The Walking Dead - Haircut Simulator

I was skeptical when I first heard about this game. I'm not a fan of the extremely popular zombie genre. I don't like going around massacring zombies, I don't like how cliche zombie games, movies, anything are. But it was telltale games, and they did some great adventure games. With a lot of people recommending and multiple positive reviews I decided I'll give it a try. Hopefully it won't be as bad as I think it is. Oh was I wrong. This is the best zombie game I have ever played. Instead of focusing on bashing zombie heads and running around collecting bullets or whatever, this game is more of a interactive movie where it focuses more on character development than actual zombie bashing.

You start off as Lee Everett, a criminal wanted for murder of a senator on his way to prison. The cop who is driving you starts chatting to you and you can answer however you like. At this time you notice that anything you say will affect how the story is played out. If you're going to lie, you better keep up the lie because its going to bite you in the ass if its found out. Your responses are also timed. Some are shorter some are longer. If you take too long to decide on a response your character will automatically stay silent. If two people are arguing you can butt in earlier, take longer to decide, or some are actually shorter like you see someone standing in the middle of the road while in the backseat of the cop car and you have to yell to stop the car. There is only a split second to pick the option. You'll quickly meet the first few survivors which will join you in your little group. People don't get along all the time, there is arguing, there are tough choices, and there will be times where you have to pick a side. Its not like other games where you and your party is immune to disease and catastrophe. People die, people turn on each other, and people leave.

One thing that is lacking is puzzle solving is at a minimum.While I like adventure games with a little bit of puzzle solving I think it just wouldn't make sense for a super serious game for the main character to hold 50 objects in his pants and create some kind of door opening machine with a spoon, a bottle of shampoo, and a tire iron. Shit like that just doesn't happen in the real world. There are also times where you have a time limit while solving things. Stuff doesn't wait for you in the real world. You don't get to walk around while the evil ghostly being is charging up his super attack and try to mix items. You take your time then zombies will eat your brains.

The story is very dark ,and very human. People will do anything to survive. Sometimes the hardest choices are the best choices. Some characters you will hate at first and then grow on you, others seem normal and then snap. Sometimes you have to step back and stop. Who are you to judge someone for murder when you are a murderer too. They accepted you into their group knowing you are a convicted criminal. Do you get to kick someone out too because of something he or she committed? You are not the leader, you get to vote but how you have treated people and what things you have said will affect who will be on your side as shit starts hitting the fan. Do you side with the man who abandoned a man to die to zombies to save his own son and will do anything even sacrificing the safety of the group to save his own family first, or would you side with the woman who puts the safety of the group first but wants absolute control of the group and sends people away to die when they come for help. Remember, your decisions must be made on the spot. You don't get time to think things over. You don't get that luxury in a zombie apocalypse when people have guns pointed at each other.

If you like character development, if you like survival stories, and if you just plain like zombie stuff then give this game a try. Even if you're not a zombie fan and just want a good story this game is also for you.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fhL776xz9YU