The Walking Dead: Episode 1 Borefest Review
For a polar opposite review, check out GamerVet M1GO’s 5/5 reivew! Don’t say we don’t offer variety!
Awesome! XBLA is giving away free copies of The Walking Dead: Episode 1. I’ve never read the comics and all I know is that the game is getting solid reviews and is some kind of point and click adventure. It’s free so why not?
I used to dabble with some old ones on Apple and PC long time ago (remember King’s Quest and that sex fiend Leisure Suit Larry?). I watched my brother play them more than I played them, but got a good feeling what they are all about.
I quit playing this boring game after I got the 10 pt Achievement called “something something Babysitting”.
Graphics
- Stylish artwork. Kind of like cell shaded visuals meets pastel paintwork. You won’t see these kinds of visuals often
- Massive screen tearing and fluctuating frame rate, especially when you try to pan the camera/reticule fast across the screen
- Moving around your character can be clunky looking. The animations don’t jive smoothly with the direction your character is traveling
Sound
- Lots of decent dialogue (voice acting)
- Too much dialogue
Gameplay
- Endless unskippable dialogue screens. Unlike some games (Bethesda/Bioware) which have tons of skippable voice overs, this game forces you to watch every one and listen to every line. You’ll pull your hair out being forced to go through the opening scene with the sheriff in the car. There is no doubt in my mind that if you were able to skip dialogue screens as you please and just focus on the gameplay, that you could finish the episode in no more than half an hour. I get that from reading from forum people the episode takes 2-3 hours to finish. If most of it is dialogue screens, I’d estimate that leaves you with small amounts of actual gameplay
- The game is part point and click adventure, dialogue screens, real time movement and QTE. I’d say: P&C adv 10%, dialogue screens 75%, real time moving around 10%, QTE action 5%
- An ugly d-pad looking reticule fills the screen, but it is actually suppose to replicate the face buttons. So if a top icon is shown, that means press Y (look around)
- The game is suppose to be point and click, but if you are expecting something more meaty like old PC games where you have to type in/choose commands to figure things out, Walking Dead is not that complicated. The reticule will show you what to do and what is interesting to see. You can switch this off to “minimal mode” which decreases hints and HUD. This game is pure point and click with no text parser or command bar
- Here’s how the game plays. Your guy is in a room or area. Move your reticule all over the screen and if there are any hotspots, the reticule will tell you, so go up to it and look or use. Every once in a while a zombie will come at you requiring some marginal reflexes to mash QTE button presses. If you are too slow, I’m guessing it kills you?
- I can’t believe this game is getting such great review scores. Slick visuals + zombies + limited gameplay + endless unskippable cut-scenes = boring
- Be wary of people calling this an adventure game of any kind. It’s more like an interactive movie with some real time gameplay occasionally tossed in
The Old Guy in Me Says
If you like zombies and games resembling interactive movies (think old school adventure games with half its gameplay chopped out), go nuts. For the remaining few days of December 2012, Episode 1 is free and all other Episodes (4 more) are only 200 pts each (half price). If you are looking for something with more gameplay, skip this game. I was ready to blow 800 pts to scoop them all up before year end. No thanks.
I’ll give the game 1 pt for nice art, 1 pt for decent voice acting. 0 pts for everything else.
2/5
A note on our rating scale: We rate things out of five, but don't confuse it with ratings from other publications. We’re not professional reviewers who do this for a living, we don't get sent free copies of games, and we don't have the luxury to play a ton of games during our work hours - we buy/borrow all our games and do this during our off-time, outside of our jobs and families. Our ratings take into account the time and money spent, and are here to help you make an informed decision on whether this game is worthy of your hard-earned cash and limited time.
5 – An almost flawless game with good graphics, sound and gameplay. You might even want to replay it many times, despite your busy schedule. A must-buy.4 – It has some flaws, but it’s still worth a playthrough. Buy it if you like this type of game.
3 – An average game targeted to specific niches. It has its redeeming factors. Buy it on sale or if you fit its target demographic/niche.
2 – The game sucks, but some will get enjoyment out of it. Play it at your own risk.
1 – Broken, ugly game with few redeeming qualities. Probably shouldn’t have been made. Leave this game alone and don’t even look at it.
0 – Worse than garbage. Game companies should pay you for the time you spent playing this trash.
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