The Walking Dead is the latest game from adventure focused developer Telltale, the eventual 5 episode long series follows new character Lee Everett an escaped convict and abandoned 7 year old Clementine as they simultaneously traverse and survive the zombie apocalypse. Set in the increasingly popular world of Robert Kirkman's The Walking Dead, the game unlike the television series is actually canonical to the events in the comic book series which means it fills in gaps and follows the general path laid forth by the books. Thankfully Telltale diverges from the Rick Grimes story which is the center of the books and show, instead fleshing out the world beyond the group fans have gotten to know so well while still keeping in the spirit of the comics.
Last time out with the Jurassic Park game Telltale stumbled trying to craft a more action oriented game while still maintaining their trademark classic adventure game style. That being said Telltale had a lot to prove with The Walking Dead and clearly they knew that, because they have nearly perfected the balance between the more action heavy elements with the more traditional adventure game tropes Telltale has long since perfected. It really is a relief, The Walking Dead deserves an impeccable game that captures what the comics and show are all about, its not the mindless zombie violence its the extremely dire situations and strong relatable characters. No one could have made a more analogues game, Telltale has a real knack for storytelling and its on strong display here, mix that with engaging dialogue and well written characters and The Walking Dead has now mastered three forms of entertainment.
The game is a point-and-click adventure game, you can move Lee the main character around the environment and interact with certain objects like other games of its ilk, you collect items and trail-n-error your way through puzzles at points in the game. There is plenty of dialogue with other survivors and how you act and the things you say will have an impact in the way the story unfolds. For instances as a convicted murderer Lee may not want to divulge that information with every stranger he meets, less they refuse to help him or outright kill him in a world free of any semblance of right and wrong. Telltale nails all of it, and best of all they even nail the action. Action is treated more intelligently than Jurassic Park, no more random obscured button presses, instead you move a cursor around the screen and choose from a variety of option in how to interact with said highlighted object. The action is sparse but intense, and each zombie that appears is a critical life and death struggle, its not as simple as point and shoot but only because it more akin to click and choose.
Telltale comes out arms raised fists pumping above their heads. The Walking Dead is their best effort yet, and to put it into context I've played every one of Telltales games and The Walking Dead is the strongest in every category. No other developer could have done the license justice as well as Telltale has, by focusing on the story and characters they made a zombie game that is still fresh and unique. I was so thoroughly immersed while playing this game I was truly blown away, I couldn't pause it or look away for a second the action is frantic and appropriately frightening and gruesome and the story was Telltales most engaging yet. The episodic format means each episode ends with a cliffhanger that'll have you chomping at the *flesh* for the release of the next part of the series.
(5 out of 5)
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