As the game progresses you begin to learn Alex’s colour associations, knowing what a character is feeling at just a glance. Something that, as a synaesthete, I can strongly relate to in real life. I was surprised to learn the events of the game take place in Spring, as the warmth of the town conjures such strong associations with Autumn, the whole place looks as though it’s been filtered through a pumpkin spice latte.Īs the name of the game suggests, colour is such an important part of the experience. The zen moments last as long as you need them to, providing a space within the game to digest, think and feel at peace. The game also builds in zen moments, where Alex will settle into a spot, briefly reflect on her thoughts, and absorb the present. Again, it didn’t use shortcuts or generic traits to show characters’ suffering, it dug much deeper, exploring the complexities of emotion, and how moods cannot be changed in a flash. What I appreciated most was the honesty with which True Colors portrayed wellbeing and mental illness. In fact, the main menu offers a link to help for anyone struggling with the themes explored in the game. The game addresses the subject of mental health with a great deal of care. Do I let her express her anger or do I try to calm her down? What long term impact will my decision have? Although I knew this was a game with no real-life consequences, I carefully considered the wording of my support, and where to focus the conversation.
#COLOR ZEN REFLECTION HOW TO#
This was a moving moment for me, as I navigated the decisions of how to help someone in such a distressed place. We feel more intensely when our emotions are contradictory to one another - hatred becomes more intense when spiked with love.
If the game makes you sit back and reflect at all, then it has made the world that little bit better. Life is Strange: True Colors is for anyone who wants to connect on a deeper emotional level and explore the impact our choices have on others.
I found myself much more willing to take conversational risks as Alex than I would in my own life, perhaps this method of roleplaying allows the mind to experience discomfort and catharsis in a controlled environment, strengthening the player’s overall sense of empathy for others. If you get confrontational, you might get closer to the truth, but you’ll suffer the devastation of being disruptive. If you choose to people please, you’ll protect your own wellbeing, but pass on the chance of an honest conversation. The choices sometimes challenge your own sense of virtue and ideology. Although we can’t redo our choices in real life, thinking about the impact of our actions and the influence we have is valuable to our growth and understanding of ourselves.
#COLOR ZEN REFLECTION SERIES#
The exploration of ‘what if’ that has been central to the Life is Strange series so far, providing a space for reflection and assessment of choice. And if, like me, you wonder if you made the right choice, you have the option to replay the chapters and explore different actions. If something could pop up and tell me ‘this action will have consequences’ in real life, I might be a much more virtuous person! None-the-less, I found myself taking it very seriously and making truly informed choices based on my feelings toward a situation.
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