The Walking Dead: 400 Days

Originally published 2013.

400 Days is the latest addition to Telltale Games' The Walking Dead series, where you play the role of five different survivors. You select the character order to act out, and the choices you make in the individual stories impact portions of how the other stories act out (to a degree). Ultimately, the characters all come together, and are offered a proposition by an outsider.

As with the previous five episodes the experience is a mixture of rich story telling and engaging decision making. There were a few gritty moments where I was shocked (in a good way) and would cringe at what had just occurred (again, in a good way). Seemingly missing from this specific episode are the simple puzzles that were so enjoyable in episodes one through five, leading to a much more linear, and simplified experience.

The five episodes that preceded this installment are a masterclass in narrative gaming. 400 Days is, unfortunately, the weakest entry in the series. While the stories are interesting, the overall experience was too short. After completing the episode I was left with more questions than answers, which may prove to be a good thing once the second season of this game is released.

More problematic than the length was the disconnect I felt from all of these characters. The stories are spread so thin that by the time I start to connect with a character or understand a fraction of their background, their story comes to an abrupt end, and we move on to another brand new character. 

My hope is that Telltale Games continues to expand on these characters. As it stands right now, just getting a taste of the intro to a story, with an inevitable wait until the next release, leaves a bitter taste.