Telltale doesn't have to kill EVERYONE we save
I don't know if Telltale wants us to feel like we have no real choice in the game. Or if they are just a little lazy. Are there any people who we can save that don't die a little while later? I can think of two. Chet (if we choose to escape by day instead of night), and Justin if you shoot of Danny's foot. If you chose to shoot off Justin's foot you find out later Danny got killed.
I know that they need to have characters leave. But you can come up with more creative ways. Sarah for example. We simply could have come across a group that turns out to be relatives of hers. She has left the game, but you're left feeling like it was a good thing you saved her.
The real result of killing everyone we save is this "Why should I even try? They die later anyways." Is that what you want your fans to think like? That it doesn't really matter? That's a hop, skip, and a jump away from fans leaving your series for another series where your choices do matter.
It's also turned into a spoiler. "Oh look I saved John... Welp he is going to die a horrible death in a little while." Come on. Part of the fun of a game is not knowing what's going to happen. With the way you have made things we know what's going to happen if we save someone. They are going to die later.
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No they don't, but the thing is, they need at least one character from the group to die in each episode to build up tension and emotion, so when worse comes to worse and they can't really kill off non-determinant characters, they will just kill off determinant ones instead.
Also, why should you even try to save a character? Well, people saved Pete and they knew he was gonna die. Sorry if I'm sounding like I oppose your opinion, but I'm just trying to say that saving a character regardless of their fate means you can spend more time with a character and cherish that time, even if it's just a few seconds, I think it's worth it. But I do agree that not every character should die, especially if they are just going to kill them off in the background or make them determinant and kill them off in the same episode.
When they do it over, and over, and over again it no longer builds tension, and emotion. Also why not kill off someone you didn't save? It would suck but at least you didn't save them earlier to just have them die later.
If we have to choose between Kenny and Luke, they're all gonna die.
Illusion of choice. Telltale just has horrible writers and they save money.
Exactly... Exactly. Unless they plan on making serious changes that have carry over into future games, which would be totally awesome if they did.
I agree. I mean it changes some of the game but it sucks knowing in advance they are going to die.
I agree with you, and other characters who live past determinant status (so far).
Leland and Boyd
Not every determinant character has died yet though, or at least haven't been confirmed dead. With TWAU having all it's determinant characters appear in Season 5 without being confirmed dead or seen alive, I think Telltale would be able to manage long lasting determinant characters.
See I don't get that. For people who play a very small role they can leave with determinant status. Why not larger characters?
It sounds rather heartless to say you shouldn't save someone just because you know they will meet their fate at later. Remember that choices don't just impact the game but impact the player.
that's exactly how I feel and I think it is kind of sad that the illusion goes to waste, because it is that illusion that makes the experience emotional. I hoped it to be more branching and more "my story" because of my decisions in season 2, but it seems like the funds are more limited now that in season 1 and after the cutting of any adventure aspect, possible branches are cut left and right. The experience feels streamlined to me.
To say it again: I still don't understand why the writers insist on killing characters consistently. What does it matter if in one playthrough a character leaves never to be seen again, while in another playthrough he/she dies? I would have liked this for Sarah, to disappear in a tricky situation and hope she will make it in this world like Clementine did if you made some choices and motivated her enough. Why can't we have that?
They are trying to teach you a important lesson, the Freedom of Choice is a illusion.
Bah. Physics has proved you wrong.
I'm completely with you, Kennyftw. My enjoyment of Season 2 has been somewhat dampened because of the poor writing.
Well for a Season 3 I wouldn't mind if they took it into consideration. Say if you save a character that might've died, they'll survive the season. Even if they split from the group some episodes later and go on their way, never to show up in the game again, at least they're alive and the game can just acknowledge it one and while by having the main characters say "Damn, I wonder how Bob's doing. Great guy that dude was."
Season 1 we had no idea Carley and Doug would eventually die later on. Season 2 we get how it works now, so there's no surprise and we're all just waiting for the moment the poor bastards drops dead [Nick being an example]. So next season, Telltale should surprise us by having it some characters will indeed survive through and make our choices matter. Even if they wander off, let them liiiiiive.
You have to look on their side though, interview I saw with the guy who wrote S2EP1, S2EP2 and writing the finale said it's really hard to write with a determent character and overall a game where you make choices.
Justin may have survived if you shot Danny in Vince's story. Leland from Bonnie's story and Boyd from Shel's are also unknown.
That's what I hoped for back in episode 2 with Nick and Alvin becoming determinant, but we all saw how it ended up, didn't we?
I hit that guy Luke ever since he had an affair with Jane
That's what they get paid for. If it's too hard they should not claim your choices affect the game.
Following on that relatives choice, Perhaps Sarah would stay with the group under the circumstances that you treated her well. Similar to whether Kenny will go with Lee in S1 E4.
Alright here is my issue with every telltale game: No matter what you do, no matter when it says "So and so will remember x", it doesn't ultimately affect the major plotline, nor most of the minor. Like for instance whether you save Doug or not someone makes the alarm, someone picks up the laser pointer, someone eats the rolls, etc. Or how about in season 2? Regardless of if you, the player, actually stealing Arvo's stuff, his group will still come after you. Pretty much the same thing with the car in Season 1. Now yes you can feel better about yourself, and more angry at the characters punishing you for the actions of Jane or your first group but... Think about any "important" choice you've made in one of their games. Now look at every possible outcome. Same cinematics give or take a couple of different characters? Yup. Same basic plot with little to no actual variation? Pretty much. But there are different endings at least right? Yes and no. I mean in season one not really but it's the first game and Lee kind of had to die to make way for Clementine to be the new player. And the endings in season 2 were pretty different right? Well don't bet on it. My guess is that A. Kenny/Jane is dead anyway by season 3 or they die soon after it starts making the choice between them useless with the exception of if you go out alone in which case Jane would be alive but irrelevant. B. You at very least arrive at the same place no matter what your choices were in season 2. Probably Wellington since one ending puts you there for sure. Or maybe it'll be C. I'll be wrong and a telltale game will actually have relevant choices and you'll end up in entirely different situations depending on what you chose. For instance if you go with Jane you have to deal with those people, and never get to Wellington. If they actually do that then disregard this entire rant because they have finally gone beyond the illusion of choice. into legitimate, plot changing choices in their games. As of now however they're simply telling one tale. It may twist and turn every which way but ultimately the destination is the same every time.
Yeah, they didn't kill Prince Lawrence in TWAU if we save him, and he actually helps in the story too
Not true, Carley uses a gun instead of the laser pointer and no one builds the alarms. Who cares if the story is linear though? A good story is better than a multiple mess of a story, and as for determinants, they could be more creative, but they do matter. They affect our relationships with the characters we save, as do things like being nice or douche ish to any group member
This. In S1, Doug and Carley were killed, but the illusion was good because we got to know whomever we saved lots more and became good friends. Ben too, he was a big part of Ep5 if we saved him in Ep4. In S2 the determinants were depressing in comparison, Pete good good scenes, Alvin was alright, but everyone else got screwed, there shouldn't have been any determinants if it involved ruining character development