PC/Mac Game Review: The Walking Dead - Episode 3: "Long Road Ahead" - Page 2

The true beauty of The Walking Dead game is the interactive plot. Unlike other recent zombie games like Left 4 Dead, the story is far from linear. Instead of being shown a cutscene and then dropped into the middle of an action sequence, most of the gameplay involves your choices as you branch conversation paths with your comrades. Telltale skillfully captures the complexity of human interaction as seemingly innocent statements result in unexpected responses and dire consequences.

The magnitude of your conversational choices is amplified by the limited response time you are given for your choices. With only a few seconds to read and decide which option to choose, it feels like you are constantly putting your foot in your mouth. In the zombie apocalypse, this is no minor faux pas — choosing the wrong option could result in a weakened relationship with another survivor, distrust towards your character, or potentially the unintended death of someone close to you.

The story is primarily moved along by these conversations, but the dialogue is broken up by various puzzles and action sequences. These breaks in conversation are helpful in avoiding monotony, but the intellectual ease of these interludes is only mildly entertaining. And this small amount of fun is overshadowed by the frustrating control scheme of the game. When my character died in "Long Road Ahead," it wasn't because I didn't know what to do but because of my difficulty in controlling Lee's movements. Moreover, the quicktime sequences of mashing the "Q" key as fast as you can to push off an assailant have passed the realm of predictability and are now more annoying than exciting. Thankfully, these diversions are short and have only a minor impact on the overall experience. 

The ingenuity of Telltale's implementation of interactive features in their rendition of The Walking Dead continues to create a compelling gaming experience in Episode 3 "Long Road Ahead."  Despite some lackluster action sequences, the episode as a whole is the best one yet in what is sure to be one of the most successful zombie franchises ever made.

The Walking Dead is rated M (Mature) by the ESRB for Strong Language, Blood and Gore, Intense Violence. This game can also be found on: Xbox 360, PS3 and iOS.

Article Author: SLee

Figuring out this modern world of technology and gaming, SLee is the main contributor of the ostensibly two-man blog, SLeeAndTopher.com, and specializes in novel ways to buy video games for less.

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