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The Walking Dead Season 2, Episode 3 review: Guts
The Walking Dead is getting darker – yes, that is possible – while Clementine shows she can be tougher. She's just as intelligent, clever and strong-willed as she ever was, but now she's not fighting to prove her worth as a survivor. The group she's with depends on her, looks to her for guidance and respects her opinions. They ask her to perform dangerous tasks again and again, using the excuse that she's the smallest or the lightest or she knows someone better. But we know the truth: Clementine is stronger than all of them. In episode three of season two, "In Harm's Way," Clementine is almost invincible. She's a superhero, running across rooftops, sneaking into dangerous places, and taking down zombies left and right. For the first time since beginning this game, the player feels in control. But if The Walking Dead has taught us anything, it's that it's dangerous to put faith in feelings.
The Walking Dead Season 2 Episode 3 trailer is on the loose
If you've not been keeping up, Telltale's new trailer spoils big parts of The Walking Dead Season 2, and right from the off. For those who have, Clem's misadventures continue this week when "Episode 3: In Harm's Way" hits consoles, PC and iOS. [Image: Telltale Games]
Telltale's The Walking Dead Season 2, Episode 3 debuts next week
The third episode of The Walking Dead's second season will launch next week across consoles and PC platforms, developer Telltale Games announced today. The latest series entry, "In Harm's Way," will premiere first for Windows, Mac, and the PlayStation 3 in North America via PSN on May 13. The Xbox 360 version and a European PSN release will follow on the 14th, while the iOS version is slated to launch on May 15. [Image: Telltale Games]
The Walking Dead Season 2 Episode 3 'on its way' with new screens
The sound of the Telltale machine whirring into gear indicates The Walking Dead: Season 2 - Episode 3 is looming upon us. Telltale says the latest entry in the horror series is "on its way," but as we wait for releases dates you can have a stroll through some screens. [Image: Telltale Games]
Forget Comixology: get your inexpensive comics from the Humble Bundle folks
Pretty soon Humble Bundle is going to run out of new things to sell. The company has already conquered video games, ebooks, comedy albums and briefly dabbled in film, now the pay-what-you-want kings are turning its sights on comic books. Starting at 11AM PT today you can get a fine collection of digital comics from Image, including Saga and East of West for as little as a penny. If you do care to cough up more (over $15, to be specific), you can get vol. 1 and vol. 20 of The Walking Dead. But this is just the beginning: Humble wants to be known for its book bundles as well as its game offerings. Once this Image Comic promotion is over on May 15th, Humble will be launching a new tab on its site dedicated to ebooks, audio books and comics. That means that there will always be two bundles running simultaneously: a game or other media bundle on the front page and an ebook bundle on a separate tab. And you can expect two different book bundles per-month.
Season 2 of The Walking Dead haunts Vita next week
While the Vita still lags behind its console and computer counterparts, fans of Telltale's critically beloved The Walking Dead won't have to wait much longer for the second season of the emotionally charged zombie adventure. Barring any unforeseen catastrophe, The Walking Dead: Season 2 will make its Vita debut on April 22. To make up for the delayed release, Telltale has opted to launch both Episode 1 and Episode 2 of the new season simultaneously. Come April 22, both episodes will be available from the PlayStation Network Store at a price of $5, though if you plan to eventually play through all five planned episodes of Season 2, you'll find that the $15 Season Pass offers a 20 percent discount over purchasing each episode individually. Additionally, Telltale has announced that The Walking Dead: The Complete First Season is now available on Android devices including the Nvidia Shield, Amazon Fire TV and Amazon Kindle HDX. [Image: Telltale Games]
Telltale's Walking Dead, Wolf Among Us, Game of Thrones coming to Amazon Fire TV
Telltale Games is bringing three of its story-driven adventures to Amazon Fire TV starting with the first season of The Walking Dead, which launched today with the media streaming device. The second season, in addition to The Wolf Among Us and the developer's Game of Thrones-based adventure, will arrive on Fire TV later this year, Telltale confirmed with Joystiq and Engadget. Amazon launched the $99 game and video streaming machine today, announcing it alongside a $40 game pad (though developers have the option to support other Bluetooth controllers). Telltale unveiled its own Game of Thrones adaptation in December before launching the second episode of The Wolf Among Us in February. The developer offered a new trailer for the third episode of the game today, though no release date was given for it. [Image: Telltale Games]
Joystiq Weekly: Batman: Arkham Knight, our South Park review and more
Welcome to Joystiq Weekly, a "too long; didn't read" of each week's biggest stories, reviews and original content. Each category's top story is introduced with a reactionary gif, because moving pictures aren't just for The Daily Prophet. Rocksteady revealed its return to the Batman series this week with Batman: Arkham Knight, and we've dug out capes and Batarangs from our Halloween stash to get properly excited. Last year's Batman: Arkham Origins and Batman: Arkham Origins Blackgate were the first pieces of the series that weren't developed by Rocksteady. We enjoyed Arkham Origins well enough, but we're ready to move on from its bugs and glitches, especially since not all of them will be fixed with a patch. Arkham Knight is set to be the final game in the Arkham series, and we're eager to see what Rocksteady will do for the finale once it releases in October. There's plenty to read while we wait however, including news of Amy Hennig's departure from Naughty Dog, a preview of Watch Dogs and a review of South Park: The Stick of Truth. We've rounded up those stories and more for you in this week's edition of the Joystiq Weekly. [Image: Warner Bros.]
