The Walking Dead: Survival Instinct

 PlayStation 3
User Score
3.7

Generally unfavorable reviews- based on 206 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 34 out of 206
  2. Mixed: 46 out of 206
  3. Negative: 126 out of 206
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  1. godzillabots
    Mar 21, 2013
    10
    In my opinion, i actually like this game. While the graphics are not the best, nor the worst, the game is very good and i like that you get to see the Dixon brothers, since this is based on the show while the one from TellTale is based more on the comics. I can recommend this to every zombie fan and every Walking Dead fan.
  2. Silentassassin9
    Mar 19, 2013
    10
    Got this game first thing today at gamestop and its all I hoped it would be, the game is amazing! I have played for about three hours now and I can't put it down!
  3. loekey
    Mar 19, 2013
    10
    This game is amazing. I have never played a game that made me actually feel like I was surviving the zombie apocalypse like this game does! Yes, the graphics are outdated but the gameplay delivers. Plus, its only 50 bucks so its not like they tried to make it appear to be some huge blockbuster...it is what it is and that is zombie apocalypse gameplay superior to any seen yet on consoles!
  4. Will_V
    Mar 20, 2013
    9
    I am giving a 9 cause yes, THE GRAPHIC ARE A BIT OUT-DATED. Now that is out of the way we can get into the great things about the game. First being hunting zombies while they are hunting you. I go so many eerie thrills when a horde was on my heels. Second being the sense of realism, outside of the scavenging. You are not a superhero so going against a horde with a melee weapon is suicideI am giving a 9 cause yes, THE GRAPHIC ARE A BIT OUT-DATED. Now that is out of the way we can get into the great things about the game. First being hunting zombies while they are hunting you. I go so many eerie thrills when a horde was on my heels. Second being the sense of realism, outside of the scavenging. You are not a superhero so going against a horde with a melee weapon is suicide and firing guns really only help if you are on your way out due to how many more walkers it will draw in. the third being the sense of choice, from who you save to what weapons you give out. I am still torn that a gave my uncle a lead pipe so he could gather supplies, just to have him lose it to the winds when he turn into a zombie. This is a great game as long as you don't expect it to be left 4 dead and play it by The Walking Dead's zombie rule-set, case in point.… Expand
  5. Staanko
    Mar 28, 2013
    9
    In my opinion it's a quite good game! I like the story behind it and the scary zombies. But it's too expensive and they could have done more. But it isn't as bad as everybody says.
  6. SilentWolf
    Mar 21, 2013
    8
    Ok... I've been playing this game for a day now. Yes. It is a rushed licensed game. There is no doubt about that. But I feel as though Terminal Reality chose to focus less on graphics and more on gameplay which is where the game shines. You absolutely have to play the game stealthily. If you fire your gun, Walkers will just make your day very bad. It has great atmosphere. The sound isOk... I've been playing this game for a day now. Yes. It is a rushed licensed game. There is no doubt about that. But I feel as though Terminal Reality chose to focus less on graphics and more on gameplay which is where the game shines. You absolutely have to play the game stealthily. If you fire your gun, Walkers will just make your day very bad. It has great atmosphere. The sound is great too. But I feel as though Terminal Reality could of tried harder with the dialogue. Still, Norman Reedus and Michael Rooker both deliver their line with that redneckish gusto that we have come to enjoy from the show. The game falls apart in the graphics department. The graphics would be excusable if the framerate was fine, but it is not. The game chugs in places (mostly in darker areas). But I honestly enjoy this game so I will give it a 8.… Expand
  7. Megacon89
    Mar 24, 2013
    7
    Good but Disappointing is how I feel about The Walking Dead: Survival Instinct. I think the main reason that this game has failed is because of Activision, when I first heard the a game based on AMC's The Walking Dead was coming out I was thrilled! Then I saw it was about Daryl (Probably my favorite character) I was even happier! Then...I saw who it was published by...Activision...Then IGood but Disappointing is how I feel about The Walking Dead: Survival Instinct. I think the main reason that this game has failed is because of Activision, when I first heard the a game based on AMC's The Walking Dead was coming out I was thrilled! Then I saw it was about Daryl (Probably my favorite character) I was even happier! Then...I saw who it was published by...Activision...Then I had a bad feeling, they are the crash grabbers of the gaming industry, but I remained optimistic, I mean coming from the guys for made Ghostbusters, BloodRayne and the somewhat entertaining Kinect: Star Wars it couldn't be that bad. So as the year of 2012 went by...well AMC's The Walking Dead: The Video Game became The Walking Dead: Survival Instinct and that was all we heard from the game in 2012. Then in January 2013 it resurfaced to tell the world that in March 2013 in would release to the masses. With as little advertising as it had been given...my hopes for a great game were slowly diminishing. So here we and The Walking Dead: Survival Instinct has been released to the world. So here is my review.

