The Walking Dead: 400 Days

[Sassafrass]

Notes before I begin
Images taken from Google.Bing/any search engine that has an image option
Any TL;DR's will result in rabid ferrets being inserted into a random orifice.

I won't lie. When I heard The Walking Dead, my game of the year in 2012 and one of my all time favourite games of all time, was going to receive some DLC, I was both happy as a pig in its own muck and apprehensive at the same time. One the one hand, it was the promise of more Walking Dead which is a good thing. On the other hand though, it was more of The Walking Dead, which could have tarnished the original story, as well as the ending, between Lee and Clementine. However, 400 Days follows 5 other survivors at varying stages of the zombie outbreak, giving us an insight into what it was like a few days after the outbreak happened, to a good 200 or more days later, as people try to survive in a world which has descended into your traditional DayZ server; lots of distrust and lots of shooting with the survivor odd group here and there, scrounging around to try and survive for as long as they can.

400 Days has the same point and click gameplay as the first season of The Walking Dead did, as well as the same conversation tree. It's a simple but effective system and it's easy to pick up and very quick to get to grips with. The only real change I noticed to the gameplay in 400 Days was the lack of quick time events through out. I only encountered three that I can recall and even then, they weren't an issue. Much like The Walking Dead, 400 Days is heavily invested in the story of the survivors you're playing as. There are five survivors to play as, which each of their stories lasting around fifteen to twenty minutes,with each one acting like a prologue in a way, introducing you to that character and how they got into their situation before tying in together at the end and, hopefully, setting up the start for the second season. You have can choose to play as any character at any time and, at times, you'll notice other survivors stories creeping into other survivors stories as you play. I won't give any specific examples but you will soon notice a few situations where you will think ?Oh, so that's how that happened.? There is at least one moment like this in every chapter, with the exception being Vince, as his chapter takes place around the start of the zombie outbreak so they couldn't really tie his story in to the others without it making no sense at all.

[Img_Inline width="325" Caption="stuff" Align="right"]http://i1279.photobucket.com/albums/y533/SassafrassReviews/oie_111951CNFo6lBJ_zps713456e0.jpg[/Img_Inline]

Of course, with this being a Walking Dead game, there is still decisions to make and yes, they are still hard to actually make, whilst not as gripping and emotional as the ones you made as Lee in season one, they are still going to make you feel a little bit down and a bit shitty at the end of them. Although you're not playing as Lee again, I found myself still putting myself in the new characters shoes, making the choices that I would make in that situation. However, with that said, these characters aren't just blank slates and have back stories of their own, just like Lee has. Wyatt and his friend Eddie end up talking about what just happened at the start of their story, down to girlfriends and weed, Russell talks about the ?family? he left behind and Nate, although not a playable character. offers you an insight into what happens if you let a red-neck get drunk 184 days into an apocalypse and go slightly insane. Each of the five characters you play as have their own backstories, be it a big or small one, and that adds to the charm of 400 Days. These people aren't just nameless people added into the game to help set up whatever TellTale Games has in store for the second season; these guys are probably going to feature in some way in season two, be it in a big way or small way.

Again, much like my reviews of the main series for The Walking Dead, if this review comes across as a mini love letter towards a DLC that's only 90 minutes long, that would be because it is, in a way. I couldn't find you any glaring flaws to talk about, nor could I find anything sustainable to nitpick about, apart from a 90 minute run time and a lack of actual gameplay. Others may, and indeed have, disliked it and I can see where they're coming from; there is very little to do apart from sit there and hit the button of the dialogue option you want to pick. However, personally I like this as it allows TellTale to focus on making characters that aren't one dimensional and flat. Overall, 400 Days is a nice, snack sized bit of story-telling that will make you chuckle, make you nervous and will, as usual, make you feel a bit down at times. While short, it never feels like it's rushing to tell you the stories of the five survivors and it never feels like your choices are going to be forgotten. Indeed, the text that tells you ?X will remember that? is still present here so it's obvious that TellTale has plans for this fantastic fivesome. A great tide over for the fans of season one and a nice little DLC to help people slowly get hyped up for the release of season two, which is being released sometime in late 2013.

Spoiler: Previous reviews

Films and TV: Hot Fuzz (First and original review) [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/jump/326.163840] - UK Big Brother and Celeb Big Brother [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/jump/326.167121] - Scrubs (Sassafrass, VaudevillianVeteran and Pimppeter2) [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/jump/326.167644] - Black Sheep [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/jump/326.174430] - Dave, a TV channel [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/jump/326.181712] - Twilight: Eclipse [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/jump/326.213377] - The X-Factor (Sassafrass and VaudevillianVeteran) [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/326.250859] - Predators [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/326.268805] - Hot Fuzz (Rewrite) [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/326.270265]

