Double Exposure remake idea - "Life is Strange: Shadows and Spirits"
@thealexchen @nicefieldsfm
Here is my idea for how I would rewrite Double Exposure and rename it to Shadows and Spirits, but more fully detailed after putting a lot more thought into what I originally mentioned before;
Have an original as the protagonist like all the other games, and also make their artistic talent scrap-booking. The new protagonist's name, Nina Balthazar, a girl born in Boston, Massachusetts, primarily English descent with some French and Irish and moved to Vermont after high school. Her spirit animal, Tiger. A "Chaotic Good" type, has a mix of charm and grit. Someone deeply creative and a sense of humor, but with a sharp edge, isn't afraid to speak her mind or throw hands if push comes to shove, and with a backstory of not wanting anyone to see her vulnerable like she was years ago after some bad bullying experiences where she has violently lashed out before. Instantly clicks with Moses Murphy, looks up to Gwen Hunter, wary of Loretta Rice and her friendship with Diamond Washington is determinant.
Customization: Before each episode begins, you get to decide on the top and bottom for being indoors. The jacket and (optional) beanie for being outdoors, as well as the decorations on Nina's bag with more that can be found around Caledon University.
Max Caulfield can still be there as a teacher/artist in residence at Caledon. Her introduction comes after the prologue when Nina enters the classroom. In a moment where Nina's lost in her thoughts, there's a flash and click of a camera where see spots Max standing at the door capturing a candid moment with her Polaroid.
The power: Umbrakinesis (Control shadows and manipulate them in ways that can get you pass obstacles, obtain or move things out of reach, be stealthy in creative ways and be a lethal force of nature). The plot would be adjusted accordingly so that the power can be used to solve puzzles and progress in the story.
The collectibles would be photographs and newspaper clippings that Nina can find for her to add into her scrapbook and then decide on what to write next to them.
The romance choices: I would still have Amanda and Vinh be an option, but also have their characters further explored so we can get more time to bond with them and also have an option to reveal the power to them at some point. Whoever you choose can lead to different ways to progress.
Music: The one music artist I would have as the main focus is Koethe Koethe, who has made plenty of Life is Strange inspired songs, and at least one Moment of Calm spot to use the song At a Glace by Message to Bears.
EPISODE 1: Shadow Awakening
EPISODE 2: Spirits of the Past
EPISODE 3: Fear in the Dark
EPISODE 5: Into the Abyss
Each episode with 4-5 major choices that can impact relationships, power usage or Nina’s morality in whether or not she can be more open or more guarded, and 8 minor choices that can be made around campus that affect character interactions, environmental changes, or smaller consequences. The final episode only having one major choice. The story ending in three different ways based on your choices and how you use your power.
The main conflict: A supernatural mystery revolving around Maya Okada, a student who suffered a tragic fate tied to Caledon University. Her spirit, and others, manifests as shadowy disturbances, and Nina’s power over shadows becomes the key to both uncovering the truth and putting Maya’s spirit to rest.
The main moment where Nina's power is triggered for the first time is when she's in the library late at night, working on a scrap-booking project. Nina stumbles upon an old, cryptic note or journal entry tied to Maya Okada’s death, hidden in the library. The message reading, "They silenced her, but the shadows remember." And when she tries to leave, Nina crosses paths with bullies that are heavily drunk just outside of the building, and they start harassing her to the point they try to grab her scrapbook, the confrontation turning more aggressive. In that moment of raw anger and fear, the streetlights go out, and an unnatural chill fills the air. Shadows in the environment begin to shift and twist unnaturally, coiling around Nina protectively. Without realizing it, she uses her Umbrakinesis for the first time.
A choice is to be made in this moment, using her power to either Make Them Hurt to use her power that constricts and twist their limbs before she then throws bullies across the sidewalk, or Terrorize Them to frighten them into fleeing. The consequences for the following day; If they were left unharmed, their claims of what they had seen last night can be dismissed as hallucinations due to them being heavily inebriated. If they were injured, this could lead to more suspicion towards Nina and she'd have to choose her words in how to deflect it.