    Survival Instinct is an Survival/Action FPS set before the event's of the shows first season and tells the tale of what Daryl and Merle (Both Voiced by their TV counter parts Norman Reedus and Micheal Rooker) did before and eventually how they ended up in Atlanta. There's a story there but unfortunately not a very strong one which isn't great because The Walking Dead is known for good story telling. Gameplay-wise Survival Instinct has some really good concepts in place but it's sloppy execution brings it down, the whole survival element works well, scavenging for food, weapons, ammo and fuel, It's nice that you actually have to find these things. Fuel is vital to the game because you travel round in vehicles, which of course require fuel, so while you are scavenging so are also looking out for fuel. The survivors element is a big part of the game but is one of the most under-explored. You'll find people in the places you travel to and the mini-hubs you use to scavenge in. You usually take them in once you give them food or they'll just join you on your travels. They even have their own specialties and traits like some are stealthy and others tough, some prefer melee weapons and others guns. You can send them out on runs while you are out in the main areas, they can search for either food, fuel or ammo. When you send them out their is a chance for them to never come back, so for you to increase the chance of them returning equip them with their preferred traits and send out more than one out at a time. There will also come a time when you need to dismiss them if you find too many at a time but this is where it starts to lack, you dismiss them with a simple press out the X button and that is that, no cut-scene to see them off or beg for you to take them back, nothing. There's also the on the road scavenging where you can stop off at places like suburbs, gas stations, farm houses and other places and search for gas and supplies. There's also the chance that'll you'll break down in these areas and have to repair your vehicle by looking for car parts. On the actual gameplay side it works well, it combines stealth combat, melee combat and gun play, the way to play the game is more up close and personal because firearms make the most noise and rightly so, you should use your guns as a last resort unless you have a good amount of ammo to burn. With melee weapons you have your basic swing and power attack, it's better that you combine both you achieve maximum effectiveness, for example you should strike first with a simple swing and then follow up with a power strike. The graphics is where the game the game lacks most but I'm not judging the game on it, they are last years graphics, they aren't terrible but they just seem dated for this year. On the character model side Daryl and Merle look the best but other than that you'll be seeing variants of the same people and zombies...a lot. In the end most people will end up looking like each other with different hair style and colours. There is a lot of invisible walls in the game too, it restricts the game a hell of a lot and you can't go to places that you should be able to go. The last thing I wanna mention is the ending, the ending is left on a low note, plus it seems like a cliffhanger ending that set's up for a sequel? I dunno. In the end The Walking Dead: Survival Instinct is an enjoyable experience but lacks in the places where it should shine. There are so many good element's in this game that a few more months in a development could of improved on those areas but I expect Activision gave them a deadline and they did the best they could in the time they had. Personally I can see why the game is getting hate but I personally still enjoyed the game, It's The Walking Dead: Survival Instinct!    … Expand
  8. TheyCallMeEnvy
    Mar 19, 2013
    7
    I picked this game up this morning as soon as game stop was open. So that means i have spent about 2.5 hours with it. I will say that i was a little surprised. To to a tv tie in it was much better then i thought. All the cries about the graphics are not wrong, but maybe thats why they knocked 10buck off its price. All the cries about the game play however are wrong, I find it veryI picked this game up this morning as soon as game stop was open. So that means i have spent about 2.5 hours with it. I will say that i was a little surprised. To to a tv tie in it was much better then i thought. All the cries about the graphics are not wrong, but maybe thats why they knocked 10buck off its price. All the cries about the game play however are wrong, I find it very good. Gun play is tight, and movement is on par with any other FPS with a little peeking around walls to make the sneaking a little better. Now the melee is not half bad you have a quick kill from behind a grapple if you get grabbed and a light/heavy attack. Different weapons will swing faster/slower but also push zombies back different distances. I would put the melee a cut about games like skyrim and fallout because of the grapple and quick kills. Voice acting is nice also, but the NPC fall a little flat when compared to the voice of Daryle and his brother.

