Telltale’s The Walking Dead was a trailblazer of its time, paving the way for games like Batman, The Wolf Among Us, Minecraft, and Game of Thrones. The appeal of interactive storytelling has also found its way into other series defined by choice and consequence. “John will remember that.” The Definitive Series is essentially the trophy for finishing the series to its fullest.
While the game does not change, the visuals of the series look amazing. Seasons 1 and 2 retain their art style, but the Definitive Series makes the models, settings, and animations cleaner (or dirtier depending on how you see it) and fluid. You can get a glimpse of this on the main menu by using the character viewer. I don’t appreciate that the animations and skins contain spoilers, however. The same thing can be said about the audio quality. You get your favorite voice actors along with better synching dialogue. But, just like my issue with the animations and outfits, there are plenty of spoilers ahead when you preview this feature.
For those who are new to the Telltale Walking Dead experience, this is the story about Clementine, a young girl who braves the end the of the world. In Season 1, we view the story from Lee’s point of view. He takes on the de facto role of her guardian and teaches her to survive to the best of his ability. We take the reigns of Clem’s destiny in Season 2, where she decides whether there is hope humanity in finding family in a group or if it better to go alone. We break the mode by playing as Javier in Season 3, and we witness Clem’s maturity in the new world order years after the events of the preceding games. We conclude her story in Season 4, where both she, and her protégée AJ, determine what it means to be human in a cruel and unforgiving world. It’s also fair to mention, the game also includes a 3 part mini series for Michonne from the Walking Dead canon.
In my personal opinion, I think the first season is the best season. Sure, the plot is phenomenal, but so is the illusion of choice. The game made me feel like the consequences were the direct result of my choices. (Except for the first dichotomy at Hershel’s farm). Other seasons try to play with your expectations (and some to great applause), but make you feel like there is no point in decision making when the consequences fall flat. I felt that was the case in this last season, in which characters weren’t able to reach their full potential. Killing off secondary characters doesn’t carry the same weight at that point in the series. It’s treated like we’re already heavily invested in the sideshow character we met five minutes ago and serves only to push plot points. This is more common later in the series because it becomes an overplayed trope.
The Walking Dead is still a worth while experience. And if you want to relieve the experience through a nostalgic lens with better graphics, then this is definitely the title to pick up. I am looking forward to showing this series off to friends who have never even seen a Telltale game before. I think a fair rating for this collection is 9.5 out of 10. It is, after all, a collection of games that stand strong on their own. The bundle is probably cheaper than buying each title individually as well. On top of that, you receive the developer commentary, the iconic track, and enhanced visuals. I’d say it’s a win.
Check Out The Walking Dead: The Telltale Definitive Series Trailer:
More information about The Walking Dead: The Telltale Definitive Series can be found at https://www.skybound.com/telltales-the-walking-dead-the-definitive-series.
*we’d like to thank Skybound Games for the game code
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I like to think of myself as the average Joe who grew up alongside video games. I have fun playing strategy games, RPGs, shooters, sandboxes, the whole shebang! Every game provides an experience whether it strikes you as profound, mundane, or someplace in between. I'd like to weigh in my two cents before you spend a single penny.
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