The Walking Dead

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I'm not a fan of "The Walking Dead" TV show (only saw it once), of zombies (seen way too many of them over the past 15 years), or horror movies (they simply don't entertain me). Yet, this game is so well done, I rate it five starsand this coming from a gamer who is fairly biased against its subject matter. Why? Because of the following:

The beauty of Telltale's episodic game is in its powerful narrative, its compelling use of emotion, and its unique (by modern standards) gameplay. In terms of the gameplay, it largely reminds me of the wonderful "point and click" adventures that I played on my computer as a child, where story was paramount. However, Telltale has refined the formula so that this "point and click" style works well even with console controllers, and there is a wonderful level of tension created at times, when you must quickly perform an action or choose how to respond to another character's inquiry.

The visual approach works wonders, creating a unique, comic book style that can quickly turn from colorful to frightening. Atmosphere is huge in this game, and the world is engrossing and it becomes "realistic" as you're drawn into the story and the perils that the characters face.

The story can at times have ludicrous elements (this is my lone criticism), such as when adults don't know how batteries work (or that portable radios run on them). But this is a minor gripe, and it is vastly overshadowed by a tremendous narrative that is coupled with moving music and some of the very best voice acting I've ever heard in a game. Rarely have I ever felt more connected to a character than the lovable Clementine, who even the coldest of gamers will grow affectionate of.

Combine this with many branches in storytelling that are available as a direct result of your decisions (oftentimes made under extreme duress with limited time), and episodes of perfect length (about two hours a piece for me), and "The Walking Dead" is a true winnerand a revival of the old PC adventure genre!

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Disclosure: Played as a PSN download

If you're thinking about getting this game, you're probably thinking some things like: Uh oh...a game based on a book/TV show?....That usually doesn't work. Or maybe you're thinking: Point and click?...Check please! Or maybe you didn't like some of Telltale's past titles?

And you know what, some of your concerns may even be valid; it really depends on your expectations for this awesome release, so let me try to set some of those expectations. First of all, The Walking Dead game is for and will be loved by--and loved by is a guarantee, graphic novel readers--any true fan of Robert Kirkman's source material. Anyone looking to run and gun down zombies will not get that out of this game. You certainly don't have to have read the book or seen the show to enjoy this game; just be sure that you are planning to get into and be part of a story-rich experience.

The Walking Dead game is no Burn Zombie Burn or some other bash as many zombies' brains in as possible game. This game is a lot more of an RPG than a shooter.

You start the game the day the zombie apocalypse begins concurrently from the start of the comic book series. You play as Lee, and just as in the book (and in the TV show) where the main character Rick was initially thrown into a chaotic journey by himself to find other survivors...that's you as Lee in The Walking Dead game.

There are plenty of action sequences, but your time in this game is mostly spent literally being a part of the story making some tough (and some not so tough) decisions. It's the tough decisions that will affect how the rest of the game unfolds for you, and you'll have to live with the consequences of every option you choose.

The game does give you the option of "rewinding" back to a specific checkpoint, and you can go forward from there and choose a different option that overwrites your original decision if that's your style. But I didn't do that until I completed the entire series. I tried to make the main character call "the right move" when presented with choice; but there is a time limit when decision time comes, and sometimes you may regret a hasty decision. For example, you'll have to choose one life over another twice during just the first episode, and I'm not sure that I made the "right" choice in one of those moments. But I stuck with my decisions until after playing through the entire series just to "keep it real." The game sure does get an A for replay value.

Just as in the graphic novel (and the TV show), the story is much less about zombies and more about what happens to society, its morals, laws and standards when government is lost and the planet becomes mostly uninhabitable. But this time you don't just watch it unfold on paper or on your TV screen; in this game you're part of the story...you control your integrity, your morality and ultimately your destiny. And there's real, heartfelt emotion in The Walking Dead game combined with very believable scenarios. Color me a sissy, but I actually got a little misty over one of the decisions that "I had to" make.

The Walking Dead game is excellent...especially for just a point and click. It's as gritty and graphic as the comic book, and it's very story-rich. If you read the comic as I do...you'll love it. The graphics are appropriately very comic-bookesque. I really do feel like I'm part of a different story arc in the freakin' book! Best 20 bucks I've spent all year...best game of 2012 for me. Plus anyone clamoring for a Platinum Trophy could get an easy one here; all the trophies are unmissable simply by finishing all the chapters in every episode.

