[Review] The Walking Dead

[Ghostbear]

The Walking Dead Review

Product: The Walking Dead
Platform: PC, 360, PS3
Developer: Telltale Games
MSRP: $24.99 for the entire season on PC and PS3. It is around $5 an episode if you want to buy them piecemeal on either the PS3 or 360.
Editor: Jeremy 'Ghostbear' Spurlock

What's Hot: A gripping story that echoes the feeling of the comic book.

What's Not: Puzzles seemed easy, shorter than I wanted.

Telltale Games has been plugging along with the adventure genre over the last few years, with the Sam & Max games, Strongbad, and others. Unlike Jurassic Park, this game isn't a QTE-fest. It sticks with more traditional adventure game play you'd see in something like Monkey Island.

This does not look like a fun car trip

You are playing the role of Lee Everett, a man on his way to jail when the hordes of the undead make their appearance. Without getting too far into spoiler territory, your trip to the big house is interrupted and Lee is thrust into the world surrounded by undead monsters, crazy survivors and even allies. This being the first in a series of episodes, there is a bit of setup introducing new characters, but don’t let that fool you, there is always something going on and you’re never really standing around talking to people just to get a proper dialogue response.

Worst camping trip ever

Gameplay in an adventure title is a bit hard to speak at length about, but basically there are “hotspots” around the screen and you look, use or move them to solve puzzles or escape danger. I found this easier to do with an XBOX 360 controller than the mouse and keyboard, but your mileage may vary. The puzzles in this game never seemed all that difficult, so either I am a genius or they were just warming me up for future episodes; I’m betting on the latter. Solving the puzzles thankfully does not include trying to combine random items in ludicrous ways, as you might remember from adventure games of old, but are pretty grounded in what most would consider common logic.

I'm sure he just wants to talk

Dialogue is pretty straightforward: choose an option and Lee will say the line you’ve selected. Be careful though as your choices throughout the game, including what you say, have an impact on future interactions in this episode and later installments. Should you choose to help one person versus the other? That’s up to you, but as the game warns you in the very beginning your choices dictate who lives, dies, or just who is willing to give you a hand.

An old friend?

If you’re a fan of the comics or TV show, you’ll likely recognize a few characters. The game takes place around the outskirts of Atlanta in what seems to be right before the start of the comics. The pacing of the story feels like the comics versus the show. It was deliberate, and the sense of dread never really let up. You’ll wish the zombies will show up sometimes, if only to manifest the creeping tension in some way.

That will clear your sinuses

Something to be aware of, you can only buy the entire "season" on PC, one episode at a time on 360, and either option exists on the PS3. If you buy the entire season on PS3 you'll save $5.

The Walking Dead grabbed me in its cold dead embrace. I was sad when the first episode was over because I wanted to see what would happen to my group of survivors. While you'll probably knock this game out in a few hours, it was certainly an intense few hours. This is easily the best game Telltale has done, and I am very much looking forward to playing the rest of the episodes when they release over the summer.

Score: 4.5 out of 5 CoGs




Second Stage:
Editor: Curt "Mot Wakorb" Lecaptain

I'm not afraid to say that this is Telltale's biggest success in adventure games. It's clear that they've learned important lessons from previous games and distilled those lessons into The Walking Dead.

Now, it doesn't hurt that Telltale is using an established IP that has quite the following, but they succeed by expanding the story of the comic book series. It's clear that the art style of the game was set to mirror the comics, and this is a very, very good thing. Everything about this game is polished and it shows Telltale took great care with the IP. This is something that fans and those new to the Walking Dead can appreciate.

I'm not a fan of quicktime events, something Jurassic Park went overboard on. Fortunately, this game isn't Jurassic Park. It contains quite a bit of adventure while feeling dangerous - something that is tough to do in the point-and-click genre. It's also a success by incorporating other ideas, such as characters reactions being based on your choices. It gives something to an adventure game that generally doesn't exist: replayability.


Score: 4.5 out of 5 CoGs


Jeremy says, "As an unabashed fan of the comics, I have to say I thoroughly enjoyed the first episode of this game and I am excited to see the rest of the story."

Curt says, "Telltale has outdone every previous game they've released with this one and I can't wait for the season to continue, because it seems as if we're in for a hell of a ride."

