The Walking Dead: Episode 1 - A New Day

As an opening act, A New Day did what it was supposed to: get me interested in the next episode even if the overall universe of Walking Dead completely depresses me. It's not that there's no happy ending; it's that there's not even real respite from the horror of what's going on. And that's exactly what happens at the end of the first episode.

Ultimately, my only mark against The Walking Dead is that there aren't a lot of places where players get to use their noggin. With the exception of a scene where you must determine the right sequence in which to dispatch a group of zombies in a parking lot, the game proceeds forward in a linear fashion. Sure, you can mess up and die, but the game isn't difficult, and doesn't have any unconventional puzzle solving, like those found in Telltale's Sam & Max or Monkey Island games.

A New Day is an exceptional start to a five-part series that has me completely hooked and engrossed in a world that I can't even begin to imagine, let alone speculate about where it will go next.

Some scenes in this game genuinely moved me.

The Walking Dead: Episode 1 takes the zombie apocalypse and makes it a story about a man and a little girl trying to survive. It's well done with just a few odd things. It's not an action packed experience and that may turn some away.

By some creative miracle, modest difficulty and interaction are outweighed by genuinely great survival storytelling.

The Walking Dead may have more gore than puzzles, but by striking out in a new direction that focuses on atmospheric storytelling, Telltale delivers one their most compelling and enjoyable titles to date.

I know retention is a big problem for episodic games, but I wouldn't miss seeing how my story plays out for anything, and I suspect you'll feel the same way.

All in all, the first episode of The Walking Dead was a fantastic experience. Fans of a good narrative should look into this game, as well.

A triumph of the interactive narrative, good proof that with good writers and a solid direction, letting the player make decisions can make a good story better. An intense game with plenty of tough decisions and consequences that come back to punch you in the stomach.

Although protagonists behave irritatingly stupidly, their story is still interesting. Best Telltale game ever. [June 2012]

I have to hand it to Telltale, even though I had my doubts, they pulled this off in fine fashion. They've taken what they do best and managed to fit it to a franchise that would seem to be better suited for a different genre altogether.

The relationship between Lee and Clementine is handled extremely well throughout the game.

It has a believable cast of characters and a great look. Sure, the puzzles some adventure gamers love are missing and there will be an audio hiccup here and there, but as an introductory hook to the five-episode series, The Walking Dead Episode 1 has just about everything fans could want.

Telltale Games did a nice job in introducing the characters and the world, and in giving them depth, and while I found the gameplay elements to be a little bit easy, that might be because Episode 1 is an introduction, and the difficulty will ramp up as the season progresses -- or at least I hope so; otherwise The Walking Dead might end up being more an interactive movie than a real game. But regardless, I thought the story was strong enough to support even an easy game, and so I'm optimistic about the season as a whole will turn out. The game's $25 suggested retail price looks more than reasonable.

With The Walking Dead, Telltale's experimentation with an unusual formula pays off. With its focus on dialogue choices and puzzles that more naturally fit into a narrative, The Walking Dead is a unique experience. In less than three hours, the game delivers a thoughtful, character-driven story that takes a refreshing look at the zombie apocalypse. And like any great episodic show, I'm eager to see what happens next.

Despite a few fumbles, The Walking Dead: Episode 1 is a resounding success. I can't wait for the next installment, and I have found myself reflecting on my choices, pondering at how events could have unfolded differently. This two-and-a-half hour game is most certainly a love letter to fans of TWD and zombies in general, but those who've yet to be bitten by the zombie bug may enjoy the experience as well.

The Walking Dead's first episode, 'A New Day', succeeds where some of their past adventures have failed not by fixing the issues that often hold their games back, but by placing a greater importance on the presentation and character work that the team handles best.

Personally, I'm counting the days until the appearance of even the next episode.

Great both standalone and as a gateway to a larger series. Let's hope it all pans out. [July 2012, p.76]

A slow-burn character study, some quick thinking and a constant air of menace make for a gripping start to a new adventure. [July 2012, p.68]

A New Day is more of an 'interactive story' than a true game, but fortunately it's more interactive than Telltale's previous achievements (Jurassic Park and Law & Order) and the story itself is great – emotional and engaging. [June 2012, p.60]

If you love the The Walking Dead comic book or a well written story with a lot of drama and emotional insight, this game is for you. If you're looking for action, puzzles or challenge, run away from any Telltale Games adventure.

The Walking Dead is a fan service carried out perfectly. If you're a fan of zombies created by Kirkman this is a must buy.

A gripping story, a dark, gritty comic book look, good voice over work and Telltale's understanding of the atmosphere and tone of The Walking Dead makes this a great package, and I'm excited to see what's in store for coming episodes.

Despite introducing so many characters in a short space of time, Telltale has managed to plant the seeds of emotional connection; which I can only hope leads to more intense drama and difficult decisions. Its limited opportunities for interaction is probably its biggest failing beyond the bugs, but there's a lot of potential here.

Its dialogue is superb and really gives credence to the choices you make, and we can only hope Telltale makes good on its promise to have these decisions mean something, and to impact the world and the way other characters view you.

Bloody, brutal, and hard to put down.

The game perfectly captures the most important part of the books: the tone and atmosphere. Fans of the comics will appreciate the familiar faces and places that do pop up, but even those of you that have completely avoided the stellar comics and so-so AMC TV series will be engrossed.

A great adaptation of Robert Kirkman's comic, one that isn't a chore to play and is genuinely absorbing across its two-hour entirety, even with its hiccups. Also, if you're looking for the most depressing dad sim on the planet, The Walking Dead: Episode 1 is for you.

I can forgive The Walking Dead: A New Day's weak puzzles and occasional technical issues because of all the other things it gets right. By focusing on moral choice and character relationships, Telltale has managed to remain faithful to the source material while simultaneously crafting a zombie game that feels fresh compared to its more action-oriented brethren.

As a fan of the comics, the game absolutely nails the tone and setting. Important characters like Hershel and Glen make an appearance, and they act just as you would expect them to. The voice acting is great, and the models are very expressive.

As long as you know you're going into an interactive story experience, you won't be let down.

Rich atmosphere compensates for poor gameplay mechanics of The Walking Dead.

Telltale Games reborn? Hopefully they have finally realized what their main strength is and discovered that the QTE sequences alone don't make a good game. [June 2012]

It could have been enriched with puzzles and endowed with a different interface, thus prolonging the experience and branding it a full-blooded adventure game. [June 2012]

This is a must buy for any fan of the series, as the game captures its pace and tension perfectly. For everyone else, this is a good if a bit short experience that's definitely worth a look.

As it is now, The Walking Dead is a good choice only for adventure maniacs with a hook for the zombies. Everyone else is advised to wait for the release of at least a pair of additional chapters and wait for our final review.