    Over all i would give it an 8
    but this is from a huge walking dead fan, so if i step back and act like its just another game that might drop to a 7    … Expand
  9. naii808
    Mar 20, 2013
    7
    The only thing that makes this game bad is the graphics but I didnt buy this game for the graphics I bought it for the story and I love zombie games. I'm guessing they had a low budget to create this game because it was $50 so I understand that the graphics would be out dated. The game play is good, not great but good enough for me, this game would be game of the year IF the graphics wereThe only thing that makes this game bad is the graphics but I didnt buy this game for the graphics I bought it for the story and I love zombie games. I'm guessing they had a low budget to create this game because it was $50 so I understand that the graphics would be out dated. The game play is good, not great but good enough for me, this game would be game of the year IF the graphics were like tomb raider or far cry. Some people scored this game a ZERO but that is not what it deserves I think 5 at the least. The music is nice and scary at times and my heart gets slow and fast when I enter a dark room because the music is awsome lol. But If you love the AMC walking dead tv series then this is the game you should get just because of the story. If you have a job then $50 should be like spending nothing.… Expand
  10. ProtoCaster
    Mar 22, 2013
    7
    If you don't go into this game with the idea that it is going to be a triple A title, and just want to have fun, you're going to have a good time. Fans of The Walking Dead will enjoy the backstory of the Dixon bothers all the while going against the hordes of the undead. Graphically the game will disappoint everyone, but you can tell that Terminal Reality spent a majority of the productionIf you don't go into this game with the idea that it is going to be a triple A title, and just want to have fun, you're going to have a good time. Fans of The Walking Dead will enjoy the backstory of the Dixon bothers all the while going against the hordes of the undead. Graphically the game will disappoint everyone, but you can tell that Terminal Reality spent a majority of the production time on the gameplay mechanics instead. The stealth gameplay feels pretty natural, I love the stealth knife kills. It does seem odd at first how you take down a walker with melee in a one on one confrontation, but the game would be a bit too easy if you could just stab every walker in the brain when you encounter it. Gun play feels decent enough, and is something you want to avoid using because normally it will attract a horde of hungry walkers. The part I was looking forward to the least, micro-managing your group of survivors, is done well enough. Nice way to get some bonus gear, but it seems like a bit of an after thought and you never end up caring for these characters. All in all if you have your expectations in check and go in with an open mind, there is a lot to enjoy for the discounted price tag.… Expand
  11. DaXenman
    Mar 22, 2013
    7
    Overall the game is pretty good. yes it does have some glitches and it was rushed out before it was to me complete and ready to ship out. I gave it a 7/10 because of the following: 1. it was a little on the short side 2. the survivors you encounter have little to no personality 3. the story was meh. Even with these faults I still found the good in the game, with a little polish and aOverall the game is pretty good. yes it does have some glitches and it was rushed out before it was to me complete and ready to ship out. I gave it a 7/10 because of the following: 1. it was a little on the short side 2. the survivors you encounter have little to no personality 3. the story was meh. Even with these faults I still found the good in the game, with a little polish and a different dev. and publisher (maybe like Ubisoft or EA) the next Walking Dead game will probably be good. I would only recommend this for people who are die hard fans and don't care what they get themselves into and get it for at least $20 $30 price range.… Expand
  12. chocydinosaur
    Aug 21, 2013
    7
    It wasn't everything i wanted from my favourite show becoming a game however despite all of its flaw to which there are a few i still had a lot fun with it and who doesn't want to be daryl dixon.
  13. gavey02
    Aug 30, 2013
    7
    I am going to review this game in point form +Prolouge to the show +A fairly new style of gameplay +fun weapons +somewhat scary -Outdated graphics -fetch this get that -headshots only -if you run for to long he stops and cries -short,left me like thats it? -story? what story? iI am going to review this game in point form +Prolouge to the show +A fairly new style of gameplay +fun weapons +somewhat scary -Outdated graphics -fetch this get that -headshots only -if you run for to long he stops and cries -short,left me like thats it? -story? what story? i dont recall a story!(story besides being based on show sucks). But really this game does deserve some hate but not as much as it gets people come on. I give it a 6.7… Expand
  14. ITZZZPERRY
    Dec 22, 2013
    7
    The Walking Dead: Survival Instinct is good only for one group of people: fans of the series. If you are a fan, especially one of Daryl Dixon, this is a recommendable experience. If not, do not waste your money.
  15. CHEESEDBEEF
    Dec 15, 2014
    7
    This game is not as bad as people make out. Short game? yes. maybe because you are actually meant to play the game several different ways! On your journey you plot your path on a map, using a high, medium, or low fuel consumption, and you are given the option to stop and scavenge locations along the way., (e.g. use low fuel by taking a backroad, but have less to scavenge.) You will beThis game is not as bad as people make out. Short game? yes. maybe because you are actually meant to play the game several different ways! On your journey you plot your path on a map, using a high, medium, or low fuel consumption, and you are given the option to stop and scavenge locations along the way., (e.g. use low fuel by taking a backroad, but have less to scavenge.) You will be dropped off at points like farmhouses and small villages, to scavenge for weapons, fuel and ammo. Once in each main mission area, there more supplies to scavenge and survivors to reccruit, do a simple fetch quest and they will join your team, completing the game with a certain survivor/s will give you perks on your next playthrough, such as stronger melee, better sneaking or even infinite ammo. each survivor gives you a different perk. These help greatly on your second playthrough. you can take all alternate roads and have a near different game (although with the same story). The best part of the game is the voice acting. Norman Reedus and Michael Rooker voice their characters(Daryl and Merle), and its interesting to see how the apocalypse started for Daryl. Daryls in game animations and quotes fit perfectly for how he acts in the series, his silent takedown feels very much... Daryl like. Shooting is fun, although its better if you have the silenced weapons perk from saving a specific survivor. Daryls crossbow is also fun to use, although it should have came earlier in the game. Melee weapons are used as primary, although you could probably only manage to fend off 3 walkers with a hammer, as the animation times are sluggsh, and it takes 3 - 4 hits to the head for a walker go down. I does have a walking dead feel to it, and i like the choices you can make, although there are only 3 or 4 zombie models to see, and walkers often appear on a path you have cleared and leave you wondering how there appeared in that kitchen when all doors were closed behind you.
    Its a great first person zombie survival game in which you can use stealth, brute force, run and hide, or dodge every walker, if you can master the stamina consumption. Different ways to play give you a good sense of choice and adventure, but underlying, problems suchs as unrealistic damage, zombie clones and a story that is lacking, hinder the gameplay. Oh i forgot graphics! maybe because i didnt notice them to be good or bad. The graphics are standard.
    Overall I enjoyed the game, i picked it up preowned for £10 and wasnt dissapointed.    … Expand
  16. GrumpyReviewer
    May 4, 2013
    6
    I don't understand why all the hate. I mean, the game is far, FAR from being good but, by all means, it's as bad as it appears when you see all these bad reviews. It's not very polished and it does fell rushed but I honestly found it very interesting, challenging and tense. It preserves a strong TWD atmosphere and you really feel that you need to fight to survive. Unlike other games,I don't understand why all the hate. I mean, the game is far, FAR from being good but, by all means, it's as bad as it appears when you see all these bad reviews. It's not very polished and it does fell rushed but I honestly found it very interesting, challenging and tense. It preserves a strong TWD atmosphere and you really feel that you need to fight to survive. Unlike other games, this one is not about killing as many zombies as you can but, basically, surviving them. You are always poorly armed, fed and prepared and really need to think every step if you want to end a chapter alive. Additionally, the game brings a very interesting mini-game which is travelling: you have to manage and decide what road to take and who to take with. It is an ugly game, a poorly crafted game, but it really gives a simulation of surviving a zombie outbreak. It's not a good game, I give you that. But it's not a bad one either.… Expand
  17. AlexFili
    Mar 27, 2013
    6
    The Walking Dead is a successful comic that has since been adapted to AMC's hit TV show of the same name. The Walking Dead: Survival Instinct focuses on a character who is exclusive to the TV show called Daryl Dixon and is currently a fan favourite. Daryl Dixon started out as a racist redneck who only cared for his own survival, since the second and third series of the TV show, theThe Walking Dead is a successful comic that has since been adapted to AMC's hit TV show of the same name. The Walking Dead: Survival Instinct focuses on a character who is exclusive to the TV show called Daryl Dixon and is currently a fan favourite. Daryl Dixon started out as a racist redneck who only cared for his own survival, since the second and third series of the TV show, the character has changed a lot and has attracted a large number of fans.

