It’s easy to see where these choices will affect the narrative, and replaying each story with different decisions proves fun. Once again, player choice influences the games events and character behaviour/relationships accordingly. A new context sensitive mechanic makes an appearance, opening for more player controlled action gameplay, rather than the usual display of QTE’s and various mouse cursor-based actions. The same basic point and click gameplay and mechanics are here, and the narrative takes the forefront of the entire game. Gameplay wise, nothing has really changed. This does unfortunately result in the episode never arriving at a real peak, having all tension snatched away as things get really interesting is rather wounding, and this happens more than once in this game, especially with Shel’s story, which is left feeling stale as a result. This becomes frustrating, and understandably so, but it at least succeeds in exciting the player for the season to come. Only by the end of each characters segment do you really start becoming interested and engrossed in their events, only to be cut away and brought to the character selection screen rather abruptly. With only a limited amount of content, and five characters to introduce the player to, the game fails to drum up enough development leaving the player a little bewildered about who the characters truly are. For a franchise that is known for extensive character development, this title comes up a little dry, and understandably so. Clocking in at only around an hour and a half, most problems with the title stem from its very short length.
#THE WALKING DEAD 400 DAYS SERIES#
Anybody going into this game with the same hopes as the main series is in for disappointment, but those aware of the titles purpose will be fulfilled, if not a little underwhelmed all the same. While not as expansive or as in-depth as other offerings from the franchise, it is important to note that this is only a mini taster of what is to come. The events are still just as shocking, and the emotions still run high throughout.
While each character segment is only short, this doesn’t mean that the writing has taken a hit. Each characters story can be played in any order you like, and throughout each 15/20 minute section, the player will learn each characters background and how they came together. Set over the first 400 days of the zombie infection, each story takes place within the same area of America, and most importantly, involves the characters coming into contact with a truck stop. The narrative of 400 Days is rather interesting, centring on the stories of 5 characters whose events inter-link with each other.
Each character is very much an individual, feel fresh, and all offer different dynamics to the conglomerate group, offering insight into future drama when Season Two hits the market. It’s great to see that the writers have successfully accomplished the task of creating another great cast, more-so without treading over old ground. It’s safe to say that from the minute you load up the episode, it all feels just like The Walking Dead, and why should it be any different? The game’s signature cartoon art style is here and continues to look great, and most importantly, the game provides an extensive array of characters, more varied than any previous instalments.
However, with such critical acclaim and major success from the previous instalments, does this title deliver the same thrills? Arriving seven months after the conclusion of Season One, and only a couple of weeks since it’s E3 announcement comes ‘The Walking Dead: 400 Days’, an additional DLC episode built to bridge the gap from Season One to Season Two.