"Wastelands" is the third episode of Life is Strange 2. It was released on May 9, 2019 for PS4, Xbox One and PC.[1]
Synopsis[]
Official[]
"Sean and Daniel Diaz’s journey to Mexico continues in Episode 3, a few months after the events in Episode 2 and the boys’ escape from Beaver Creek. The brothers experience life on the fringes of society, as they befriend a close-knit community of drifters and runaways, and become embroiled in the illegal cannabis trade among the towering redwood forests of California.
Sean and Daniel’s resolve is put to the test once again, as new relationships create friction between them and they both learn much about who they are as individuals. Uncertain about their once united purpose, can they stay together, or will their journey together end here?"[2]
Checkpoints[]
- Summer Breakdown
- Rise and Shine
- Daggers Drawn
- Redwood Curtain
- Cash Crop
- The Trimmigrants
- Skipping Stones
- Campfire Tales
- Daily Grind
- Pay Day
- The Oath
- Paradise Lost
- Midnight Swim
- Under the Hood
- Bad Harvest
Characters[]
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Deaths[]
- Finn (Determinant) - Depending on whether Sean brought a gun and his choices during the final scene, Finn can be shot in either the chest or the back by Merrill.
Licensed Soundtrack[]
- Main article: Soundtrack (Life is Strange 2)
- On Melancholy Hill - Gorillaz (Played as Sean chills on his bed, listening with headphones)
- D.A.N.C.E. - Justice (Played during a montage as Sean and Daniel continue working on the farm)
- I'm Willing - Ben Lee (covered by Cassidy, played during montage)
- Natalie - Milk & Bone (End credits)
Development[]
During an interview at EGX 2019 on April 6, Lead Writer Jean-Luc Cano revealed that independence and evolution would be major themes of Episode 3, specifically regarding Daniel as he begins to question Sean's lessons and make his own decisions. Producer Luc Baghadoust also revealed that Daniel's growing control over his powers would begin to impact his relationship with Sean.
Reception[]
Episode 3 received generally favorable reviews.[3][4] It was praised for its great presentation and use of music, its environmental design, its consistently strong writing and characterization, its dialogue and voice acting, and its complex web of meaningful moral choices. Furthermore, the episode received positive reception for its exploration of sexuality and LGBT representation.
It was criticized for being comparably short and "thematically empty", for its lack of development and its lack of gameplay including an underutilization of Daniel's powers, as well as the story not living up to the potential of the first episode's set-up.
- Steam
- Metacritic[3]
- Metro rated the episode 6/10.[5]
- Destructoid rated the episode 6.5/10.[6]
- Gamestop called it "great" with a rating of 8/10.[7]
- Goomba Stomp called it the potentially "best episode of any Life is Strange game yet" with a rating of 5/5.[8]
- Tilting Windmill Studios calls it "an excellent chapter in the Life is Strange 2 saga" with a rating of, 9.5/10.[9]
- Ulvespill gave the episode a 8.6/10. [10]
- ...
Achievements[]
There are nine achievements the player can earn on Steam, PlayStation or Xbox for finding collectibles or completing drawings.
 |
The Dharma Bums  15  Find optional collectible #1 in Episode 3 |
 |
Train Of Thought 15 Find optional collectible #2 in Episode 3 |
 |
Zero Hugs Given 15 Find optional collectible #3 in Episode 3 |
 |
Green Thumbs 15 Find optional collectible #4 in Episode 3 |
 |
Dancing Days 15 Find optional collectible #5 in Episode 3 |
 |
One Of Us 15 Find optional collectible #6 in Episode 3 |
 |
Lost Boys Chronicles 40  Find all optional collectibles in Episode 3 |
 |
Adrift 30 Finish Episode 3 |
 |
American Graffiti 30 Start any drawing in Episode 3 |
Trivia[]
- Prior to the release of Episode 3, there were several hints that Life is Strange 2 would involve teenage freight hoppers:
- During The Awesome Adventures of Captain Spirit, Chris Eriksen can come across an e-mail on his father's computer detailing accounts of "unruly teenage freight-hoppers" in the area.
- In an interview prior to the release of the game, Co-Creative Director Michel Koch revealed that one of his major inspirations for Life is Strange 2 was Mike Brodie, a photographer known for having train-hopped across the U.S.A. for four years while capturing images of the people he met along the way.[11]
- On April 30, an image appeared on the Microsoft Store's "Life is Strange 2 - Episode 2-5 Bundle" product page, which turned out to be the thumbnail of the Episode 3 trailer.[12]
- A QR code that can be found on Karen Reynolds' sports club membership card during the opening flashback in Episode 3 contains the words "work hard mustard big", which is the slogan of Hawt Dawg Man.
- This is the first episode in all of Life is Strange to feature explicit content.
- Dontnod claim that this episode, in particular, has the largest web of possible interactions they’ve ever enabled.[5]
Gallery[]
Concept Art[]
Promo Screenshots[]
_-1.png "Life is Strange 2 - Wastelands - Promo (downscaled) -1.png (7.93 MB)")
_-2.png "Life is Strange 2 - Wastelands - Promo (downscaled) -2.png (7.93 MB)")
_-3.png "Life is Strange 2 - Wastelands - Promo (downscaled) -3.png (7.93 MB)")
_-4.png "Life is Strange 2 - Wastelands - Promo (downscaled) -4.png (7.93 MB)")
_-5.png "Life is Strange 2 - Wastelands - Promo (downscaled) -5.png (7.93 MB)")
Early Reveals[]
Pre-release preview of pages from Sean's sketchbook covering events which take place between "Rules" and "Wastelands."[13][14]
Trailers[]
References[]
- ↑ Official Life is Strange Tumblr: "Episode 3: Wastelands will release May 9th. Episode 4 will..." (March 21, 2019)
- ↑ Square Enix Press Center - Life Is Strange 2 Episode 3 Trailer Revealed (April 4, 2019)
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Metacritic PS4
- ↑ OpenCritic
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 Life Is Strange 2 Episode 3 review – wasted in the wastelands (May 10, 2019)
- ↑ Review: Life is Strange 2: Episode 3: Wastelands (May 10, 2019)
- ↑ Life Is Strange 2: Episode 3 Review - Choosing Sides (May 9, 2019)
- ↑ ‘Life is Strange 2’ Episode 3 Review – “Wastelands”: A Serious Game Changer (May 11, 2019)
- ↑ Review – Life is Strange 2 Episode 3: Wastelands (PS4) (May 11, 2019)
- ↑ [1] (May 29, 2019)
- ↑ Life is Strange 2 Developers on Leaving Chloe and Max Behind - Gamescom 2018
- ↑ Reddit post by u/ash2003ton
- ↑ Official Twitter post (Images 1-4, April 30th, 2019, before the release of Episode 3)
- ↑ Official VK post(Images 5-7, May 7th, 2019, before the release of Episode 3)
Life is Strange Episodes
| |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Life is Strange | Chrysalis · Out of Time · Chaos · Dark Room · Polarized | ||||||
| Before The storm | Awake · Brave New World · Hell Is Empty | ||||||
| Life is strange 2 | Roads · Rules · Wasteland · Faith · Wolves | ||||||
| Life is Strange:True Colors | Side A · Lanterns · Monster or Mortal· Flicker · Side B | ||||||
| Additional stories | Farewell · The Awesome Adventures of Captain Spirit · Wavelengths | ||||||