In the spring of 2012, Telltale Games released the first episode of the critically acclaimed The Walking Dead episodic video game. These episodes were applauded more for their storytelling and problem solving rather than the actual mechanics of combat. You, the player, dictated how some of the story would unfold. In a generation filled with shooters, a point and click horror survival game with more of an emphasis on narrative than bullets was the creative shot in the arm that the gaming industry needed.
Fans and reviewers alike grew so attached to the characters of Season 1 that it was hard to let some of them go as the story unfolded. Season 1’s ending was a punch to the gut that left many eagerly waiting to see how Season 2 would unfold. While Telltale Games isn’t quite ready to offer up much, they want to, maybe, stoke the flame by offering up a glimpse into some of the characters that may be present in future episodes of Season 2.
400 Days features five survivors of the zombie apocalypse. Each survivor has it’s own vignette that tallies in around 15-20 minutes each. The emphasis in 400 Days is more about the characters and how they are coming to terms with their reality than merely surviving zombie encounters. That’s not to say our brain eating friends don’t make an appearance or two, but clearly, for now, they are not the star(s) of the show.
When the DLC loads up, you are staring at a missing persons bulletin board. The board displays the pictures of five characters: Vince, Wyatt, Bonnie, Shel and Russell. Their stories do not yet play off of each other, so Telltale Games leaves playthrough order up to you. Of course, some stories are better than others but for the most part you will get many details packed into each one. My favorite story out of the five was the one involving the character Wyatt. To my recollection, this was the first time they paired up two male characters who were friends before the zombie breakout. It was interesting to see how the two interacted and dealt with both the ever present zombies and the surviving locals who maybe did not want the burden of more survivors.
The 400 Days DLC hit the sweet spot and then some for me. It packed a lot of character development into about 75 minutes of gameplay. It scratches the itch by delivering more content from Telltale Games and, in my opinion, hooks you right away on a whole new set of characters. Of course, there is no guarantee that these five characters will see the light of day in Season 2, but one would think with the amount of polish in this DLC that you would definitely see more from some, if not all, of them.
Final Verdict
Ultimately, 400 Days leaves you asking more questions than answers. At a $5 price tag, or 400 MS Points, this is money well spent. You will leave satisfied but yet hungry for more content. Look for Season 2 to release in the Fall of 2013. 