Emily Johnson
In Life is Strange 2, Sean and Daniel Diaz adopt a dog named Mushroom. She is described as excitable and friendly, with brown and white fur and a red neckerchief. However, her presence in the game is short-lived as she meets an untimely end in Episode 2. The player must make a difficult choice regarding Mushroom's death, which has sparked debate among players. Some criticize the narrative decision to kill Mushroom, while others reflect on the emotional impact of the scene. Ultimately, the inclusion of Mushroom in Life is Strange 2, despite her brief appearance, has left a lasting impression on players.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name of the game | Life is Strange 2 |
| Developer | Don't Nod and Deck Nine Games |
| Publisher | Square Enix |
| Genre | Heavily story-driven narrative game |
| Type of narrative | Affected by player choices |
| Character | Mushroom, a dog |
| Description | Easily excitable and friendly |
| Colour | White fur with brown spots and a brown head with a prominent white stripe |
| Accessories | Red neckerchief/bandana given by Brody Holloway |
| Fate | Killed by a wild cougar |
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What You'll Learn
Sean and Daniel Diaz adopt Mushroom, a friendly pup
Mushroom is an easily excitable and friendly dog who quickly becomes attached to Daniel. She enjoys playing fetch and spending time with him. Daniel keeps Mushroom close to him, even when watching TV and taking a bath. He also puts a red bandanna, given to him by Brody, around Mushroom's neck, which she wears for the rest of their time together.
However, their time with Mushroom is cut short when she is killed by a wild cougar. As Sean and Daniel are about to embark on their journey to their grandparents' house, they notice that Mushroom is missing. Sean finds her bandanna lying in the snow and follows a trail of blood, leading him to discover Mushroom's lifeless body. The brothers either bury Mushroom or create an empty monument before continuing their journey.
The death of Mushroom affects the brothers deeply, and it is a significant moment in the game, impacting the narrative and character development. It also leaves a lasting impression on players, with some expressing their emotional response to the event and discussing the writers' choices.
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Mushroom's death by a wild cougar
In Life is Strange 2, Episode 2, Mushroom, the dog that belongs to the two main characters, Sean and Daniel, is killed by a wild cougar. The cougar takes Mushroom's body with it, leaving the brothers devastated and unable to bury her. This event has a significant impact on the brothers, particularly Daniel, who is already struggling with his powers.
The death of Mushroom is a highly emotional moment in the game, with some players expressing that it deeply affected them. The writers may have included this moment to evoke a strong emotional response from players and to facilitate character development for Sean and Daniel.
The game offers players choices that can impact the narrative, including the option to let Daniel kill the cougar with his telekinetic powers. If players choose this option, Sean can retrieve Mushroom's body, and the brothers get to bury her. Daniel finds solace in this opportunity to give his dog a proper burial. However, Daniel's act of killing the cougar can also lead to consequences, such as a slight reduction in Sean's romance score with Cassidy and Finn, who disapprove of the action.
Alternatively, if players do not intervene and let the cougar live, it will drag Mushroom's body away, leaving Daniel distraught and unable to bury his dog. This choice can influence Daniel's belief in heaven, as he tells his snowmen that they are "in charge of the House Mushroom" and later agrees to pray with Claire, finding comfort in the idea that Mushroom is in heaven with her deceased dog.
The death of Mushroom in Life is Strange 2 is a pivotal moment that highlights the unpredictable and emotionally charged nature of the game's narrative. It showcases the impact of player choices and how they can shape the brothers' journey and emotional arc throughout the game.
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The player's choice: avenge Mushroom or let the cougar flee
In Life is Strange 2, players are faced with a difficult decision following the death of Mushroom, a dog taken in by Sean and Daniel Diaz. Mushroom is killed by a wild cougar, and the player, as Sean, must choose whether to let Daniel avenge Mushroom by killing the cougar, or to stop him, allowing the cougar to escape with Mushroom's body.
Mushroom is introduced early in the game when Daniel brings her into Brody's car, and the player, as Sean, reluctantly agrees to keep her. Mushroom quickly becomes a beloved companion, with a distinctive appearance including a red neckerchief given to her by Brody Holloway. However, her presence in the game is short-lived, as she is killed by a cougar in a tragic and emotional scene.
