The Walking Dead: The Telltale Series - A New Frontier Episode 1: Ties That Bind Part One

 PC
Metascore
81

Generally favorable reviews - based on 35 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 30 out of 35
  2. Mixed: 5 out of 35
  3. Negative: 0 out of 35
  1. DarkZero
    Jan 20, 2017
    70
    These two short episodes (about three hours for both) did keep me invested and reminded me that Telltale can spin a good story. There were a few effective moments and a few tricky choices. However, the technical and narrative flaws are too glaring to ignore. And, perhaps saddest of all, I am just not as excited to play the next episode as I usually am with Telltale games.
  2. The Digital Fix
    Jan 12, 2017
    70
    A strong opener and weaker follow-up chapter, but the third season is certainly heading in the right direction, narratively at least.
  3. Impulsegamer
    Jan 23, 2017
    68
    If you were a fan of the previous two seasons and enjoyed playing as Clementine then you may be slightly disappointed as she is not the main playable character, at least not in this episode. But if you are open to a new story, characters and a fresh take to the series then you should give this a go. New players to the series will also enjoy it as long as you are aware that it is more story driven and your choices will not have a huge effect on the outcome of the episode (so far).
  5. GameCritics
    Jan 17, 2017
    65
    A New Frontier doesn’t fail completely as a narrative experience — Javier and his makeshift family aren’t unlikeable as far as characters go — but the story that’s being told in these first two episodes just doesn’t command the player’s investment like it used to. The gameplay aspects are superfluous, the story beats are overly familiar, and and not even seeing Clementine again can save the moaning, ambling corpse this series has unfortunately become.
  6. games(TM)
    Feb 21, 2017
    50
    A plot slower than a walker. [Issue#183, p.81]
    All this publication's reviews
 This publication does not provide a score for their reviews.
This publication has not posted a final review score yet.
These unscored reviews do not factor into the Metascore calculation.

In Progress & Unscored

?
  1. Mashable
    Dec 21, 2016
    The opening episodes of The Walking Dead: Season 3 force you to think very carefully about the links between Javi and the people around him. All of those choices you make lead up to an explosive revelation that shatters Javi's perspective and sets the stage for the assuredly grim happenings to come.
  2. Polygon
    Dec 20, 2016
    Walking Dead fans looking to jump back into Clementine's story with this new game should temper their expectations. [Provisional Score = 7.5]
  3. Rock, Paper, Shotgun
    Dec 22, 2016
    It’s pure agony at this point that they’re re-running the exact same bloody plots yet again for a third five-part series, as if they weren’t miserably worn out before even Telltale scooped them up off the floor and blew off the crust and fluff. That they’re not even trying to take the slightest new angle belies a barren and bereft production not worth dragging your own mutilated corpse through.

Awards & Rankings

60
#60 Best PC Game of 2016
22
#22 Most Shared PC Game of 2016

User Reviews

All reviews »
User Score
7.1

Mixed or average reviews- based on 242 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 139 out of 242
  2. Mixed: 65 out of 242
  3. Negative: 38 out of 242
  1. Vesanis
    Dec 21, 2016
    0
    60 minutes of automatic content that allows you to walk 5 steps from time to time and occasionally gives you the illusion of choice.

    Every    60 minutes of automatic content that allows you to walk 5 steps from time to time and occasionally gives you the illusion of choice.

    Every game they make they include less and less interactive content and it gets 33% shorter. They should enter the cartoon business instead of the gaming business.

    It's an mediocre walking dead animated movie probably better than the god awful tv show and it has some shocking moments but don't call this thing a game.    … Full Review »
  2. anterolol
    Dec 25, 2016
    0
    Clementine isn't playable and only gets 10% of the entire screen time. Javier is bland and has a boring story. Episodes are 60 minutes long,Clementine isn't playable and only gets 10% of the entire screen time. Javier is bland and has a boring story. Episodes are 60 minutes long, down from 90 minutes in season 2 and 120-150 minutes in season 1. The writing is atrocious.

    If you have any respect for Clementine or Lee, don't buy this game. It destroys everything from the past 2 seasons.

    This is an insult and a betrayal to all fans.    … Full Review »
  3. HansV
    Dec 24, 2016
    4
    Season 1 and 2 were awesome, but this season 3 is not. Previously the story was focused on clem, now there is a second character you play asSeason 1 and 2 were awesome, but this season 3 is not. Previously the story was focused on clem, now there is a second character you play as well, flashbacks to the past, the action sequences are extremely easy, choices seem irrelevant, and the game, for me, hardly triggers emotions. Time to move on.… Full Review »
See all user reviews »