Life is Strange: Double Exposure – How to Unlock Vinh’s Phone and Discover His Secrets
Key Takeaways:
- Unlocking Vinh’s phone is a crucial step – In Life is Strange: Double Exposure, finding the passcode is essential to progressing the storyline and unravelling Safi’s murder mystery.
- Dimension hopping is key – Max uses her unique powers to switch between the Living and Dead Worlds, helping to gather clues and uncover hidden details.
- The phone passcode is tied to history – Solving the puzzle requires knowledge of Jack Parsons, a historical figure, and his death year to unlock the phone.
In Life is Strange: Double Exposure, Max Caulfield is once again in the middle of a mystery, this time trying to uncover the truth behind Safi’s murder. One of the critical steps in the investigation is unlocking Vinh’s phone. Vinh has been acting suspiciously, and Max believes the secrets on his phone might hold vital clues.
But here’s the challenge Vinh doesn’t remember his phone passcode because of a wild night of drinking. Thankfully, Max has her trusty dimension-hopping abilities, which allow her to access both the Living and Dead Worlds, helping her to solve puzzles that most people wouldn’t be able to figure out. Let’s dive into the step-by-step process of unlocking Vinh’s phone without using his favor, and discover what he’s hiding.
The Mysterious Puzzle of Vinh’s Phone
Vinh becomes one of Max’s prime suspects early in Chapter 2 of Life is Strange: Double Exposure. His suspicious behaviour around his phone, combined with his inability to remember the passcode, raises a red flag. Max suspects that whatever’s on his phone might lead her closer to the truth about Safi’s death.
The phone passcode puzzle is a unique challenge that requires a bit of detective work and dimension-hopping. Here’s how you can unlock the phone and move forward in your investigation.
Step 1: Speak with Vinh in the Living World
You’ll first encounter Vinh in the quad after leaving the bar at the beginning of Chapter 2. He’s visibly anxious because he thinks his phone has been stolen by Diamond, another character involved in the story. After a quick conversation with Diamond, and some eavesdropping on nearby Abraxas members, Max learns that Diamond doesn’t have the phone.
Vinh later tells Max that she can find him in his office in the Fine Arts Building. At this point, it’s time to explore some of the other missions available in the game until Vinh returns to his office.
Step 2: Return to Vinh’s Office
Once you’ve completed the necessary tasks, head back to Vinh’s office in the administration building. You’ll find him sitting there, clearly hungover, and once again, acting suspiciously about his phone. He’s forgotten his passcode but gives Max a cryptic clue: the code is connected to the year a certain “magician scientist” died.
At this point, you might be scratching your head, but don’t worry Max has an idea of who this scientist is.
How to Unlock Vinh’s Phone Without Using His Favour
Now that you have a clue about the passcode’s link to a “magician scientist,” it’s time to put Max’s dimension-hopping powers to good use.
Step 3: Transition to the Dead World
In true Life is Strange fashion, Max can shift between different realities. Use this ability to transition to the Dead World and visit Vinh’s office in this alternate timeline. Here, you’ll find Vinh lounging on the couch, drink in hand, and still very hungover. He’s not much help in this world either, but if you speak to him, he’ll drop a vital piece of information: the name of the scientist, Jack Parsons.
If you completed a side mission earlier where you returned a package to Vinh, he might owe you a favor. At this point, you can cash it in and simply ask for the passcode directly. But if you’d prefer to save that favor for later, or if you didn’t complete the package mission, you’ll need to figure out the rest of the puzzle on your own.
Step 4: Find the Year Jack Parsons Died
Armed with the name “Jack Parsons,” it’s time to head to the library. This part of the game involves a bit of exploration. In the Living World, the library is located near the Fine Arts Building, close to where you helped Gwen unlock the bookcase earlier.
Once inside the library, look for a book on the History of the Occult, which is located on the shelves next to the fireplace. Skim through it, and you’ll discover that Jack Parsons, the magician scientist, died in 1952.
Using the Passcode to Unlock Vinh’s Phone
Now that you have the critical information, it’s time to return to the Living World and head back to Vinh’s office. When you get there, you’ll notice that Vinh is no longer present, but fortunately, his phone is still lying on the desk, waiting to be unlocked.
Select the option to “Snoop,” and use the passcode 1952 to unlock the phone. Once inside, Max will uncover some important information that pushes her closer to solving the mystery of who murdered Safi.
Should You Use Vinh’s Favour to Get the Passcode?
Earlier in the game, if you helped Vinh by returning a package, he owes you a favor. You could use this favor to simply ask him for the passcode to his phone, which would save you the trouble of finding the information yourself.
However, using the favor here might not be the best strategic move. Saving it for a more critical moment later in the game could prove to be more beneficial, especially since unlocking the phone by solving the puzzle on your own isn’t too difficult. It’s a trade-off between convenience now and potential rewards later.
Advanced Tips: Navigating the Living and Dead Worlds
One of the most fascinating elements of Life is Strange: Double Exposure is Max’s ability to travel between different dimensions. This feature becomes essential when unlocking Vinh’s phone, as vital clues are scattered across both the Living and Dead Worlds.
Here are some tips to help you navigate the dimension-hopping:
- Use the Dead World for Clues: The Dead World often holds the key to solving puzzles, so don’t hesitate to explore it thoroughly. Characters in the Dead World might give you more insight or behave differently than they do in the Living World.
- Keep Track of Important Locations: Sometimes, finding an important clue requires returning to a specific place. Pay attention to where you found key items or spoke to important characters so you can retrace your steps easily.
- Manage Your Time in Each World: Some tasks can only be completed in one world or the other, so make sure to switch between dimensions at the right moments to gather all the necessary information.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q1: How do I unlock Vinh’s phone in Life is Strange: Double Exposure?
To unlock Vinh’s phone, you need to find the year that magician scientist Jack Parsons died. You can discover this by looking for a book in the library that reveals his death in 1952. Use this as the passcode to unlock his phone.
Q2: Can I get the passcode without using Vinh’s favor?
Yes, you can avoid using Vinh’s favor by solving the puzzle yourself. When you talk to Vinh in the Dead World, he’ll mention Jack Parsons. You can then find the year of Parsons’ death in the library.
Q3: Where is the library in Life is Strange: Double Exposure?
The library is located in the Fine Arts Building. Inside, look for a book on the History of the Occult next to the fireplace. This book contains the information you need about Jack Parsons.
Q4: What happens if I use Vinh’s favor to get the passcode?
If you use Vinh’s favor, he’ll give you the passcode directly, saving you the trouble of solving the puzzle. However, you might want to save the favor for a more critical moment later in the game.