The Walking Dead game is a deep, personal and emotional adventure.

Buy The Walking Dead Now

The Walking Dead definitely calls back to PC adventure gaming of the past; however, it cannot in my opinion be categorized as such. It is more appropriately thought of as an interactive drama, and the story is where this title really shines. The narrative is well told, the voice acting consistently great, and together the creators give the player characters you really care about and invest in. Without spoiling anything for those who can manage to remain spoiler-free, it all builds to an outstanding climax. This game has few peers in the area of story-driven experiences.

As much as I loved the game, I have to say the gameplay is its weakness. There were several occasions when I forgot I had a controller in my hand, as there was quite a bit of cutscene watching. For those who love the action of a good shooter or brawler, be aware this is much slower paced. Much of the gameplay revolves around conversations with other characters and choosing responses or actions. Sometimes this choice dynamic works incredibly well, with consequences that truly reverberate througout the rest of the story. On these occasions I felt very connected to the main character and the outcome of these choices. Other times it feels a bit like a gimmick, where it is a choice presented for its own sake with no real effect. When the action does ramp up the game definitely becomes tense, but certainly does not present the tight response of a good FPS (nor does it try to, since it is radically different). Obviously based on my rating none of this impaired my enjoyment of the game, but I thought others who are wondering what all the hype is all about might find this information helpful! To sum up:

Pros:

+ Excellent story

+ Well realized characters and voice acting

+ Very true to its comic book source

+ Much of the time, the choice system is great

Cons:

Graphic novel style can detract from the realistic effect of the awesome story

Controlled character movement is a bit stiff

Very few puzzle elements (I suppose this could be a pro for some though)

Action sequences are great for story tension, but clunky from a control perspective

Read Best Reviews of The Walking Dead Here

:::Introduction:::

I tried to hold out for the disc-version of this game, I really did. But after hearing nothing but praise for the game as a whole, I couldn't resist entering my credit card and getting all 5 episodes in the Season Pass on the PSN (still considering the disc version somewhere down the line, just not anytime soon). I did this with Journey, even after hearing the countless term "masterpiece" slathered onto the game, I just didn't feel compelled to download it, so when the disc version came out with Flower and flOw, I snatched it up and was absolutly blown away by the games (specifically Journey, which I highly suggest to ALL gamers). But this review, it's about The Walking Dead, so here we go.

:::Prequel:::

As I've stated above, I do not own the physical copy (which to my knowledge contains the exact same content as the downloadable version). I am a big fan of the graphic novel an somewhat of an addict of the AMC TV series, I loved the fact they could craft a story about the zombie apocalypse that was more about the characters than the zombies, the zombies were more of a catalyst for the deep and intriguing morality tale. The game follows suit in terms of the graphic novels and the AMC version, only this time around we get to control certain aspects. My favorite thing about this game is the fact that (as it states before each episode) the choices you make effect the way the game plays and the story unfolds. That and Clementine, who I have deeply fallen in love with, and many times find myself thinking she is my own daughter (a foreshadow to the level of personal involvement/investment this game applies to the player). With this review, I will break it into several categories to showcase all the wonders of this game. Let's begin with...

:::Story/Plot (SPOILER FREE!):::

In this variation, you play Lee Evert, a convicted murdered being transferred to another prison when a walker appears in the middle of road causing a dramatic crash. Everything seems normal on the surface, but the outbreak has quietly just begun. Sometime later, you awake in the back of the overturned police cruiser, the driver laying dead having been ejected from the windshield. First thing is first, get these stupid handcuffs off, which leads to our first real nerve wrenching sequence of obtaining the keys. Once that is taken care of, walkers begin to appear. Seems the outbreak broke out faster than we thought. Soon Lee finds himself in the backyard of suburban house. Once inside, he finds it to be empty. Some messages are found on the answering machine, showing us how quick the outbreak happened. Soon we hear the voice of a little girl coming though a walkie-talkie. Soon we meet Clementine, an 8-year old girl intent on finding her parents in Savannah, Georgia. Lee takes her with him with almost no hesitation. She becomes a very big part of the story, Lee having never had a child of his own and somewhat taking her in as his own. And thus, our journey begins. Along the way we get to go to Hershel's farm, meet Glen, and find other sprinkles of references to Rick Grimes journey (this takes place before those events). You meet a group of survivors, each with their own story, set of skills, weaknesses and strong suits. Also you find out more about Lee & Clem as the story progresses. The storyline in the game is it's strongest selling point, and I would love to go further into it, but spoilers would be everywhere. The story itself is worth any price of admission, it's about as long as a season of the show (more in the next section).

