The Walking Dead Ep.2: "Starving For Help"

Once again TellTale Games has delivered a horror masterpiece that pushes the boundaries on moral content, and decisions. Lee the hero of the first encounter returns with his handful of acquaintances along with Clementine, a girl who he has sworn to protect. The game itself literally picks up where you left off with the choices you made concerning the various characters still very much intact. Whomever you hurt emotionally, or even whoever you chose to save during certain circumstances will maintain the same feelings that they had since your last encounter. As the title suggests food has become scarce, and the stability of the group of survivors has been put to the test as a result. Trust is truly tested in this horrific tale that will no doubt have the player on the edge of their seats from beginning until the end. You'll find that Lee has to not only deal with new people that come into the picture this time around, but that he also has to try to keep the peace among his comrades. It's a difficult task that will have Lee (The Player) second guessing their decisions on a regular basis.

In a proper episodic fashion this new tale of the walking dead opens with a cinematic recap of the choices you made during episode one. It is kept short, and sweet only pointing out the truly significant choices that ultimately placed Lee in the situation he currently finds himself a part of. After the reminiscent display the player is thrust back into the tale full force with a zombie encounter involving Lee, and a new addition to the group of survivors. From that point on the group argues back, and forth about food rationing, leadership roles, and other concerns that currently plague them. You'll immediately notice that each character looks a little more worn, and thin. The reality of their situation not only shines through in their overall appearance, but in their animated expressions as well. In the end the loyalty of the group is put to the test as they find themselves in a situation more terrible than the threat that the living dead have previously presented.

The gameplay in episode two of "The Walking Dead" continues in the same way as before with a partly cinematic journey that uses point, and click interactions to move the plot forward. While the game does suffer from some lag issues it is presented in a solid way that is easy to understand, and that is very user-friendly. There is never a dull moment in the game, and the interactions/choices you make concerning the other people involved mean so much more than they did before. You'll find yourself making very difficult decisions on a regular basis that may seem to be more in the "grey" area at first, but you'll very quickly find out how severely they effect the various scenarios that are presented. Coarse language, and gore are not diluted this time around as it is quite suitable for the intense plot that the developer has provided. When you see the "M" rating you can rest assured that it is very justified with this game. It's a title that no kid under the appropriate viewing age should play, period. With that being said if you like your horror games "hardcore" then you're definitely in for a treat.

In the end I found "The Walking Dead Ep.2" to be one hell of a sequel. I played through the entire game (which seemed to last for 3 hours) in one sitting, because I had to know how it ended. When a game keeps my attention that well you can be certain it's worth every point it costs. As far as the presentation goes the story is told in a masterful way that is fitting of the comic books it was molded after. The visuals are as brilliant as they were before. The audio seems to be greatly enhanced since last time though. This time around you can hear the wind whistling as well as other weather related elements that add to the game's thematic ambiance. I definitely liked how the decisions became more serious this time around, and that the overall plot was presented in an equally intense manner. The surprises were plenty, and the plot itself was something that will have gamers talking until the next episode is released. For 400 msp per DLC this "series" is a MUST HAVE!!! If you haven't got either episode yet then go get them both NOW!!! I'm serious.