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

Part one still probably has some jaws left planted on the floor, and if it told anyone about Telltale's agenda, it's that the series hasn't lost its ability to cause that massively huge shock factor. In general, episode two deals with the aftermath of Javi's fresh tragedy and builds on previous relationships, as well as new ones. Most importantly, it moves at a much quicker pace without a dull moment in its hour or so length. Between tough dialogue choices and high-tension action sequences, it ends up feeling more like a "throwback" The Walking Dead episode, rather than the "taking the mould of the reboot" feel that part one brought on.

Flashbacks are prevalent yet again, helping put together the pieces of Clementine's past with a much more emotional tone. It's another concept that's heavily rooted throughout, too; with the focus on family, there's a heck of a lot of meaning behind what goes on and events that take place - whether they're in the present or the past - and one thing to appreciate so far is just how much the sense of dread and sombreness drives the narrative to places Telltale hasn't gone in before. As a result, puzzles and brainteasers take a bit of a backseat in exchange for more plot progression.

Ties That Bind Part II follows a familiar trend in The Walking Dead plot devices, where safety never lasts for long. Of course, it is an undead apocalypse, so how else can the story really get going without a constant string of life or death scenarios? However, it's to a point where if the downtime feels like it's gone on for a while, it probably has, and you can bet that something blood-pumping happens soon. This sort of kills the element of surprise, but luckily, Telltale compensates for it by making the ensuing action pretty unpredictable - and the end of the second episode is perhaps the biggest cliff-hanger yet.