Decisions, decisions, decisions. All of them a matter of
life and death, and barely any time to make them. That's what makes Telltale
Games' Walking Dead series so engrossing and addictive.
The second episode in the five-part series, The Walking
Dead: Starved For Help, is an altogether darker affair with protagonist Lee
Everett once again accompanied by little Clementine in a fight for survival
after a zombie outbreak. It's a few months since the last episode concluded and the guys barricaded themselves in a deserted motel. Food
supplies are rapidly depleting, morale is low and the world is just as
dangerous as ever.
It's the same old mix of point-and-click adventuring with
occasional QTE button mashing but it is
still sublime and a joy to play. Again the short playtime fails to detract from
the proceedings, which sees our group of survivors venture out from the
confines of their apparent safe haven to a nearby dairy farm,
complete with a friendly food-bearing family, poorly cow and heavily fortified
defences. Could things finally be looking up for our beleaguered group of
misfits? Nah, course not.
Choices made in the previous game are carried over and have
some effect on what happens and how your companions perceive you. There are
some equally tough decisions to be made and some truly grotesque discoveries
that help to change the dynamic of the group. Even at the start, the seemingly
simple objective of deciding who should receive the limited rations puts your
position in the group under strain and tests relationships.
You can instantly jump into the action this time round; you
know the characters, understand the point-and-click mechanic and have a firm
grasp of the controls. By the end of this episode, you'll have lost some of those
close to you and inevitably done something that will put you at odds with
members of the group. Along the way you'll meet new friends and foes, from stranded students to
crossbow-wielding bandits... oh, and bond with that aforementioned cow.
Without giving the game away, it's
difficult to go in to too much detail about how the story unravels but suffice
to say, it's a fantastic continuation from A New Day. Thing is, it is slightly
predictable - given that by now you've learnt to trust no one and that it's highly likely few of your comrades will be in one piece by the end of the episode.
Conflict and constant bitching between Larry, Lily, Lee and
Kenny adds some drama and tension, while the sudden zombie strikes add a shock factor - and it combines perfectly. Once again, however, the puzzles are painfully obvious and won't create too much
of a challenge - but that's not really an issue
Graphically, it obviously continues the cel-shaded style of
the first game and the voice acting, animations and environments combine
perfectly. There was the occasional moment of shuddering or a glitch where an
arm would pass through a solid cardboard box, for example, but nothing
detrimental to the gameplay.
The slow pace and dialogue-heavy sections only add to the
atmosphere and contrast perfectly with the shock discoveries and constant
threat of either being ravaged by a zombie or shot by a stranger. In fact, the
choices made this time round really feel like they're helping to mould your character, Lee - you decide whether
he lies and kills, who his allegiances are with and whether he has a moral
compass. It's inspired and feels like the game is being tailored to your
playing style and personality.
Telltale Games has once again done a fantastic job - one
that's arguably better than its predecessor. Now when's the next episode going
to be available??? We can't wait any longer!
Reviewed on PC
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