Clem 🙂
I’m not a big fan of zombie stories. Be that movies, tv series, books (haven’t read any, or plan to). BUT this story…was amazing. I really gotta say Telltale has a way of really making you care for the characters. I couldn’t believe I waited this long to play this game. Even if everyone was praising it, there was always this voice in the back of my mind saying “but zombies…”. I do have to admit I actually started playing it during the summer sale, because this game had trading cards and I wanted to score points for my team (which was pink, not that it matters). But I got so caught up in the story and fell so deeply in love with young Clementine I may have to include this game on my top 5 list (I have no such list, maybe I should make one).
The gameplay is really storytelling friendly. I thought there will be more puzzle-adventure thingies to solve, but not really. Just the most basic item+item interactions. What is wonderful is that the characters react to your choices – even if it is that they DIE because of you. What actually bothered me is that most of the times you don’t really get to save someone even if you try to do your best. If that character is supposed to die in one playthrough, it will probably die in all of them, so don’t beat yourself over it. What will matter though is how they felt towards you and how they died (willingly, zombigly, etc).
You play as an inmate going by the name of Lee, locked in a police car for murdering his wife’s lover. While on the road, you get in an accident and all of the sudden the world is not such a pretty place. Zombies tend to do that you know. While making your way through, you find and take with you young Clementine, who will love you and learn from you along the way. While all around you people die and leave, Clementine and Lee are the only constants. Clementine worships Lee and sees him as her saviour. In a way, this is a story about Lee’s redemption for what he did. He will protect Clementine as it was his own daughter and will teach her everything she needs to survive.
The choices are hard to make and you can’t really tell what will happen if you choose one or the other. You have to side with certain characters, fight with others, kill or be killed.
The portrayal of the characters was reaaaally great written from my point of view. The world has become a dangerous place and most of the time it is not the undead you have to be afraid of, it’s the living ones. People would go through anything to get another meal on the table. Sometimes they will want you for that meal (sick bastards, I’m telling you).
This is not a game, this is a wonderful piece of interactive story you really don’t wanna miss! (if you’re into gaming mostly for the stories that is).
I’m looking forward for the next season being fully released (I will not buy it before, wouldn’t be able to handle the cliffhangers) and can’t wait to see what happens next!
Awesome Job Telltale!
Ummm
Games ramblings 