Michael Davis
In Life is Strange 2, players embark on a journey with Sean and Daniel Diaz, two brothers who are forced to leave home and travel to Mexico following a tragic incident. Along the way, they adopt a puppy named Mushroom, who quickly becomes a beloved companion, especially to Daniel. However, the joy is short-lived as Mushroom meets an untimely end, sparking a debate among players: Could you have saved Mushroom? While some argue that the writers included Mushroom without a clear narrative purpose, her presence adds an emotional layer to the story, and her death serves as a pivotal moment in the game, impacting the brothers' journey and Daniel's powers.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Game | Life is Strange 2 |
| Developer | DONTNOD Entertainment |
| Publisher | Square Enix |
| Platforms | PC, PlayStation, Xbox, Nintendo Switch |
| Characters | Sean Diaz, Daniel Diaz, Mushroom |
| Mushroom's Appearance | White fur with brown spots and a brown and white head |
| Narrative Choice | Sean and Daniel decide whether to keep Mushroom or not |
| Outcome | Mushroom dies, killed by a wild cougar |
| Player Reaction | Surprise, sadness, and criticism of the narrative choice |
| Narrative Impact | Affects Daniel's powers and how people react to them |
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What You'll Learn
The death of Mushroom was predictable
The death of Mushroom, a defenceless puppy, in Life is Strange was indeed predictable. While the way in which she died was a shock, her death was not. Mushroom's death was important for the development of Daniel's character and his powers. It was also a convenient way for the writers to rid themselves of a character they didn't have plans for.
Mushroom's death was foreshadowed from the moment Daniel agreed to keep her. It didn't make sense for two boys, already struggling to find food, to take on the responsibility of a dog. One player even commented that they saw it as a poor attempt to wring out real emotion from players. The writers may have wanted to evoke a sense of guilt in players, in addition to sadness, by killing off a "problem dog".
The death of a dog is a common trope in storytelling, and it is often used to evoke strong emotions from the audience. Mushroom's death was also likely a narrative device to create character development for Sean, as he had to decide whether to use his powers or not. It is also possible that the writers included Mushroom without any real narrative motivation and didn't want to deal with the added complexity of having a dog with the group for the rest of the game.
The death of Mushroom so early in the game may have been a practical decision by the developers. It would have been challenging to animate and script a dog throughout the game, especially if its presence depended on choices made by players.
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The death was a cheap and nasty plot device
The death of Mushroom in Life is Strange 2 has been criticised by some players as a cheap and nasty plot device. The game, developed by Dontnod Entertainment, follows two brothers, Sean and Daniel Diaz, who are on the run and already facing numerous challenges. In the first episode, the boys adopt a puppy, Mushroom, who is killed by a wild cougar in the second episode.
Some players have argued that the death of Mushroom was unnecessarily early in the game and served only to manipulate the players' emotions. One player suggested that the writers introduced Mushroom without any real narrative motivation and that her death was a lazy attempt to evoke sadness and create character development for Sean and his decision to use his powers or not. Another player commented that they saw Mushroom's death coming and that it felt like a poor attempt to wring out real emotion from players.
The way in which Mushroom died has also been criticised as being too extreme and shocking. Players have described the scene as bloody and transparent manipulation. One player pointed out that while the death of a pet is a common trope, the sudden and violent nature of Mushroom's death by a wild cougar was rare and extreme. It has been suggested that the writers wanted to catch players unaware and evoke strong emotions, but this approach may have backfired for some, leaving them feeling unsatisfied and manipulated.
Additionally, some players felt that Mushroom's death could have been avoided if the writers had given her more personality and narrative significance. One player suggested that if Mushroom had become a "problem dog" or a hindrance to the brothers' fugitive lifestyle, her death would have carried more emotional weight and complexity. Instead, her death felt like a blunt and straightforward way to evoke sadness, without exploring more nuanced emotions or character development.
While the death of Mushroom has impacted players and contributed to the narrative, it is understandable why some may view it as a cheap and nasty plot device. The early and extreme nature of her death, coupled with the feeling of being led down an obvious emotional path, has left some players feeling dissatisfied and critical of the writers' choices.
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The death was emotionally manipulative
The death of Mushroom in Life is Strange 2 has been criticised by players as being emotionally manipulative. The game is centred around the story of two brothers, Sean and Daniel Diaz, who are on the run and already facing a host of challenges. In the first episode, the brothers adopt a puppy, Mushroom, who is portrayed as innocent, harmless, and cute. However, in the second episode, Mushroom is killed by a wild cougar, and her death serves as an emotional turning point in the narrative.
