The Walking Dead: Episode 5 Review

walk6

Four episodes into The Walking Dead and things finally are coming to an end, so to speak.  Episode 5: No Time Left picks up right where the last chapter left off, and the intensity levels skyrocket through the roof.  No Time Left is hands down the most chilling and emotionally charged episode yet, and fans will be anxious to see how things unravel down the line.

What Is It About?

Be forewarned: This review will contain some spoilers from the previous four chapters

Episode 5: No Time Left begins immediately after the events of Episode 4, with Lee coming to grips with the realization that Clementine has been taken and he has just been bitten by a walker.  An intense group of events for any person to have to go through indeed, and the game does an amazing job of keeping you glued to the edge of your seat as characters argue, cry and freak out over the situation ahead of them.

walk4_0Lee’s ultimate goal is to find Clementine and figure out who kidnapped her.  What makes No Time Left so enthralling to play are the choices you have made in the previous chapters, and whether or not you will have friends to help you on your quest, or having to go alone.  Replaying this chapter with a separate save showcased different dialogue options and atmospheric emotions, since being in a group is definitely a lot less scary than being surrounded by a horde of walkers by yourself.  Telltale Games does a great job of making the choices you made have a direct impact on the outcome of the season, even until the very end.

Why Should I Care?

Episode 5 is not for the faint of heart.  There are plenty of questionable decisions to be made this time around, including some life or death scenarios.  The gore has also been upped extensively, with walkers being chopped in half and limbs being sliced off almost constantly.  Plus, the opening scene will surely make some of you turn away for a few seconds; it is that rough to witness.  Still, the gore is a necessary story-telling tool to help players feel impacted by the overall sense of gritty despair it exhibits.

walk1_0Things go from bad to worse as the story commences, and once you ultimately find Clementine’s kidnapper, who turns out to be someone unexpected, Clementine and Lee’s relationship takes a sudden and unexpected turn as they escape through the streets together.  The last scene in particular with Lee and Clementine is as emotionally gripping as you can get from a game, but the tension and acting make it intensely believable.  Admittedly, a few tears were shed at the ultimate conclusion, but the after-credits scene leaves open plenty of opportunities for this series in season 2.

What Makes It Worth My Time And Money?

The Walking Dead does something no other game of the year has done; it connects you with the characters.  After five episodes of getting to know people, watch them die and see the hardships they have gone through, you become vested in their survival and well being.  It’s a remarkable testament to Telltale Games and their attention to detail and continuity.  The choices you make DO have an impact on the story, even if other games fail to live up to that hype.

The only downside of Episode 5 would have to be the length as it is very short at nearly two hours, and it could be completed even quicker than that.  Still, every second matters here and there won’t be one ounce of downtime as you race to the ultimate conclusion.  Telltale Games has already stated that a second season has already been confirmed for next year and it will be interesting to see what direction the series takes from here. But one thing will always remain the same:  Anything for Clementine.

Title:
The Walking Dead: Episode 5
Platform:
Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, PC
Publisher:
Telltale Games
Developer:
Telltale Games
Genre:
Adventure
Release Date:
December 11, 2012
ESRB Rating:
M

Four episodes into The Walking Dead and things finally are coming to an end, so to speak.  Episode 5: No Time Left picks up right where the last chapter left off, and the intensity levels skyrocket through the roof.  No…

walk6

Four episodes into The Walking Dead and things finally are coming to an end, so to speak.  Episode 5: No Time Left picks up right where the last chapter left off, and the intensity levels skyrocket through the roof.  No Time Left is hands down the most chilling and emotionally charged episode yet, and fans will be anxious to see how things unravel down the line.

What Is It About?

Be forewarned: This review will contain some spoilers from the previous four chapters

Episode 5: No Time Left begins immediately after the events of Episode 4, with Lee coming to grips with the realization that Clementine has been taken and he has just been bitten by a walker.  An intense group of events for any person to have to go through indeed, and the game does an amazing job of keeping you glued to the edge of your seat as characters argue, cry and freak out over the situation ahead of them.

walk4_0Lee’s ultimate goal is to find Clementine and figure out who kidnapped her.  What makes No Time Left so enthralling to play are the choices you have made in the previous chapters, and whether or not you will have friends to help you on your quest, or having to go alone.  Replaying this chapter with a separate save showcased different dialogue options and atmospheric emotions, since being in a group is definitely a lot less scary than being surrounded by a horde of walkers by yourself.  Telltale Games does a great job of making the choices you made have a direct impact on the outcome of the season, even until the very end.

Why Should I Care?

Episode 5 is not for the faint of heart.  There are plenty of questionable decisions to be made this time around, including some life or death scenarios.  The gore has also been upped extensively, with walkers being chopped in half and limbs being sliced off almost constantly.  Plus, the opening scene will surely make some of you turn away for a few seconds; it is that rough to witness.  Still, the gore is a necessary story-telling tool to help players feel impacted by the overall sense of gritty despair it exhibits.

walk1_0Things go from bad to worse as the story commences, and once you ultimately find Clementine’s kidnapper, who turns out to be someone unexpected, Clementine and Lee’s relationship takes a sudden and unexpected turn as they escape through the streets together.  The last scene in particular with Lee and Clementine is as emotionally gripping as you can get from a game, but the tension and acting make it intensely believable.  Admittedly, a few tears were shed at the ultimate conclusion, but the after-credits scene leaves open plenty of opportunities for this series in season 2.

What Makes It Worth My Time And Money?

The Walking Dead does something no other game of the year has done; it connects you with the characters.  After five episodes of getting to know people, watch them die and see the hardships they have gone through, you become vested in their survival and well being.  It’s a remarkable testament to Telltale Games and their attention to detail and continuity.  The choices you make DO have an impact on the story, even if other games fail to live up to that hype.

The only downside of Episode 5 would have to be the length as it is very short at nearly two hours, and it could be completed even quicker than that.  Still, every second matters here and there won’t be one ounce of downtime as you race to the ultimate conclusion.  Telltale Games has already stated that a second season has already been confirmed for next year and it will be interesting to see what direction the series takes from here. But one thing will always remain the same:  Anything for Clementine.

Date published: 11/22/2012
5 / 5 stars