Developer: TellTale Games
Platform: Playstation 3, Xbox 360, PC, Mac, PS Vita
Genre: Point and Click, Role-Playing Game
Rating: 18+

Zombies are everywhere at the moment, from the Resident Evil series to recent rom-zom-com Warm Bodies, and current TV phenomenon The Walking Dead. This game is based on that series, but not directly related to its events or characters. Last year, five “episodes” of The Walking Dead video-game series were released for download, and this finds them all together on one disc.

You control Lee, a man on his way to jail just as the zombie apocalypse takes hold of the country. One car crash later and you're on the run, picking up young Clementine along the way, and assigning yourself as her new guardian. You meet other survivors too, and the decisions you make with how you interact with them dictates how the game will turn out. Sometimes you'll have to choose between saving only one of two people from certain death, sometimes you'll be asked to save or sacrifice someone for the sake of the group... and how you react will forever alter the course of the game.

Graphically, the vaguely rotoscoped, cartoon-ish graphics don't detract from the graphic violence and emotional responses you'll have throughout the game, but on the console they can sometimes suddenly frame-jump and freeze, even if there's not a whole a lot happening on screen. As well as that, the point-and-click nature of the game can feel a little finicky, with poorly chosen camera angles making it difficult to know where you're going or what you're looking for. The voice work is fantastic, with the actors really bringing pathos and personality to everyone you encounter, especially the adorable Clementine, who you will want to protect with your life from the moment you meet her.

For anyone expecting another Resident Evil or Left 4 Dead type action game, you are going to be sorely underwhelmed. The Walking Dead - much like the show - is not for everyone; it's for the patient, not those in search of instant gratification. But give it your time, allow yourself to become immersed in what is essentially an interactive version of the series, and the emotional pay-off will be huge.

Rent Or Buy: Buy
Presentation: 3 out of 5
Gameplay: 4 out of 5
Replay: 5 out of 5
Overall: 4 out of 5