The Walking Dead - Review

“A man isn’t bad; a man just is” – A review of Telltales The Walking Dead. 

The Walking Dead, on the surface, is a horror franchise. A zombie apocalypse has destroyed society as we know it, leaving people desperate and doing whatever it takes to survive. Money has no worth anymore, and morals are ambiguous. At its core, The Walking Dead is about the connections people have with one another, and what people are capable of when it comes to the survival of themselves and their loved ones. Telltale captures this perfectly.

Telltales The Walking Dead revolves around Lee, a felon who was on his way to prison when the apocalypse began, and a little girl he comes to protect, Clementine. Lee isn’t your typical main character, but that’s the point; the moral ambiguity and difficult decisions begin immediately. With society crumbling around you and with no help or end in sight, the events of the past fade into obscurity and all that matters is your actions now.

Lee may not be perfect, but he has taken on the role of Clementine’s father figure and protector, often making difficult decisions and sacrifices to keep her safe. Clementine is innocent and vulnerable, a character who just doesn’t fit in the stark, terrifying reality of the new world around them. The two share a strong bond, despite their differences, and you often find yourself asking “What’s best for Clem?” when it comes to difficult decisions.

There are a host of characters you meet along the way, some more likeable than others, but all who bring their own narratives and motivations to the plot. From Kenny, who will do anything to protect the ones he loves, Duck, an innocent young boy who befriends Clementine, to the St John Family who have some… interesting eating habits. Each character you meet adds depth to the narrative, and the suspense of not knowing who you can really trust adds to the overall tension and horror of the game.

Decisions are incredibly important throughout. A chose your own adventure story, The Walking Dead forces you to make incredibly difficult choices throughout which often leads to unprecedented consequences. Some choices are literally life and death in the moment, whilst others can lead to consequences much later, meaning that every time you interact with even a minor character, you can’t help but feel slightly on edge – you never know what motivations a character may have when speaking to you, or what they may do later.

The sound design of this game is fantastic, with the groans of the walkers adding tension, the eery silence of certain places adding a feeling of being watched, and the score adding emotional depth to scenes which are already incredibly moving. The writing is for the most part beautiful, and the art style is clever, mimicking the graphic novels rather than the TV series.

The horror elements of this game are clever too. Whilst having to stealthily sneak past a horde of walkers or fight your way to safety is fun, the real horror of this game is loss. Interacting with a character, you find yourself wondering if you’ll need to put a bullet in their head later to stop them from eating you alive, and what could be more horrific than that?

This isn’t just a horror game, it’s an emotional experience. Morally complicated choices drive the narrative, and you often have to decide who lives and who dies. Having Clementine as a companion can occasionally slow you down, but that’s okay as there isn’t anything you wouldn’t do to keep her safe. This is a game all about trust and sacrifice. This is a game which forgives you for past mistakes and allows you to reimagine who you are, to recreate your legacy and to choose to be better. Isn’t that beautiful?

The plot drives you through an unforgettable story in a world that just wants you dead, the characters you meet are either a help or a hindrance depending somewhat on the decisions you make, and the ending will likely leave you in tears. My only complaint? That it wasn’t longer. This isn’t to say that it felt rushed or I didn’t get value for money. I just didn’t want it to end.

The good news is that this isn’t the only The Walking Dead game that Telltale released, and if you become as emotionally attached to Clementine as I did, you’ll be sure to love the rest of the games. The bad news? Just like the TV series and graphic novels, getting attached to anyone is a bad idea, unless you want your heart ripped out.

Overall, this is a fantastic game which will have you asking yourself what you would do to save yourself – and your loved ones – at the end of the world.

Written by Tam Page

Posted by Mr. Tomney

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