Review: The Walking Dead, Episode 1 ? Video Games Reviews ...

Everyone?s favorite zombie apocalypse franchise has reached yet another milestone as TellTale Games?has released the first installment of its serialized video game based on the wildly popular The Walking Dead. First released as a comic book, then adapted to television by cable network AMC, the dramatic storyline of the title makes for fine video game fodder as long as you enjoy deep story telling more than button mashing. Check out the trailer for the game posted above, then continue reading below for Geek.com?s review.

Unlike other horror survival games like Left 4 Dead?and Resident Evil, The Walking Dead video game isn?t about blowing away anything that stand in your path. With its roots deep in the original comic book series, the popular franchise has always been about communicating the human experience during a post-apocalyptic world in which death is the consequence for a wrong decision. Deciding to take the rich storytelling that original author Robert Kirkman has focused on, TellTale games decided (wisely in my opinion) to create a ?playable comic book,? meaning that the focus is on story with action placed in a timely faction to keep things interesting. Being released in 5 parts over as many months, the serialized approach to the game gives you both something to look forward to and cliffhangers that will leave you wanting more. That being said, if you?re looking for a button-mashing zombie action title and could care less about storyline, The Walking Dead may not be for you.

I have always been intrigued by the idea of a playable comic. Many different titles have tried to create an interactive title that resembles the famous ?choose your own adventure? Dungeons & Dragons books that TSR put out in the early 80?s, only to fail miserably in capturing the idea of allowing you to control your ?destiny.? After spending some time with The Walking Dead, I can say that I have finally found a game studio that truly understands the serialized video game genre, and has succeeded in creating a novelized title for consumption. These facts coupled with the amount of effort that has been put into the visuals of the game make the $24.95 season pass worth every penny.

The gameplay of The Walking Dead?is focused around exploration and learning about your environment, including the different people you meet along the way. Rather than furiously having to manipulate the controls to survive, you will notice that there is a lot of dialogue that needs to be listened and reacted to, with your answers affecting how the game flows forward (it?s choose your own adventure!). While the dialogue tells the story of the game, the background music, dark visuals and skillfully placed battle sequences that are peppered into the experience build an enjoyable tension that leaves you wondering what?s going to jump out at you.

Please excuse the following cliche, but it?s an?immersive experience that leaves you suspicious of everyone and everything you come into contact with.

While The Walking Dead?is definitely story-driven, it doesn?t mean that there isn?t any excitement. On the contrary, the battle sequences that I played through in Episode 1 are harrowing as you have a limited amount of time to make a decision that could mean life or death for you and the members of your party. What keeps this mechanic fresh is that while your reaction is dependent on only a single button press, there isn?t a dedicated move or attack mapped to the controls. You literally have to assess each option quickly and then pick the one that you think will have the best outcome. Without revealing any spoilers, sometimes the available decisions don?t look appealing in the least, leaving you to choose the course of action that will benefit you the most. This makes the title startlingly realistic, as when the chips are down in a zombie apocalypse it?s going to be every person for themselves when it comes to survival.

If you appreciate titles that take the time to tell a great story that?s combined with gameplay that will enhance your experience, then The Walking Dead?is a game that you can be confident in purchasing. The refined comic book visuals along with a cunning layout of the title will keep you enthralled as you work your way through each episode. If your gaming style is to seek the thrill that comes from being the best at dispatching hordes of zombies with as little ammo as possible, I really can?t see you enjoying this game very much.

The Walking Dead?is available for digital download on the Xbox 360, PS3 and PC. A Season Pass that gets you all the episodes as they are released is available for $24.99. For console gamers the first episode costs 400 points on Xbox Live and $19.99 for all 5 episodes or $4.99 to buy them a la carte on the PS3.

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