The Walking Dead Season 2, Episode 2 shambles onto iOS
"A House Divided," the second episode in Telltale Games' second season of The Walking Dead, hits iOS devices today, following up on its recent launch via Steam and for console digital platforms. The latest episode in Telltale's post-apocalyptic adventure game series finds the young Clementine and friends in the midst of a conflict between rival factions of survivors. Our review calls it "one of the most action-packed episodes in the Walking Dead franchise," and its events promise an "acute emotional impact" for longtime fans. "A House Divided" is priced at $4.99. [Image: Telltale Games]
Steam sale cuts price on The Walking Dead season 2 to $16.74
To celebrate today's release of its second episode, Steam's Midweek Madness Sale has reduced the price of The Walking Dead season two by 33 percent. As of this morning, those visiting Steam can pick up season two of The Walking Dead for $16.74. That price grants access to the two episodes that have already launched and the three slated for release later this year. While we can't speak to the quality of those sections we've yet to play, the first two episodes have been quite good. Episode one earned 4.5 of 5 stars in our review, while episode two picked up 4 of 5 stars. Being a Steam sale, this promotion only applies to the PC and Mac incarnations of The Walking Dead season two. Those hoping to get in on the deal should hurry: That $16.74 price point is only available until March 7 at 10AM PT. [Image: Telltale Games]
The Walking Dead Season 2, Episode 2 review: Body count
Clementine is holed up with two factions of angry, desperate survivors. One group cowers on the floor, while the second flashes their guns and makes an example of a rival survivor with two quick, non-lethal snaps. Clementine watches the torment from a raised landing, where she's hiding with two allies who argue about their next move. They reach an impasse and turn to Clementine for advice. Let's get that straight: Two adults, who have weathered the zombie epidemic for more than a year, pause in their argument about a serious, life-or-death situation to take tips from the 11-year-old girl. An 11-year-old-girl that they would have easily shot two weeks ago. She still has pigtails. She also has good advice. "A House Divided," the second episode of The Walking Dead's second season, presents Clementine as a complete, independent character for the first time. Though she is surrounded by people – mostly adults – she doesn't answer to any of them, and she doesn't depend on any one person for survival. She can hold her own and she has demonstrated her skills to her new companions. They trust her, and she trusts herself.
Walking Dead Season 2 Episode 2 trailer is ready to take 'em [update: PSN, PC next week]
Update 2: Telltale sends us word that Windows PC/Mac is also confirmed for March 4, in addition to PS3 in North America. Dates for the PS3 in Europe, Xbox 360, iOS "will be confirmed shortly." Update: Sony says Episode 2 hits PSN for PS3 in North America next week on March 4. No confirmation yet, but we expect that means a same-day release on Xbox 360 and PC. Also, Sony notes the Vita version of Season 2 is "tracking" for the end of March, and will launch with the first two episodes. Clementine's misadventures of death, betrayal, heartbreak, and more death continue in the second episode of The Walking Dead Season 2. If you've been hanging onto that cliff since December, you've not got much longer to wait, as "A House Divided" is set to open its doors in early March. [Image: Telltale Games]
Tomb Raider, Walking Dead, Brothers in today's Xbox Ultimate sale
Today's Xbox 360 Ultimate sale includes two entries from Joystiq's Top 10 of 2013 in Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons and Tomb Raider. Meanwhile, the first episode of Walking Dead Season 2 can be yours for just a single dollar, and that really is an excellent deal - the first season placed #3 in our 2012 list. All of which reminds us that Oh Come On Telltale Where Is Episode 2 We Need To Know What Happens To Clementine Please Oh God Why. Ahem. In addition to the nine games that are on sale today, there's a whole bunch of On Demand and Arcade discounts running through until February 25. Check out the full list here, and head past the break for today's list of on-sale games and their prices.
Clementine's hammer proficiency tested in The Walking Dead screens [Update: early March]
Update: Telltale tweets that Episode 2 is due in "early March." A child's innocence is near impossible to preserve in the zombie apocalypse. So it should come as no surprise that adolescent protagonist Clementine has no problem battling the undead in these screens for The Walking Dead's next episode, "A House Divided."
