Season One of Walking Dead which I reviewed comprehensively one month ago saw Lee and Clem (and players) go through an intense amount of hardship and pain as they were faced with both difficult and cruel decisions, that culminated in one of the most touching yet bitter video game endings. Season Two promises even more as Clementine's world is rocked once again when her new family is taken from her during the first half hour of play. This would have left me with a measure of comfort if their deaths mattered but, true to the nature of the series, they are taken away too quickly. Just when their on-screen lives were starting, they end abruptly and you're left wondering how much worse things can get.

Gameplay: Prepare for Feels

The sense of never being totally satisfied with an event's outcome is epitomised by Lee in a timely dream sequence when he says "sometimes there's no right answer". The prologue may be harsh, but it's a necessary step to temper your expectations for the rest of the game. You'll be surprised at just how far people will go to survive. Without Lee to keep her from harm, Clem will have to contend with the evils of the world alongside a new group but for the most part, on her own. What's an eleven-year-old girl to do?

Every chapter in The Walking Dead: Season Two may be a mix of good and bad events but as a whole, they make for a compelling interactive story. Compared to Season One where in the group depended on Lee to make the hard choices and he had more of a prominent role in the story, Clem's decisions usually only affect how the characters react to certain situations.

As the player, you have the freedom to dictate how Clem's personality evolves throughout the game. Is she going to retain some extent of optimism despite being reminded to toughen up or is she going to end up hardened by the constant barrage of tragedies? Unlike the first game where she had Lee to act like a buffer between her and every difficulty that comes along, the episodes in Season Two make it possible for Clem to get blood on her hands.

Although she is quite young, often at times her companions expect her to have the answers. At least, when it comes to validating their own actions. When tensions are high, she is held just as accountable as an adult and sometimes, even double the blame. Just as I loved the first game for it, I'm hooked on the continuous moral dilemma of Season Two. The dialogue choices even give Clem a couple of opportunities to remind the group that she's just a child, indicating that she is well aware of the unreasonable expectations placed upon her.

Delivery: Gritty and Unapologetic

To say that I was pleased with Season Two is an understatement. Of course, it's not as gritty as the first season without the deranged kidnapper and all the cannibals but the internal conflicts in the sequel are incomparable. From start to end, Clementine will be in the centre of it all. She'll be pushed to play favourites during critical moments, most especially when a certain character from the first game makes a comeback. The story is still stellar and the signature Telltale Games' choice-driven delivery is equally impressive. For the most part, the graphics haven't really changed from the first game. Afterall, why change something that's not broken? A cell shaded look allows the character models to deliver believable emotion without sacrificing a stylised, screen capture worthy look and that's just fine by me.

As I've mentioned, the game is well-written although the subtleties of group discord may be lost on those who are simply looking for unadulterated drama. In terms of being unique, well, having a young protagonist is a breath of fresh air when it comes to a genre involving the undead. Her limitations and struggle to grow up by her own devices is, at the very least, interesting to watch. Having another little girl in the group certainly helps with the contrast and adds some depth in terms of character development.

On the downside, some themes do get overemphasised, especially when it comes to the returning character's violent outbursts. While it's not totally unacceptable or understandable considering that character's unique circumstances, I did find that it somehow overshadowed other, more interesting, conflicts among the survivors.

My Take: A New Perspective

So should you play The Walking Dead: Season Two or avoid it like a zombie virus? Well if you're even a bit curious how Clementine turned out, then the answer is yes. If you're looking for more of the same horrific scenes from Season One though, then this may not be the game for you. There's less cringing here but it is replaced with a healthy dose of post-apocalyptic drama.

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