Choices And Consequences
First of all, I don't want to sound like I'm bashing over this game. I love telltale and TWD so much don't get me wrong. But at the same time, I must say I'm disappointed by it. I was hoping that our choices would've change the story around us, but it hasn't. The main thing that I have to complain about is how it doesn't live up to my expectations about it being able to "choose your path."
Sure, you get to choose your responses, but more than half the time it doesn't even do anything. Nobody would really notice or care what responses you choose (half the time, it wouldn't say noticed what you said, or appreciates your action, etc)
Another thing about these decision making thing is... it's pretty pointless. In the end, you'll most likely go to the same conclusion. No matter who's side you chose, Larry still dies. No matter how you tried to manage the argument, Carley / Doug will still get killed. Even when you didn't steal the food that wagon station, Stranger still chases you. What's the point then? What's the point of having "Carley will remember that" on the fact that you stood up for her, just to have her killed literally 30 seconds later? What's the point of choosing to either try to stop Lilly or choose to join her when she's going to abandon you and drive away anyways?
One might argue that it'll affect further decisions later on the road, like how Kenny would appreciate you later, or yell at you for not standing up for him back in episode 1. But still, does it really make that much of a difference? I myself initially pictured this game with numerous paths - for example, maybe Ben would've been killed instead of Doug, or better, maybe none would've been killed. Maybe you could've intimidated the St John's brothers and took over their farm instead of having them eating one of your members, no matter whatever course you chose to take. Get what I mean?
In conclusion, this game claimed to have you think you can choose a variety of options, creating "your own" storyline. But in the end, we're all generally going down the same path. And that's pretty disappointing, in my opinion.
Comments
Agreed. At the beginning it said "The story is tailored by the choices you make" or something like that. But honestly our decisions are very minor and almost take no effect on the story. It could have been better but at least its still a good game in my eyes.
The thing is, TWD isn't a "choose your own storyline" game. The game is TAILORED (small little differences) by how you play. Many people get the two mixed up, but even then I heard a rumor that the reason Episode 2 is taking so long is because they are trying to make it more like a "choose your own storyline" which honestly, I'm not even sure I'm happy about.
Game and story there's no doubt in my mind it's so emotional and it's finest. But if this game had "choose your own storyline" idea, that would be awesome.
Why?
I never wanted drastic changes to the story based off my decisions. I have always liked that the changes are mostly contextual, as in how people perceive Clem and Lee and also how I perceive them. For instance the killing Larry choice, actually it changed nothing story wise, but drastically changed the relationships of Lee, Kenny, and Lilly. Those are the changes I like, I wouldn't want entire set changes just based off decisions I make. That's just phony and not at all how life plays out. I would hope TTG sticks to their guns and keeps the game tailored to me and not warped by me.
I'm happy having no real control over where the story goes because I have no real control over where my life goes.
What I care about are the interactions, the people you meet along the way.
I like the freedom to make or break relationships and decide who I'm loyal to.
Life's a journey not a destination.