Goodbye, innocence
The Walking Dead Season 2: Episode 1 "All that remains" brings back Clementine from the first season. If you played the first season, your decisions from the game are carried over. The first Walking Dead episode was already very dark but Season 2 sets off to be even darker.
All alone
While the first Season allowed you to play an adult, Lee, Season 2 puts you in the shoes of 11 year-old Clementine. The main struggle of the game comes from trying to maintain Clementine's humanity and innocence.
This gameplay mechanic is what makes The Walking Dead so compelling but also problematic. Many actions Clementine is forced to take are adult and brutal, yet she shows an uncharacteristic innocence and weakness afterward. It's a bit jarring for players trying to maintain Clem's innocence. Players will instinctively want to protect Clem from danger but the linear gameplay forces you to put her in the middle of the violence.
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Without spoiling the story, Clementine finds herself alone after being separated from her companion. She stumbles onto a house full of other survivors who debate whether to take her in.
You'll have to lie, sneak, and manipulate and convince the strangers to provide you shelter. This provides a stark contrast from the innocent and naive Clem we saw in Season 1.
Choices are much harder to make in The Walking Dead: Season 2 Episode 1, than the previous season. Many times I found myself struggling to chose an appropriate answer, struggling with how much humanity to give up in order to survive.
As with the previous game, zombies are not your main foe; humans are. Who can you trust? Do you kill preemptively just in case? These are some of decisions players have to make throughout the game.
Blood on the ground
Graphics are not demanding and will run on even low end devices. Telltale Games has carved out an distinctive animation style. Season 2 looks, feels, and sounds exactly like the first season, which isn't a bad thing.
The cartoon styling doesn't make The Walking Dead Season 2 any less brutal. You will see people die violent deaths and zombies will be killed in various ways.
Sound design is great. You'll want to wear headphones to get the best effect. The performances of every voice actor is outstanding. Each character is believable, which is a must for such a story-driven game.
Not a kid any more
The Walking Dead: Season 2 Episode 1 "All that remains" doesn't deviate from Telltale's winning formula. There are no new game mechanics like a new combat system. The game is very much based on exploration, dialogue, and story.
Thankfully, the story is as compelling as ever and you feel attached to every character in the game. While the game struggles with some inconsistencies with Clementine's behavior, the game succeeds at forcing players to make gut-wrenching decisions.
If you loved Season 1, you'll love Season 2.
