PixlBit

By the end of Episode 3 of Telltale’s “The Walking Dead”, I felt like I had been taken on an emotional rollercoaster. Many events happened that changed the scope of the situation for Lee, Clementine and the rest of the group, and I knew going into Episode 4 that it would continue down that path. Knowing also that Episode 4 is the lead up to their Episode 5 finale I hoped that the stakes would be raised in order to provide for a satisfying final chapter. Thankfully, I was not disappointed.

The beginning of Around Every Corner has Lee, Clementine and the group searching for shelter. They are on the move, headed toward Savannah, Georga in hopes of finding a boat to get to safety as well as Clementine’s parents and a mysterious person who has been taking to Clementine through her Walkie Talkie. As you would suspect, things take a turn for the worse when they find little hope for an escape. I won’t divulge into spoiler territory, but as you progress, the situation gets even more serious, leading up to an ending that makes waiting for Episode 5 a real chore.

Some new characters are thrown into the mix, like the extremely likable Molly whose loner attitude shakes up the group dynamic. Her addition also helps fill out the shrinking amount of group members. After all, this wouldn’t be The Waking Dead without its fair share of casualties.

Gameplay is largely the same as it was in previous Episodes but this time the shooting sections (which were a slight annoyance in Episode 3) are now first person and control much better. These sections stand out as they break up the gameplay, and provide more of an action-packed flair to the already tense situations.

Also similar to previous Episodes, Around Every Corner tasks players with making difficult choices in tight situations. Many moments had me questioning the validity of my actions and by the end I actually got to see some pay off. The choices you make definitely come into play going into Episode 5 and I imagine the results for each player will stir up conversation.

Though this Episode was great, it still suffers in some minor ways. The usual technical hiccups like long load times (on Xbox 360) and random slow down distract from the overall experience. Pacing is an issue as well. The episode starts off strong and then slows down, only to ramp right back up by the end which was probably necessary but a tad bit inconsistent.

With Episode 5 approaching, I couldn’t be more excited. Around Every Corner does its job, building to a finale and creating more of the heart-wrenching, gut-busting and emotionally driven story-telling that the series is known for. If you haven’t gotten the chance, make sure you download and play Episode 4: Around Every Corner. The finale approaches.