The Walking Dead: Episode 3
It took a while for Telltale Games to get The Walking Dead: Episode 3 released in the UK, for Playstation 3 at least, but for anyone that has followed the series up to now and managed to give this little gem a play; it was worth the wait. If you haven't experienced the point-and-click style (ish) adventure inspired by The Walking Dead comic series (Robert Kirkman) and developed by the games company responsible for Sam and Max Adventures and the successful adaptation of the Back to the Future series, then you are certainly missing out. The game is released in a episodic format, with new content downloaded every few months or so, which means that you might be forgiven for becoming frustrated with long waits but you will certainly be well rewarded for your patience. Don't expect the same sort of shoot-em up style of game that has seen zombie brains splattered across screens for the last few decades, rather a more emotional and thoughtful experience. Sounds boring? I guarantee that you'll experience more of that cold shiver of unease than you ever would in some of the more popular zombie-filled outings as you follow a group of survivors who not only have to evade the undead, but everything else that comes with an end of the world scenario. You take the role of a convict who finds himself caring for a young girl forced to face the hordes of undead on her all by her lonesome. The two of you come face to face with zombies as well as the arguably more dangerous other survivors along the road, and it is how you choose to interact with each of these fleshed out characters that makes the gaming experience that much more enthralling. I have no intention of ruining the experience, so you are just going to have to take my word for it that you definitely want to invest in a season pass for this series - with each episode taking around two hours or so to complete, it'll be the best money you'll ever spend. If you don't want ANY sort of hint as to how Episode 3 of the series plays out, stop reading here!
We can all agree that Episode 2 was pretty shocking in its content - where Call of Duty games barely invoke a flinch when a member of the online community stabs me in the back, each of the Walking Dead episodes so far have provided genuine 'oh what the F***?!' moments. In that sense, it looks like Telltale Games are looking to increase the shock factor with each episode, leading me to believe that I might have a heart-attack or some sort of emotional breakdown in whatever the final episode throws at us. The group of survivors Lee Everett and Clementine have come to know are still coping with the events of the last two episodes, particularly the members who were involved in the rather gruesome outing to that farmhouse out in the woods. Tensions are rising and it's becoming clear that you can no longer hold out in the motel you've adopted as a temporary home. It isn't long until the tension boils over and you are forced, in typical Telltale fashion, to make some hefty decisions. My play through so far has had Lee as a rather kind but stern character, but there are definitely moments in this episode where, in hindsight, I wish I'd been more confrontational and less diplomatic. For most who really enjoy this game and have yet to play through again to see what different routes can be followed, the relationship between Lee and Clementine is the most interesting and engaging aspect of the series, and with each episode I find myself becoming more and more protective of her. Whereas in earlier episodes a lot of my interactions with the other survivors were primarily influenced by whether or not they would be useful to me, by this point decisions are valued by whether or not I feel I can trust them around Clementine, as we all know that Lee is perfectly capable of looking out for himself. Person A might be crazy, but Lee is pretty good with a blunt instrument in his hands, but would I trust Person A in a room alone with the little girl under my care? These are the thoughts that tinker with your conscience at each crucial event where the timer forces you to make dramatic decisions. There's a fair amount of action in this episode and you'll have to start using guns a little more effectively, but there's also the familiar puzzle-solving element that always proves satisfying upon completion. Generally being a spoiler-free sort of guy, I won't discuss in detail the decisions and events that transpire over the course of the episode, but if there aren't moments that have you talking or yelling at the screen then I'll eat the hat that I am yet to buy. Enjoy.