    The game is a prequel to the show and you start out by learning what happened during Daryl's early days during the undead scourge. While there aren't any amazing revelations, you do get a bit more information about the characters and there are some characters that get referenced in passing.

    The good things about this game include a solid combat engine and a range of weapons to choose from. While the combat is not quite as good as Dead Island, you can reliably take down Walkers with stealth attacks and later get stronger weapons.

    Each melee weapon is different from the speedy but weak hammer to the heavy and slow sledgehammer that can take down walkers in a single hit. In terms of guns you have pistols, shotguns, rifle and of course Daryl's trusty crossbow. You'll want to use the crossbow as much as you can to kill walkers silently and retrieve your crossbow bolts.

    Silence is important because walkers pick up on sound a lot. One way you can draw walkers away is by throwing a bottle or a flare in the opposite direction, when they charge towards the noise you slip past them the other way.

    As you progress through the game you'll want to pick up food rations, weapons, ammunition and fuel. Fuel is important for making your way across the map on the road sections. Some of these sections will give you a choice, do you move the car stuck on the road or take an alternative route?

    One great feature of the game is the survivor management. As you progress in the game, you get access to different survivors. You can only pick up a certain number of survivors, based on the size of your vehicle. While you may sometimes want to save everyone, ultimately you sometimes have to choose a location and hope for the best. Some survivors are also only found on the random encounters and so can be overlooked. It's worth helping them survive since you get a bonus at the end of the game.

