The Walking Dead Michonne
- September 7, 2016
- Telltale Games
- 4h median play time
The Walking Dead: Michonne is an entertaining return to the post-zombie wasteland and manages to cram quite a lot of well-written story in a relatively small amount of time.
"The Walking Dead Michonne" is a horror-themed point-and-click game with a single-player mode. This mini-series of 3 episodes follows the story of the iconic character Michonne from the comic book series, as she copes with loss and regret during the time between issues #126 and #139. The game boasts of wonderful mechanics, great visuals, and a fabulous soundtrack, although it may be poorly optimized and full of bugs, providing a very atmospheric and wholesome story.
Reviews
- Engaging story that provides insight into Michonne's character and backstory.
- Great voice acting and soundtrack that enhances the overall experience.
- Action sequences are intense and satisfying, showcasing Michonne's combat skills.
- Very short game length, only about 3-4 hours total playtime.
- Choices often feel inconsequential and do not significantly impact the story.
- Technical issues such as long loading times and occasional bugs detract from the experience.
- story1,377 mentions
- 34 % positive mentions
- 58 % neutral mentions
- 7 % negative mentions
The story of "The Walking Dead: Michonne" has received mixed reviews, with many players noting its brevity and lack of depth compared to previous titles in the series. While some appreciate the focus on Michonne's character and backstory, others criticize the plot for being predictable and the characters for lacking development. Overall, the game is seen as a decent, albeit short, addition to the franchise that may appeal more to fans of the comics than to those seeking a rich narrative experience.
“Outstanding story, love the storytelling.”
“The walking dead: michonne offers fans of the series a chance to dive into the personal story of one of its most intriguing characters.”
“The story is intriguing and the voice acting is great.”
“The story is weak, characters are bland including the main character and it is too short.”
“The story lacks in essence, it's hard to believe that this was written by the same people.”
“The story is rushed, and subsequently there is little to no character development.”
- gameplay206 mentions
- 16 % positive mentions
- 80 % neutral mentions
- 4 % negative mentions
The gameplay in Telltale's "The Walking Dead: Michonne" has received mixed reviews, with many players noting its brevity, averaging around 3-5 hours, which feels insufficient for the price. While the game maintains the familiar choice-driven mechanics of previous Telltale titles, critics argue that the lack of meaningful choices and the reliance on quick-time events detracts from the overall experience, making it feel repetitive and less engaging. Despite some praise for its storytelling and character development, the gameplay is often described as simplistic and lacking innovation compared to earlier installments in the series.
“Very sad but it's really well written and has amazing gameplay.”
“The gameplay progression is fast-paced, and considering that this game came just before a new frontier, it shares a few elements with it, albeit on a much smaller scale.”
“The gameplay for me personally was great, the quick time events were easy but enough to make it fun.”
“It's quite shocking that a choice-based game, wherein all the main gameplay is focused around the choices you make, ends up having pretty much none of the choices matter.”
“With only about 5 hours of gameplay, I don't think it's really worth the full price.”
“The gameplay is severely lacking in this one, and the choices don't make an impact; exploration is there, god knows why, and of course, press Q and E to cut everyone's limbs off.”
- graphics189 mentions
- 37 % positive mentions
- 61 % neutral mentions
- 3 % negative mentions
The graphics in the game have received mixed reviews, with many praising the comic book art style and noticeable improvements over previous titles, particularly in terms of smoothness and color vibrancy. However, some players noted issues such as graphical glitches, choppy animations, and a lack of variety, which detracted from the overall experience. Overall, while the visuals are generally well-received, they remain consistent with Telltale's established style, and some players feel that the graphics do not significantly elevate the gameplay.
“The graphics are great, just what you would expect from Telltale.”
“The art style from Michonne is again, as you would expect from a Telltale game, the comic book look does the game complete justice, there is nothing fancy about them, and it just looks really good.”
“While also bringing a great story, Telltale has impressively updated their graphics, making the gameplay all the more impressive when you compare these graphics to season one.”
“The art style is oddly off in this game; I don't know how to explain it.”
“Unfortunately, whilst the overall graphics hold up to previous Walking Dead games, the animation can be a bit weird sometimes.”
“In short, it's not a good game; it has some decent moments but it's not good. Telltale's choices ring hollow and their graphics have lost their charm; it's barely a game, much less an enjoyable one.”
- music133 mentions
- 66 % positive mentions
- 32 % neutral mentions
- 2 % negative mentions
The music in the game has received widespread acclaim, with many reviewers praising the soundtrack as a standout feature that enhances the overall experience. The integration of the theme song and other musical elements is noted for fitting the game's atmosphere perfectly, contributing to emotional moments and nostalgia. Overall, the soundtrack is described as fantastic, immersive, and a significant highlight of the game, often prompting players to seek out the music outside of gameplay.
