[SPOILERS]The Walking Dead episode 5 and entire game REVIEW thread

[JabbaDaHuttX7]

Originally Posted by Araron

Your choices do matter.
The game is "Tailored".Which dosen't mean that you get story-branching.

If you acknowledge that the game's choices do not branch out to any significant extent then it could be very well argued that they are likely to not 'matter' at all to some people.

The word 'tailored' is used pretty ambiguously here; people are allowed to understand it differently and not necessarily be wrong. Though to be honest, I'd strongly encourage some fans here to look up the Wikipedia article on 'Weasel word(s)', since the way it is used as a defense of the game by fans (not Telltale) seems to be very consistent with the article's description of the term:

A weasel word (also, anonymous authority) may be an informal term[1] for equivocating words and phrases aimed at creating an impression that something specific and meaningful has been said, when in fact only a vague or ambiguous claim, or even a refutation has been communicated.

For example, an advertisement may use a weasel phrase such as "up to 50% off on all products". This is misleading because the audience is invited to imagine many items reduced by the proclaimed 50%, but the words taken literally mean only that no discount will exceed 50%, and in extreme misrepresentation, the advertiser need not reduce any prices, which would still be consistent with the wording of the advertisement, since "up to 50" most literally means "any number from 0 to 50 inclusive".

Another example is a letter of recommendation where the letter writer states "I cannot recommend this person highly enough", which would ordinarily be taken to mean that an amount of recommendation is sufficient to communicate the high stature of recommendation, while at the same time it could literally mean that there is no recommendation at all.

Just sayin'.

[Will85]

I rated the game as very enjoyable. The game could use some more fight scenes like the one with Lee trying to get to the marsh house in episode 5. This I feel would balance out all the dramatic and heavy decision making that characterizes the game. There were also some very tough choices to make which are part of what made this game great, however the time limit should be increased for big decisions. Sometimes the player does not have a chance to choose what they feel is the best course to take because of the time bar running out so fast.

Episode 2 was the best in my opinion, and episode 4 my least favorite. Likely because the majority of the original group had been killed off by that point. My biggest criticism of the game was the death of Lee. It is very disheartening that after the hell Lee goes through trying to keep clementine and the group safe through the previous 4 episodes the game ends with his death...idk just didnt seem right to me. Even though this is the zombie apocalypse the ending shouldnt have been so depressing. There should have been at least a small bit of happiness at the end of the game, such as Lee and Clementine together again, unsure of what the future holds for them, but alive together none the less.

[LEE4455]

I knew it will end like this !!!!! sooooo mad

[Ghositex]

Now that I think about it, your group chosen in episode four could have taken a bigger role in episode five. Would have been interesting if you didn't get to see someone you left behind, for example. After going to the morgue, I thought me and my group were going to look for Clementine straight away, instead of going back to the Mansion. That's why I tried everyone to come with me, honestly.

[Cubbie]

Oh, come on, it was an awesome game.

All you people complaining that your choices didn't matter: Sit down and plot the story with alternate branches for every possible outcome. See how far you get before you throw your hands in the air and give up. Making a game like that is just not possible, period. At least not in the timeframe and with the manpower that Telltale have available.

And although I suspected as much from the start, the decisions were still hard and it was still fun to play through. I still felt I was playing MY version of the game, and it was great. I cared about Clem and the other characters, much more so than in any other game I ever played. I think if you are disappointed because of a lack of fundamental changes resulting from your decisions, then you're playing with the wrong mindset. But that may just be my point of view. I'm just sad that so many people are disappointed because of that. This isn't a role playing game... it's not even an adventure in the traditional sense, really. Frankly, I don't know what it is. Interactive fiction perhaps. So thank you Telltale for an AWESOME game experience that is unparalleled. More please!

And on a sidenote... I for one am even glad there aren't many different outcomes. I don't have the time to play a game twice or even more often just to see all different branches of the story...

[DrDeepthroat]

I thought it was great. The characters and voice acting were phenomenal.