    Sadly it's not all non-stop fun and there are a few bad points about this game. This game is relentlessly hard, with no difficulty select screen. This means that if you're not careful, you will die many times until you learn how to move around properly and what areas are dangerous to be in. You can sometimes get away from walkers in buildings, but often you can get trapped and face an early demise.

    Another gripe with many people is the game length. At most, the campaign mode can be completed in around 5-8 hours. In other games this isn't such a major problem, but since there is no multiplayer or co-operative modes of any kind, it's a big big problem. The ending is also a bit of a let down as it doesn't really fill in any gaps or explain anything of importance.

    If you have the option of getting Dead Island then I would suggest that you try that game out first, as it's fairly cheap. Otherwise you could potentially get this game but I would say you should get it cheap, simply because of it's length and problems. It's still pretty fun at times though.    … Expand
  18. ReviewZone212
    May 11, 2013
    6
    It isn't good or excellent, it's just not as bad as some say and can even be fun at times, I've seen a lot worse movie licensed games, this one at least isn't one of them.
  19. jamess
    Mar 20, 2013
    6
    With graphics more at home on a Playstation 2, The Walking Dead SI plays like most first person shooters you've ever played. The casting of Reedus and Rooker add immensely to the atmosphere, and the stark landscape, littered with debris, is appropriate, but this would be a better rental than purchase. One thing I found early in playing (can anyone verify this?), is that there seems to beWith graphics more at home on a Playstation 2, The Walking Dead SI plays like most first person shooters you've ever played. The casting of Reedus and Rooker add immensely to the atmosphere, and the stark landscape, littered with debris, is appropriate, but this would be a better rental than purchase. One thing I found early in playing (can anyone verify this?), is that there seems to be no save function while in mid mission. If you die, it revives you at the last checkpoint, but if you want to quit, the game starts at the beginning of the mission, so you have to play it through from the beginning. Anyone else find that?… Expand
  20. Brodieman182
    Apr 25, 2013
    6
    It's certainly not the cutting edge of gaming technology, but not every game needs to be. The graphics are lacking, the enemy AI is completely wonky and the missions aren't as varied as most shooters at least try to be these days, but for some odd reason that doesn't bother me. It's certainly not the worst game i've played this year Cough Cough**Devil May Cry** but it was entertainingIt's certainly not the cutting edge of gaming technology, but not every game needs to be. The graphics are lacking, the enemy AI is completely wonky and the missions aren't as varied as most shooters at least try to be these days, but for some odd reason that doesn't bother me. It's certainly not the worst game i've played this year Cough Cough**Devil May Cry** but it was entertaining enough for me to not feel like a total wasted purchase. I suspect hardcore fans of the show will get more pleasure out of this than anybody. Taste is in the eye of the beholder, and while this won't be a GOTY contender by any stretch of the imagination, still a decent enough use of the license with excellent voice acting from Norman Reedus who captures his character perfectly and nice overall feel of the same universe the show tries to capture.… Expand
  21. Mellow_Online2
    Jan 3, 2016
    6
    OK hear me out. I know a lot of people are going to throw a temper tantrum because I've given this game an above average rating. I'm going to say it again, hear me out. Yes this game is flawed but is it as bad as people say it is, a game that was even nominated for the worst game of the year awards online. The answer to that is no. I see that this game has flaws but I still enjoyed my timeOK hear me out. I know a lot of people are going to throw a temper tantrum because I've given this game an above average rating. I'm going to say it again, hear me out. Yes this game is flawed but is it as bad as people say it is, a game that was even nominated for the worst game of the year awards online. The answer to that is no. I see that this game has flaws but I still enjoyed my time with it.

    Does the game succeed in what it was made to be? No. It fails miserably to be a backstory to Daryl Dixon from the TV series. Mainly because the game is miserably short and can be completed in around 6 hours. Which should tell you that it doesn't give much backstory except it reveals only a tiny bit more about Daryl's family and how he got his crossbow. That might sound reasonable enough to some but the thing is these subjects are given a back seat to the rest of the game and these topics are only given about 5 mins of attention for the whole game. So for those wanting a backstory about Daryl you aren't going to get what you're looking for.

    But what about the rest of the game? Like I said before I recognise the game's flaws. Random encounters that you have during your travels are repeated way too often. They could easily add more levels. Some of the textures are quite bad but most of the game looks OK. Walker/Zombie AI is also bad for the most part.

    But I still found quite a bit to like in Survival instinct. I had to think during the situations I was in, I had to think of how I could get through certain situations. Like once I was faced with a horde of walkers coming in through the only 2 exits to the building I was in and I only had 4 bullets, so the only logical thing that I could think of in that short time I had to think as they were coming through the door was to run. I liked how the game had me think of what I would do in that situation unlike Telltale's walking dead where you are given options right in front of you.

