The Case

Well ladies and gentlemen, it all leads up to this. How will things end for Lee and the other survivors? Almost everything will be answered in No Time Left. During the initial four episodes things are not going well for your survivors and in this last episode they do not get much better. In fact they get worse. All of the decisions you have made in the past four episodes will end here, and it is up to you how it will conclude.

The Trial

Episode 4 left Lee and the other survivors in a dire situation (possible spoilers up ahead). Clem is missing, and Lee has been bitten by a walker. Can things get much worse? Yes, yes they can. It is amazing how the world for Lee and the others could come crashing down when everything around them is already infested with the living dead! How will they find Clem, who the hell is on the radio, and what will they do about Lee’s bite?

I have to applaud Telltale for creating such an emotional roller coaster ride that ends with the biggest thrill yet. I won't spoil anymore of the story because you need to experience it for yourself. I just finished No Time Left and I feel depressed, unsure, sad, and hopeful. Rarely has any video game been able to evoke such feelings.

During No Time Left I was forced to make decisions that actually made me flinch or talk to myself in desperation. I feel for these characters, and Telltale does an absolute brilliant job at conveying emotions. It makes it all the more astounding that they do it with such a dated engine. The game overall looks nice because of the art style, but it is far from technically proficient. This does not detract from the experience in any way. The Walking Dead series from Telltale is not about how many frames per second you have, but the serious life changing decisions you will make.

The ending of No Time Left is a tough pill to swallow. In the Walking Dead there are either bad situations and decisions, or there are really bad situations and decisions. The hardships you will be forced to endure are just as good as the previous episodes, and Telltale throws some new hurdles in front of you in the process. Overall it was satisfying ending even though it is not a fairy tale ending.

That is why Telltale’s version of The Walking Dead is a success. They never promised the player that everything will end with you on top of the world like most video games. You have to do the best you can with the cards you're dealt, watching the nail biting conclusions of your decisions. This is a perfect example of how video games can create all of these emotions, doing it better than most other entertainment outlets. You are in this world, you feel for the people in it, and you have to guide the outcome.

The Verdict

No Time Left is an amazing conclusion to The Walking Dead adventure series. It proves that gaming is not just about shooting dudes, and questing for better loot. Telltale has written a wonderful story that involves the player like no other games can. You will feel devastated at the end, and it is almost impossible to predict the outcome. The final outcome may not be all puppy dogs and rainbows, but no one said it would be.

Case Review