Great surprise
Hoping it would not be another Dead Island at least.
What I got to play was an amazing game. Emotional, chocking and gruesome.
Emotional because of the story, the characters starring in it and the choices you have to make throughout the game. You are Lee, a black man convicted for murder, who right from the start gets into the thick of things when the zombie outbreak escalates. On his way fleeing from the hordes he gets to know a young girl named Clementine. This is the two main characters and it is up to you (Lee) to not just keep yourself alive - but to keep Clem alive and well. If you have anything resembling a soul in your body you will most likely love the little fella - and be chocked when she's in trouble and cry with her when she's sad.
On your journey there are others joining in, some you will love or hate - and often both. Right in the middle of the zombie apocalypse there are lots of hard decisions to make and often a choice who seems like a good one not necessary is the right one. The game then plays out after how you make your desicions. It is not done to 100 % perfection but Telltale has managed to make this a suprisingly good personal experience, for being an adventure game.
Chocking because of the way humans will treat one another in an state of anarchy. Just like in todays stupid reality shows there will form pacts - them and us, them or us. Even you will have to choose sides and make new enemies or friends for every chapter of the game. There will be times in the game where you actually will choose who will live or die.
This is certainly not a fun ride either. Even if we are served with occasionally glimts of hope the game reeks of hopelessness. It is a doomsday tale if I ever saw one. Every day is a struggle just to stay alive and whatever you do - don't get bitten.
Gruesome because of the very graphical violence we are served. The game does not shy away to zoom in on gory limb dismemberment. The graphics of the game are very cartoonish and when bloody violence sets in it can be a relief. Though not the game's intention to be controversial, some parts of the game are almost beyond gory. Not like stupid bloodfeasts like Dead Rising and Dead Island, but more raw - and feels more real.
It is really amazing that a point and click game which action parts consists of quick time events can be this good. But it clearly works. It remainds me most of "Fahrenheit" (2005) and also of a recent game - "Heavy Rain".
Telltale had me interested in their stuff with their take on "Back To The Future" but the totally floored me with this.
In a year that was weak on new good releases this one gets my "Game of the year"
But I do wonder why no one in this game even once say "Zombie" ?