My problem with Telltale's The Walking Dead franchise.
Firstly, don't get me wrong; I loved every second of this magnificent game and I would without a doubt in my heart, recommend it too anybody I come across. However, I feel that making the series episodic was a bad move for a game like this. In my opinion, it would have been much better if the developers just made the 5 episodes of season 1 into 1 single game. My reasoning for this is because:
- There would be much less bugs in terms of game saves from each episode to another.
- There wouldn't be as much pressure on time because people wouldn't need to wait for each episode, therefor the developers would have more time into making alternate decisions/branching paths, which is impossible with episodes on the schedule as that will make the players wait too long, therefor giving less of an emotional impact. For example, season 2 episode 2, an episode that has a bit more branching than the typical episode, almost took 4 months.
Heavy Rain, a game that has a huge amount of branches and outcomes, saw production for 4 years, not to mention it's backed up by an enormous budget. Therefor, with the walking dead game series released episodically, the game won't be as much quality as compared to a full story with no episodes.
Now, let's talk about Clementine as the main, playable character in Season 2, which is really a bad idea.
One of the best things about season 1 is that we are able to feel that we ARE Lee and every emotion that he feels, we feel. For example, when I killed Danny in the barn, I felt really guilty.
Clementine, throughout season 1, acted as an moral compass for Lee Everett. No matter how bad the world turned out to be, Clementine constantly reminded Lee that there is still humanity left in a dying world.
However, the player, through Lee has the power to convince Clementine for her to see the world in a new light including justifying murder, thievery and other dark aspects of human nature. Infact, Lee acts as a role model for clementine, who clearly looks up to him.
After Lee's death, the player really shouldn't know what happened to Clementine afterwards as the player's perspective is through Lee and once Lee's dead, our perspective ends. After that we should be able to only hope that Clementine lives on and makes her own decisions basing on what Lee (the player) taught her. At that moment, telltale should have ended the Lee-Clementine story completely as that makes for the perfect ending. Marking Clementine's fate as unknown would be an awesome closure to the series.
However, season 2 completely ruins that by allowing ourselves to play as Clementine. This means that whatever the morals you taught Clementine in season 1 is completely pointless because you (the player) is able to make clementine somebody completely different.
Overall, I can't judge the whole of Season 2 yet because it hasn't finished but the game developers in my opinion, heavily stunted the game's potential.
Sorry if this doesn't make much sense to you as english isn't my first language but overall, what do you think?
Comments
This so much. I'll never understand why most players liked doing a complete 360 to Clem's character from S1. It's fine if you prefer a 'badass' Clementine over the innocent one in S1, but I'll always play Clem as how Lee viewed her right to the end :"The only good thing left in the world", which blatantly referred to her humanity and innocence.
I never called Rebecca out on the baby. I never said anything like "Still not bitten" or "Let's take 'em." As long as Telltale gives me the options to play closely as an innocent Clem, I'll do it.
Hell if I'm playing Clem in S2 the way Kirkman would want me to.
Heavy rain was good but it was its own thing.
I wholeheartedly disagree.
Comparing two different games in the first place is out of place. In case you didn't know, Each developer does things differently and the way they think its convenient for them and their success. Telltale adopted this Episodic format and they've had a blast so far so I really don't know what the deal is.
Seriously ? I've always seen Clementine's and Lee's stories as two separate. The whole purpose of Season 1 was for us to prepare Clem and help her develop into an experienced survivor. Lee's story ended in Season 1, the man got to redeem himself and is now R.I.P.
Clementine's story is just beginning.
I do agree that leaving Clementine's fate unknown would be a good ending to the series. But after just Season 1 ? Seriously ?
This thread makes no sense
^ This man, just This. I really don't like to be badass Clem, it just seems really freaking out of character.
There has only been five comments so far, give it a chance. :P
Ty 4 opinion btw
Please explain?
You can take my like, my friend. Innocent Clem all the way!
The episodic style works well for the game. I read in an article that after episode 1 they realized how truly hated Larry was. So in episode two they did things to make him slightly more relatable and understandable, thus making the decision to help save or help end his life that much more difficult. I have no problem with the episodic style be cause its a viable way for them to get us more attached to the characters.
I didn't read the rest - I saw that it had to do with not enjoying Clem as the playable character as much as you would have enjoyed another. And I agree, there are many reasons I, personally, don't enjoy her as the playable character as much, but it's still a good story and there is no changing it or going back, so I'll just have to live with it.
But you're basically saying Lee is god, Lee, or no one for that matter has the power to change who someone else is as a person.
Lee's job was to teach Clementine how to survive, not to make Clementine be something she's not against her own will. Lee did his job. I mean, its been two years since Lee died and she's still alive isn't she ?
I read you summary of your last point in a response to saltlick and I can't say I agree with leaving her story completely. Definitely don't want to abandon her story, I just don't want to view it first person (again for various reasons)
In case you didn't notice clementine is pretty much the centerpiece of ttg twd if they just flat out remove her out that's like removing goku from the dragon ball franchise it wouldn't be the same at all
Because it makes no sense
Episodic games are awesome.So why don't you go back to your call of duty and shut the fuck up.Dick
Just leave
why does he have to shut up the only thing hes doing is saying his opinion . Thats why i dont come to these forums as often now because people now dislike every post that is against their opinion he said he enjoyed the game but that he had a few problems with it i think everyone has problems with the game because if you dont have problems with it its because you are ignorant and cant construct an opinion based on what YOU believe . Nothing is perfect as much as i like the game it still has some issues like the bug/glitches so you shut the fuck up.
