A game that adapts the choices you make. Lots of game companies focus on that remarkable conception, but only a few succeed in causing awe in somebody. The Walking Dead rightfully deserves the title of "The Most Flabbergast Franchise Ever Created".

"Long Road Ahead" is the third of five episodes planned to be released by the end of this year. The game takes place where episode two had left us at, survivors lodging at a motel in rural Georgia, running outta supplies while having the bandits as a constant intimidation.

Soon after, the survivors are forced to leave the Motel under the threat of the bandits, and without giving away any of the surprises hidden, lets just say it doesn't end up very well for them.

Same gameplay mechanics

I'm not surprised, there was nothing wrong with the third person point-and-click gameplay scheme, most of the time you don't control your character, Lee Everett, but you're often left with some freedom of exploration for the sake of collecting practical items. These items might help you save someone's life, so it's better to double check every place you visit before leaving it.

Same graphics, same problems

Don't get me wrong, there were lots of glitches fixed alongside almost no freezing at all. But the game still suffered minor stuttering every now and then, especially when things got heated up. I just wished for no slow-downs especially when I'm occupied fighting off hordes of zombies.

The game looks striking though. It still follows the cartoony style but the gore in-game is enough to shake off the feeling of "unrealism". Especially when a zombie opens up your stomach and gobble your guts.

By far the toughest decisions you'll have to take

Either trying to be an exemplar of Ghandi or trying to survive no matter what happens to your friends, it wont really matter. The choices you make will mostly have a negative impact on you and your group, satisfying one pisses the other off, and gloomy consequences are inevitable, it's to "whom" you want these consequences to be taken on is that what you can sometimes decide.

More action!

The game has it's moments of peace, where you'd be checking on how everybody's doing or walking around looting a newly discovered area but that's pretty much about it. After that, you'll be practically begging for a moment of quietness.

You get the chance to use your gun against zombies and bandits, it's for a short point in time but I was thrilled since in previous episodes, firefights were not controlled by you. At least, not that straightforward.

Calm and chilly atmosphere

The music was very well done, when you were walking around doing nothing, you could hear a very calm music playing. But when you're fighting zombies, the calm music turns into a very aggressive and adrenaline filled soundtracks, mostly with Violin and Piano. It's definitely better than the previous episodes where you'd hear simple piano tunes and that's about it.

The voice act is still top notch, you'll be astounded by the level of realism the voice act is, either in normal situations or when fleeing from packs of zombies.

Verdict

All what I've asked for in the next episode was some bugs fixes. Instead, what I got was an assortment of the -by far- hardest decisions I've ever faced, a very engaging plot, some more memorable characters and an ending that'll leave you emotionally unsettled.

This is one of the very few games that can have such an impact on gamers where they're left thinking about what choices they made and their consequences, and what other consequences would've occurred if you'd gone through an alternative path.

Telltale has commonly been known for screwing up their sequels. After episode three, I can't say that to any further extent.

Check out the review of Episode 1 and Episode 2.