You are given some backstory for why he became the way he is, but that comes so late in the game, it’s basically pointless exposition. Sam is a morose, depressed man, but not one you feel sympathy for. A lot of that has to do with the fact that the characters you spend the most time with are not enjoyable to be around. Unfortunately, the story doesn’t come together, and the mystery fails to engage. Having already dipped their toes into the world of small-town murder mysteries, I expected Dontnod to deliver on this end. Is this just a case of Sam’s overactive mind reading into things? In order to make things right, both to Nick’s friends and family and his own conscience, he is going to need to poke around Basswood to make sure. What he wasn’t planning on getting into, though, was an investigation into the seemingly shady way Nick died. All he needs to do is get in and out of the local tavern, deal with the residents who blame him for the loss of their jobs, and make amends with the numerous people he hurt when he skipped town.
Unfortunately, Nick has passed, and it’s only right that Sam returns to pay his respects. If it wasn’t for the fact that his estranged best friend just passed away, he would have never returned. For Sam Higgs, the town is nothing but a place of bad memories and broken dreams. However, while both conjure up similar feelings, their stories are quite different. It’s hard not to think of Arcadia Bay when you get your first glimpse at the town of Basswood. A scenic view of a small town bathed in the rays of the sun. The opening moments of Twin Mirror will feel familiar to those who have played the first Life is Strange. Was this just a case of the studio taking their time to get it right? Or a sign of a rocky development?
However, the title’s drawn-out release came to be a concern. So when Twin Mirror was unveiled back in 2018, I was instantly intrigued. They’re a team that doesn’t shy away from being off-kilter, and every project of theirs immediately gets my attention. The Paris-based studio has crafted some of my favorite titles, specifically, the Life is Strange series and this year’s Tell Me Why. If there was one developer I grew to love this generation, it would be Dontnod.