:::Game Play:::

In this game, you get the ability to walk around freely in almost all areas. You also have a four point cursor that is controlled with the right analog stick. This cursor allows you to interact with other characters, items and objects, and move farther distances than simply walking. The game is broke into five episodes, each consisting of a little over two hours of game play each, making it an 11 hour game or so (depending on how much you do). There are times where you are presented with vocal trees, usually consisting of 3 4 choices, each with their own unique outcome. Some of these are on a timer, so you have to decide quickly while others are not timed. This adds to the tension as you have to make split-second decisions, most of which are important and change the way the plot unfolds (another selling point, TONS of replay value). In the times where you have to face walkers, either with your bare hands, a melee weapon, or a gun, you have two ways of doing so. One is with the cursor, a small dot will be placed in one of the four slots and after lining it up you can press the corresponding button to kill the walker. In more crowded situations, you are staring down the top of a gun and have to manually aim and take them out. The action level is a mixed bag. Those of you looking for loads of action, forget this game now. It's more a drama than anything else, and would feel awful if it were anything but. Some quick-time events may be frustrating, but nothing about this game is difficult. Most people should be able to immediately pick it up and have it mastered 20 minutes into the first episode. Yes, the control scheme is quite different from a lot of games I've played, but it's not aggravating and actually adds a bit of uniqueness to the game (as if it needed more). Cut-scenes dominate a vast majority of the game, which may sound like a con, but it really helps. I would say it's about 65% cut-scenes, 45% game play. Just a heads up for those who want non-stop game play. This is story game, keep that in mind.

:::Graphics:::

Now, to start this section off let me just say I am not a graphic's man. I enjoy a game regardless, I still play NES & PSOne games and have just as much fun with them as do with next-gen games. That isn't to say I can't be blown away by graphical capabilities of games. I think Heavy Rain is one of the most beautiful games ever. All this aside, let's focus on the game at hand. The Walking Dead has taken a bit more of the animated route in terms of graphics (something I think is an homage to the graphic novels). What we have here is a mixture of Cell-Shading and standard character design with a slight bit more detail. The detail in this game is incredible. The sets look amazing, and luckily there are times between action sequences where you can walk around areas and talk with people and also admire the sets and the amount of detail put into each one of them. I'm glad they went with the style they did, even though a more realistic take would have added a little more the events in the game and suck the player in slightly more, it's easier to get detached while playing for a lack of better words, cartoons.

:::Music:::

Music can make or break games like these. Luckily, the music is just as good as the story and really brings out emotion in the player. In tense moments, the music adds extra tension, in heart-breaking moments, the music helps bring tears to your eyes. All in all the music is wonderful and really adds the ambiance needed for this type of experience. Just another selling point, I'd buy the soundtrack by itself it's that good.

:::Breakdown:::

All in all, I'd give this experience (more than just a game) a 9/10. It really pulls you, and quite quickly I might add. It's addictive, engaging, emotional, tense, tragic, and so many other things. For the price of the disc, you are getting a great deal. We need more games like this on the market. In terms of comparing this game to another, it'd have to be Heavy Rain because the way it gives the player control over the progression of story based on choices and really takes the video game element away and adds a personal experience that is sure to bring about a lot of emotion, both good and bad. If you are a fan of the Walking Dead, this game NEEDS to be a part of your collection. If you are turned off by the fact there are zombies (something we have all seen WAY too much of these days), don't fret, it's not a zombie game, it's a Survival Horror/Drama. It's more cinematic than most, and has enough story to fill a small lake. If you are a casual gamer who wants something a bit off the norm, this is the game for you. If you like games that make you as big a part of the plot as the characters, again, BUY THIS GAME. If you like video games, BUY THIS GAME. It has something for everyone.

:::PRO & CON:::

PROS:

-Phenomenal story

-Great cast of characters

-Very detailed graphics

-Endless replay value

-Choices effect the plot

-Addictive game play due to plot

-11+ hours of game play

-Interesting graphics

-New take on combat system

CONS:

-At some point, the game comes to an end.

REVIEW BYASTROID ANDY

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Want The Walking Dead Discount?

