Choices and Consequences?!
I'm new to this concept of episodic gaming by telltale and I must say I quite enjoyed playing the walking dead season 1 (when I first played it).
Still, I don't think the game really lives up to the idea of choices AND consequences. I did only two playthroughs and when I played it for the second time I was really disappointed because the main story didn't change at all. Even though I made every effort to take different decisions, there was simply no alternative storyline, basically not one different location and not a single new puzzle. I felt that's kind of odd, since imo the whole idea of a story-driven adventure game makes sense only if the story really adapts to the individual decisions. While the game keeps on telling you that it does (Kenny will remember this!) this seems to be merely an illusion. As it is the game is not more than an animated comic-movie. That might be ok for some, but then it should also be labelled as such.
In total I think this is kind of sad since so much more would be possible. I think at least one alternative storyline (including an alternative end) would make the game much better. Also, to be actually considered an adventure game it should also include a handful of puzzles which are going beyond item-collection tasks.
What about the other games, TWD S2 and the Wolf Among Us? Will they be better in terms of story-variation and puzzles or are they as linear as TWD S1?
Cheers!
Comments
It´ll be the same as Season 1.
I don't have high hopes for it admittedly, but they did claim they're going to try and include more story branching. I've fell for the trap countless times, so I'm going to expect things to remain relatively similar, even if they do include more branching.
As an aside, you don't really know how much work it is to create a branching narrative.
I'm not saying you don't have the right to complain or be upset when companies claim to have choice and consequence, but don't really follow through with that, as I'd rather companies didn't claim that when they're not following through with it. But having briefly dabbled with a branching narrative, writing wise, I can understand why things mostly remain the same. (Some would say the choices do matter in TWD though, even if there wasn't any true branching)
So, if you do take a chance on season 2, I'd purchase it not for choice and consequences or branching paths, but for the story. If they really do deliver on more branching paths? Then great, it's a bonus. Still, even if they don't, it doesn't detract from how good the story was in the first game.
Edit: One thing though, I definitely wouldn't expect puzzles. As far as The Wolf Among Us is concerned, it's quick time events and conversation choices, while you occasionally move around and interact with objects (like click on a blood stain or pick up some fabric because of investigating) but that's as far as it goes. Basically an interactive movie. And a very well done one at that, with the graphic style and animations being much better than what was found in TWD in my view.
The consequences of your choices were largely shown in how all the other characters perceived you. TTG claimed the game was 'tailored' to fit your choices, not molded from your choices. So the story itself remains the same with some differences here and there based on what you have done or said.
I kinda knew going in that the choices wouldn't affect all that much, but realized rather they were important because you have to feel the burden and implications (the changes you try to make) of them for yourself. They're different in the fact that you make your own, and you have the benefit of being able to compare them to the choices of other people. You can take Clem with you to a dangerous place, or you can leave her behind; neither outcome is much more different.
The cool part is when you have a buddy who also played the game but made a different call. It's always interesting to talk about why either of you made the call that you did, and I think it's one of the coolest aspects around the game, even if it's not found in the game.
With a game such as The Walking Dead, I think that if you play through the whole game once and only once, you get the most out of it. You play your story and that's what your game is. You made choices which had consequences and you cannot change them. That is what you remember and that's what happened it "Your World". For example (SPOILER) In S1:E4 I let Ben fall down the church bell tower and die. That is one of the things I clearly remember from season 1 and that is what happened in "my world".
I would like more branching storylines but I wasn't disappointed in the game, your choices still matter because characters will perceive you differently if you make a choice they don't agree with.