The Walking Dead Episode 3 Long Road Ahead Review

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Developer Telltale

Publisher Telltale

Platform PC, PS3, Xbox360

Release Date Out Now (US)

Each and every episode of The Walking Dead gets better and better, the story has become one of the most engrossing in any game I’ve played. Along with the progression of each of the characters the set pieces and choices you faced with get more and more disturbing. Thankfully the team at Telltale are not afraid to tackle the more unpalatable topics that cropped up in the comics when they came to make this game.

 

 

It’s Episode 3 the midpoint of the season, we have heard rumors of a second season so let’s keep our fingers crossed but for now we are half way there. The introduction to the game is over and it’s time to step it up. The pressure now reaching unbearable levels within the group, we have seen some horrific moments that have led to tensions within each faction. As the infighting comes to a head you have to deal with your own past coming back, the group’s dynamics shifting, along with the dwindling supplies and bandits.

Edit: It has been brought to our attention that the right trigger does in fact work in the shooting sections, we must have been caught up in the panic and didn’t have time to properly test the button configuration. As such you can ignore the issue mentioned below as the game is actually pretty darn perfect after all!  It is good to see Telltale addressing our problems before we even know they exist. 

We did come across our first real issue with the game since its launch and while it is a small one and it only really happens during the action packed scenes it did create some small moment of frustration. It is particularly noticeable in this episode as it is the most action packed episode to date. The controls as you know use the two analogue sticks and the face buttons. This is usually ok until you need to use all three at the same time. It is actually pretty darn hard to move the left stick, move a target with the right stick and press the X button at the same time under time pressure. Maybe allowing a button change to R1 especially for shooting would help here greatly.

 

 

The biggest surprise for me personally whilst playing this game is that this game has changed me as a player. When I started out I worked on the premise that I would be the good guy and help everyone, which lasted for episode one without much difficulty as I quickly chose the right answer. Episode two saw a swing to the middle ground and I had to seriously think about every choice but for the most part I think I made the right choice as I tried to help people and play the mediator.

Pretty early on in Episode 3 you are faced with a pretty awful choice and to my surprise I went for the selfish cruel option straight away giving little thought to anyone other else beyond my own survival.

Not many games have ever affected me like that and managed to change me so drastically but I guess that speaks volumes about the incredible a job Telltale have done in capturing the not only the comics but also portraying the loss of humanity within the game. So much so that it soaks out from the screen and right into your personality.

Overall: I know I say this after every episode but this is the best one yet, it had so many clever twists and turns and sets everything up for episode 4 which is sure will be even better. Keep it up Telltale this is yet another genre defining moment in your long history.

 

SCORE 9.5/10

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