My only real complaint is that the decisions didn't mean much. No matter what the same characters get killed and you get the same conclusion to everyone. Aside from that though it was fantastic.

[Viner16]

The end of Ep 4 group thingie didn't turn it out as well as I hoped, but better then I feared.

At least they didn't make everyone go back to the Mansion immediately.

[Lambonius]

Man, there sure are a lot of morons on this board.

The story should not have had any alternative conclusions. The ending we got was great and any alternate endings would have taken away from the emotional weight of the story.

HOWEVER--in a game that is supposed to be about choices affecting a narrative, branching paths to the same conclusion would have improved the game significantly, and added replay value. To those who say "OMG, it's UNPOSSIBLE TO DO THIS IN A GAME, IT WOULD TAKE FOREVER TO PLOT EVERY POSSIBLE OUTCOME!!" That is a moronic argument. Even two or three divergent paths over the course of the story could have been included and would not necessarily have had to affect the ending at all. There is no reason the narrative could not have organically come back full circle to the same ending. Look at a game like Indiana Jones and the Fate of Atlantis--3 divergent paths based on a choice the player makes at a specific point earlier in the game all lead to the same final area and ending. And that was 20 years ago. It would not have been difficult to have planned this game around a few divergent narrative paths based on things like whether or not you sided with Lilly or Kenny at various points, whether you chose to go the Dairy Farm or not, who you took with you to search for Clem, etc.

Great story, but divergent paths would have been a major improvement here.

[Vainamoinen]

Originally Posted by Lambonius

Man, there sure are a lot of morons on this board.

Those who call others morons usually deserve the name.

[Cpt. Sqweky]

So, here's my take on Episode 5.

http://www.buyzombie.com/2012/12/20/...e-five-review/

[Dildor]

Best game ever. I just bought it again for a friend. ^^

[ZombieDuke]

Just finished episode five, and man... what a ride.

The darkest and most emotional moving game I've ever played.
As a long fan of the adventure genre, I think this one is way up there, ammongst the best ever made.

I gave it a 9.

I'm looking forwards to Season 2.

[LauriNicole]

I'm not sure how many will agree with me, but I really felt betrayed by Kenny at the end of Episode 5.

He really got on my nerves, but I still tried to be a good friend to him, because I have the decency to not mistreat someone simply because I'm not fond of them.
I stood up for Duck to Larry at the pharmacy, I shot Duck for him, helped rescue Katjaa when *forgot his name* turned at the Motor Inn when she was trying to save him, agreed with him about leaving Lilly on the roadside, shot Fivel, etc, etc. But since I didn't help him smash Larry's head in or let Ben fall to his death, I was a horrible person who apparently wouldn't help him when he needed it and refused to help me find Clem.
As a side note, I did notice that at the St. John's farm, he didn't help me fight off Danny (I think it was him) in the barn and watched me struggled. Lilly came to the rescue.
And I still stood by him, apart from the two times I believed he was wrong. Two times I disagreed with him, and he couldn't trust me.

That made me angry.
I did so much for the guy, and he completely turned on me the one time I really asked for help.
I believe he only cared about his family and his well-being. I didn't matter in the end. Sure, he'd take me out on his fancy old boat, but he couldn't dare put himself in danger for me. That'd be far too much.


I'm not criticizing the game with this; not at all. I really think it was a great part of the game. It provoked emotion from me. I wouldn't enjoy a game where I sat not caring one way or another staring at the screen. That's beyond boring.

[Mornai]

Originally Posted by LauriNicole

I'm not sure how many will agree with me, but I really felt betrayed by Kenny at the end of Episode 5.

He really got on my nerves, but I still tried to be a good friend to him, because I have the decency to not mistreat someone simply because I'm not fond of them.
I stood up for Duck to Larry at the pharmacy, I shot Duck for him, helped rescue Katjaa when *forgot his name* turned at the Motor Inn when she was trying to save him, agreed with him about leaving Lilly on the roadside, shot Fivel, etc, etc. But since I didn't help him smash Larry's head in or let Ben fall to his death, I was a horrible person who apparently wouldn't help him when he needed it and refused to help me find Clem.
As a side note, I did notice that at the St. John's farm, he didn't help me fight off Danny (I think it was him) in the barn and watched me struggled. Lilly came to the rescue.
And I still stood by him, apart from the two times I believed he was wrong. Two times I disagreed with him, and he couldn't trust me.

