackwell Academy, the setting of Life is Strange. Chris’ energetic nature and endless imagination make him a loveable lead in Captain Spirit. Developer Dontnod has once again made a relatable character who might be otherwise divisive.
As Chris discovers more about his deceased mother during his escapades, his father watches a basketball game and day-drinks until blackout. Chris’ attempts to wake Charles results in an aggressive confrontation. It’s a scene that, if poorly executed, could play out like an Afterschool Special, especially since much of the dialogue from Life is Strange tends to be cringe-inducing.
Many of the themes of Life is Strange are present in Captain Spirit, though they are explored in a new way. Grief and loss are both present in the form of unhealthy coping habits, including alcoholism and avoidance of discussion. These themes are handled tastefully, but the player doesn’t spend enough time with these characters to feel too invested in the finale. It is clear, however, that this story is meant to set the stage for Life is Strange 2, and it does so by enticing players with a cliffhanger ending.
The game itself plays almost identically to Life is Strange, with players walking around and collecting items and pieces of information to be used later in the game. What set the first game apart from other decision-based story games was the ability to rewind time to get a different outcome. In Captain Spirit, players are given a narrower list of options for the outcome of the game. Varied dialogue options rarely lead to any new developments, accomplishing small tasks like washing dishes or doing laundry carry zero weight and the game’s conclusion feels inevitable. This is particularly frustrating coming from a series that promises narrative control.
Even though Captain Spirit fails to give players autonomy, it succeeds in establishing a setting. The world of the Eriksen household feels lived-in, with various toys and food items scattered around. A wintery Saturday morning is beautifully realized, with snow-covered trees letting a little bit of sunlight into the backyard as the game’s phenomenal soundtrack plays.
Dontnod knows just how to tug on the ol’ heartstrings when it comes to picking the right moments and songs to convey a theme. Life is Strange features a collection of indie rock songs that perfectly capture the moods where they are implemented, and Captain Spirit is no exception, featuring songs from Sufjan Stevens, Bat For Lashes and Rone. “Death With Dignity” by Stevens in particular is used during many key moments to convey a childlike sense of sadness. The Life is Strange series and Sufjan Stevens are a match made in heaven.
Graphically, Captain Spirit retains the painted look of its predecessors. The locations within and surrounding the Eriksen home are both detailed and vague. Any more realism in this game might cause the themes of grief and alcoholism to hit too close to home for some players, but with these graphics, Captain Spirit explores these ideas with a degree of separation. It strikes the perfect balance between tastefulness and honesty that a lesser developer would fail at.
The Awesome Adventures of Captain Spirit is not so much a full game as much as it’s a stepping-stone to Life is Strange 2. While the world of Captain Spirit is exciting and worth exploring, I wish Dontnod gave players more to discover. Charles and Chris are both intriguing characters, but there’s only barely enough development in the game to really care about either of them. The themes, however, are handled beautifully. With obvious attention to the subjects of grief, loss and alcoholism so that they never feel vapid. Captain Spirit is worth the free download, but it left me with more questions than answers. Hopefully all will be revealed when Life is Strange 2 is released on Sept. 27, a date that can’t come soon enough.
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