The Walking Dead
Developer: Telltale Games
VIDEO game adaptations of comic books can be notoriously hit and miss affairs. For every Arkham City there’s a dozen Superman Returns.
There’s also a degree of suspicion, or snobbery, that games that aren’t bankrolled by a lavish EA or Activision marketing campaign are somehow inferior.
It’s a ludicrous stance but unfortunately there are those in the gaming fraternity who still think that way.
Telltale Games’ adaptation of The Walking Dead should go some way to dispelling those myths.
It should be noted that this downloadable chapter, the first of five, is set in the world of the comic books, rather than TV show.
That doesn’t mean that you won’t immediately become engrossed in events as you take on the role of Lee, who is sitting in handcuffs in the back of a police car when the zombie outbreak explodes.
The video game market is overloaded with zombie games but The Walking Dead manages to differentiate itself, just like Kirkman’s comic series and subsequent TV show, by focusing on characterisation and plot.
That’s not to say that it’s not action packed, if anything the scenes where you flee from the zomibe hoards are nothing short of terrifying.
There’s a wonderful sense of dread with the doom laden atmosphere dripping from every scene. Imagine Grand Theft Auto meets Heavy Rain by way of Dawn Of The Dead and you’re halfway there.
Every decision you make will have big implications as the chapters unfold and it’s clear to see Telltale Games are back on the right track.
This is a stunning game that deserves your attention and with Part 2 out now, you’d be mad not to check out one of the best titles to hit consoles in a long time.