The Walking Dead Video Game Review | Arts & Culture

I love The Walking Dead! Just like most of the America, I was glued to my TV set watching episode by episode! The next day we come into the office and talk about last night's crazy episode and debate what we wished would happen in future episodes. We just can't get enough of our rag tag group of survivors - dealing with one problem only to find another! Then there are the Zombies! Just like those said zombies, I can't get enough of the show; I want to consume more and more of it. You can imagine my excitement when I heard that there was a downloadable video game for my X-Box 360 (also on the PC and PlayStation 3).

Right now there are two downloadable episodes you can play for five dollars an episode. Telltale Games, the developer for Action Adventure and Role Playing game, has slated this game to have a total of five episodes.

This game is not for kids; let’s just get that out of the way. People will die, curse words are said, and it deals in a dark subject matter much like the television show.

If you are expecting a Resident Evil or maybe even a Dead Rising game where you smack around zombies in action pack manner, you will be disappointed! If you want a story driven game where you have to make the tough calls and develop relationships with the rest of the survivors you are with, then this is the game for you.

You aren't playing as Rick or one of our other favorite characters from the show, but you do run into some of them like Glen and Hershel. The game takes an artistic look from the comics, which was the source material for the show. So if some characters don't look in the video game as they do on the TV show, well, that is your reason why.

You play Lee Everett, a college professor who was arrested for allegedly killing a state senator that was having an affair with his wife. The game starts out with Lee in the back of the squad car on the way to the big house. 

The whole game is about choice from the time you are in the cop car to the end of an episode. You have conversations with other characters and they begin to develop opinions of Lee. As the game progresses, those opinions become relationships. Some of the other survivors will become close to you, and some will just loathe you.

Even in the most intense situations, you have to make the tough calls. Who gets to live? What is better for the group to survive? Do you throw a little kid out in the street in fear he turns into a zombie or do you let him live?

Every action you make, the rest of the group's opinions are formed. Some will judge you, others will have your back, and some will yell at you. As the game moves from episode one to two, you will sooner or later take sides on a power struggle. Every call you make, you are making it for the group, as well as to survive. There is no moral compass here - this is about survival! This is where the game shines.

The game is downloadable and, well, five bucks for a couple of hours of fun. You will play through making new choices to see how things would have turned out. In theory by episode five of the series, you could have a completely different story experience than I would. 

The game has some glitches, but nothing too bad that made me want to drop the controller. The game play is about interacting with objects, some button mashing, and it takes a bit to get used to the controls. It is not the perfect game out there, but it has been a great one to play.

If you need a Walking Dead fix before season 3 starts, then download this game. It's fun, and odds are you will play each episode again and again. It is a nice way to kill time (and zombies) as well as beat the heat. 

This is a great game that will have you wanting more.