The Escapists The Walking Dead Review

The Escapists The Walking Dead

Merging the award-winning, smash-hit, indie game The Escapists with the worldwide phenomenon that is The Walking Dead, comes The Escapists: The Walking Dead. In this unique game, recreated entirely in the charming 8-bit pixel art style of The Escapists, you play as Rick Grimes as he takes on hordes of zombies let loose upon the world. Rick is in charge of a band of survivors featuring many of the original comic book cast, including Maggie, Hershel, Glenn and Michonne. Rick must secure the safety of the group by seeking out a safe escape route from each area, and manage several dangerous tasks to keep as many of the group alive as possible. The game faithfully matches the timeline of the comics, meaning Rick must first fight his way out of the Harrison Memorial Hospital, visit the Greene family farm before visiting destinations such as the Meirwether Correctional Facility and Woodbury. Protect the living and escape the dead as you play through the award-winning comic’s epic story.

They have really captured the authenticity of the TV series with the way it pans out but the game can become a little bit complacent, you start off in the hospital where the actual series starts after Rick gets shot in the line of duty, after being in a coma for months he awakens to the hospital in meltdown and is tasked with the job of escaping.

The game controls well and has been built at a steady pace which is enjoyable to play, and the whole concept of the game was real fun to play. I really enjoyed the fact you to have to craft your own weapons, they really captured the aspect of survival, however I can see this being a bit tedious midway through the game.

The visuals are funny very Minecraft esque but after playing for a few hours you forget they are 8-bit pixels. The game is full of puzzles and requires you to keep your group safe by making sure the walker threat is low, throughout the games’ days you have to do tasks around the camp to keep up morale, these could be washing the dirty laundry to harvesting crops, as well as making a head count in the morning and evening to make sure everybody is there even having meals (well just sitting there whilst everyone else stuffs their faces and really i don’t actually see them do anything, unless you give them a weapon then they kill walkers)

Escapists The Walking Dead spans over in different locations from the world including the Memorial Hospital where Grimes first wakes up after being shot pre-Zombie days, to the Greene Farm where we meet Hershel and Maggie, to the prison, and on to Woodbury and even Alexandria. In total there are five different areas with increasing difficulty to plot and puzzle and fight your way out of.

There is a great level of freedom to this sandbox game, you can stay on track and complete the set objectives or you can explore the area and delve into the secrets it offers. The replay value to this game is strong with the game barely being touched if you decide to just follow the objectives.

Patience is a virtual with this one as the puzzles can rack your brain for a short while and when you uncover what you have to do the red mist will cloud your vision and and a great F YOU to the screen will come out.

The controls are easy to pick up but when you have a gun the aim is so accurate it loses its authenticity, it has the top down view like old school GTA and has the same aiming system.

Once you come to Alexandria the last level the game does unfortunately end as did the season until now that is, as it has restarted and who knows maybe they may add on levels as the season continues but personally if they decide to make it DLC which costs money then they run and jump. £14.99 should be the only money you hand over for this game as its not worth anymore.