The Walking Dead: Michonne, Episode 1: "In Too Deep" Review (PC) 

  Episode One of The Walking Dead: Michonne is brutal from the start. It's a short time from booting the game to curb stomping walkers into fires and quick-timing your way to gory decapitations. The action sequences are stylishly letterboxed, and even go into John Woo slow motion at times to highlight the deadly efficiency of the title character. This is Michonne after all; one of the most badass characters this side of a Segio Leone film, and the game admirably does her justice for the most part.

  Aside from some flashbacks and hallucinations alluding to her past, you're thrust aboard a ship with little explanation or backstory, surrounded by characters you (as a player) don't really know. The game takes place during a certain time period in the comic books I'm not too familiar with, so the tie-ins/fan service were lost on me. But that's fine, as I was more than willing to just enjoy the journey the game wanted me to take. The story starts as a simple scavenging/rescue mission at a beached ferry, where you uncover some unsettling signs of nefarious shit going down. It's not long before you're predictably captured and taken to a Walking Dead signature settlement lead by a larger-than-life personality. And, rather predictably again, you're singled out and taken to have a face-to-face confrontation with said leader in a dialogue driven “boss battle”.

  Yeah, Michonne can be structurally formulaic at times. If you're completely burnt out on the Telltale style of games this probably isn't the one to get you back on board. The same can be said about the graphics, as well: yep, it's still the same engine, and it can still get janky at times. Gripes aside, I think it still works incredibly well for this comic book style presentation. When it works it can look stunning, and when it breaks it's usually pretty minor. There's certainly more creativity and style here than the previous Walking Dead seasons, with some unconventional camera angles and an opening with some Wolf Among Us inspirations.

  Playing as an emotionally unstable character leads to some noteworthy moments. I played Machonne as a strong, silent type... because she's Machonne and that seemed like the thing to do. As the brief, pre-outbreak flashbacks allude to her familial downfall without bogging the game down in exposition that can gleamed elsewhere, you're also treated to a few mental breakdowns and moments of emotional emptiness that are quite effective. When Machonne says, “I've got nothing to lose” you know it's true and it makes her that much more dangerous and badass. When you're tasked with giving a shit about some of the supporting cast, however, the writing doesn't fare as well. The swelling music and story beats might be telling you to care about a heavy, dramatic moment involving some characters you just met a few minutes ago... but you won't. Same for the cartoon villains who may or may not be what the script and acting is strongly hinting towards... but it's quite heavy handed regardless.

  “In Too Deep” is a great first chapter to what hopefully turns out to be a memorable game. If the forthcoming chapters take a nose dive it will be a damn shame. Because Machonne is a badass.