The Walking Dead Episodes 1 & 2 Review

[Freakzooi]

Just one question, where's the game? Great story, great voice acting, great cinematics, great setting, great emotional impact. But they forget to put a game in between them. Ok, there's some sort of roleplay but at the end it comes to a very basic form of CYOA with little deviation here and there. The puzzles are very basic and simple.

Basically, it's an interactive movie with very, very, very little gameplay.

Exactly, but the gameplay isn't the reason why this game is so damn good.

You are absolutely right, it's of course got a lot less gameplay when comparing it to the traditional point and click adventure games, like monkey island or king's quest. The heavy focus on character building and story makes it more like an interactive movie than a game, which I think is not a bad thing to be honest. It's a different (sub)genre of a game, which you can like or not. Regardless, I think this game is awesome at what it tries to achieve.

 

[MisterShine]

I often found myself thinking in tough situations about not only what was best for me (as Lee), but for Clementine. And tried to make decisions that would be a good example for her.

Indeed. I planned on doing my first playthrough as a tough-as-nails character who would be a real character who survived in the Walking Dead-verse, however with Clementine watching I really am weighing choices on a much more moral scale than I intended too, she and Lee are just so damn well written/performed.

Well, I act nice when she's around, anyway

On the review: An excellent review, though I am saddened by the lack of video review, your inflections are usually a hoot Susan. On one point I feel I disagree on is the release schedule: Other than Telltale letting this episode slip (I really wish they'd give some solid dates, or at least months..), I'm enjoying the episodic model. I have 3 friends who are also playing the game, and we've had a lot of fun kicking around ideas about whats going to happen next and comparing how each of us is playing. I do understand though people who want to wait for the series to wrap up to avoid the agonizing wait, but I feel that the pain is a part of the process that makes the end product so worth it.

 

[SoopaSte123]

Just bought and played both episodes today, and damn... what an intense story. I'm curious about to what extreme my actions affect the game. I'm definitely gonna have to replay this at some point and pick the opposite choices, just to see. As far as I can tell, though, the decisions affect a LOT. I hope other game designers take note.

 

[duchaked]

the story IS fantastic

Episode 2 took a while to come out, but I'm glad it's here. bought it immediately, but haven't had the time to play it just yet

 

[Sushewakka]

Though many of us have deep affection for ye olde point-and-click games of yore, few of us actually want to play them anymore.

Aaaaaaaaaaand... there you lost me.

Also, timer on dialogue is the worst idea ever. I mean, I am not making split decisions on *my* behalf, but on my character's behalf. That means I have to switch gears from "What would I do?" to "What would Lee do?" and those need not (and probably should not) be the same. Putting a timer hampers the ability of the player to effectively slip into his character's mindset.

 

[V TheSystem V]

I preferred Episode 1 to Episode 2 (managed to guess where Episode 2 was leading fairly quickly) but this is easily my favourite XBLA game. I care about the characters (especially Clem, who I want to be an example to), and I hate Larry because he won't give Lee a chance. Haven't cared for characters this much since Mass Effect, and to make me care in the space of 4 hours just goes to show how well Telltale Games have pulled this off.

 

[sindremaster]

The time between realizing you need to act and actually getting to is a split second, but that's often enough to get you killed, or force you to live with a consequence you didn't know was coming. You start right back up if you die, and you can "rewind" your game if you really, really can't live with how something played out, but it's frustrating, just the same.

I didn't see this as a something bad in the game. I think it shows that this is a brutal world where bad things happen, and if you aren't ready to react at all times you must live with the consequences. An example from the first episode:

Spoiler

When Clementine opens the bathroom door in the store you're hiding in and the zombie comes out and attacks her I didn't react fast enough to save her and as a result she was afraid because now she didn't trust that I would always be there to save her. I thought about reloading, but I decided not to because I think this is a good way to show how ruthless this world is. If you aren't always ready for an attack, bad thing will happen.

 

[Rad Party God]

Decisions out of A:save the kitten B:burn the kitten? I am interested.

That was a pretty enthusiastic review Susan. But, I am wondering if it is just better to wait for the final episodes and buy a possible compilation of the series.

I don't know about the PSN and XBLA versions, but with the Steam (PC) version, you buy the game, you buy the rights to get all future episodes. Honestly, it's a great deal, considering the lenght of each episode and how well crafted they are.

