The Walking Dead is a 2012 episodic interactive drama graphic adventure video game developed and published by Telltale Games, based on Robert Kirkman’s The Walking Dead comic book series.  The game was released for the Xbox 360, Xbox One, Android, iOS, Kindle Fire HDX, OS X, Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, PlayStation Vita, and Ouya, and the plot follows convicted murderer Lee Everett and a young girl named Clementine who struggle during the onset of the zombie apocalypse in Georgia.

Positives:

• Great, well-written characters
• Well-written, richly developed story
• Good visuals
• Great voice performances
• Terrific soundtrack

Negatives:

• Game freezes during loading screens
• Long loading screens
• Occasional graphical glitches

Campaign: The story isn’t original, but the way the story is told is compelling, especially the central plot of Lee protecting Clementine against a world ravaged by zombies.  Most of the other plots revolve around the other characters and their backstories and motivations.  The story is pretty intense with plenty of excitement but takes the time to flesh out the little moments that help to make it feel emotional. The game features a great cast of well-written characters.  Lee Everett, a former professor and convicted murder, is the main protagonist of game.  He is a likable character.  Clementine, a young girl, is the secondary protagonist. The story focuses on the relationship with these two characters as well as with other survivors which develops throughout the course of the game.  Other prominent characters are a fisherman named Kenny, his veterinarian wife named Katjaa, an acrobatic young woman named Molly, a regional news reporter named Carley, a military woman named Lilly and her father named Larry. (5 out of 5)

Gameplay:  The gameplay is simplistic yet immersive allowing for some level of exploration as well as admiration to the graphics.  The quick time events aren’t intrusive but flow well with the gameplay. The gameplay glitches from time to time occasionally freezing with painfully long loading screens. (4 out of 5)

Graphics:  Visually the game is appealing, maintaining a good blend of the original comic book art style as well as the traditional Telltale animation.  Character design do have depth. The attention to detail is to be commended.  There are many instances where the background scenery is just beautiful to look at and sets a great mode for the game. (3 out of 5)

Score:  The score is terrific. The soundtrack is both compelling and beautifully crafted.  It definitely sets a great tone for the more personal moments while feeding the tension of the more intense. The game’s voice performances are just terrific.  Dave Fennoy does a great job as Lee, as well as Melissa Hutchison as Clementine. Also, as a side note, the sound effects are on point. Gunshots sound good. (5 out of 5)

Replay Value:  The game’s most pronounced feature is the high level of replayability due to the choice based system that changes the gameplay every game.  However, the changes aren’t as significant as they appear, often some still leading to the same result. (3 out of 5)

The Verdict:  In the end, The Walking Dead is a terrific game.  Not only is the gameplay solid, despite occasional glitches, but the game excels with the well-written characters, appealing graphics, great sounftrack, an immersive story, and great voice performances.  The Walking Dead gets 5 out of 5.