    I found the stealth mechanics quite good in the game quite good. There is all sorts of stuff that are on the floor like cans and paper that you could accidentally step on that cold alert a walker to your presence. So you need to keep paying attention to what you could stand on.

    I had fun just assembling my squad of survivors and sending them out behind the scenes to scour for items while I got on with the main mission.

    Guns are handled quite well as well, similar to litter on the floor guns can alert walkers to your presence but guns are also handy forgetting you out of bad situations but ammo is scarce, like in the show and comics.

    I wouldn't exactly say I like Survival Instinct but I think it deserves better treatment than what people and critics are giving it. I'm not saying we should bow down to the now shut down company Terminal Reality or Activision for coming up with a pure gem but I'm also not saying to throw toilet paper at their headquarters. In my opinion it's above average and nothing more.

    Pros
    + Good managing of survivors
    + Good gunplay
    + Slightest sound can alert a walker
    + Good voice work by Norman Reedus and Michael Rooker
    + Good stealth mechanics
    + Made me think during badsituations
    Cons
    - Short
    - Bad AI
    - Bad backstory
    - Some bad textures
    - Random encounters are repeated way too often    … Expand
  22. Mellow_Online4
    Mar 22, 2016
    6
    OK hear me out. I know a lot of people are going to throw a temper tantrum because I've given this game an above average rating. I'm going to say it again, hear me out. Yes this game is flawed but is it as bad as people say it is, a game that was even nominated for the worst game of the year awards online. The answer to that is no. I see that this game has flaws but I still enjoyed my timeOK hear me out. I know a lot of people are going to throw a temper tantrum because I've given this game an above average rating. I'm going to say it again, hear me out. Yes this game is flawed but is it as bad as people say it is, a game that was even nominated for the worst game of the year awards online. The answer to that is no. I see that this game has flaws but I still enjoyed my time with it.

    Does the game succeed in what it was made to be? No. It fails miserably to be a backstory to Daryl Dixon from the TV series. Mainly because the game is miserably short and can be completed in around 6 hours. Which should tell you that it doesn't give much backstory except it reveals only a tiny bit more about Daryl's family and how he got his crossbow. That might sound reasonable enough to some but the thing is these subjects are given a back seat to the rest of the game and these topics are only given about 5 mins of attention for the whole game. So for those wanting a backstory about Daryl you aren't going to get what you're looking for.

    But what about the rest of the game? Like I said before I recognise the game's flaws. Random encounters that you have during your travels are repeated way too often. They could easily add more levels. Some of the textures are quite bad but most of the game looks OK. Walker/Zombie AI is also bad for the most part.

    But I still found quite a bit to like in Survival instinct. I had to think during the situations I was in, I had to think of how I could get through certain situations. Like once I was faced with a horde of walkers coming in through the only 2 exits to the building I was in and I only had 4 bullets, so the only logical thing that I could think of in that short time I had to think as they were coming through the door was to run. I liked how the game had me think of what I would do in that situation unlike Telltale's walking dead where you are given options right in front of you.

    I found the stealth mechanics quite good in the game. There is all sorts of stuff that are on the floor like cans and paper that you could accidentally step on that cold alert a walker to your presence. So you need to keep paying attention to what you could stand on.

    I had fun just assembling my squad of survivors and sending them out behind the scenes to scour for items while I got on with the main mission.

    Guns are handled quite well as well, similar to litter on the floor guns can alert walkers to your presence but guns are also handy forgetting you out of bad situations but ammo is scarce, like in the show and comics.

