The Walking Dead: A New Frontier Episode 2 - Ties That Bind - Part II (Xbox One) Review

The Walking Dead: A New Frontier

 Platform(s): Xbox One, PlayStation 4

Developer: Telltale Games 

Publisher: Telltale Games 

Genre: Adventure, Action 

ESRB Rating: M (Mature 17+)

The Tale Continues

Telltale Games continues the emotionally charged action/adventure with Episode 2 of the Walking Dead: A New Frontier. Episode 2 - Ties That Bind Part II starts with a flashback to the theme of this seasons Walking Dead, family.

Kate is washing the dishes as Javi and her discuss Javier's past as a Professional Baseball Player. We learned that Javi was in some gambling problems and is no longer in the league. Javier is looking to stay a little in David and Kate's home but as soon as he's back on his feet is wants to get on the road again. Kate teases him and wants to go with him. The teasing becomes more serious though as she says things are not good at home.

As the flashback ends, we see where we last ended off from Episode 1, in an all out battle with a group of attackers as you stayed behind to fend them off with Clementine. Your family has gone back to Prescott for medical attention and you awaken to find everyone you stayed back to fight is gone.

Clementine thanks you for saving her life and sticking around with her as you notice one of the attackers that has turned. You quickly take care of him and notice a marking on his neck. Clementine is shocked and explains this is the mark of a very dangerous group, The New Frontier.

Clementine says she was once trapped with the group that brands themselves The New Frontier. She says they are very dangerous but didn't always come across as that. They have changed as the rest of the world changed. Looking over the shoulder of the John Doe walker, Javi sees a car and takes it to get back to your family in Prescott with Clementine.

The action continues as it always does in The Walking Dead series games. After you feel safe inside the walls of Prescott, Javier is greeted at the door by The New Frontier again. They want his head for what he did back at the Junk Yard. The player in control of Javi is given a set of choices but the end result is the same as The New Frontier take down Prescott's main gates and send in the walkers to tear the community to shreds. Two cars make it out of the gates safely and Javi's family, along with Clementine and a few more allies are now at another road block.

Without revealing too much more about the episode, it is a fun, exciting thrill ride from start to finish although it is a little on the shorter side. The Walking Dead: A New Frontier Episode 2 – Ties That Bind - Part II can be finished in under 90 minutes but the ending of the episode leaves you in shock with a major cliffhanger.

Controls & New Features

As mentioned in the Episode 1 review the controls in this season have been improved to look and feel much more fresh and cinematic than in previous seasons and episodic adventures of Telltale Games. Now we see the button selections embedded and cell shaded in the cinematic experience of the game and not just displaying as a flat looking button select as in previous seasons of The Walking Dead.

Fighting with The Walkers or other groups has improved greatly. This can be thought of as an advancement of these characters abilities as well. Since they have been on the road for four years, they know a lot more about combat than they did in previous seasons.

A new addition to the Telltale Series Games titles is Crowd Play. It was discussed in the Episode 1 Review but will be explained again as it is a lot of fun and highly recommended to try at least once with friends and family. Crowd Play is a fun feature to have people in the room play along with your decision making and selections. The local multiplayer mode allows up to 12 players to help you with your decisions and your participants will be accessing a unique website so only you and your family can take part in the action.

Graphics

The Walking Dead: A New Frontier is now a true cinematic adventure rather than a video game with all the updates in graphics and seamless cut scenes.

Conclusion

The Walking Dead: A New Frontier provides us with new features to deliver a different type of the same game. It feels like a new standalone version of the Walking Dead, especially since you are now controlling a brand new character and family. There is high encouragement to go through each episode multiple times so each major selection can be seen by the gamer. With the shortened episodes in Episode 1 and 2, this makes it easier to achieve.

The Walking Dead: A New Frontier is highly recommended and is available now on Xbox One, PS4 and PC. Check it out here.

The Walking Dead: A New Frontier Episode 2 - Ties That Bind - Part II  : Overall Score

• 90% Story/Features
  
• 90% Visuals
  
• 85% Audio
• 85% Achievement Variety
• 90% Fun Factor
  
• Total - 90% OVERALL RATING