As Nina begins to learn more about this power, and debates on experimenting with it with plenty of opportunities to, she also begins to see Maya’s spirit in the shadows that Nina can see and talk to and use her power to connect with her shadow and manifest her into a visible ghost. Maya is not immediately hostile and Nina continues to find cryptic clues, like Maya leading her to hidden places or Nina using her power to reach out to other spirits that trigger visions of Maya’s past life. Their relationship evolves from fear to trust as Nina realizes Maya isn’t evil but deeply hurt.
When Max accidentally bares witness to Nina's power without her realizing she's there, Max immediately recognizes there's someone else with powers like her and then tells Nina they need to talk as she has her meet in the Hellerton House. From there, they have a heart-to-heart discussion about Nina's powers, and also Max's rewind powers, leading to Max sharing her experiences with rewinding time, and the impossible choice she had to make back in Arcadia Bay. Their discussion leads to Max becoming Nina's mentor in helping her understanding and controlling her power, and how she can use them. Max's gentle, thoughtful demeanor could contrast Nina’s fiery personality, creating a mentor-student dynamic type of relationship. Max’s photography could intertwine with Nina’s scrap-booking for them to collaborate on a project as Max subtly warns Nina about the costs of using her power. - "With great power, comes great bullshit."
Additionally for Chloe Price, depending on the first game's ending, she could also have a place to work at Caledon in a metal workshop, creating commissioned metal sculptures. Chloe can also be there to provide her own support and hella commentary with Max and Nina. Or alternatively, Chloe would be absent with Nina able to find some stuff lying around connecting to Arcadia Bay, including a photo of Chloe.
Throughout the game, there would be moments where Nina can bond more with Max and place more trust in her, strengthening their relationship. Or Nina can act dismissive and guarded, thinking that she can figure things out herself, thus creating tension and slower trust-building between them. And if Chloe is there, depending on how you interact with Max, Chloe can be friendly towards Nina and more open, or confrontational and wary with Nina pushing Max away when she's trying to help.
The antagonist, Dr. Elias Castor: Maya’s advisor whom she trusted and confided in, but exploited her vulnerability to advance his own research on fear and human behavior. Now, I very much still have my heart set on a proper antagonist who also has a power and truly believe it can work if utilized properly. The way I would go about it is; the power of illusion to control others' fears, can reach out to see what people fear most and then manipulate everything they see and feel as a physical force. Castor’s power gives him control to manipulate what he wants others to see and feel, amplify fear in others, paralyzing them or forcing them to relive their darkest moments. So when Maya threatened to expose him, he used his power to drive her into despair, leading to her tragic death. And now sees Nina (and Max) as his next “subjects”. Dr. Castor can serve as a dark mirror to Nina, representing what she could become if she lets her power consume her and not listen to Max.
Detective Vince Alderman is also there doing his own investigation in the weird events occurring in Caledon, as well as the supposed fight that happened when Nina first used her power, and Dr. Castor discreetly uses Detective Alderman to make things difficult for Nina when she closes in on what really happened to Maya as she navigates the fine line between justice and vengeance when trying to solve the mystery.
After two episodes of subtle manipulation, strange happenings, and moments of doubt, Dr. Castor’s power is revealed during a climatic confrontation near the end of of the third episode. Whether or not Nina tries to use her shadows to confront him, she will then be completely overpowered when he turns her own fears against her in an illusion by his design.
The doctor leans down after subduing her and delivers the chilling line: "You think you're the only one gifted with a special power?" This sets the stage for a battle of wits and strategy as he leaves the room, leaving Nina to use her power of shadows to feel her way through and break out of the illusion trap.
The penultimate would revolve around the relationships built up to this point in who can be trusted and help give Maya's spirit closure and bring down Dr. Castor, and even express her feelings to either Amanda or Vinh wanting to pursue a relationship. Or if you chose to remain guarded and closed off, this would make things a bit more difficult with just Nina and Maya to handle things on their own.
The climax pits Nina against the mad doctor in a full-blown psychological warfare, where both are in an illusion created by Dr. Castor and Nina's control over shadows clashes with his control of her fears. Maya’s spirit could play an important role, either empowering Nina's shadows or distracting Dr. Castor. In the end, when Nina finally has him subdued with her shadows, the player faces a crucial final choice:
Spare Castor's life to expose his crimes, bringing him to justice and giving Maya closure
Use Nina’s power to pierce Castor's heart, crossing a moral line, but ending the threat permanently
And that's it. Hope that you all like this idea.
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