    I wouldn't exactly say I like Survival Instinct but I think it deserves better treatment than what people and critics are giving it. I'm not saying we should bow down to the now shut down company Terminal Reality or Activision for coming up with a pure gem but I'm also not saying to throw toilet paper at their headquarters. In my opinion it's above average and nothing more.    … Expand
  23. hundocent
    Jun 20, 2017
    6
    I know about all its issues, trust me, but its my guilty pleasure and i can't quite figure out why i enjoy it as much as i did, if you see it for 10 bucks or so, give it a try, you might like it better now compared to when it was over hyped back in 2013. Just keep your expectations low and there is some fun to be had here.
  24. TheQuietGamer
    Mar 21, 2013
    5
    While it's not a good game I wouldn't exactly call it a cash in, as it's clear that developer Terminal Reality did try to make a good game. Unfortunately they didn't succeed. The evidence that they did actually try is in the games features. As far as presentation goes the game suffers. Graphics are ugly, dated, and really do look like they belong on the PS2. The sound ins't much better,While it's not a good game I wouldn't exactly call it a cash in, as it's clear that developer Terminal Reality did try to make a good game. Unfortunately they didn't succeed. The evidence that they did actually try is in the games features. As far as presentation goes the game suffers. Graphics are ugly, dated, and really do look like they belong on the PS2. The sound ins't much better, voice acting is generally pretty good and the fact that they got Norman Reedus and Michael Rooker to reprise their roles from the TV show is a great addition. But even their performances leave something to be desired. The story is decent but falls flat in the end as it never really does anything exciting. There are some moments that will bring a smile to any fans face, but their aren't enough of them. One moment the developers kept mentioning was how the game was gong to show you how Daryl received his crossbow, calling it "a big excalibur like moment". Well they lied, you do eventually get Daryl's crossbow, but it's just Merle giving it back. It lacks what I was expecting to be a pretty big moment. Speaking of Merle I was disappointed with how little he was in the game. So the story and presentation fall short, and unfortunately so does the gameplay. It's a first-person survival game. You'll have to manage supplies and survivors; scavenging for things like fuel to keep your car running and sending your group out on supply runs that they may not come back from. There's a surprising amount of player choice put in the game. You have to choose which survivors go with you, as there is only so much room in your vehicle. Speaking of vehicles, which are necessary in order to get to your next objective, you have to choose between vehicles that can either carry more supplies or survivors. On your way between missions your car could break down or run out of gas, or you could come across a road event. These optional events can give you access to new supplies, but can also get you eaten by walkers. You also have to choose which path you want to take to get to these missions, sometimes you can even choose between two different levels to play-through increasing replay value. This all sounds great, and it is in theory, but it's the core gameplay that brings the whole experience down. It's just not much fun to play, and can be down right tedious at times. Levels have you relying on stealth rather then you running-and-gunning your way through them. As a matter of a fact shooting guns will get you killed because it attracts tons of walkers to you so you have to rely on melee combat, but unfortunately melee combat is crappy. It takes to many hits to kill a walker, and while your hitting them they just stand there and take it. It's stupid, tedious, and boring. While shooting is generally not the focus, there are sections that practically require you to use guns because they send swarms of walkers after you. These sections are frustrating because the game puts a focus on avoiding large groups of walkers, and when they throw you in the middle of a small herd it can lead to a lot of cheap deaths. I could go on and on about how much Terminal Reality tried to make a good game but didn't succeed, but I think you get the point. It's worth a rental for Walking Dead just to see what it has to offer, but in the end it's a disappointing game that isn't worth your money or The Walking Dead name.… Expand
  25. scottysauce
    Mar 19, 2013
    5
    Ok I'm now changing my review for this game to an 8.5. Sure it doesn't look or play like something you'd expect for our times but this one is a hell of a lot of fun. At times I can just wander around doing whatever and BOOM a zombie. The scares are here but it's what you make if it. This game really takes me back to the good old days of playing video games with this fun and scary style. IfOk I'm now changing my review for this game to an 8.5. Sure it doesn't look or play like something you'd expect for our times but this one is a hell of a lot of fun. At times I can just wander around doing whatever and BOOM a zombie. The scares are here but it's what you make if it. This game really takes me back to the good old days of playing video games with this fun and scary style. If you're a fan of zombies or just good old fashioned having fun and bringing back the memories you should get this for sure.… Expand
  26. ubermensche
    Mar 19, 2013
    5
    This game is an average take trying to cash in on a above average show. If it wasnt titled The walking Dead it wouldnt even sell. I loved the show and the comic series but this game does nothing to enhance the series. The only things that gives feel to the series is killing zombies and the main characters are from the tv series. The rest is just average crap. You cant shoot throughThis game is an average take trying to cash in on a above average show. If it wasnt titled The walking Dead it wouldnt even sell. I loved the show and the comic series but this game does nothing to enhance the series. The only things that gives feel to the series is killing zombies and the main characters are from the tv series. The rest is just average crap. You cant shoot through chain link fences, no actual driving, maps are recycled, missions are just tacked on, lol at gas conservation and supply hunting. I went through the whole game with melee weapons which are superior to the guns. There is no reward for playing this game. Best advice play the Tell Tale version of the Walking Dead. For a real zombie shooter play left for dead 2.… Expand
  27. chrisjones914
    Mar 24, 2013
    5
    Let me start off by saying that i am a huge Walking Dead fan!! I absolutely love the show and the telltale game but that being said, dissapointing is really the only word i can use to describe this game. It had so much potential and could have been so much better!
  28. Cybotico
    Oct 27, 2020
    5
    This may not be perfect, but I enjoyed it. As a Huge fan of the walking dead this was right up my alley. The problem with this game is that there are so many good ideas, but are undercut with how cheaply done they are. The idea of choosing members to join and who to leave behind. Good idea, but has no actual meaning to the overall game. The idea of scavenging for Supplies. Good idea,butThis may not be perfect, but I enjoyed it. As a Huge fan of the walking dead this was right up my alley. The problem with this game is that there are so many good ideas, but are undercut with how cheaply done they are. The idea of choosing members to join and who to leave behind. Good idea, but has no actual meaning to the overall game. The idea of scavenging for Supplies. Good idea,but done poorly. Overall I'll give it a 5. Its meh.… Expand
  29. LL66
    Sep 3, 2020
    5
    Not that bad. The game is a mess, yes, but it had a lot of potential, the stops it forced you take when travelling with the car were a great idea but unfortunately turned out bad because you always stopped in the same 3/4 locations. It had a good element of survival where the walkers attacked you in large groups and you could only headshot to kill them but until the endgame you didn't haveNot that bad. The game is a mess, yes, but it had a lot of potential, the stops it forced you take when travelling with the car were a great idea but unfortunately turned out bad because you always stopped in the same 3/4 locations. It had a good element of survival where the walkers attacked you in large groups and you could only headshot to kill them but until the endgame you didn't have ammunition to waste, but this feature too was badly implemented because of the horrible grab mechanic the walkers had. The graphics are decent, nice colours but bad textures, something more similar to 2009 than 2013 but not an issue. The story is boring, they could've done a lot more with Daryl and Merle but tried to play it safe so they didn't impact their archs in the tv series.
    The game sucks but for the fans of the tv series it isn't that bad to deserve a 3.5 user score    … Expand
  30. MJLambert1
    Mar 28, 2013
    4
    This is far from being the best zombie game out there for PS3. The "Survival It-Stinks" response from many critics is not unfounded. It'll break it down into pros and cons.

