“The Walking Dead: Definitive Edition” Is A Disappointing Collection
The Walking Dead: Definitive Edition is a remastered version of the iconic episodic adventure game based on the popular comic book and television series of the same name. This edition, created by Skybound Games and Telltale Games, includes all four seasons of the game, as well as upgraded graphics, improved gameplay, and new content. The Walking Dead is a story-driven interactive game that chronicles the journey of a group of survivors in a post-apocalyptic world overrun by zombies, commonly known as walkers. The player assumes the role of Lee Everett, a convicted killer and former university professor who becomes the unusual leader and guardian of a young girl named Clementine. The game’s popularity is based on its ability to create a gripping narrative that immerses the player in a world full of danger, moral quandaries, and emotional stakes. The game’s choices and consequences system allows players to mold the plot and the relationships of the characters, leading to a variety of endings and scenarios. The Definitive Edition includes all four seasons of the game, as well as the DLC “400 Days” and the mini-series “The Walking Dead: Michonne.” The updated graphics are noticeably better than the original version, with character models and settings significantly improved. The soundtrack, voice acting, and sound effects in the game remain as powerful as ever, furthering the player’s emotional engagement in the plot.
Yet, sadly, those are the only good things about this “Definitive Edition” because it falls short of expectations. Despite the additional material and improved graphics, the game still has fundamental faults that make it irritating and tiresome to play. One of the game’s major flaws is its clumsy and out-of-date gameplay mechanics. The game largely focuses on quick-time events, which force the player to respond to on-screen prompts in a short amount of time. This mechanic feels out of date and frustrating, frequently resulting in repeated failures and unnecessary deaths. The fighting system in the game is similarly subpar, with sluggish controls and unresponsive movements. Another significant problem with the game is its writing and storyline. While the game’s story is engaging, the writing falls flat on sometimes, with clichéd dialogue and obvious plot twists. The characters in the game lack depth and growth, making it difficult for the player to become immersed in their adventures. Even the fan-favorite character Clementine, who is meant to be the story’s emotional anchor, feels underused and one-dimensional. Even the ending to the final season felt rushed because it only had 4 episodes instead of five like the other games. The speed of the game is also an issue, with long sections of exposition and discussion that drag on without any significant progression. The game’s episodic style exacerbates this problem, as each episode feels isolated from the rest of the tale.
In the end, this game is just a collection of 4 different games with almost zero changes. In fact, it even removed some features that were available in previous installments such as the option to pick chapters in the episodes and also removing the majority of the unlockable achievements. The only thing they added in this collection are some concept art, character models, voice lines, and other unnecessary things. The reason that this game even released was because the actual developer & publisher, Telltale Games, announced their bankruptcy while the final season only had 3 episodes available to play. So Skybound decided to pull some of the people who were working on the game and finished the season with just only 4 episodes instead of 5 like the other seasons. It is also the reason why the story felt rushed in the end. They are relying too much on the nostalgia of the people who grew up playing the series from start to finish, but they didn’t even try to actually fix some problems that the series had.
Overall, The Walking Dead: Final Edition is a let-down that fails to improve on the problems of the original game. While the story is interesting, the game’s clumsy gaming mechanics, poor writing, and technological faults make it a dull and frustrating experience. Lovers of the series may appreciate replaying the game, but novices would probably be put off by its out-of-date concept and execution. It would be better for returning players to just get the games separately, from season one to the finale. It might be a little bit more expensive, but it will give them more satisfaction than getting the definitive edition.
