A game worthy of the franchise
The Walking Dead from TellTale Games is an episodic point-and-click action-adventure game that stays faithful to the comic book series while providing a new storyline. This premium game follows Lee Everett, a convicted criminal who finds redemption in protecting a young girl named Clementine as they navigate a post-apocalyptic world overrun by zombies.
To help The Walking Dead game feel more like the comic series it is based on, Telltale chose to use a cartoon, cell-shaded art style and release the game in five episodes. These details helped make the game feel like you're playing an interactive comic book.
A battle against zombies
The Walking Dead focuses on dialog choices. Players are given a limited time to choose between several dialog choices, similar to Mass Effect's dialog system, except Mass Effect doesn't have a time limit. By introducing a time limit, players feel a sense of urgency and will hopefully answer more candidly. This zombie game allows you to portray the main character, Lee Everett, as a misunderstood or amoral man.
There are also quick time events throughout the game that add to the tension. This game includes sequences where you have to rapidly tap a button to fight off an enemy, as well as sequences where you have to quickly take down zombies by clicking on them. It was never made to be a shooter, so some gunplay and even walking around featured clunky controls when playing with a mouse and keyboard.
The story in this game is engrossing, bolstered by great voice acting and character models. While the graphics aren't the most advanced, its cell-shaded art style brings the comic book characters to life with vivid colors and hard brush strokes. You really care about each of the characters in your group. There are also some great villains in the game who do some shocking things.
Your choices, your story
Since players can make so many choices in The Walking Dead, your friends playing the same game will most likely have different stories than you. This gives the game some stellar replay value. At the end of each episode, you're reported on how your choices coincide with other Walking Dead players. The story builds up to a nail-biting climax, albeit a short one.
Since the game is so good at making you care for the characters in your group, finding out the fate of Clementine and Lee will leave you breathless. Some players have complained about the ending, but I think it was beautifully done and goes with the themes presented in the game. Additionally, the game suffers from technical issues, including frame rate drops, animation glitches, and occasional save file corruption.
A masterpiece marred by technical hiccups
The Walking Dead is a gripping interactive experience that blends emotional storytelling, player-driven choices, and tense survival moments. Its comic-inspired art style and episodic format enhance the immersion, making it feel like a living graphic novel. While the game’s impactful narrative and intense character development shine, technical issues and clunky controls hold it back slightly. Despite its flaws, this unforgettable journey leaves a lasting impression on players.
