Episode 1: “A New Day”
So the guys at Telltale Games have released their latest game following in the same footsteps of Back to the Future and Sam and Max. By releasing episodic titles, the players are definitely in for a real treat with their latest endeavor The Walking Dead. Based on the comic book by Robert Kirkman, The Walking Dead: A New Day is the first of 5 episodes that will be released on a monthly basis.
Okay so I am a huge fan of the television show and being that I have not had a chance to experience the comics, I must say that this game really rocks! Not in the sense that I want to go on a “WALKER” killing spree, but because the story draws me in just like the TV show. Telltale Games give the player a great presentation while immersing you into the post apocalyptic world of the undead.
In “A New Day”, you play from the perspective of a man named Lee. Not much is known about him at the beginning but as you engage in conversations, you will learn more about him piece by piece. That’s the real draw from The Walking Dead. I felt the same experience playing this game as I did with Quantum Theory’s Heavy Rain. The characters keep sucking you in to the point that you start to really care whether they live or die. What is amazing is how these emotions weigh heavy on your decision making and is incorporated into the gameplay. You immediately feel the connection of the characters as the story unfolds. If you complete certain tasks you are given more pieces to your character’s story.
The gameplay can be described as “minimal” when compared to most games that involve zombie killing. If you are looking to own hoards of zombies with rocket launchers and Molotov Cocktails then please look elsewhere. The Walking Dead is all about the choices you make and how they affect the outcome. As a result this is what happens when you take Mass Effect along with Heavy Rain and they decide to bump uglies. You are only given a certain amount of time to make your decisions so certain scenes can become frantic and stressful. Telltale Games promise that based on your decisions, your story and characters will be different from your friend’s progress.
The graphics in The Walking Dead are amazing and can be compared to the cell-shade style found in Borderlands. The developers seem to do a kick ass job of maintaining the visual integrity of the comic books. All of the characters seem to animate well and really match up with the excellent voice acting. The sounds really setup the various scenes that your characters interact with. I found myself cringing at the repeated bludgeoning of the undead. The game isn’t without flaws, but these instances are few and far between. It certainly does not put a damper on the gameplay. If you really love the Walking Dead, there is no reason to pass this game up. Look for the next episodes in the following months to come.
GOD KING GRADE: (B) ★★★★★
