(Spoilers ahead for certain choices and story arcs in regard to TellTale Games' The Walking Dead: A New Frontier - remember, the game is tailored to how you play, some of the details listed may not happen in your play-through so enjoy!) Anyone who knows me or is familiar with my blog knows I am a die-hard TellTale Games fanatic (I have been waiting for months for this release) - so it's no surprise I grabbed some covfefe (hehe) and pulled a late night after back-to-back work shifts to finish out the wonderfully woven narrative of Javi and his rag-tag gang of survivors in TellTale's "A New Frontier" - the third installment in their critically acclaimed Walking Dead series. I will admit, I wasn't sure how they were going to close out this season, since all hell broke lose in Richmond at the conclusion of episode four and it would be pretty hard to top the finales of some of the other TTG classics (I'm sorry, the end of Game of Thrones will always be one of the most powerful closing chapters they've produced and cannot be surpassed). But "From The Gallows" proved itself to be a satisfying, if not heart-breaking conclusion - taking its time to focus on family, love, and leaving behind a legacy that you can be proud of when you leave this world. As always, I was left wanting more, but feeling a nice sense of closure that I tend to lack when I finish out a season (I need answers for Tales from the Borderlands and Wolf Among Us.... and Game of Thrones.... like, really, TellTale you guys have punched so many holes in me it hurts). So, let's talk about this conclusion and how my story ended. In the classic TTG Walking Dead style, a very poignant and expositional flashback scene takes players into one of the last memories Javier has of his pa, breathing life into the questions "will you continue to love your brother?", and "what is the legacy you want to leave behind in this world when you go?". Episode five opens in the thick of the aftermath of the explosion caused by Kate we saw at the conclusion of episode four. She is nowhere to be found, David is on a rampage, Richmond has fallen, and you're left trying to rescue what little of your family is still standing. Players continue to control Javier through the war-zone of zombies, frontiersmen, and utter destruction of the town square as you attempt to re-collect your team and find a bit of respite. Safety remains out of reach as groups continue to clash and friendships are either mended or (if you picked the same options I did) completely decimated with one choice - I regret nothing, Eleanor screws you over big time. The episode heavily revolves around one last ditch attempt to mend (or break down, the choice is in your hands) Javier and David's strained relationship, creating poetic moments of peace in the midst of the world collapsing, just to hit you right in the feels with that beautiful TellTale style we all have come to know and love. The group ultimately decides they have to head for the nearby truck yard, through the thick of the incoming horde, to try and find a way to repair the damage done and save Richmond. But the choices are never that simple (unless you're me... and you really hate Kate... and in the end stood with the less than 14% of gamers who friend zoned her through the whole story, then it's a fairly straightforward thing). Relationships are tested, family is torn apart, and a powerful moment between brothers unfolds giving players the option to fight or express their love for David - ultimately defining the future of the Garcia family with one choice. Choice is what these games are defined by, and it's never been so stark a truth than in "From The Gallows". Do you forgive Eleanor or disown her for her betrayal? Do you try and save Fern's husband or let him die peacefully? Do you help Kate save Richmond or go after your brother and nephew? Do you encourage or shut down Gabe in his times of anxiety? Admit your love or abandon Kate? Fight David or lie down and take it? The promises you make to your father, how you interact with Clem, how you proceed with Ava/Tripp after being reunited following the execution - all of that hard work accumulates to who you end up next to when the dust settles. The narrative unfolds in a way that forces players to side with certain members of the family, creating some of those well-known moments of game pausing and deep thought that people have come to expect from a TellTale title. I will admit, I cried, a lot. Watching certain characters die (coughKatecough), even in the midst of me hating them was brutal. Watching Javi scream "I love you" as David beats him down with a wrench. Having to choose whether or not to execute Kate, and then watching Javi's pained screams in the downpour of the rain after the decision sets in. Watching the memorial scene of all those who died in the church. Having to let Clem walk off into the sunset as she goes looking for AJ. It's a powerful story that feels incredibly real and tugs at the heart-strings while ramping up the intensity with every turn of the alleyway players take. Plus there's a super cool 'second coming of Jesus' cameo at the end (pun totally intended). It's a very well-written and emotionally charged finale, leaving the player eagerly awaiting what's to come next when the title "Clem's story will continue" pops up at the end of the credits like a cheeky Marvel closing title. I felt a bit cheated with the death of Tripp in my play-through, it really felt like he deserved something more epic, and my game had a weird glitch at the very end where Conrad showed up (even though I straight up murdered him in chapter two) and had a fairly lengthy exchange with Javier. The game isn't perfect, it has that typical lag that the TellTale Engine tends to have at times but the narrative and enticing choices really make this a finale for the history books. It creates a solid next step for Clementine and her continued adventures, while allowing players to have enough closer for whichever Garcia family members still stand at the end of your play-through. Depending on your choices the conclusion could play out in a number of ways, but expect a lot of death, a lot of heart-break and betrayal, and a lot of very tender moments. Plus, you really can't deny that it's a solid installment when Job Stauffer himself said he got emotional and teared up playing it. All-in-all, it's another compelling conclusion and fantastic cliffhanger that fans of the game and The Walking Dead as whole will appreciate. Written by Alycia D. (MaybeMockingbird ) All pictures are copyright TellTale Games and The Walking Dead (and their respective owners). TellTale Game's The Walking Dead: A New Frontier Episode 5 is out now for XBOX One, PS4, iOS, and PC gaming systems. It is rated M for Mature. What did you think of From The Gallows? What choices did you make and how did your story differ from mine? Let me know in the comments - connect with me on Twitter or hit me up on XBOX or Playstation (under MaybeMockingbird) and let's play.
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AuthorJust your average geek chic gamer chick into all things ghostly and geeky (and vice versa) Archives
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