Would you rather have decisions that don't matter, or...?
Some people think that Season 2 is worse than ANF because decisions don't matter as much. I completely disagree with this. Why? Because when it comes right down to it, even though choices didn't seem to matter as much in Season 2, I would much rather take that over having choices that matter in ways that make no sense as is the case with ANF.
As far as Conrad's determinant status: I'm okay with him being determinant, but I don't like the fact that he didn't appear that much in spite of that or the fact that they made him multi-determinant on top of it. On the flip-side, if you wound up shooting him in Episode 2, Gabe snitches on you for doing so. Like what the hell? I understand Telltale wanted decisions to matter, but when your trying to make people like a certain character, making them out to be a snitch doesn't help that.
This is why I prefer Season 2 over ANF. Even though decisions don't matter as much, it doesn't take away from my overall enjoyment of Season 2 itself. What do you guys think? Would you rather have decisions that don't matter, or have decisions that matter in ways that make no sense?
Comments
I think that was one of ANF's problems. They might have tried a bit too hard to make our choices have more of an impact but did it so poorly that it ended up ruining the story and making no sense.
Well it's always been like this for choice based decision games. For example in Witcher 3 before defeating the ice giant, if you save Folan and Vigi they will show up but not in many scenes. Same thing with Telltale Game of Thrones, where you save Bowen, Erik, and Bloodsong they don't really show up in many scenes. It's because it's usually really hard to keep a character in many scenes vs a scene without the character. As for Conrad, the reason why he wasn't in many scenes is because Telltale wanted to keep him alive for most of the time. If Conrad had stayed with the group in Episode 4 instead of leaving he would've been caught by Joan's people. In episode 5 Telltale probably didn't want him to die anymore so they saved him for the ending instead.
Yeah I'm guessing they wanted to make a downside of killing Conrad but it really became out of character for Gabe to snitch out Javier like that. It reminded me of a scene in Witcher 3 where Dijkstra betrayed Roche and Geralt had to decide whether to help Roche or let him get killed. By doing this scene, it can result in two endings. But alot of people had complained that this scene was more made for the choice then the actual story especially since it was out of character for Dijkstra because in the books he would never betray Geralt.
And in Telltale Game of Thrones whoever you chose as sentinel, the other guy would turn traitor, and that ruined the experience for alot of players. But even when some Decisions don't matter in Telltale Games, it might not make sense. Like when you save Carley or Doug, they die in the same exact place regardless.
Wow really? Haven't really seen anyone who actually hates Season 2 more then ANF. Well the characters in Season 2 we didn't really get to spend some time with and we really didn't get to know them that well. But they were well prepared for Walkers. For ANF characters like the Garcias, we know who they were and what they did before the apocalypse, but they lacked with developement and didn't really know much about the walkers. They really shouldn't need help from 13 year old Clementine 4 years after the apocalypse. It sucks because Javier lets Clementine kill walkers and do the dangerous stuff, but not Gabe or Mari.
But Season 2 didn't really have any good choices imo. Save Nick - dies 2 episodes later, even thought the only difference is that Clementine takes him out as when he's a walker. Save- Sarah, dies a couple of scenes later in Episode 4. Save- Alvin dies in the next episode taking out someone else before he dies. Telling Walter the truth or not - really doesn't make a difference and I don't know why it was a major choice for episode 2. Giving the dying man water - again why was this a major choice?
I know I might have went off topic but anyways I think most people would want a better story then to have choices matter more. It's my guess just because I've seen alot of people hate on the shoot Conrad choice and the Sentinal choice in Game of Thrones.
so you re telling me you think that ANF making Conrad live thought the whole game caused the writers to not focus on the story and having it end up badly.
Telltale has made determinant characters that can live in a lot of their other games and one of their more recent games even had 2 different episodes on the finale and they still dint hurt the game s story... Its not that ANF focused too much on choices its the fact that ANF story was horrible and yes season 2 was alot better than ANF but dont start advocating that the choices made telltale lose focus on the story.
It's not so much the choices that were the issue so much was the ways in which these choices mattered. I do want choices to matter, but at the same time I also want these decisions to matter in ways that make sense. If Telltale can give us that, GREAT. If that's too much to ask, I'd rather they not matter at all. That's all I'm saying.
That's almost as bad as the Choice at the end of ANF Episode 4. When you try to save one person and they get killed out of spite.
Well some people actually have said it. I've seen it here on the forums.
