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Publisher Telltale Games
Developer
Released: April 27, 2012 |
Supported Features:
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Review Scores: (?) 8 - Gameplay 9 - Graphics 9 - Sound 8 - Value FINAL SCORE:
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The Walking Dead: Episode One – A New Day Based on the Eisner award-winning comic book series with an AMC television adaptation of the same name, The Walking Dead is an episodic horror action adventure game by Telltale Games of Sam & Max fame, taking place at the onset of the zombie apocalypse preceding the events of the comics and TV show. Given that Telltale is best known for its graphic adventure games, it’s not surprising that The Walking Dead isn’t your traditional zombie apocalypse shooter. That’s not to say that The Walking Dead isn’t full of zombie-stomping goodness. You’ll still get plenty of action: the game certainly doesn’t shy away from having the player graphically take a hammer to a teenaged walker’s face, for instance, and slow reflexes can still get you eaten alive. What sets The Walking Dead apart, though, is that it’s not all about the violence. The Walking Dead sets out to flesh out the events immediately preceding the comic and TV series and does a fantastic job of creating emotional impact and a sense of responsibility for your in-game choices.
Where other adventure games may have players hunting for random gewgaws to solve outlandish puzzles, The Walking Dead keeps it relatively straightforward and practical. You’ll find Lee looking for batteries for a dead radio, figuring out how to dispatch a gaggle of walkers without causing too much noise, or hunting down keys to unlock an office door. If you’re used to playing adventure games, you’ll find this one pretty easy. The lack of challenging puzzles, however, is balanced with a genuinely creepy ambiance, top-notch storytelling, and some honest-to-goodness combat scenes that require faster thinking to move, aim that reticle, and make judicious use of the axe or screwdriver you picked up earlier before Lee becomes zombie food. This is sometimes easier said than done, as the interface, while generally decent for ordinary exploration, is less helpful for taking decisive action. Not only is it sometimes difficult to see during these critical moments because they’re often dark and laced with a blurring effect, it’s just a tad awkward to both aim with the right thumb stick and activate the A button with the same hand on a moving target. It’s manageable once you get the hang of it, but I’d have far preferred using the right trigger instead for those faster-paced segments. The art, sound, and overall presentation are outstanding, however. While rendered in 3D, the graphics achieve a gritty, hand-drawn look with ink-lined and painted textures that fit really well with the game’s comic-book roots, and the lifelike animations, desaturated colors, and detail-packed post-apocalyptic rural and small-town environments really bring The Walking Dead’s Southern setting to life. Episode One goes for 400 Microsoft Points ($5.00 US dollars) and a single play-through took me about three hours. With all the branching in-game choices and three save slots, though, there’s significant incentive to replay the game. For the price of a large espresso beverage, it’s not a bad deal for the enjoyment I got from this game. You may wonder if it’s important to have read the comics or watched the TV show, but I’ll be honest with you: though The Walking Dead is on my Netflix instant queue and the comics on my endless to-read list, other than having an interest in the series, I hadn’t actually had any experience with either one before taking on this review. Even so though, any cameo characters were as new to me as the rest, I didn’t feel at all lost, left out, or spoiled for being new to the series. As far as I can tell, the game is as good a starting point as any for introducing players to the story and setting. In closing, The Walking Dead: Episode One – A New Day is a surprisingly fun and unusual take on a zombie/horror survival game, and I enjoyed it immensely. I was unexpectedly attached to my version of Lee Everett by the end of that first installment, and it was fun to see how my choices compared to those of all other players at the end of the episode. I’d highly recommend this one if you’ve got a free evening to spare. Here’s looking forward to Episode Two! Screenshots 
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Genre: Adventure
The cast of new characters, with a few cameos by characters from the comics and TV show, are generally both believable and sympathetic, thanks to solid writing and voice acting. As Lee Everett, a convict who is unexpectedly given a second chance when zombies attack Atlanta, Georgia, the player has numerous chances to define the kind of man Lee turns out to be. Conversation replies and plot choices are timed, cleverly creating realistic tension by allowing only a few seconds to make critical decisions—such as whether Lee tells someone the truth about his past, who he sides with in an argument, or whose life he saves—and Telltale promises us that these choices will have an impact on how the other four upcoming episodes play out.
