The Walking Dead

As of August 2018 the final season installment of TellTale’s The Walking Dead Episode 1 has been released and with the recent news of TellTale’s layoffs it could be one of the company’s last releases. But that isn’t the season that I will be talking about because I have never played even the first season, but in honor of the renewed Walking Dead excitement and with the approaching Halloween season I decided to give it a try.

TellTale has always boosted a unique and stylized art style that has made their games extremely recognizable. The comic like heavy line art and the almost flat coloring has become a signature of their popular Choose Your Own Adventure (CYOA) story games of which the company itself has become known for over the years. This game is no different, managing to capture the gore and horror aspect of the show’s “walkers”, but maintain the style which is admirable. The story begins with a character named Lee right at the start of the zombie outbreak so what would probably be the time Rick is in the hospital in the first episode of the show. Though the story is stand alone from the hit ABC series there are some cameo appearances from characters and there seems to be some allusions to things said in the show as well. I am not super familiar with the show either, so I may be incorrect on that. The game maintains the story style of the other CYOA’s where the game is progressed by the player answering with preset dialog and making choices, but at it’s core this is a survival game where the lives of the members of your group are determined by your choices and other then a few scripted deaths that cannot be avoided the survival of group members is entirely up to the player.

TellTale stuck to their original play styles in this series. The player has limited movement control over the character and scrolls over and selects preset interest points assigned to objects and people in order to interact. The combat is a little different then some of the other games where most situations and even some choices in combat require the player to choose left or right before completing an action. They also replaced the button mashing and button quicktimes of other games with the implementation of having to move your viewfinder/crosshairs to a point and then usually hit the right trigger to complete the combat action. Players may also recognize the effects system in place where an NPC character will “remember”, “notice” or “appreciate” a choice the player makes which will alter future dialog and action options. This system in particular is a very fun mechanic as it makes the player feel more immersed in the game and allows you to better befriend loved characters while actively forming a standing among the other characters. This is also a factor many don’t consider in the long run of the story line which can lead to completely new branches of story really sinking the player into the CYOA feel. Over all controls are fairly simple when compared to some of the new CYOA games.

One of the best things Walking Dead does, in my opinion, is make you care about these characters and feel real emotions for them and their situations. When you have to make a decision to save one person or another you feel genuine conflict and will close your eyes with a grimace as you hit the button for your choice. When a character dies you are sad and angry and horrified right along with the other characters. You think through your actions and consider the possible consequences they will bring. It is a truly refreshing experience rather then just recklessly blasting through a game because its just a game. I highly recommend gamers of all skill and age to embark on this truly harrowing journey with the characters and give themselves a treat.

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