The last episode left us in a rather dicey spot, though this seems to be the running theme with Telltale. My experiences with “Back to the Future: The Game” and “The Walking Dead: Season One” ended up much the same way…that is, I was chewing on my fingernails vigorously in between episodes because I couldn’t wait to see what happened next. It’s worth noting that this article will contain spoilers, so do NOT read further if you plan to play the game in the near future. If you haven’t played Season One by now, then may whatever gods you believe in have mercy on your soul…you don’t know what you’re missing!
The Walking Dead: Season Two – “Amid The Ruins” (Episode Four) – Windows, Mac, PSN, XBLA
This episode certainly starts you off with a bang. Within seconds I was hacking someone’s arm off, a choice I made at the end of a previous episode. It’s not something I really wanted to do, but when that zombie bit into Sarita’s arm, I felt that I had no other recourse. Kenny and I were on rocky ground to begin with and to have him see what I had done to his new “companion” really bothered me, especially since Kenny was one of the rare few who survived from Season One. Part of me didn’t want to accept that fact that Kenny was damaged goods at this point, having lost Katjaa and Duck in a rather painful way.
Without giving too much away, this episode focuses on the group finding a temporary respite so that Rebecca can have her baby. Clementine, I felt, abandoned her innocence a long time ago despite her age. This child has seen and done things that no child should ever have to be subjected to and I truly felt for her as I guided her from point A to point B. Speaking of which, the game remains linear in that you’re simply selecting dialogue choices and occasionally interacting with the environment. There are some quick time events that result in a game over screen should you fail to react in time. Honestly, the gameplay is nothing new.
With that said, I don’t play “The Walking Dead” for its gameplay…I play it because the series as a whole tells a fantastic story. This fourth episode delivers on that sentiment and then some…people seem to bite the big one when you’re least expecting it. I won’t insult your intelligence by repeating what I’ve said countless times in my other reviews, so I’ll simply end the review here and encourage you (once again) to give this series a shot if you haven’t already. This episode is an excellent addition to the series and well worth playing. These episodes are still too short for my tastes, but my love for the game may make me slightly biased in that regard.
Final Verdict: 8/10
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