In Episode One, we were introduced to our protagonist, Lee Everett, a man being escorted from Atlanta in the back of a patrol car after being convicted of murder. Lee’s trip is cut short when he’s rather abruptly introduced to the zombie apocalypse and soon finds that prison is the least of his concerns. He met up with a little girl, Clementine, and episode one detailed their first few days in the new world and the people they met before ending with the game’s survivors holed up in a motel.
Where We Are Now
Episode Two picks up three months after the events from the first episode and we find our survivors struggling as food begins to run low. Things aren’t exactly sunshine and roses as people are grumpy due to rationing and that pesky little problem with dead folks trying to eat everyone. Despite the overarching issue of zombies, the basis of this game is that your decisions will affect the story across all episodes and I saw evidence of that almost immediately by the interactions and conversations between the characters. I heard references to choices I made in the first episode and character interaction seemed to be further based upon this.
Fans of the TV Series will see a lot of similarities to the writing style and story progression. There is a struggle of leadership as opposing viewpoints clash with Lee acting as either a mediator or instigator and the story arc in Episode Two could easily be something you’d see Rick and the gang encounter. I don’t want to give anything away but this episode has less to do with zombies than with how humans will respond when society implodes around them. What will normal people do and how long will they go when you can’t run to Wal-Mart for a loaf of bread or call 911 when grandma tries to eat your face? You won’t be seeing any afterschool specials about that one.
Now, a word of warning. I said you will see similarities with the TV series, that is both good and bad. Like the show, when it’s good, it’s like eating bacon-wrapped bacon while skydiving onto the back of a Tyrannosaurus Rex and firing an automatic shotgun with explosive rounds into the face of Osama Bin Laden. (Yes...I know he’s dead but go with me on this one.)
When The Walking Dead game is good, it is a rocking experience. It does an amazing job of telegraphing tension into your decisions and knowing that it may have long-term unexpected consequences made me overanalyze everything I say trying to think what will be best. Having a timer is truly a game changer and I’ve been left regretting decisions made in haste. For example, there is one huge call you have to make in Episode Two that I hated the moment I made it but was stuck with it. This decision is going to carry some major long term ramifications but, even though I hate it, I love that a game can make me think through my actions like a real-world situation.
The game isn’t all bacon-eating, dinosaur-riding, shotgun-shooting goodness, sometimes it will feel like the T-Rex had a box of Viagra and thinks you have a pretty mouth. That may be a little over-dramatic. It isn’t bad in these places, it just isn’t as good. Again, for fans of the TV series, it’s just like the show. In season two, it started by dripping awesomeness with the herd on the highway, followed by what seemed like years of them looking for that stupid girl in the woods, to more awesomeness in the final episodes. There is a point in this episode where I felt this happening. It started out with a really intense scene, followed by a point in the middle where I was bored, which then led to more intensity. By the time I finished, the mild boredom was forgotten by the way things climaxed (that’s what she said), and I once again am eagerly anticipating the next chapter in Lee’s story.
Redneck’s Reflection
Overall, this is a game that shouldn’t be missed. Even if you are unfamiliar with The Walking Dead, the episodes only cost 400 ms points ($5) apiece and are truly a masterful bit of storytelling made even more fantastic by how compelling it feels. Each episode takes around an hour and a half to complete but the effects will leave you wanting to play it again to make better decisions.
Pick it up and give it a try. You may regret some of your in-game decisions but it’s truly a great ride. Now, if they’d just include a Kinect minigame where I got to shake the mess out of Lori.
About the Author
Joey “RogueRedneck” Parker is a born and bred Southern boy hailing from Tennessee. When he’s not spending time with his family, serving in his church, or being drug away to other real world concerns, he can be found either on his 360 or wielding his Overlord powers in a futile attempt to regulate the dysfunctional members of 2old2pwn. Joey likes to play a variety of genres but possesses a completely rational hatred for all racing and fighting games. Although he’s not addicted to achievements (Really, he can quit whenever he wants), he is ever on the hunt for that next elusive bleep bloop.
