The Walking Dead: A New Frontier - Episode 5: From the Gallows (PlayStation 4) Review

After a fantastic start to the season, A New Frontier has started to stumble along like a zombie left too long to rot in the sun. Considerable technical issues have been impacting the storytelling and destroying immersion. The story cluttered in too many extraneous characters, most of which - including the primary villain - received little and less character development. It's survived thus far thanks to some engaging stories, enjoyable main characters, and some smart writing. The penultimate episode saw Javi's group fracture after the truth of the second episode came to light, and the plan to take down Joan is suddenly turned on its head, with David captured and about to be hanged, along with Ava and Tripp awaiting a summary execution.

The final moments took either Ava or Tripp and delivered a final choice. Shoot Joan or leave in peace with the surviving members. Regardless of these options, the outcome is the same: a shootout that costs the lives of many, and Kate driving in to save the day, only to end up crashing a hole through the barricade and opening the way to the gargantuan herd that was waiting outside.

Now, the Herd has taken over Richmond. The streets are packed with walkers and the civilians are being turned into a buffet. Team Javi has to try and reunite, along with deciding on the next course of action: make a break for it and leave Richmond to the herd, or stay, trying to make up for the problems they caused here, pushing the zombies out and saving who they can.

Flashbacks continue to be the highlight of the season. There's nothing for Clem this time, but further insight into the relationship between the brothers. The episode opens with another pre-outbreak flashback where David and Javi are playing dominoes with their father. It's a great little conversation that will hit home with plenty of players, and gives some difficult choices that come into play later on. That familial relationship has been a key part of the story, and it finally reaches its conclusion here.

There are so many things between Javi and David, and it has very evidently been building to a huge confrontation since David's return. The romance with Kate. The father role over Gabe. Their different philosophies. The numerous clashes. It's been something to look forward to. For a moment, it seems like it's going to be wasted. A silly and on-the-nose confrontation that has some characters acting completely different to how they've been portrayed for the whole season. Thankfully, their drama gets more time to develop, and while it still feels a little rushed, the payoff is quite satisfying.

The series has been quite light on the action up to here. That's made up for in this episode, with plenty of QTE sequences, lots of zombie killing, and a few very tense moments. Annoyingly, the increase in gameplay brings with it an increase in the same frustrating technical issues from previous episodes, with more freezes, the occasional crash and crazy graphical bugs. At one point during the finale there were flying horses… It's maddeningly frustrating, especially on a game that survives on its story and the immersion of the player. It's like someone suddenly stopping a film just as things are getting good. Not to mention then having to replay from the most recent autosave, it has a huge impact on the final product.