My Experience with A New Frontier!
Just wanted to get some stuff off my chest; this is my first post. Bla Bla.
-My Experience
-My Ending
-My Opinion on ANF
-My Hopes/Ideas
-Reality
So, I have played Season 1 and Season 2. I loved playing as Lee and looking after Clem. Season 1 is definitely my favourite of the two. I never got on with Kenny however and it's clear his mental state deteriorates dramatically throughout Season 1 and as he's trying to make his life work in Season 2 by rebuilding a family and filling his void. Alas; I had no issues shooting him and putting him out of his misery in Season 2; and I'm still happy with that outing for him as he needed to be put down; because he was clearly losing it. Now he can finally RIP. .
Now, I was annoyed at Jane for putting me in such a situation; but I didn't see the benefit in going it alone. Especially with this baby (which I will get to). I happen to like Jane and saw a lot of Molly in her. I definitely like the sole surviving independent badass types. cough Clem cough (and Speaking of Molly, I was really glad she didn't come with us- and is one of the few "main" characters to actually survive- I think they should have more open-ended exits for more characters instead of them being either dead or missing in action. Definitivity please!) So, since Clem's a badass mature kid with a baby. I was fine with letting Jane come with me and setting up shop at Howe's left. I thought it'd awesome if we could setup shop here. I even let that sketchy "family" in. Because I want Clem to have a settlement. However, I also realise this is a game. And being given the choice to let Jane be Murdered and Kill Kenny. Obviously means that Janes on borrowed time. So, I didn't expect her to survive past Episode one of TWD S3.
So, come A New Frontier; It's a little disappointing to not be playing as Clem; but I knew what i was getting into from all the previews, trailers and screenshots. It's obvious we'd be going back to square one; and playing as Javier just like we did Lee. So, i don't understand why it can be so surprising to some people that Clem is (so far) only playable for 5 minutes in flashbacks. Regardless. I was actually really satisfied with the Jane flashback. I always got the impression she was depressed, and being alone awhile, missing her sister Jamie, and now being pregnant with Lukes kid in an apocalypse when stuck with a young girl to look after; I'm pretty sure she just couldn't deal with the stress and risks of being pregnant; when we're low on resources; actually successfully delivering a baby (assuming she survived) and all the stuff with being pregnant blabla. So, when she killed herself I was shocked- but I thought; nah. It makes sense. She's an asshole for doing it to us; like that- but shit. She taught us all she knew; and made the choice to end it herself. So be it. Sucks, but hey. Life goes on. We knew her less then most of the cast. She appears after we meet Carver infact. So. yeah. I was okay with that ending- i think it's the most sense making ending. PLUS we got a Tattoo of AJ and got to name him!
My AJ is Alivin Lee Jr! .. but this brings me to AJ .. who the heck is he? I disliked his mum. She's a stranger; and of the time we knew her she was always an asshole and really now to have this kid dumped on me I just find really weird. I think it'd be a little bit different if it was Christa's baby. But it's not; some bitchy womans kid. But dang. He is cute; and I'm fortunate that I got the option to name him "Lee" because otherwise I'd have no sense of attachment to him; I only cared more about him as I saw him get bigger and cuter in the flashbacks. So, I hope Telltale can flesh out AJ a bit and make me care for him more. But, I look forward to seeing how it plays out.
So far I've enjoyed TWD S3. And I'm grateful to have more of this universe. And of course; to see Clementine is amazing. She's grown up and she's a badass- on the outside she's cold etc. But It's clearly a front; and I hope to help her open up with Javier as the Season progresses. (But i really hope they don't kill her. shitttt.- I don't think I could put up with that- I'd call it there I think lol) Anywho; so I love it all. It's nice to see the worlds evolving; we've got settlements and stuff now; and people aren't scared of zombies that much and can handle themselves. All good. I like my Javier; I've kept a distance from Kate; she seems kind of a sleezbag- and yeah. I just don't like her. I'm sure she means well. But yeah. Not for me. (plus what a spoon for running out like that and getting shot). I also think that a nice way to tie in Christa is to have flashbacks of how Christa's kid was such a hassle/risk and evidently died in this world; and I'd like clementine flashbacks of Christa teaching Clem the basics of raising a child etc. I ALSO want some 400 Days people to be in the background of ANF. Just let those who've brought all the characters to Howe's see them rehomed in ANF as opposed to the generic bad guy models. idc if they die; just an aesthetic quirk. Except Ned/Nate that crazy dude could be a leader of a new group.
Okay; so this is what I hope happens in the coming episodes. I hope we play more as Clementine and ultimately overtake TNF Group. I want a Civil War; and eventually I think this season will end with a choice of who you want to become Leader of ANF. Clementine, Jesus or Javier. And I'd like to think the aftermath will setup for future seasons. Because ultimately I don't want this telltale series to end. I want the series to progress to a point. Where as leader; we actually play as Javier/Clementine to lead a group; deal with stories of how to approach other groups. How we hunt/gather food. Other minor characters etc. Which characters we allow into our settlement and which we cast out etc. I'd like to think that future seasons are planned and the choices of whom we play as to lead and how either Javier/Clem leads; can influence things in the next season and which characters fulfill each role etc I.e Trip might be my right hand man, Bob a scavenger, Jeff my medic, Sally my people therapist or w/e I think that'd be badass. And I think it'd be cool to raise AJ much like Lee did to Clem when Lee had Clem dumped on him. As has Clem had AJ dumped on her.
It'd be nice if they shookup the formula and in these imaginary future season 4. You as a Leader; pick your best members (of which you feel you know best) and as a group go out to look for something important/a resource and run into another group in another far away area. And that be the story; maybe the groups think differently- one group you run into is very scientific- the other crazy like a cult- others friendly and farm based etc. and how you as leader clem/javier negotiate and maneuover your way around each group dictates if there's bloodshed and/or peace amongst groups. Ultimately leading to how many people you can keep alive by the end of Season 4 in order to achieve the goal you setout of richmond or w/e to get. Be it a resource, a stolen child, a message, a cure, unravel a mystery etc. The idea being you can have all your large group survive or none at all depending on which you chose (clem or Javier; and how you approach x positions on this journey- so if you went with javier he's dialogue would fit him more; as opposed to what clem says). The title being a New Frontier; and a way for Telltale to make the next seasons super crazy creative/ and the most differntiated - because groups could appear in different order/met at different times etc. could get really creative. ultimately they all would meet the same like all games do but the adventure being so different for each character/person and all these variations would make it a highly replayable game and be something telltale would totes get reward and praise for doing. Could be the kinda fun you want in a choice zombie game; whereby the choices you make would really matter; and how many of your pals in your group survive and if what your after is found or not depending on the way you hunt for this thing, is all achieved. Some people lose everyone; some not a soul. Some find what they're after; others don't and head back to richmond empty handed (or not quite) etc. Y'know. Setup conflict for Javier and Clem upon return to Richmond etc. for season 5. I dunno.
However the pessimism in me thinks that everyone will die and all will be tragic. Things will go bad; all will die, and then yeah. But hopefully A New Frontier means they're setting up to do something challenging and creative- and this game will serve as just a catalyst in getting your main character. Those who've maynot played the prequel seasons will play with Javier. etc. And yeah. But whatever happens. Telltale have me hooked. And my expectations are never high. So, I'm never disappointed. I just hope Clem makes it through ANF. And we get fanfare. Christa etc.
What were your ending for previous games; if at all? How would you like to see this season end? And overall. If there are to be Season 4+ how would you like them to be? Maybe Timeskip and play as AJ.. or something. I dunno. What's your ideal situation?
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