Okay, I'll admit it, and it even pains me to say it; but I think ANF was better than s2. There are just too many inconsistencies in the plot and things are really going nowhere. It was clearly something that was meant to be far better, but the end result was something that was certainly not replayable and quite dry and dreary. I just hope that s4 will be the best, because I can see that there are also multiple problems with season 1, though they dpn't come off the top of my head, so that's good.
I see what you're saying, but I don't think season 2 is unreplayable. To me, it always had a unique vibe. A child main character in a zombie apocalypse is not very common, after all.
But did ANF have a better idea of what it wanted to do? Maybe.
If they were to opt for choices that don't matter or choices that matter poorly instead of choices that matter properly, then I'd say mix them both and don't expect us to buy the "game."
I guess, yeah. But the story doesn't feel too different and there auren't enough differences in character dialogue and scenes from choosing different choices, e.g. how Arvo snakes on you either way. Stuff like this happens like 5 times in season 2, and like 2 or 3 in season 3, but at least in that season it is somewhat reasonable, like Gabe snaking on you. Props to A House Divided, though, there was a lot of variation in that episode. Additionally, there are also several instances where the game tells us that a character remembers things but they don't. I think this is due to the multiple times that episodes were redone and changed. It could've been so much better. Season 2 and 3 are opposites. 2 was a great idea and it just worked very well, except for when characters rely on her all the time, but other than that the concept was good, but the execution was the messy part; for season 3 it was vice versa, bad idea and concept that doesn't work but overall good execution. The story didn't make any tears come, which is strange for a walking dead game.
Choices that matter AND make sense for the most part.
Honestly, there just weren't that many scenes where the Bartender being present or not was really relevant.
Which is a legit shame in Above the Law's case, since the ending choice of the previous episode seemed like it'd have fairly considerable consequences and payoffs there.
Maybe?
I mean, the reason Tripp and Ava got captured was because they were apparently scoping out the stage from different angles compared to Eleanor(pretending she was even hiding anyway) and Joan's men found them.
Actually, they did consider it. They just didn't have the resources and/or to make it happen.
And had him disappear at the beginning of the episode, for some reason.
Honestly, that scene is the biggest example of missed opportunity from a character, story, and gameplay aspect in that episode/installment.
The pieces were all there, they just chose(?) to go apply Season 2's choice logic on it.
Eeeh...maybe not hate exactly, but there are and/or have been people with that type of sentiment.
Uh, what gave you that impression?
Agreed.
Unfortunately, that's just kinda how it's gone for that type of scaling.
Because it's supposed to be a crucial dramatic moment in Nick's corner, due to the buildup throughout the episode as well as making him determinant.
It could have also been intended to come up at some point between Luke and Kenny.
Because it reflects on Clementine's character.
It may have also been meant come up again in some form in the original story(s), but The Scavengers were ultimately a forgotten element.
Who, Clint?
Do people still play with the notifications?
I turned those off ages ago. They're distracting, cheesy and generally not very true.
Wtf is with these bullshit random threads. Of course i want longer episodes and choices that matter. Theres no OR it has to be both. Everything must be fucking perfect.
Notifications?
Lol you're right. They were only good in season 1, like the 'duck thinks you are incredibly awesome' part.
In the top left of the screen. You mostly get notifications that show that people 'remember that'.
"X will remember this" and all that
Oh. Didn't know you could cut those off.
... mate
But on a serious note, I recommend everyone take it off. It improves the dramatic experience much more.
Ah, but a little cheese is good sometimes.
Also, I rarely touched the options outside of when the game was dark as shit, sue me.
They had Conrad leave in ep 4 because it made sense for his character arc. They could have EASILY just had him stay with Tripp but manage to slip away at the last second
And I think gabe telling about Conrads death checks out fine. We've all said things in the moment we regret later...ie 'Just shoot him' or 'How come you shot Conrad' he's a teenager, hes emotional. His niece just died, his head is likely all over the place. It made sense to me
Oh, don't be mistaken. I definitely agree.
Much of what made his determinant status and/or character arc work is that the two influenced each other as much as screentime would allow.
Plus, if there needs/needed to be any guarantee, him eventually coming back was inevitable anyway considering the huge ass herd outside if he didn't change his mind before getting there.
It would've checked out more than fine if a. the only trigger wasn't shooting Conrad, and b. his outburst was influenced by your collective interactions, relationship, and teachings with him.
Yep, that's pretty much the baseline.
Again, I just wish that scene was influenced/reflective of nuance with his character's depth and/or ongoing development.
Yea-heh-heh. His head was likely all over the place. Even moreso.
lol I've spent like an hour fiddling with settings to try and get the best experience.
that includes my own tv settings, though.