The range of games that we can also enjoy on our Apple computers is constantly expanding, mainly thanks to the publishers from Feral Interactive, who are constantly supplying us with new additions to our game libraries. The latest venture that we will play on macOS precisely thanks to Feral is the fantastic story adventure Life is Strange: Before the Storm. The award-winning game is thus a year after its official release on PC and Xbox consoles One and PS4 also gets on apple computers. The fantastic addition to the well-known universe from the Square Enix workshop also made its way to our editorial office, where we tested it and compared it with versions for other platforms.
You could be interested in
If you are a fan of this series, you definitely know what to expect from the title. The Life is Strange universe almost immediately after its arrival became an icon of high-quality story adventures that force you to constantly reveal the next phase of the story. The game is therefore nothing new to me, as I paid attention to it practically right from the official launch and tried it on several game platforms. However, I did not have the opportunity to test it using a combination of mouse and keyboard, so this situation played perfectly into my hands. The following paragraphs will familiarize you with the story, with the rendering of the game on macOS, and especially with the quality elements that make this excelThe story has a story.
An atmospheric story that will win you over
As you may already know, in the game we will dive into the story in which the 16-year-old rebel Chloe Price will play the main role. During the story, we will meet another important protagonist, Rachel Amber, who is known to all fans of the first part. When Rachel learns about a hidden family secret, it is Chloe who gives her the strength and determination to continue. During the individual episodes, you identify with the main character, thanks to which you immerse yourself not only in the main idea of the game, but also in everyday practices, family and friendship relationships. In the skin of Chloe, you get to the core by constantly exploring based on the interaction with the surrounding environment, individual objects and people. The characteristic graphic processing is complemented by a perfect soundtrack, which will not tire you even after several rounds of the title. All episodes (along with the bonus Farewell episode) are constructed in a very emotional way, thanks to which you get into the story much deeper than in the case of classic story adventures.
In the game, you will meet the main character Chloe, as well as other characters throughout the story.
There are also references to other pop-culture elements in the game minigames or diversions from the main story. If you get tired of overcoming the primary storyline for a while, you can still have fun looking for various references in the form of "easter eggs" to other game titles and not only within this series. All events (or at least most) are completely tied to the further development of the game, so it is necessary to think carefully about your next steps and take all the facts into account.
Why play a game on a Mac?
I personally played the game on several platforms, but the macOS version impressed me the most. As a console player, I prefer control with a gamepad, but in this case I'm very happy to make an exception. The game is perfectly adapted for control like s trackpadom, so also with the help Magic Mouse 2. Of course, there is no need to comment on the adaptation for higher-order gaming mice. However, do not forget to adjust the intensity of the mouse movement speed, as the preset option is (at least for my taste) very slow and in some cases you will be waving the mouse around head and neck unnecessarily. Despite the fact that in the case of games from the Life is Strange universe, it is not a graphical experience like other leading AAA titles, the rendering of colors is very solid and the overall processing has an attractive and interesting impression. If you prefer to play with a game controller, don't forget to change this option in the menu.
The game also includes interactions with surrounding objects, based on which a large amount of information about the story can be learned.
Verdict
If you are not familiar with the Life is Strange universe and are planning to join this adventure carousel, now is the right time. With the recent arrival of Life is Strange: Before the Storm, the offer of titles immediately expands to a pair of representatives of the universe, as in App Store (or on official website of Feral Interactive) you can also find the original Life is Strange game. The addition in the form of The Awesome Adventures of Captain Spirit is still missing on Macs, but that could change over time. At the moment, however, we can witness the gradual release of episodes of Life is Strange 2, which, according to the current scenario, should appear on macOS during the next year. This adaptation was announced just a week ago by the Feral group.
Before the Storm is not the latest effort, but thanks to the optimization for Mac, fans are offered a new opportunity for a unique gaming experience. There are few games on the Apple platform that stand out with a similar atmosphere and engaging story as the Life is Strange series. Perfect control, an intuitive interface and, above all, a decent amount of breathtaking plot will serve every serious gamer, as well as the occasional player, plenty of fun. Therefore, do not hesitate and try this top adventure pilgrimage yourself.
You can enjoy Life is Strange: Before the Storm on the following Macs:
- Mac Mini 2014 and newer
- 13" MacBook Pro 2013 and newer
- 15" MacBook Pro 2012 with a 1GB graphics card and newer
- (2015 models with AMD 370X are not supported)
- 21.5″ iMac 2013 and later
- 27″ iMac 2013 and later
- (2012 models with Nvidia 675 or Nvidia 680 cards are also supported)
- 27" iMac Pro 2017
- Mac Pro 2013 and newer