After taking top honors at the VGA's in 2012, it is clear to many that there is something special about Telltale's "The Walking Dead." Some more jaded critics will say the game was only able to take this honor because many of the year's "AAA" titles like Assassin's Creed III, and Mass Effect 3 did not meet up to expectations. While I describe these critics as "jaded" I do think there is some merit to this notion, as one of the other common "game of the year" winners on game websites was the brief and "artistic" game "Journey." Despite "The Walking Dead" not having the stiffest competition last year, I still think the game has a lot of merit and is entirely worth playing.

While the TV show based on Robert Kirkman's series of graphic novels has been gaining in popularity on AMC in recent years, the game actually appeals more to the universe of the graphic novel's more so than AMC's television adaptation. This is most apparent in the graphics, which goes for a sort of cell shaded look, with a bleak color palette befitting of the games apocalyptic setting. Visually, "The Walking Dead" is very consistent with TellTale's recent work, including their "Back to the Future" game (which I also plan to write a review for on Amazon) and their "Jurassic Park" game. That is too say it contains basic cell shading as the look, which occasional frame rate drops and other performance stutters. Fortunately, these performance issues do not hurt the experience too much, and it is worth noting that "The Walking Dead" does perform better from a technical standpoint than some of TellTale's past work. On the audio end of the presentation spectrum, the music and sound effects in the game, while not spectacular, fit the mood and atmosphere well enough. (I did really like the song that played in the end credits of the final episode of the game: It was a sort of folk song that I think was called "Take Me Back.") The voice acting on the other hand is really good. While there are some voices that just adhere to character type, the bulk of the cast does a great job of imbuing their characters with a sense of past, sadness, and a kind of depth that often evokes multiple emotions in us an audience members. Of special note are the main character Lee, and the young girl Clementine.

In the game you play as Lee, a man who recently was convicted of murder and is now being taken to prison. Fortunately (or not depending on how you look at it) the Zombie apocalypse has begun, and so when one of undead walks in front of the cop car Lee is being driven in, the car wreaks, and an escaped convict is the last thing most people are worrying about. Shortly after this, Lee comes across a young girl named Clementine whose babysitter has been turned into a zombie, and whose parents have been out of town for a few days.Lee takes Clementine under his wing and their quest to survive the zombie apocalypse begins. The narrative is without question the highlight of this game. It is filled with interesting characters and "oh crud" moments that will keep you on your feet. Yes, it can be silly sometimes just how dysfunctional the members of your party are, and the strangely high percentage of nutty people your party manages to come across, but let's face it: zombies are a nice threat but ultimately its how people deal with the zombies that makes these sorts of stories interesting. Many critics have praised the connection between Lee and Clementine, and while I did not cry at the games climax (which I won't spoil here) I did find the story to be engrossing and generally well paced. Another element of the story that is worth noting is that the player get's to make choices that influence the story. If you are expecting Mass Effect levels of interaction with the story...you won't find that here. It's often pretty easy to see how the developers manipulate the narrative to have the same general scenes despite your choices, but that's okay. The choices in this game are used more to draw the player into the game's story, rather than give players the agency to change that story. Some may consider this a cheap move at giving the game more replay, but I find that even this limited player agency increases one's connection and engagement with the narrative in a significant way.

You may have noticed that I spent a fair bit of time talking about the games story, but that is because a lot of your experience the player has with this game is via its story. The game plays like a normal "point and click" adventure game, with occasional sections where you shoot things from a stationary position. The other significant part of game play is the dialogue choices. As I said earlier, the game gives the player the ability to choose how the plot plays out (to a certain extent), and this is done by having the player choose different dialogue options. One nice feature of this dialogue system is that it works on a timer. You have to make your decisions quickly which helps reinforce the importance of paying attention to what is going on in the narrative at any given point. The game play here is rather simple, but it works to help the player interact with the story, which is clearly the game's primary concern (as is often the case with adventure games). This emphasis on the story does mean that the game is linear and its game play is very simple. If you are the sort of person who doesn't like story in games, and prefers a deep game play experience this IS NOT the game for you.

In summary, "The Walking Dead" is an engaging narrative, put inside of an adventure game that is generally well designed, and helped greatly by a good dialogue system. While it has a few technical issues, and may not be for everyone, the game does admirbly fulfill its goal of provide players with a narrative of survival in the zombie apocalypse that keeps players who like a good story hooked until the end of its eight hour run time. 4/5 stars.