Although characters such as Glenn, Herschel and Lilly make their way into the first episode, the main protagonists in the game series is Lee Everett--a former prisoner who narrowly escapes a wrecked squad car after a run in with zombies-- and a little girl named Clementine--who manages to survive her zombified babysitter by seeking shelter in the tree house in her home's backyard. The unlikely duo meets up after a strange series of events leads Lee to Clementine's home. Lee manages to dispatch the babysitter, and soon after, the two set off to find help. The episode's story takes a lot of twists and turns through its roughly 2-3 hour long campaign, and decisions you make now can be felt throughout your current chapter or even into other episodes.
Adding to the drama already present in the game, a timer will appear warning you how long you have to make these important decisions. The variety of choices and dramatic tension created by the consequences of your actions make an already great storyline even more fun to play. Throughout the game, you'll have to keep your eye open for interactive objects that Lee can use to fight off enemies, help fellow survivors or use to solve ingenious puzzles. Combat in the game is simplistic so that anyone can enjoy it, but it also allows enough interaction to keep your full attention throughout the episode. Helping survivors can make them more friendlier, and you can never have too many friends in the zombie apocalypse.
The puzzles in the game are also fun to solve, such as figuring out how to distract zombies long enough to make your way across the street to an important item. The graphics in the game are a beautiful blend of cel-shading drawings that look better than what you'd see in the comics, and they are in color now too. Animations are crisp and look far superior to what you'd find in any interactive motion comic around. Camera angles are perfectly designed to keep you on the right track and add dramatic tension, but don't allow for much exploration. The game's voiceover is incredible bringing an added flair to each character you encounter during the episode. Add all of this up, and you've got an incredibly addictive and entertaining game that can be easily enjoyed by fans of The Walking Dead or simply zombie enthusiasts whose gaming skills may not be quite up to par with your typical gamer. The game's story is just as good as or better than the comics or television show, and the impact of your decisions ensure that you'll want to play the game again and again to see how different scenarios play out. Simply put, The Walking Dead is a must own game whether you consider yourself a gamer or not.
For more information on the game, check out the official Telltale's The Walking Dead website.
Game Features
Developer and Publisher: Telltale Games
Rating: M for Blood and Gore, Intense Violence & Strong Language
Platforms: PlayStation 3, Xbox 360 (reviewed), PC (reviewed) & Mac
Release Dates: April 25, 2012 for PlayStation 3, PC & Mac/April 27, 2012 for Xbox 360
Game Rating: 10 out of 10