Life is Strange: True Colors launched to good reviews, as Alex’s journey through her and others’ emotions is quite emotional itself. The story is strong, the characters are fun, the lack of episodic structure boosts investment, and all of its content come together to deliver something strong. That’s not to say it’s perfect, as no game is and Life is Strange 2 did better on endings, but it does bode well for the future of Life is Strange under Deck Nine.
Soon, players will be able to get a little more of Life is Strange: True Colors with its Wavelengths DLC, but afterward, the question becomes what’s next? A new game with a new protagonist and a new power would fit right into the franchise’s pattern, but as True Colors broke from a lot of these, perhaps—at least—in one regard, a “True Colors 2” might be the best decision. SPOILERS AHEAD.
Life is Strange: True Colors 2 – New Protagonist, Same Power
That’s not to say that Life is Strange: True Colors' Alex should or even could return. A new game with her at the fore would be welcome, sure, but it would be hard to reconcile her decision given that her future on the road or future with Haven. But, the defining power of Alex could definitely make a return, with a new character whose power—however it manifests—makes them an empath too.
Life is Strange: True Colors’ announcement came at the right time. Many unreasonably blamed and still blame the Asian American community for the COVID-19 pandemic, leading to a rise of violence, but True Colors isn’t just performative. Everything it meant then is everything it means now, and anyone who has forgotten that likely also lost the message of True Colors: overcoming hardships, understanding and recognizing emotion in one’s self and others, and searching for truth—even when accepting the easy, sometimes hateful way out, seems to be the only option.
Indeed, this is an important lesson and empathy is something games like Life is Strange and Psychonauts 2 tackle well, but it’s something that’s important that shouldn’t just fade away. Instead, Life is Strange could embrace these as it changes protagonists, making each and every power focused on emotion.
Life is Strange: True Colors and the Power of Empathy
Emotions are strong, complicated, and multifaceted; in other words, each and every Life is Strange: True Colors 2, 3, or so on protagonist could still be an empath that employs different abilities. Alex sees auras and could share those feelings, even being overcome by them. Another protagonist could evoke warm and happy feelings in every room they enter, another could actualize creative emotions and energies and in turn self-actualize themselves and help others do the same, and/or another could help someone tackle a manifestation of “bad energy.”
Again, while this is speculation, empathy and emotion have a lot of ways it could go. And it’s not that the other games didn’t deal with this in some way, but only True Colors tackles it properly as its main theme. That theme is more than enough to support True Colors as its own identity for years to come, so while it’s entirely on Deck Nine and its vision for the future of LiS, the work it did on this game with this theme cannot be understated. Yet, it’s a battle that is never-ending and that in and of itself demands more True Colors entries.
Life is Strange: True Colors is available now for PC, PS4, PS5, Stadia, Switch, and Xbox One.