'The Walking Dead: The Final Season (2018)' takes place several years after 'The Walking Dead: A New Frontier (2016)' and gives players full control of series regular Clementine as she and AJ continue to fight for survival in an ever-hostile world. This time, though, your actions have more consequences than they may initially seem to: AJ is watching everything you do and he's a quick learner. This mechanic is almost solely why the game is so utterly compelling, as what would normally be a simple fight for survival actually turns into a challenging fight for the sole. The game will force you to think about your actions even more than usual, especially since AJ can and will act on his own according to what you've taught him. It's a stroke of genius, really. The narrative plays with some interesting themes and brings up stimulating questions. What does morality really look like in a post-apocalyptic world? Do words like 'murder' matter anymore? How do we know there aren't still people trapped inside the walkers? Even if there aren't, what makes it right to kill them? There are no correct answers and that's the point. It's remarkably effective, really. Though the plot does have a few issues with pacing and perhaps scale, it's ultimately engaging and enjoyable throughout. The game also mixes things up from a gameplay perspective, with a slightly more in-depth combat system replacing the simple QTEs of prior titles and some areas in which you're given a bit more room to explore. The combat isn't fantastic but it does its job, asking you to move around the battlefield and strategically place your blows. It makes for a more hands-on feel overall. Of course, the game's meat-and-potatoes is still its dialogue and dialogue options. The choices feel natural and the writing is on-point, even if there are still a few inevitable instances of 'false agency' and some larger choices that perhaps don't matter as much as they pretend to. The piece serves as an appropriate end to the series, though, with a satisfying finale that's every bit as emotionally impactful as you'd hope. As a whole, it's a poignant, distinct and subversive 'interactive story' that's as enjoyable as it is compelling. 9/10.