OT: Yup, I watched an LP of the first episode and even if I wasn't playing it, I truly enjoyed it, it's one of those games where you don't mind if you just watch instead of play, but at the same time, it's much better if you play it, due to your own decisions being quite different than what that other person chose.

Telltale seriously dropped the ball with Jurassic Park, but with TWD, I just can't wait for the next episodes to come out.

 

[Yeager942]

I really loved the first two episodes of this game. I heartily recommend it to any anyone looking for a well spun yarn.

 

[OniaPL]

I am loving this game so far, now I'm just waiting for Episode 3.

The story is great and the characters are interesting, and actually feel like real people. And for the first time in a while, I was faced with a decision that was actually really tough, namely decision 4 in episode 2. It was a great moment. I wish more games would depart from the good/evil morality scale.

 

[FedericoV]

Just one question, where's the game? Great story, great voice acting, great cinematics, great setting, great emotional impact. But they forget to put a game in between them. Ok, there's some sort of roleplay but at the end it comes to a very basic form of CYOA with little deviation here and there. The puzzles are very basic and simple.

Basically, it's an interactive movie with very, very, very little gameplay.

its a point and click adventure its pretty much what they have always been

Point and click adventures are one of my favourite genres. They are usually a little bit more complex and involved than TWD game.

 

[Susan Arendt]

Just out of curiosity, why share the trailer instead of one of your usual video reviews with the written one? Time constraints?

Basically. The combination of the Fourth of July and my impending vacation left me short on time, so the choice was review with no video or no review at all. I figured you guys would forgive me just this once.

 

[Shjade]

Just out of curiosity, why share the trailer instead of one of your usual video reviews with the written one? Time constraints?

Basically. The combination of the Fourth of July and my impending vacation left me short on time, so the choice was review with no video or no review at all. I figured you guys would forgive me just this once.

But of course. ^.^

With an adventure game it's not as if a gameplay video would look all that different anyway, really, aside from maybe showing examples of the UI, so it isn't exactly a big loss for the review. ;p

 

[Eric the Orange]

First I love that you got me to play this game Due to your recommendation. But I hate that I didn't listen to your warning.

But I did encounter something odd that may be a glitch in the choices,

Spoiler

So in episode one you either agree with Kenny or Larry about what to do with duck. I agreed with Kenny, and through episode one that's how it played out. But in episode 2 he started acting like I had agreed with Larry. Is this a glitch in the game?

 

[Susan Arendt]

Just out of curiosity, why share the trailer instead of one of your usual video reviews with the written one? Time constraints?

Basically. The combination of the Fourth of July and my impending vacation left me short on time, so the choice was review with no video or no review at all. I figured you guys would forgive me just this once.

But of course. ^.^

With an adventure game it's not as if a gameplay video would look all that different anyway, really, aside from maybe showing examples of the UI, so it isn't exactly a big loss for the review. ;p

I also didn't want to give away any spoilers. If you know your conversation options going in, you can't help but have an altered experience.

Case in point, I saw Episode 2 at E3 before I played Episode 1, and because I knew what was coming I made slightly different choices than I might have had I gone in completely blank.

 

[DeeJayTee]

So, yes, awesome game. It's been mentioned before.

Now, I haven't been following much of the Walking Dead comic series or television show. I read a few paragraphs about them on Wikipedia but the basic plot, at first glance, looks kind of muddy.

My question is:
How does the writing in the comic and the TV series compare to the game's? If it's anywhere NEAR as sharp, I'm sold.

 

[Susan Arendt]

So, yes, awesome game. It's been mentioned before.

Now, I haven't been following much of the Walking Dead comic series or television show. I read a few paragraphs about them on Wikipedia but the basic plot, at first glance, looks kind of muddy.

My question is:
How does the writing in the comic and the TV series compare to the game's? If it's anywhere NEAR as sharp, I'm sold.

I've only just started the comic, so I can't comment on that much. But I honestly prefer the game to the show. I enjoy the show a great deal, don't get me wrong, but I think the game is more compelling.

First I love that you got me to play this game Due to your recommendation. But I hate that I didn't listen to your warning.

But I did encounter something odd that may be a glitch in the choices,

Spoiler

So in episode one you either agree with Kenny or Larry about what to do with duck. I agreed with Kenny, and through episode one that's how it played out. But in episode 2 he started acting like I had agreed with Larry. Is this a glitch in the game?

Maybe. I had a similar situation, and so have a few other people, but I can't tell if it's a glitch or if we're just overestimating Kenny's appreciate of certain decisions.