    Pros: +The zombies are loyal to the TV show. There's no Bullies or Spitters or whatever kind of roided up zombies are in other games these days. +The idea of choosing various paths looks good on paper, yet    This is far from being the best zombie game out there for PS3. The "Survival It-Stinks" response from many critics is not unfounded. It'll break it down into pros and cons.

    Pros:
    +The zombies are loyal to the TV show. There's no Bullies or Spitters or whatever kind of roided up zombies are in other games these days.
    +The idea of choosing various paths looks good on paper, yet barely competently pulled off in the game.
    +The game discourages you from firing guns since using them only draws more walkers to you.
    +Norman Reedus and Michale Rooker reprise their roles from the TV series.

    Cons:
    -Things get repetitious very quickly. By the third hour of playing this game, you'll be less than motivated to keep playing.
    -No incentive to kill zombies, due to no pick-ups from killing zombies nor any kind of leveling up system.
    -The grapple system when zombies are in your face is shaky, sucking at your health in no time or you end up being stuck in a conga line of zombies one after another grappling you.
    -The environments of the road levels frequently repeat. One instance had me stopping two times for two different items, yet it took place at the same diner area.
    -Little variety in the weapons and distraction items don't work as well as they should.
    -The graphics are PS2 quality, as if the game was in development back in the early 2000's.
    -The ending is one of the stupidest endings I've ever seen save yourself the trouble and watch it on Youtube.
    -$60 is a ridiculous price for a game that you can beat in less than seven hours, as well as no replay value.

    If you have a FPS zombie-killing fix you need to satiate, go with anyone of the following games: Dead Island, Left 4 Dead, or Zombie Island of Dr. Ned for Borderlands.

    For a better story, go with Telltale's Walking Dead game.

    If you feel the needs to be a zombie game completest, wait for this title to drop to 20 bucks which is what it should've sold for in the first place.    … Expand
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Awards & Rankings

34
#34 Most Discussed PS3 Game of 2013
24
#24 Most Shared PS3 Game of 2013

Critic Reviews

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Metascore
34

Generally unfavorable reviews - based on 14 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 0 out of 14
  2. Mixed: 1 out of 14
  3. Negative: 13 out of 14
  1. Official PlayStation Magazine Benelux
    Aug 25, 2013
    40
    You can send out fellow survivors on scavenging missions, the downside of this is that they can fail or , even worse, die. Unfortunately the number of goods they collect is so abysmal you won't care if they make it back or not. [May 2013, p.88]
  2. Play UK
    May 27, 2013
    20
    Genuinely one of the worst games we've ever played. [Issue#231, p.74]
  3. Playstation Official Magazine Australia
    May 21, 2013
    40
    It almost feels as though developer Terminal Reality ran out of money, right on the home stretch. If only the game was shot in the head long before it ever got to that point. [June 2013, p79]
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