When I first downloaded the first Walking Dead episode back in May, I didn't knew what to expect. What I got was one of the best interactive adventure games I've ever played. Then, two months later, "Starved For Help" released, and improved a lot on the first episode.
STORY:
With "Long Road Ahead", Telltale have delivered the most emotional episode to date, along with a much darker tone in story. The episode's main premise is on surviving in a world that nobody remembers, and focuses on Lee and the others leaving the motel on the road to Savannah. The episode had me on the edge of my seat throughout the whole episode, and watching some characters die made me cry inside. The episode does have some big moments, and I couldn't stop myself from watching them again and again on YouTube.
SOUND:
The soundtrack, once again, is great and definitely sets the mood for certain moments. The script is well written, and voice acting is superb, so that gets a big tick.
GAMEPLAY:
The gameplay is still quite simple; use the LS to move your reticule around to highlight objects and press any of the buttons shown. In conversations, press any of the buttons, when prompted, and Lee will speak in that tone. These speech options and choices you make along the way DO matter, as characters will remember either the choices you make, or the way you treated them.
In one part you are given controls of a rifle, and has you sniping bandits from cover. Sure, it's a good addition to the gameplay mechanics, but we've all seen this before, right?
GRAPHICS:
The graphics once again follow the traditional comic-book style, and since The Walking Dead started out as a comic series, this is a big plus. Only one problem, is that in one certain area near the end of the episode, the frame rate drops, but not terribly low, and this only applies for one area.
OVERALL:
"Long Road Ahead" is yet another great episode, and while I have hopes for "Around Every Corner", I doubt it'll be able to top LRA. This is the definitive Walking Dead episode to date, and I can't wait to see how the series ends........
William at GameCloud writes:
"In Harms Way does a fantastic job in avoiding a mid-season lull. The triumph, however, is in the final moments, with one scene in particular that you won’t ever forget. The problem is that Clementine won’t either, which is something we’ve grown less concerned with this season. I suspect this negligence from both the group, as well as the player, will play a greater role in the main story very soon and I fear it could end badly."
GamerSyndrome's LadyHodor takes a look at the new episode in the Walking Dead series, to see once again if it levels up to that of the last series - if it does, tears will fall for a certainty. "In Harm's Way" finds Clementine and her crew caught in the clutches of cruel tyrant Bill Carver, and chaos is sure to ensue.
GamingLives conducts a post-mortem on Telltale Games' The Walking Dead to examine just why it had such an impact, but also to discuss the flaws that kept it from being a 'Game of the Year' for some.
"As someone who had been singing the praises of Telltale Games since they brought back Sam and Max, I was ecstatic that they had finally made the jump to mainstream acceptance and proved that to make a great title you needed well-written and acted narratives. When those who’ve played The Walking Dead wax lyrical, you’d be hard-pressed to find the gameplay mechanics being touted and praised as the highlights, instead it’s the storytelling elements that receive endless praise and reign so memorable."
You can take the NOTE off now since it's been approved. :)