answers that leave the player feeling like there is no middle ground between good and devious. A circle rotates to mark down the time remaining as you hurry to make a decision while weighing the potential outcomes as time ticks away. This mechanic ensures that you feel a sense of spontaneity when you reply. The cast of voice actors thoughtfully expresses their responses they are never curtly stated, allowing the statements to feel sincere and natural.
Playing through the entire episode my first time took almost two hours. While this may seem like a relatively short time, it didn’t at all feel that way while playing it. By being able to complete the game all in one sitting, without distractions or breaks, you are able to be immersed into the uneasy and creepy atmosphere from beginning to end. This is a case where you won’t be setting the game down to come back to finish it, only to realize you have forgotten pieces of information. One downside with a game like this is the re-playability. At best, it is moderate, as I found myself going back into certain chapters to travel down a different path and see how interactions between characters differed. At a certain point near the end of the game I had to pause and turn off the sound because the cries of Clementine were just too much, almost to the point of becoming nauseating. This is an example of the powerful atmosphere created when elements of gameplay and story work so well together.
You will be left questioning your choices and asking yourself if you could be as brave as Clementine, given the same set of circumstances. These uneasy feelings seem to be intensified when you are using a handheld. Having to hold the game at a close distance, it’s easy to become totally engrossed. As my first experience with a Telltale Games title, I was more than pleased with their approach to the graphic adventure genre. Some developers seem to have forgotten the importance of telling a simple story well. Telltale Games have a winning formula here and I can’t wait for more.
C. Butcher
4.4 out of 5
Vita
Style
Single Player
Publisher
Telltale Games
Developer
Telltale Games
Release
April 22