[Karak]

It is going to be weird to see how deaths and choices impact games in the future. A couple episodes in and they are going to have a lot of work cut out for them especially if they have a major decision or decisions each episode. Their choice tree will be massive. But here is to hoping they pull it off. I like that kind of thing in games.

[Ink Asylum]

Holding out until the Summer Steam Sale and hoping this is one of the deals.

[Jackel]

Looks like a pretty good game, I'll look to grab this during the summer sale as well.

[Worldcrafter]

I'm still having a hard time believing Telltale managed a classic adventure game with gravitas. They've been treading outside their comfort zone lately, but reviews indicate this time they pulled it off.

Also pleased to see they're going with a distinct style for the graphics and one that matches the comic book origin nicely. Before this game I was under the impression they had interns doing all their art.

[Kielaran]

Originally Posted by Karak

It is going to be weird to see how deaths and choices impact games in the future. A couple episodes in and they are going to have a lot of work cut out for them especially if they have a major decision or decisions each episode. Their choice tree will be massive. But here is to hoping they pull it off. I like that kind of thing in games.

Hopefully having it episodic makes it easier to keep the changes fairly unique while not losing the feeling that what you do has meaning.

Also consider that the trees don't have to branch out endlessly. Certain decisions could cause those branches to converge with the same result. The hope is that they can do this with actual purpose and not because it saves them from scripting out a few unique situations.

[Lekon]

A well written review, and I'm certianly going to pick this up once a few more episodes hit, just so I'm not stuck clawing at my keyboard for more game.

Glad they made the conversations a timed choice, makes it so someone like me can't stand around thinking "hmm... should I do this.. or look this up?"

(Excluding myself from the drawing, want a non staff to be able to win this!)

[Laughing Penguin]

I do like my zombies... how many episodes are planned for the 'season'?

[TheFlyingOrc]

Review is good, and more support to my theory that "I should really get this game".

You do overuse commas a bit, though.

[Karak]

Originally Posted by Kielaran

Hopefully having it episodic makes it easier to keep the changes fairly unique while not losing the feeling that what you do has meaning.

Also consider that the trees don't have to branch out endlessly. Certain decisions could cause those branches to converge with the same result. The hope is that they can do this with actual purpose and not because it saves them from scripting out a few unique situations.

Ya hopefully they can handle it. But after seeing a couple decision trees and paths for other less decision based games and some books and online adventures the complexity is freakishly daunting.

Sometimes that results in what they told me was a "clearinghouse moment" when, after sometime of storytelling, something major happened that sort of removed many of those choices and reset the world to a more manageable size and narrative. I could see 4-5 games down the line something happening and you being the only one to escape thus resetting the narrative. We will see I can't wait.

[Ghostbear]

Originally Posted by TheFlyingOrc

Review is good, and more support to my theory that "I should really get this game".

You do overuse commas a bit, though.

Your face overuses commas!

I changed the language on that front page post, I wasn't trying to get reviews of my review, just want people to talk about the game. Also I am the Comma King.

[TheFlyingOrc]

Originally Posted by Ghostbear

I changed the language on that front page post, I wasn't trying to get reviews of my review, just want people to talk about the game. Also I am the Comma King.

Well, I'm very interested after reading the short review something awful did, and also this one. It sounds really super great.

[Theonar]

I like having choices matter in games. I may pick this up now, as a fan of the comics this appeals to me in a way the show did not.

[Wolvie]

This game gets the Wolvie seal of quality. If you love the comics and the TV show, then just buy it. It's excellent. I love it. And as a matter of fact, I am gonna replay eps. 1 and see how various decisions pan out.

[Wilkz07]

loved EP1. Hopefully my choices work out for the better, won't replay them until i've gone through all the episodes.

[Hawkzombie]

I need to get this. Big time.

[Clark]

I echo the opinion that this was a fantastic game. I already care way more about these characters than the ones in the TV show for sure. I'm so glad the game embraces the feel of the comics.

[Gorvi]

I've been considering this. The season pass is $20 on PSN, so it saves you $5, but I need to try the demo first.

[Purple Santa]

Originally Posted by Gorvi

I've been considering this. The season pass is $20 on PSN, so it saves you $5, but I need to try the demo first.

The demo will give you enough to see if you will like the gameplay or not. I was sold on the demo then immediately bought the game.

[muddi900]

One more thing I liked about; how it threw subtlety out the window, like the comic. Attracting the zombies with TV! and 'They just eat and eat'. As it should be!