Norwegian school teaches ethics with The Walking Dead
A teacher at Nordahl Grieg Upper Secondary School in Bergen, Norway, is using Telltale's The Walking Dead video game to help teach students ethics. Norwegian news station NRK has a report you can watch above, but we suggest turning on captions - unless you speak Norwegian. As part of his religious studies class, Tobias Staaby has students take anonymous polls which are centered around events of the game. When Glenn wants to save a woman trapped at a motel for example, Staaby asks his students if it's the "right thing" to do. "I want a good catalyst for discussions about ethical theories or ethical dilemmas," Staaby told NRK. "This game provides the students with a space they can navigate and discuss within based on the curriculum." Staaby said he hopes his method will become more common as time goes on. We're inclined to agree, and who says it needs to be limited to ethics classes? Imagine Business 404: Zombies and You. Yeah. You're welcome.
Ask Massively: Giveaways, zombies, and capturing the spirit of Ultima Online
This week in Ask Massively, we're answering questions about eerily quiet games, giveaways, and capturing the spirit of classic sandboxes and The Walking Dead. Holden asked, "Why has Perpetuum dropped off the map? I never hear about it anymore. The only time I even remember it is when I am doing searches for (more) robot/mech desktop wallpapers. Once monoclegate blew over, it was as if Perpetuum fell of the face of the earth, but it seems that it is still around from glancing at the website." This was such a good question that we went digging for an answer before we even added it to Ask Massively. It had been a long time since we'd reported on Perpetuum because it had been a long time since Perpetuum had made a big splash in the news. Readers speculated that the game's playerbase has shrunk over the last two years, but in fact over the winter holiday, developer Avatar Creations posted a dev blog detailing plans for a newbie tutorial island intended to bolster the new player population. Hopefully Holden and other fans of the game will enjoy this "island of noobs" (Avatar's words, not mine!).
Best of the Rest: Jess' picks of 2013
Team Joystiq is barging into 2014 with a celebration of last year's best games. Keep reading throughout the week to see our assembly of ingenious indies and triple-A triumphs. Skulls of the Shogun I have a pre-existing penchant for human skulls as decoration, so maybe that's why Skulls of the Shogun still resonates so deeply with me, despite it launching way back at the beginning of the year – before GDC, before E3, before Gamescom, before the reveals and launches of two next-gen consoles, before the holiday madness. Through all of that, Skulls of the Shogun remains a purely joyful, fun strategy game, complete with morbid humor, accessible mechanics and a lovely Saturday-morning cartoon style. Developer 17-Bit has a precise hand, and the team's attention to detail and flow makes Skulls of the Shogun sing across platforms: Xbox 360, Windows 8, Windows Phone, Steam and iOS. Skulls of the Shogun started the year off in the right way for me, so it's fitting to give it another nod at the end of 2013. Cheers, skull-chewers.
Best of the Rest: Xav's picks of 2013
Team Joystiq is barging into 2014 with a celebration of last year's best games. Keep reading throughout the week to see our assembly of ingenious indies and triple-A triumphs. Splinter Cell: Blacklist Splinter Cell: Blacklist was my Game of the Year for 2013. It's hard to name another game that offers so many different experiences in one box as Blacklist, and even more arduous to name those that have hit the nail so squarely on the head as Ubisoft Toronto (and others) did with Sam Fisher's latest escapade. For franchise fanatics – of which I am one – Blacklist delivered an explosive concoction of everything: the exemplary action of Conviction, the tense stealth of Chaos Theory, and the sublime multiplayer of Pandora Tomorrow. Though its action-movie storytelling can't compete with the likes of other narrative successes launched this year, Blacklist continually entertains throughout its campaign. Its co-op modes are outstanding and its competitive multiplayer is frantic. It's gorgeous, addictive, and, for all these reasons and more, it's my favorite game of the year.
Japanese Walking Dead, Witcher publisher Cyber Front dissolves
Cyber Front, the Japanese publisher of Telltale's The Walking Dead, Valve's Portal series and CD Projekt's The Witcher 2: Assassins of Kings has been dissolved by parent company Kaga Electronics. According to a Gamasutra translation of a statement posted by the company on its website, Cyber Front was subject to a change in management in March of this year. Since that time, the company struggled to rebuild, and on December 19, the decision was made to close shop. Cyber Front recently also published Lab Zero's Skullgirls, which has had a string of bad luck lately, though it will be re-emerging on XBLA and the PSN in January as Skullgirls Encore.
Walking Dead: The Game - Season 2 now chomping brains on the App Store
AMC's The Walking Dead TV series may be in its mid-season hiatus, but you can still get plenty of zombie action on your iOS device with the newly released second season of Walking Dead: The Game. As the title suggests, the episodic game is a direct sequel to the original title. Only the first episode of season two has been published, with additional episodes scheduled to arrive "periodically in 2014." The app itself is US$4.99, with each additional episode costing an additional $4.99. However, if you want to commit to the full season right away, you can save yourself some cash by purchasing the multi-episode pack for $14.99.