“The soundtrack is fantastic, the intro and outro music is wonderful; I immediately searched those songs and got them because I loved them so much.”
“The music is really good, as is the artwork, like the other Walking Dead games.”
“Fantastic music, probably the best music in a Walking Dead game so far.”
“The game also has a constant vocal soundtrack, yet for the credits, about a minute plays, then it's silence for the rest of the credits, about 2/3rds the amount.”
“It seemed like they focused more on the soundtrack than the actual storyline of the game in this one, especially with the intro song; it sounds really good and fits the game perfectly.”
“Everything in this game is normal; I mean normal story, normal cutscenes, normal soundtrack, and normal quick time events.”
- emotional111 mentions
- 94 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 6 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game has received mixed reviews, with many players noting its ability to evoke strong feelings, particularly through Michonne's character and her traumatic backstory. However, several reviewers expressed disappointment over the game's brevity and lack of emotional investment in supporting characters, which diminished the overall impact compared to earlier installments in the series. While some moments were described as heart-wrenching and compelling, others felt the storytelling fell short, leading to a less engaging emotional experience.
“This is an emotional game, no question about it.”
“The character relations are so beautiful it's genuinely heartbreaking to see how some choices affect them.”
“Michonne has some deep emotional scars that desperately need healing, and the catharsis felt when Michonne finally gets a chance to deal with her demons is unlike anything else this particular reviewer has experienced.”
“This game, however, is poorly done with a boring story and bland characters.”
“A boring story with characters who don't matter at all.”
“I had no empathy for Michonne or her loss; it just became a boring chore that got in the way of a boring story.”
- stability52 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The game suffers from significant stability issues, including frequent freezes, stuttering, and various bugs that disrupt gameplay. Many players report problems with cloud saves, leading to lost progress, and overall performance is marred by graphical glitches and frame rate drops. While some users note that their experience may vary, the consensus is that the game is currently a buggy mess, making it difficult to enjoy.
“There are quite a few issues with the performance of this game, including stutter issues and freezes.”
“Don't get this buggy piece of crap that refuses to even run without crashing and hanging.”
“The game is buggy and has lots of FPS issues.”
- character development48 mentions
- 15 % positive mentions
- 54 % neutral mentions
- 31 % negative mentions
Character development in "The Walking Dead: Michonne" has received mixed reviews, with many players noting that the game's short format limits the depth and impact of character arcs. While some appreciate the attempts to explore Michonne's backstory, others feel that the rushed pacing and lack of meaningful choices detract from the emotional engagement typically found in Telltale's previous titles. Overall, the consensus is that the game sacrifices character development for brevity, leaving players wanting more depth and connection to the characters.
“As you expect from a Telltale game, this one is deep in character development and how your decisions affect them.”
“Thanks to the solid storytelling and character development that the Telltale series is known for, we get to play through a little bit of where Michonne was and what she did in the period during the time jump in the graphic novel.”
“Amazing story, great character development and intense gameplay, definitely recommended!”
“The story is rushed, and subsequently there is little to no character development.”
“Unfortunately, the character development is lacking, leaving Michonne's character feeling rather uninteresting, to be honest.”
“The lack of character development also leads to a lack of truly meaningful and impactful choices - something the series is well known for, which is a shame.”
- optimization33 mentions
- 12 % positive mentions
- 48 % neutral mentions
- 39 % negative mentions
The optimization of "The Walking Dead: Michonne" has been widely criticized, with players reporting significant performance issues such as stuttering, frame drops, and freezing, particularly on PC and Mac. Many users noted that the game feels poorly optimized compared to previous titles in the series, leading to a frustrating experience despite some appreciation for its gameplay and narrative elements. Overall, the game's technical shortcomings detract from its potential enjoyment.
“Excellent optimization, did not meet any game bugs.”
“I played this on Mac, so I ran into a few performance issues, but they never got in the way of my experience. I love the setting, I love the atmosphere.”
“Took me about 4 hours to finish the game, had no performance issues.”
“There are quite a few issues with the performance of this game, including stutter issues and freezes.”
“The performance is just horrible, with framerate dropping every now and then to 2-3 frames per second.”
“I don't understand why this happens, seasons 1 and 2 ran like a charm on my system, as did other Telltale titles, so I'm forced to conclude that TWD: Michonne is just really poorly optimized.”