The player's choice in how to respond to Mushroom's death can significantly impact the narrative and the development of the characters. If the player chooses to let Daniel avenge Mushroom, it can be seen as a way to obtain justice and protect his younger brother from further harm. Sean's interference in this scenario may be motivated by a desire to prevent Daniel from experiencing further trauma or from acting out of anger and grief.
On the other hand, allowing the cougar to flee with Mushroom's body can be interpreted as a more peaceful resolution. It may reflect Sean's understanding of the natural order, his reluctance to condone violence, or his recognition that the cougar was acting out of instinct. This choice can also be seen as an act of mercy, sparing Daniel from taking a life, even that of a wild animal.
The impact of this decision extends beyond the immediate scene. Depending on the player's choice, Sean and Daniel either bury Mushroom or create an empty monument before continuing their journey to their grandparents' house. This choice can shape how the brothers process their grief and how they view their ability to protect each other and themselves in a hostile world.
The death of Mushroom and the subsequent player choice in Life is Strange 2 highlight the game's focus on emotional, narrative-driven gameplay. It presents a complex ethical dilemma that challenges the player to weigh the value of revenge, justice, and protection against the potential consequences for the characters' emotional well-being and their relationship.
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Burying Mushroom or creating an empty monument
In Life is Strange 2, players can choose to bury Mushroom or create an empty monument after her death. Mushroom is a dog that Sean and Daniel Diaz take in at the beginning of their journey. She is friendly and excitable, quickly growing attached to Daniel, who names her and spends the most time with her.
Mushroom's death occurs early in the game, killed by a wild cougar. Sean and Daniel discover her body, with Sean given the choice of how to proceed. If Sean chooses to let Daniel avenge Mushroom's death, he will kill the cougar. The brothers then bury Mushroom before they set off to their grandparent's house. Alternatively, Sean can interfere with Daniel, causing the cougar to flee with Mushroom's body. In this case, the brothers create an empty monument before leaving.
The death of Mushroom and the subsequent choice presented to the player is an example of the story-driven narrative style of the Life is Strange series, where player choices affect the outcome of the game. Some players have criticised the inclusion of Mushroom's death, arguing that it was a cheap attempt to evoke emotion from players and that it would have been more humane to write her out in a different way. However, others have defended it as a meaningful moment in the game, with the choice of how to respond to her death providing an opportunity for character development.
The colour red is strongly associated with death in the Life is Strange games, and this is reflected in Mushroom's story. She wears a red bandana given to her by Brody Holloway, which she loses after being killed by the cougar. This bandana is later found by Sean, along with a trail of blood, as he searches for Mushroom with Daniel.
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The colour red symbolising death
In the second episode of Life is Strange 2, players are faced with the death of Mushroom, the dog they had the option to adopt. This narrative twist has been the subject of much discussion, with some players expressing their emotional response to the event and others critiquing it as a cheap ploy to elicit an emotional response.
Now, onto the topic of the colour red symbolising death. While black is widely recognised as the traditional colour of mourning, other colours like red hold significant meanings in different cultures. Red, a colour often associated with passion, vitality, and celebration, also carries a unique significance in mourning traditions around the world.
In certain Asian cultures, such as in South Korea and parts of India, red symbolises the journey from life to death. During funeral ceremonies in South Korea, the presence of red is believed to offer protection against malevolent spirits. In some Indian communities, widows may choose to wear red saris instead of white ones. This represents the soul's passage from the vibrant nature of earthly life to the transcendence into the spiritual realm.
In fictional contexts, such as in the worldbuilding discussion on Reddit, various cultures and their mourning colours are imagined. In one example, a nation headed by a goddess of war uses deep red and silver as mourning colours, representing the soldier's blood and weaponry. In another fictional culture, the Tenge, who acquired their empire through bloody conquest, wear red to symbolise death in combat, whether literal or metaphorical.
The colour red, in both real-world cultures and fictional contexts, can thus symbolise death and mourning. It captures the emotional intensity of grief, the transcendence of the soul, and the remembrance of those who have passed away.
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Frequently asked questions
Mushroom is a friendly dog that Sean and Daniel Diaz took in from Bear Station.
Mushroom is killed by a wild cougar.
Mushroom dies in Episode 2 of Life is Strange 2.
No, Mushroom's death is a pivotal moment in the game and cannot be prevented.
Many players were upset by Mushroom's death, with some calling it "cheap and nasty". Others felt that it was predictable and did not evoke the intended emotional response.
