The Walking Dead Season 2: Episode 4 - Amid the Ruins picks up in the aftermath of The Walking Dead Season 2: Episode 3 - In Harm's Way and finds the group picking up the pieces following a narrow escape from Carver's group. Clementine's group is broken though, and the young hero will need to make plenty of tough choices that eventually lead to Clementine teaming with one side or the other. A lot of what happens in the storyline still remain mostly out of the player's hands though, so choices aren't as significant in the new episode.
Gameplay hasn't changed much since the start of Season 2. Players will need to quickly choose dialogue options or choose how to attack enemies on a short timer. Dialogue choices will be made automatically, if players don't react fast enough, while not performing an attack properly will result in the player's death most of the time. The game also incorporates a few puzzles that will have players stumped for a few moments. The puzzles help mix up the gameplay while also giving players a healthy breather between narratives. Fans of the series can still be happy with the new release despite the new episode's weak storyline.
Playing as Clementine is still a lot of fun in The Walking Dead Season 2: Episode 4 - Amid the Ruins. Telltale Games does a great job of putting the young girl in situations that are escapable for players, but the game retains a sense of realism and situational awareness to keep players immersed in the experience rather than wondering how the little girl managed to escape yet another near death experience. Clementine is a survivor, and the game drives home that point without making players feel left out of the action. There are plenty of moments that will test gamer's reaction times and ability to perform well during scripted quick time events throughout the chapter, so players are never really bored in playing the game.
The Walking Dead Season 2: Episode 4 - Amid the Ruins doesn't make any visual improvements, as the series hasn't really taken a step forward since the first episode of the new season. The same graphical glitches and issues that appeared in the very first Telltale Games release are still present in The Walking Dead Season 2: Episode 4 - Amid the Ruins, though these problems seem to be getting better rather than more abundant. Sound design for the series remains top notch with excellent voice actors making up the cast of characters in the game, and there are some returning theme songs that help get the most emotional response out of certain situations in the new episode.
Ultimately, fans will be a bit disappointed with the new release, but The Walking Dead Season 2: Episode 4 - Amid the Ruins does a fantastic job of leaving the door open for what is to come in the season's finale. Everything in the new episode is leading to the next release, and some characters are lost and some plot holes are created in the process. The Walking Dead Season 2: Episode 4 - Amid the Ruins isn't the best storyline Telltale Games has produced for The Walking Dead series to be sure, but the game is still fun enough to be worth a purchase before moving on to The Walking Dead Season 2: Episode 5 - No Going Back soon after.
The Walking Dead Season 2: Episode 4 - Amid the Ruins is now available for PlayStation Network, Xbox LIVE Arcade, Steam and iOS and can be purchased for $4.99. The Walking Dead Season 2: Episode 4 - Amid the Ruins is rated M by the ESRB for Intense Violence, Blood and Gore & Strong Language. For more information on the game, check out the official The Walking Dead website.
Game Features:
- Single Player
- Branching Storyline with Consequential Actions
- Compare Choices with Other Players Online
- Continue the Story of Clementine
- Trophy/Achievement Support
Game Information:
Developer & Publisher: Telltale Games
Platforms: PlayStation 3, Xbox 360 (reviewed), PC & iOS
Release Date: July 22, 2014