Sassafrass to the YT Movies series: SK3: Battle For Redemption [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/326.375545-Sassafrass-to-the-YT-Movies-Scorpion-King-3-Battle-For-Redemption] - The Last Man On Earth [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/326.380367-Poll-Sassafrass-to-the-YT-Movies-The-Last-Man-on-Earth-1964] - Kung Fu Hustle [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/326.386443-Poll-Sassafrass-Reviews-Kung-Fu-Hustle-2004]

Games: Final Fantasy X [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/jump/326.166262] - Borderlands [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/jump/326.180755] - Colin McRaeiRT 2 [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/jump/326.187935] - Final Fantasy 13, plus guide review [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/jump/326.203989] - Viva Pinata [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/jump/326.234884] - Fallout: New Vegas [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/326.246820] - Fable III [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/326.255418-Sassafrass-Reviews-Fable-III] - Final Fantasy X-2 [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/326.291553-Sassafrass-Reviews-Final-Fantasy-X-2] - WWE 2011 [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/jump/326.312693.12667178] - Saints Row 2 [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/326.328405-Sassafrass-Reviews-Saints-Row-2] - Final Fantasy 13-2 Demo [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/326.337944-Sassafrass-Reviews-The-Final-Fantasy-13-2-Demo] - Angry Birds [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/326.339912-Sassafrass-Reviews-Angry-Birds-Review-Wars-V-entry] - Halo: Reach [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/326.352160-Sassafrass-Reviews-Halo-Reach] - Battlefield 3 [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/326.381973-Sassafrass-Reviews-Battlefield-3-Xbox-360] - Modern Warfare 3 [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/326.393441] - The Walking Dead: Episodes 1 - 5 [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/326.396114-The-Walking-Dead-Episodes-1-5] ? Halo 4 [ http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/326.396999-Halo-4] ? Duke Nukem Forever [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/326.399981-Duke-Nukem-Forever-360] - FTL: Faster Than Light [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/326.403595-FTL-Faster-Than-Light] - GoTY 2012 [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/326.403886-Sassafrass-Presents-His-very-late-GoTY-list-for-2012] ? Cute Things Dying Violently [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/326.405638-Cute-Things-Dying-Violently-360-Indie-Game] - Game Dev Tycoon [www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/326.407687-Game-Dev-Tycoon-PC-Indie-Game] ? Dishonored [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/326.820190-Dishonored-PC] ? The Walking Dead: 400 Days

Music: Full Fathom Five by Clutch [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/jump/326.206062] - Press X To Rock: Miracle of Sound [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/326.316714-Sassafrass-Reviews-Miracle-Of-Sound-Press-X-To-Rock]

Random reviews: Friends list review, no 4. [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/jump/326.170076] Friends list review 1, 2, 3 lost.

Game previews: Final Fantasy 13 [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/jump/326.178502]

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[Thoughtful_Salt]

I was wondering when you'd make a review on the DLC for The Walking Dead. Glad to see this up so~ thank you for the review!

OT: I already got my hands on the DLC and played it. I must say, TellTales really did a great job in making the choices harder then I could count on and ensuring that the results were as even as possible. Because by the end of the DLC, all my choices were 50% the choices others made so it's amazing progress on their part.

But, alas... though I loved this DLC, a certain teenager (or kid) character really brushed me off the wrong way. No, it's not Clementine (how could she? I love her!) But some other newly introduced character who gives you an attitude and seems a bit evil when anyone else would feel differently. Won't spoil anything, but I will put it in spoilers-

Becca (the teen i've mentioned) is told that her sister tried to flee with supplies and some ammo thus needs to be shot by Shel. Now, instead of being concerned and heart broken- she encourages that Shel should kill Becca's sister because... rules are rules and it's safe being in this group. I was just shaking my head, cutting ties with this character right then and there. The worst character in my opinion to exist in The Walking Dead.

I mean who would do that?? Or say that?! Becca is even close with her sister, it wasn't like they were fighting or at bad terms. Just awful I tell you. Hopefully Clementine throws a salt lick at her leg or something eventually lol.

I actually feel like a lot of the stories were too short, leaving several plot holes and annoying questions in their wake.

 

[Sassafrass]

I was wondering when you'd make a review on the DLC for The Walking Dead. Glad to see this up so~ thank you for the review!

The time frame for this review went like this.

Bought Monday.
Played Tuesday. Played again Tuesday for my other save file.
Review written Wednesday.
"Edited" Thursday. And by edited, I mean I added pictures and various other gubbins and changed some mistakes.
All while somehow fitting 40 hours of Civ 5 and FF7 around the days. XD

Spoiler: As for Becca.

I can see where she's coming from. Someone tried to screw over the group and she's been brought up in an environment where, as you said, rules are rules and she's probably in the mind-set that traitors should be punished. Add in the whole "Steph could give away our location", the results if you let the stranger live and the fact she was caught with most of the camps supplies and I can see why Becca would think that. Not saying she's right or wrong, but I can at least see how she got to that conclusion.