That made me angry.
I did so much for the guy, and he completely turned on me the one time I really asked for help.
I believe he only cared about his family and his well-being. I didn't matter in the end. Sure, he'd take me out on his fancy old boat, but he couldn't dare put himself in danger for me. That'd be far too much.


I'm not criticizing the game with this; not at all. I really think it was a great part of the game. It provoked emotion from me. I wouldn't enjoy a game where I sat not caring one way or another staring at the screen. That's beyond boring.

I think not helping him with Larry in the meat locker is, in his eyes, the equivalent of you wanting to put his family in danger(due to a potential walker), which is probably why he puts so much emphasis on that one decision. At least he gives a calm response even if you tell him off at episode 4 in this way.

[LauriNicole]

Good point, though I think if everyone had been quick enough Larry could have been taken out immediately if he reanimated by dropping the blocks on his head then, before he gets a chance to jump up.

I think I'll side with him on my next play through and see if he offers to help me then.

[sinonimode]

Mother fukers
No dead lee

please

lee is the best

[Corcline27]

This game was one of my favorites of all time because I have never played a game that had me so emotionally invested before PERIOD. I gave it a 10. Long Live Clem!

[Wrighty]

Originally Posted by LauriNicole

Good point, though I think if everyone had been quick enough Larry could have been taken out immediately if he reanimated by dropping the blocks on his head then, before he gets a chance to jump up.

I think I'll side with him on my next play through and see if he offers to help me then.

I hate to bring the debate into this thread but I can't resist. Walkers tend to jump up when they reanimate like the cop in ep 1 or the teacher in ep 2. They probably wouldn't have had a chance to drop the salt licks before Larry at least bit Lilly, and maybe others.

Sorry for being OT. I voted 10 because despite small faults, it's still an amazing unique game which shines like a gem in a big pile of poopy games.

[DatDude]

So i sort of want to write a mini review.

I thought the first episode was kind of weak. But things definitely picked up by Episode 2. Honestly, I think Episode 2 was my favorite because of the whole spooky atmosphere it gave throughout. Some of the tragedies that happened like Duck getting bitten, or Katya commiting sucicide..it began to take a toll on me emotionally. I think that's when I finally realized how dark telltale was striving to go, and I appreciated that.

I enjoyed episode 3, but I felt the pacing was a bit off. Should have ended with Duck and Katya death, rather than showcasing it mid way. The pacing kind of became dull afterwards. Still enjoyed it regardless.

Episode 4 I enjoyed. But I sort of felt it was the weakest next to 1. Only because it was kind of lacking that pacing that 3 and 2 had. To much, gathering in one place rather than constantly on the move. Still enjoyed it though, again the dark moments like burying the poor zombified child in the attic, or witnessing that Crawford camp. It made the game for me. Those dark, shitty momemnts.

Episode 5 was short. But was really good in my opinion. The stranger being the guy who kidnapped Clem was sort of Meh to me. They could've used a better villian but I'll let it pass. The ending of course was horrible. I had Clem shoot Lee..it didn't make me cry, but it made me numb. Just, ugh. Was really tolling on me.

The game was great though. There were technical issues, and the production values were sort of lacking. I also thought besides a few good musical pieces, they could have done a better job on the OST and music in general in the game.

Overall i'd give it an 8.5

Great game. Accel by it's characters and the bonding of Clementine and Lee.

[Psyconix]

I finished The Walking Dead a few days ago. This was definitely the most thrilling and emotional gaming experience I've ever had. I haven't seen any game that makes use of the player choices that much and I really liked that there was no "wrong" or "right" answer you could choose. You could simply play the game the way you would react in the situation. The game always made me fell excited about what happens next.