G'day there guys and gals.(Please note: as No Going Back is the final episode of Season 2, I will be reviewing the final episode as a DLC and rate the season overall out of 10)
With the promise of a Season 3 on the horizon, fans have finally got their hands on the final part of Season 2, No Going Back. Those words could not be more true as this part will truly define the entire experience of the now iconic series.
Episode 5 takes place instantly from the end of the last, the action kicking off immediately and the choices already so slight but heavier than before. No Going Back takes all the previous experience of the game and ups the ante, with every little choice making that much more of the difference. Of course, for spoiler reasons, I won't go into too much detail.
Fans will feel the sting, tears will most definitely be shed as even in dialogue these options weigh heavily on the group and the people within them. Many familiar faces will also reappear in parts and actions will determine how Clementine survives and how she faces the world both mentally and physically.
Gameplay is once again brilliantly done; simplistic but effective, with a perfect amount of action and narrative in the game. Exploration sadly is limited to a few areas, mostly invisible corridors but these parts are few and can be overlooked by the narrative or action sequences currently happening or otherwise. The soundtrack abandons its recent country feel for a more traditional musical score, giving a deeper and older feel to the game. What I'm about to say about the voice acting is an understatement: No Going Back shows some of the best performances by the cast, especially by Melissa Hutchinson (Clementine) and Gavin Hammon (Kenny). The slightest uttered sentence is beautifully delivered, I can assure fans will most definitely cry at points. While this is more of an adjective observation, some of the smaller parts can be a tad too stereotypical (even one of the major choices was too heavy footed), but these parts eventually fade into the story as differential events and actions, for that it can be forgiven.
What No Going Back does better than any other episode in the series so far is the choices. By far, this episode has the most plot twists, leading to a final climax with about 5 different endings with over 12 separate ways to get there. I will not spoil the ending or which choice you should make but I will leave you, the fan or potential play, one piece of advice that was given at the first episode of Season 1.
"Doing nothing is also a choice."
Regardless, Telltale have brought everything to the kitchen table; fans will rejoice, cry and struggle as the simplistic choice goes wrong very fast, while the newbies may struggle, as there's very little time for handholding. If this is to be your first time, I highly suggest going back to the start.
Otherwise, I cannot say much more. Last year I fell upon Clementine's story by accident, and now to see it come so far is both heartbreaking and wonderful. It has high and low points overall but what makes a game great is the gameplay, how its story is told and how it plays. In a year and four months, Telltale have left me as a changed man. If you decide to check out any game series this year, Clementine's is an absolute must.
No Going Back: A
Out of 10, I give Telltale's The Walking Dead Season 2 a 10/10
PERFECT SCORE
+Utterly brilliant storyline
+Gameplay remains an icon
+Character development is clear and recognisable from the get-go
+Sublime acting by everyone - kudos to them all
+DEM FEELS
+Your choices matter, possibly much more so than S1
+Storyline branches excellently, the game truly develops by choice and how you play
+Musical score/soundtrack sets the mood perfectly
+True suspense/fear/joy from a video game is utterly rare
The Walking Dead Season 2 is out now for collectively $25 and will be released on Next Gen consoles in late October!
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