Video Game Reviews




The Walking Dead Game: Season 2, Episode One: All That Remains

Telltale Games

Reviewed on: PC

Also on: PS3, Xbox 360, iOS

Street: 12.18.13

If you play games to see a happy ending or feel uplifted, you should avoid this one at all costs. Telltale Games has decided that, instead of taking the pinnacle of virtue from the first game through peril and pain unscathed, they will instead twist Clementine into a manipulative survivalist. Nothing in the world of The Walking Dead is sacred—even children. While guiding Clementine through the dark world created by the evil geniuses at Telltale, you are constantly baited into believing that a friend has been found, or that safety is reached, before having the rug pulled out from under you. What’s worse is that all of this is done to you through a point-and-click adventure that never should have left the ’80s. The game requires you to interact just enough to make crucial decisions, stressing you out as you fight or run from zombie and human alike. This game is a masterpiece of writing and minimalist interface, bundled with a choose-your-own adventure twist. Don’t waste your life on crappy, run-of-the-mill, heartwarming crap. Pop a Xanax, turn out the lights and prepare to have your faith in humanity ruined. –Thomas Winkley

 

The Wolf Among Us: Episode One – Faith

Telltale Games

Reviewed on: Xbox 360

Also on: PC, PS3, Vita, iOS, OS X

Street: 10.11.13

It takes a certain attention to detail for a game company to replicate a piece of pop culture that’s been around for over a decade without flaws. But Telltale nailed it with this Fables spinoff game, taking place sometime before the Vertigo comic book series starts, but staying faithful to the foul-mouthed fairytale cast who inhabit the “mundy world.” Much like The Walking Dead series before it, this is a choose-your-own-adventure story with Fabletown sheriff Bigby Wolf investigating the murder of a fellow refugee character. Every decision you make affects the gameplay, often enticing you to come back later and try it a different way. The graphics stay true to the drawn style of the series, and while the voice acting isn’t the best at times, it’s forgivable for having a good story with familiar characters. The only downside is that the first chapter is done in under two hours, which means if you’re not into exploring new options of what you did before, you’re stuck waiting for the next chapter download this spring. If you love the comic books, this is a must-own. –Gavin Sheehan