Sigh
My Lee was different. He did protect Clementine, but also teached her that life isn't fair and that things will never be the same again, so she has to get used to the way things are now. And Clementine follows his advice 100%. Not that I'm a roleplayer, I just played the way I am.
Fair enough. As innocent as the situations allow for, sure. It is a game that supports role playing your character to a certain degree and emphasizes on choice and consequence.
EDIT: A question. Do you feel TT's including enough options to play this way?
So when someone has a view that differs from yours and it could very well make the game better in their opinion they should just shut the fuck up?
K.
In a story where you decide what is in or out of character.
100% this. I can't believe people are complaining that Clem is the protagonist of Season Two. It was foreshadowed even back in the first Season. She's the main protagonist of the entire Telltale series, not just Season Two. She's the centerfold of everything. And her being a moral compass worked. But it's also a great thing making HER the successor of Lee since you as Lee, trained her to be able to fend for herself. And thus, when she took over as the main character of the series over Lee it was perfectly suited for the story purpose and her general character. Nobody knew Clementine as much as Lee, and if you were to play as someone else who barely knows her that just wouldn't work at all. Only person left who knows Clementine as well as Lee did is herself. She was always intended to be Lee's successor, there's no question in that.
Christ I really hope Telltale ignore these "Criticisms" because if they don't they might decide to make a new character the protagonist of the third Season. I won't mind if they complete Clementine's story this season (as long as she doesn't die) and long as it makes for a satisfying conclusion since we've been in this story arc of the series since we started the series. But I'd hope she survives and continues to be the protagonist of the Third Season. Older, and more refined from her experience fighting Walkers.
No,but if he hates episodic games then he should quit this forum.This forum is about episodic games and not other stuff.If he wants to report problems with the game,he can go to the support page but this is not a problem
How about everybody shut up and let's get bac on the topic at hand swagguykiller you're not one to tell somebody to stfu
Tomi you should know that it doesn't matter when somebody does something like tht it's still the op opinion kust because somebody disagrees and insults them doesn'tean it actually matters that's what the dislike feature was for to show you disagree so can we shut up nd get back on topic before the both of you have a stupid argument
Fine.Sorry
Edit: Here lies a stupid comment, I don't deserve any likes and you can freely dislike this comment if you want
Well said, I don't really see why people don't like Clementine as the protagonist of Season 2.
Why does this forum have so many mean users?
Only you and Saltlick explained why you disagreed instead of just going off lol
lol your coments are the same and so is the like/dislike count
Good let's move on it's all good
Way to give out your reasons haha.
Edit: Here lies a stupid comment, I don't deserve any likes and you can freely dislike this comment if you want.
Second edit: Fail, I edited wrong comment XD
This is why I rarely share my opinions on anything.
Good explanation.
I do agree its getting repetitive people complaining over a great game but there is nothing you can do its their opinion and we have to deal with it.
I think most people you find complaining about Clem being the protagonist are actually objecting to her being the playable character. So far the OP is on a list of 3 people I can remember complaining about actually following Clem's story, but the list objective to her being the pc is much longer.
Two dislikes for innocent Clem? Dayum, these threads are battlefields.
There are restrictions that come with the episodic format. Their branches and true choice and consequence seemingly can't be completely implemented as is because of budget and the time restraints of releasing the episodes this way. It does have its advantages, like the ability to incorporate some of the fan's feedback into the next episode to make it a better experience and that sense of anticipation instilled on the player all throughout the season The wait, although maddening at times, maintains an effective grip on the consumers most of the time... and loses some with the silence, delays and what not.
Clementine. I have personally no problems in making her my protagonist, my avatar this season. This was always more or less her story, anyway. I do think that Telltale's failing to explore her character the way it should, both being only still a child and being our protagonist, but not necessarily for the reasons you've stated. Telltale has not realized the game's potential because they have not still found a way to integrate such a problematic (in the writing and role aspects) protagonist. The idea, the concept of her growing up in the hell that is this world and making a strong impact on the new group in her own way, in the way a little girl can, (and yes, it is possible, the Nick decision in A House Divided more or less nails the subtlety of what I expected decision making this season to be) has some great potential in my eyes.
Now, on how to roleplay Clementine. Well... do as you wish. You do not enjoy "badass Clem"? Don't play her that way. You get to choose some of her outlook based on what your Lee taught her, or your idea of her, or a mix. This does not negate his teachings because A) His teachings could have been many; from emphasizing innocence and humanity to a more pragmatic approach.
They were that, teachings that Clem can completely embrace and try to follow, but ultimately, she will make her own way through life. Lee had possibly the greatest impact on her new life, but it will not completely define who she is. All of this is (and perhaps should be reinforced in future episodes) your choice on how to approach playing her.
This story, like life, will force you into less than ideal situations, and will probably force to make Clementine things you may not agree with as her former surrogate father, but she lives in TWD, and she will be tested much like any other survivor.