Very linear, hardly any roaming around?
The first 80% of the episode you're in a never ending dialog with no roam and very little choices. Compare to S1E1 or S1E2, you had hubs where you could talk to people and get to know them. Even had little "side" things you could do.
Unless it was just my game, the "I thought you were dead" dialog never even happened. Sure, an old friend shows up but the "next time on TWD" doesn't match up at all. They totally redid many aspects of the story, just like they did for TWAU.
EDIT: I stand corrected. The dialog option was there, I just missed it over the [HUG] option.
The episode is incredibly short, I clocked it in at 1hr 15m. Was it my previous episode choices that made this so short? What happened here? What took so long to release this episode? After I got done playing, there's already a large patch. Some patch notes anywhere? Should I replay the episode with this patch to avoid save game issues in the future?
I loved the first 6 episodes.. this episode seems very lacking. 
Comments
Just because the 'I thought you were dead' part didn't come up in your game doesn't mean they changed things. By the way, I did get that bit dialog too, but it was inside the building, I believe. Not sure how you got 1 hour 15. Should have been around an hour and a half. But you're right about The Wolf Among US, they definitely rewrote that. Parts of the previous preview trailer for episode 2 have been stripped, like Lawrence no longer appears in the preview after episode 1 if you saved him.
Best to think of Telltale's games as interactive movies from now on in all honesty, and I'm not saying that to be mean. It's just the best way to treat them. I prefer it this way myself, with enjoying a good story (particularly one I have a 'bit' of control over). But I do understand that some people prefer more puzzles and there's nothing wrong with that.The games they make simply may not be for you anymore.
Also, one last thing: The episodes are the length of a movie. For £18 - £20, you get five 'movies length' episodes. They can be replayed too, regardless of whether choices matter. (I'm thinking it looks like they might do a better job this season, but it doesn't matter with the story being good anyway)
I'm showing 3hr for both Episode 1 and 2, and it said 2hr when I launched it to play this new episode. If it was over 1hr 15m, it wasn't by much, I just glanced at the clock when I started playing so I may be off a little bit. Perhaps it was my previous episode choices that made it so short or lacking. shrug
Compared to Season 1, I have 18 hours for 1-5 and DLC (one playthrough). At this rate, i'm looking at about 7 1/2 to 8 hours for this season and they are charging the same price. These episodes are way shorter. =(
I'm damn sure there's a "I thought you were dead" option when you talk to him.
The "I thought you were dead" dialogue was an option when you first met Kenny.
Didn't really feel like it to me. I really hope people don't start throwing that around just because something was "mildly different" from the preview.
Season 1 took longer because of the walking around parts. They've stripped much of it out in an attempt to get a more movie like feel, to keep the pacing up and just have the important parts show up basically.
Again, I understand people like the wandering around bits, and there's nothing wrong with that. Just, you know, keep in mind that they want to make a different type of game than the one you want to play.
And sure you can. There are plenty of movies around 90 minutes in length. A lot of them action, but still. Taken springs to mind actually (I think it's under an hour and a half actually, and I love that movie). A lot are around 100 - 110/115 minutes though too.
Anyways, last post from me on this topic. Not much else I can say other than I'm sorry you disliked the episode and that Telltale likely don't make the sort of game you want anymore.
Yes but it was in the house after you've already met him... not outside on the porch like in the preview. They changed much of it around. EDIT: My bad, you guys are right it was on the porch. I immediately choose the [HUG] option so I missed it!
The only real difference I saw was matthew
no
The wandering around bits are what turn the game into 3 hours per episode, and they also help increase character development because you can talk to people.
No idea why they'd remove them, this structure just makes it seem rushed to me.
The option is there, though I imagine not too many people are going to pick the "I thought you were dead" line when the other option is to hug Kenny.
Just saying...
Might be why I didn't see that option out on the porch.
Not to discount the OP's complaints, but one last post from me here:
I'm actually pretty surprised by the forum's reaction. Overall, it seems a far cry from the 'episode 1 sucks and is full of bad writing' complaints, and I'm pretty sure I remember people claiming that they think the season's ruined/they don't have high hopes. So, it seems like most enjoyed the episode.
The part, and I'm not saying this about the OP, about not throwing that around though? I wouldn't hold much hope of that.
Never be amazed by people and always expect the worst, I've found to be good.
Actually it was on the porch. I got the option to hug him, say i thought you were dead, say one other thing(Forgot what), and silence.
From what the different outcomes I've read up on this forum, I don't think this episode was linear at all.
Agree with tyrindor here biggest myth in gaming is to much gameplay ruins story NO!!! it enhances it offends me the excuse for lack of gameplay is for story pacing play TLOU the story made it incredible but gameplay added on makes it legendary. Season one was best because exploration and talking to characters made me replay it hundreds of times if just movie get bored after watching it second time. Gameplay makes me feel more immersed and part of story to many cut scenes makes me feel powerless over the result of the story and gets boring.
I didn't really refer to the conversations hampering the story pacing. Rather, the bits where you just wandered around.
It shouldn't offend you what I said anyway, and I didn't in any shape or form mean to imply that too much gameplay ruins the story's flow. While I've not played The Last of Us, btw (I'd like to), I believe they're two different games. One is a survival/action/stealth third-person based game with a great story (this being the last of us from what I gather), and Telltale's game which is an interactive story. So yes, there would be a greater emphasis on gameplay with The Last of Us.
Again though, I'll reiterate what I said to Tyrindor. Your complaints are quite valid about missing the wandering about sections and more freedom to converse with characters (to be fair, even if you couldn't choose a 'tonne' who to chat with, I thought there was a lot of talking this episode). And, as such, you're free to make your voice heard, but just don't expect Telltale to make the game you want them to. Honestly, rather than spend your time doing that, you might just be best finding other games to enjoy.
Sorry for that ment in general respect your opinion not directed at you just personally for me seeing comments from telltale not your comment apologize should of been more clear
Still had more freedom than All That Remains. Seems Telltale took note on that at least. Though, wish we could've had more.
Nothing to apologise for, as no offence was taken (I just wanted to clarify what I meant). And whoever's downvoting me? It's a game forum, so it's hardly annoying me.
Carry on wasting your time.
Something like a writing forum though? It might annoy me then.
Admit it, there's nothing telltale can do to please everyone. They have to make sacrifices because everyone is different. I personally think they did a hell of a job with this episode. It felt like home. Like I was playing season 1 again. Even though it was short it felt like 2-3 hours to me. I hope they keep it up.
Huh.. I thought this was one of the best episodes that TellTale has done to date.. Filled with excitement and the ending kept me on the edge of my seat.