- atmosphere20 mentions
- 55 % positive mentions
- 30 % neutral mentions
- 15 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its immersive and eerie qualities, effectively capturing the essence of the "Walking Dead" series through strong level design, a fitting soundtrack, and well-executed jump scares. Despite some criticisms regarding graphics and controls, players appreciate how the atmosphere enhances the overall experience, making it memorable and engaging. The combination of charismatic characters and a suitable post-apocalyptic setting contributes to a compelling ambiance that resonates with fans of the franchise.
“I had a few jump scares which are there for a real good reason and add a lot to the atmosphere of playing as Michonne, especially if you know what she's been through.”
“The atmosphere and music were so good!”
“They perfectly captured the feel and atmosphere of the comic and show, staying true to the character without trying to change canon.”
“Only hate the cheap graphics... but the atmosphere was so good that graphics didn't matter.”
“Although you don't get invested in the characters that much (it takes around 4 hours to play the whole game), instead there are several flashbacks and hallucinations, which create an eerie atmosphere, kind of different from WD S1 & 2.”
“After watching a TV show, WD, I found the same atmosphere in this Steam game.”
- replayability18 mentions
- 17 % positive mentions
- 56 % neutral mentions
- 28 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's replayability is widely criticized, with many reviewers noting that it offers limited content and minimal incentive to replay. While some players appreciate the opportunity to explore different character alignments or outcomes, the consensus is that the game lacks substantial replay value, especially given its short playtime and the absence of meaningful choices. Many feel that the price does not justify the limited replay potential, suggesting it may be better suited for sale rather than full price.
“🔲 infinitely replayable”
“Not a ton of content, but beautiful and fully replayable to dive deeper into the story or change up your character's alignment.”
“Strong replay value; even after only the first episode I replayed for all possible outcomes to lead me into the next episode in which I'll likely do the same.”
“It is a story game and a small one at that, so the replay value is not large whatsoever.”
“I don’t think that the price is right considering that for three episodes of about an hour you only have 3-4 hours of gameplay and the replay value simply isn’t there, but I would absolutely recommend buying this game on sale.”
“Probably one of the worst and sure not worth its money due to the fact that you can complete the whole series in about 4 hours and the game itself has no replay value because this time choices really do not matter at all.”
- grinding13 mentions
- 8 % positive mentions
- 15 % neutral mentions
- 77 % negative mentions
The grinding aspect of the game is widely criticized for being extremely tedious and repetitive, often detracting from the overall experience and pacing of the story. Players express frustration with the lack of options to skip dialogue and the need to replay sections due to character deaths, which adds to the feeling of monotony. Overall, the grinding elements seem to pad the game's length without providing meaningful engagement.
“You'll need a second life for grinding.”
“Extremely tedious.”
“They're tedious and repetitive; all they really seem to do is pad out the length of the game.”
“The short 3-episode format does not make forcing yourself through the irritating and tedious conversations any easier, as you will find yourself constantly wishing there was a skip dialogue option.”
- monetization8 mentions
- 13 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 88 % negative mentions
The monetization aspect of the game has been criticized as a cash grab, with many users feeling that it lacks the depth and engagement expected from previous titles in the series. While the initial episodes are free, players express disappointment over broken features and a lack of meaningful community interaction, suggesting that the game prioritizes profit over quality.
“Don't think, just buy this game! The game is free, with no in-game purchases from Episode 1 through 3. After that, I'm not sure, but yes, buy it!”
“Unrequired game that was just an attempt on a cash grab from viewers of the franchise.”
“After loving seasons 1 and 2 of the TWD game series, this feels like a hastily put together cash grab.”
“This game feels more like a cash grab than anything else.”
- humor8 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is a standout feature, blending unexpected comedic moments with a dramatic narrative, such as a hilariously meme-worthy death scene. Players appreciate the clever dialogue and amusing character interactions, which provide levity even in a brutal environment, making the experience both entertaining and engaging. Overall, the game successfully transforms serious situations into comedic relief, keeping the humor alive throughout.
“I didn't expect it at all, but it made me scream 'a bit' ;) also, despite the dramatic story and brutal environment, it contains some funny situations.”
“The game has got funny dialogue and an interesting story.”
“It turned a grim episode into a comedy and I had fun laughing the whole way through the game.”
Critic Reviews
The Walking Dead: Michonne Review- A Valiant Effort
The Walking Dead: Michonne is an entertaining return to the post-zombie wasteland and manages to cram quite a lot of well-written story in a relatively small amount of time.
70%The Walking Dead: Michonne - Episode 2: Give No Shelter Review
90%The Walking Dead: Michonne - Episode 1: In Too Deep Review
60%