The Walking Dead: Season Two Episode 1 - All That Remains

It’s finally here, The Walking Dead: Season 2 has arrived and we can rest easy knowing that Telltale Games have successfully captured the same intense drama that filled Season 1. Lee Everett’s journey has ended and Clementine has established herself as lead protagonist in Season 2, and like Lee Clementine is given a blank slate. The innocence this little girl once had is completely gone and now it’s up to the player to decide her fate, and establish a new identity of this girl. Without a purpose to motivate her towards a destination like season 1 it’s clear what Clementine’s new goal is, to survive. 

The Walking Dead: Season 2, Episode 1 -  “All That Remains” picks up right when Season 1 ended, with Clementine attempting to survive each day. Immediately you’ll notice that Clementine plays different from Lee, easily frightened and more trusting, but that changes quickly. After a shocking opening that leaves one of Clementine’s friends dead the game jumps ahead, now a teenager Clementine’s new identity is up to the player to decide. Within 5 minutes of playing this teenage girl I was given a choice of whether to save a friend or sneak away and ensure her own safety. 

Telltale Games uses the same point-and-click formula they’ve used in previous The Walking Dead episodes. New cosmetic refinements add more to the visual flare to the previously dull interface. The unstable frame rate and graphical errors that plagued previous episodes, however, are still present here. I still enjoyed the frantic timed choices, button battles with zombies, interacting with ordinary items, and exploring the environment. I just wish I could attach a reason for Clementine’s actions outside from simply surviving. Unlike Season 1 Season 2’s main story is still vague, a short preview does establish a common threat and a reunion, but until the next episode is released that eagerness for the next part isn’t as strong as Lee’s beginning.

Unlike Season 1 the story is here is vague, no long-term objective is ever placed. After a series of unfortunate events Clementine finds herself wounded, alone and waiting for the grim reaper’s arrival. Until she is saved and finds herself in the company of strangers. Stranded and alone, without any idea who these people are or their motives, Clementine quickly uses all the skills that Lee taught her to survive. Eventually you begin to learn about each character, their motives, desires, and even some secrets are slowly revealed. It’s here that you establish Clementine’s new identity, whether to value her humanity or place survival first. Seeing Clementine choosing to blackmail someone into preventing them from voicing their opinion was shocking, it was something that the little girl from season 1 would’ve never done. 

A large portion of All that Remains is focused on Clementine learning more about these people. Clementine’s arrival manifest new tensions within these group of strangers, some want to help her and others see her as a threat or burden. Pete is the group’s leader and acts as a father figure to Clementine. Luke is a nice guy who Clementine can confide about her past to, but he never manifest into anything more than a nice guy. There’s a doctor, and overprotective father, named Carlos who is attempting to shield his daughter Sarah from the destroyed world. She’s definitely an odd one, Sarah understands the calamity and her father’s motives but maintains a friendly persona towards Clementine out of loneliness. Other characters include a aggressive pregnant woman named Rebecca and her husband Alvin. The main plot thread is focused on a threatening character, but their fears about this man remain a secret.  I’m not worried though, with writing this strong The Walking Dead Season 2 is likely to be as emotionally staggering as Season 1. 

All that Remains main purpose was to establish Clementine as Lee Everett’s successor, and succeeds. She’s stronger and more determined, and definitely different from the little girl I first saw hiding out in her treehouse at the start of Season 1 waiting for her parents. It’s clear that Clementine’s journey will be a difficult one, but I wish I knew where this was going.

Adam Siddiqui, NoobFeed
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