The way in which Mushroom's death was handled by the game developers, Dontnod Entertainment, has been described as a "poor attempt to wring out real emotion from players". Players expected that the death of a beloved pet would evoke strong emotions, but the execution fell flat for some. The death was abrupt and shocking, and some players felt that it was included purely to evoke a strong emotional response, rather than serving a deeper narrative purpose. One player commented that they "sat there straight-faced like a damn sociopath" after Mushroom's death, indicating that they did not feel the emotional impact that the developers might have intended.
The timing of Mushroom's death has also been criticised as being too early in the game. Players suggested that if Mushroom had been developed as a more complex character over several episodes, her death would have had a more profound impact. By killing her off so early, the developers may have missed an opportunity to explore the brothers' relationship with Mushroom in more depth and create a more meaningful emotional arc for the players.
Additionally, some players felt that the death was predictable and followed a common trope in storytelling. The "soon-to-be-dead animal companion" trope is often used to evoke sadness and sympathy from the audience. In this case, players suspected that Mushroom was included in the game solely to be killed off for emotional impact, rather than serving a more integral role in the narrative. This predictability may have diminished the emotional impact that the developers were aiming for.
While the death of Mushroom did evoke emotions from players, it appears that the execution could have been improved to create a more meaningful and impactful experience. The criticism highlights the challenges of incorporating emotional storylines in video games and the potential pitfalls of relying on predictable tropes to manipulate players' emotions.
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The death lacked meaning
The death of Mushroom in Life is Strange 2 has been criticised by some players for lacking meaning. The writers introduced Mushroom at the end of the first episode, only to kill her off at the beginning of the second. This has been interpreted as a cheap attempt to elicit an emotional response from players, particularly as Mushroom was a defenceless puppy with no real character development or narrative purpose.
One player suggests that the writers included Mushroom without any real narrative motivation and that her character would have been more meaningful if Sean's answers had prompted Daniel to steal her or not. This would have added complexity to the decision and given players a sense of agency. Instead, Mushroom's death felt like a manipulative attempt to make players feel sad.
Another player points out that the death of a pet is a common trope, but the sudden and violent nature of Mushroom's death by cougar was extreme and obvious in its emotional string-pulling. If Mushroom had become a "problem dog", her death might have elicited more complex emotions, such as relief or guilt, in addition to sadness.
Some players have also suggested that the writers could have written Mushroom out of the story in a more humane way, such as by taking her to an animal shelter after a close encounter with the cougar. This would have allowed players the option to save her and given her death more meaning. Overall, while the death of a puppy is tragic, the lack of character development and sudden nature of Mushroom's death may have diminished its impact on players.
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The death was poorly executed
The death of Mushroom in Life is Strange 2 has been criticised by players for being poorly executed. The game follows two brothers, Sean and Daniel Diaz, who are on the run and take in a puppy, Mushroom. In a tragic turn of events, Mushroom is killed by a wild cougar early in the game.
Many players have expressed disappointment and frustration with the way Mushroom's death was handled. One of the main criticisms is that it felt like a cheap attempt to evoke emotions from the players. The death of a cute and innocent puppy is an obvious ploy to make players sad, and some have called it "manipulative". The sudden and violent nature of Mushroom's death, being mauled by a cougar, has also been described as shocking and extreme.
Additionally, players felt that they didn't have enough time to get to know Mushroom before she died. As a result, her death lacked the emotional impact that the writers may have intended. Players suggested that if Mushroom had been given more time to develop as a character and form deeper connections with the brothers, her death would have been more meaningful and impactful.
The predictability of Mushroom's death also contributed to its poor execution. Players saw it coming as soon as the brothers took her in, knowing that a puppy in a dangerous situation was unlikely to survive. This predictability made the emotional beat feel contrived and cliché.
Some players have also suggested that the writers introduced Mushroom without a clear narrative purpose. They speculate that the writers may have struggled to incorporate a dog into the story, especially one that players might not choose to keep. As a result, Mushroom's death felt like a convenient way to remove her from the narrative rather than a meaningful plot point.
Overall, while the death of Mushroom was intended to evoke emotion and impact the story, many players felt that it was poorly executed due to its predictability, lack of character development, and apparent convenience for the writers.
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Frequently asked questions
No, Mushroom is killed by a wild cougar in Episode 2 of Life is Strange 2.
Some players have speculated that the writers of the game included Mushroom without any real narrative motivation and killed her off to evoke emotions from players.
Mushroom is killed by a wild cougar while the Diaz brothers, Sean and Daniel, are on their way to their grandparents' house.
