The Walking Dead: A New Frontier

Developer : Telltale Games
Released:
Platforms :
Adventure
The Walking Dead: A New Frontier Poster

" Engaging adventure with impactful choices and strong characters but shorter, less impactful story "

The Walking Dead: A New Frontier Review

The Walking Dead: A New Frontier continues the acclaimed series with a fresh protagonist, Javier, while keeping fan-favorite Clementine as a key supporting character. Players appreciate the game's cinematic feel and engaging narrative, with many praising the emotional depth and character development, especially of Clem and Javier. The story unfolds with impactful choices that influence relationships and outcomes, maintaining the series' signature interactive storytelling.

However, some players feel the storyline is shorter and less compelling compared to earlier seasons. Character writing for certain side characters received criticism for inconsistency and lack of depth. Technical issues are minimal but include minor bugs and occasional performance hiccups. Graphically, the game is an upgrade with improved visuals and animations, though some find character models occasionally plastic-like. Overall, it is a solid entry that appeals to fans, though it may not reach the heights of the first two seasons.

Highlights

Players highlight the strong narrative driven by Javier and Clementine's evolving roles, praising the emotional engagement and meaningful choices.

Graphical improvements and a more dynamic story with branching outcomes are noted as significant enhancements.

The game’s cinematic presentation and voice acting contribute to an immersive experience that resonates with fans of the series.

Criticisms

Common criticisms focus on a perceived weaker storyline with less impactful side characters and rushed character development.

Some players found the pacing slow in early episodes and felt the story was shorter than expected.

Minor technical issues such as windowed mode startup and occasional animation flaws were reported but did not heavily impact gameplay.

Additionally, some felt the focus on new characters diluted Clementine’s role and emotional connection.

Pros

  • Engaging narrative with impactful player choices shaping the story and relationships.
  • Strong character development for Javier and Clementine throughout the game.
  • Improved graphics and animations enhance the overall visual experience.
  • Cinematic feel makes the game resemble an interactive movie.
  • Voice acting is compelling and adds emotional depth to characters.
  • Branching storylines offer replayability and varied outcomes.
  • Inclusion of familiar characters like Jesus enriches the universe.

Cons

  • Storyline feels shorter and less impactful than earlier seasons.
  • Certain side characters lack depth and consistent writing.
  • Early episodes suffer from slow pacing and disjointed dialogue.
  • Clementine’s role is reduced, disappointing some fans.
  • Some choices feel inconsequential, reducing player agency.
  • Minor technical issues like windowed mode on startup occur.
  • Character animations occasionally appear stiff or unnatural.

Rating Criteria

Story
Difficulty
Graphics
Duration
Stability
Worth the Price

After society was ripped apart by undead hands, pockets of civilization emerge from the chaos. But at what cost? Can the living be trusted on this new frontier?

Release Date Dec 20th 2016
Publisher Skybound Games
Developer Telltale Games
Required Age 17+
Platforms
Emotional
Cinematic
Choice-driven
Inconsistent
Short

User Reviews

Mostly Positive (5,744)
77% Positive 23% Negative

Online Reviews

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Metacritic
81