At last the waiting is done. All that vaguely obsessive compulsive analysis of the trailer need no longer suffice for the hungry fans. It seemed like it would never happen, but finally, the Walking Dead Telltale game, season 2, has arrived. Episode one is ready for our thrilled exploration. And you'll hear no discouraging words from this aficionado. It rocks.
Robert Kirkman's mega successful franchise, The Walking Dead, has provided loads of opportunity for the creative explorations of a fan base keen to interact with the world of the zombie apocalypse. I've written elsewhere about the fervor of the Walking Dead fanfiction . Another opportunity for such interaction is provided by the Telltale game.
Clementine, once the object of our care and projection, has graduated to hero of the class. This little girl, who the first season portrayed as innocent and vulnerable, having lost her guardian, now has had to grow up and make the hard decisions to survive in the zombie apocalypse.
This great game continues to breathe new life into the adventure game genre. In the process, its winning season one strategy, that avoids lapsing into pedantic puzzle solving, continues with the emphasis being upon dynamic of interactive story telling. And these aren't empty choices.
The protagonist's choices matter. Not just in the moment, but also in the future. They can lead to surprising and tragic outcomes. The game keeps track of choices, even alerting the player about specific statements or actions that another character will remember. Often these past decisions come back to haunt the protagonist. And this is not only from episode to episode, but it appears choices from last season will affect options in this new season.
All this is not to say that there are no changes in season two. And most of them are definitely improvements. The technical improvements are particularly noteworthy. I found the graphics much improved in the second season; they are more richly detailed. Frame rates are also improved, being more stable. Clementine walks about at a much advanced clip, now. A welcomed addition, when gripped in on-the-edge-of-your-seat suspense.
My one complaint isn't a huge thing, but it does annoy me a little. And it is worth mentioning considering how much of the game's cache and value arises from its interactivity. The dialogue choices frequently struck me as excessively bi-polar. It seems I have to play Clementine as either a waif or a badass. She's either batting her eyes or spoiling for a throw-down. I think these options are too limited and don't get the most out of the story. I'll be watching that development going forward.
On the flip side of the coin, though, playing a young girl does provide for some interesting options that weren't available by playing Lee. Clementine can be coyly manipulative. This is a new and interesting option - especially for those of us who have never been young girls!
But of course what Telltale does best, well exhibited in season one of The Walking Dead, is still on display here in the first episode of season two. That is the moral ambiguity and dilemmas that forcefully confront the protagonist. Are you going to turn Clementine into a killer right from the start?
Often to their own surprise and even lament, a lot of early players have done just that. What will be the long term consequences of this choice? We anxiously await what future episodes will reveal. This kind of moral turmoil is the real secret of success for the Walking Dead Telltale games, I believe. So far, in season two, all is looking bright for the future. Well, as long as you're not, you know, caught up in a zombie apocalypse, and the like.
Robert Kirkman's mega successful franchise, The Walking Dead, has provided loads of opportunity for the creative explorations of a fan base keen to interact with the world of the zombie apocalypse. I've written elsewhere about the fervor of the Walking Dead fanfiction . Another opportunity for such interaction is provided by the Telltale game.
Clementine, once the object of our care and projection, has graduated to hero of the class. This little girl, who the first season portrayed as innocent and vulnerable, having lost her guardian, now has had to grow up and make the hard decisions to survive in the zombie apocalypse.
This great game continues to breathe new life into the adventure game genre. In the process, its winning season one strategy, that avoids lapsing into pedantic puzzle solving, continues with the emphasis being upon dynamic of interactive story telling. And these aren't empty choices.
The protagonist's choices matter. Not just in the moment, but also in the future. They can lead to surprising and tragic outcomes. The game keeps track of choices, even alerting the player about specific statements or actions that another character will remember. Often these past decisions come back to haunt the protagonist. And this is not only from episode to episode, but it appears choices from last season will affect options in this new season.
All this is not to say that there are no changes in season two. And most of them are definitely improvements. The technical improvements are particularly noteworthy. I found the graphics much improved in the second season; they are more richly detailed. Frame rates are also improved, being more stable. Clementine walks about at a much advanced clip, now. A welcomed addition, when gripped in on-the-edge-of-your-seat suspense.
My one complaint isn't a huge thing, but it does annoy me a little. And it is worth mentioning considering how much of the game's cache and value arises from its interactivity. The dialogue choices frequently struck me as excessively bi-polar. It seems I have to play Clementine as either a waif or a badass. She's either batting her eyes or spoiling for a throw-down. I think these options are too limited and don't get the most out of the story. I'll be watching that development going forward.
On the flip side of the coin, though, playing a young girl does provide for some interesting options that weren't available by playing Lee. Clementine can be coyly manipulative. This is a new and interesting option - especially for those of us who have never been young girls!
But of course what Telltale does best, well exhibited in season one of The Walking Dead, is still on display here in the first episode of season two. That is the moral ambiguity and dilemmas that forcefully confront the protagonist. Are you going to turn Clementine into a killer right from the start?
Often to their own surprise and even lament, a lot of early players have done just that. What will be the long term consequences of this choice? We anxiously await what future episodes will reveal. This kind of moral turmoil is the real secret of success for the Walking Dead Telltale games, I believe. So far, in season two, all is looking bright for the future. Well, as long as you're not, you know, caught up in a zombie apocalypse, and the like.
About the Author:
When you want to keep up with all the Walking Dead news , you should check out Mickey Jhonny's posts at the Pretty Much Dead Already site. Gaming enthusiasts will want to read his review of the best games for PC that is entirely free!
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