When comparing Life is Strange: Before the Storm vs Super Hexagon, the Slant community recommends Super Hexagon for most people. In the question“What are the best singleplayer games on Steam?” Super Hexagon is ranked 26th while Life is Strange: Before the Storm is ranked 82nd. The most important reason people chose Super Hexagon is:
You will die, a lot, and that is the point. The game is challenging, but fair. It is as much about memorization as it is about precision of movement. This makes for a game that needs to be practiced, quite a bit, which should appeal to those who enjoy working for their achievements.
Specs
Ranked in these QuestionsQuestion Ranking
Pros
Pro Choices have consequences
Much like in the first game, Before the Storm features several choices throughout the game that have an impact on future plot points across the three episodes. How these choices end up impacting the ending are debatable, but there are still a myriad of choices that change the outcome of a single playthrough, such as Chloe's decision to handle certain sums of money, or whether or not she's willing to accept her mother's unlikable new boyfriend. Chloe and Rachel's interactions can also be limited to friendship or expanded into a romantic relationship through player choice.
Pro Improved writing over the first game
The original Life is Strange suffered from some instances of awkward lines that sounded like a middle-aged adult trying to emulate how teenagers speak; thankfully, Before the Storm has a much clearer, down-to-earth script that helps the characters sound more authentic and real. Rachel's use of "hella" is more amusing this time around, as it gives context as to why Chloe picked up on it and used it frequently in the first game. Overall, each of the characters in the game are more well-rounded across the three episodes thanks to the smooth writing.
Pro Great soundtrack
Daughter, the indie folk band from England, worked on the tracks for Before the Storm, pulling together many of the game's great moments with thoughtful acoustic tunes and moody piano tracks. The more upbeat, hopeful tracks fit in incredibly well with Chloe's adventurous scenes with Rachel, giving a sense of wonder as the two explore Arcadia Bay together. One song in particular, 'All I Wanted', is a memorable, catchy folk track that captures the feeling of Chloe and Rachel supporting one another through their struggles, which is what Life is Strange: Before the Storm is all about.
Pro Chloe is more likable this time
In the first Life is Strange, many players complained that Chloe was insufferable and selfish as Max's best friend, complaining in order to have more of her time when she might not have deserved it. This time around, watching the events of Before the Storm unfold from Chloe's eyes is enjoyable, largely thanks to how easygoing she is with Rachel--for the most part--and how far she's willing to go to sacrifice for her throughout the plot. Chloe makes dorky jokes that don't always land and back-talks school staff at Blackwell Academy with harmless ease, making her a much warmer, sillier character compared to her prickly, temperamental self in Max's adventure.
Pro Addictively challenging gameplay where "just one more game" is a constant
You will die, a lot, and that is the point. The game is challenging, but fair. It is as much about memorization as it is about precision of movement. This makes for a game that needs to be practiced, quite a bit, which should appeal to those who enjoy working for their achievements.
Pro Aggressive aesthetic that forces the player to adapt to succeed, which keeps the gameplay interesting
The visual design of the game consists of basic geometric shapes in bright colors that turn and blink, all while you are trying to stay focused on a little triangle in the middle. This can be distracting and is by design in order to try to trip up the player in their goal of continuing as long as they can.
Pro Great soundtrack that complements the gameplay perfectly
The soundtrack is done by BossFightSwe, who is very well known for their video game sounds.
Cons
Con Third episode falls flat in some areas
Life is Strange: Before the Storm is an all-around stand-out title, with the first and second episodes building up to an impactful third installment that feels lacking in certain aspects. Without getting into spoilers, there are a few plot holes that aren't wrapped up by the end, and much of the tension in the episode falls flat because of these glaring holes that none of the characters bother to address.
Con Feels more like a prologue to be played before the much better prequel
Con Limited exploration
With much of the focus on the storytelling, it's still unfortunate that Chloe can't leave the designated story areas without turning around and repeating the same line about how she's supposed to focus on her objective. The limited areas to walk around in are understandable, yet disappointing, with missed opportunities for Chloe to walk down the street from her home and see what her neighbors are up to, or for her and Rachel to hang out in more places around Arcadia Bay together.
Con May cause nausea
The fast spinning graphics could cause some people a bit of nausea.