Should Clementine have more control?
This has been on my mind for a while, and it's just an idea I'd like to put out there.
Throughout Season 2 you'd get two characters arguing and suggesting multiple things, and Clementine would chip in with her opinion- for example, after Rebecca had the baby and Luke and Kenny argue over whether to stay or go as quickly as possible.
That decision for me is one of the best examples of how a lot of the decisions in Season 2 didn't really make much difference- either way, you run into Arvo and his group and Rebecca dies. Other examples would include whether or not you get Reggie in trouble, whether or not chop off Sarita's arm and so on so forth.
Now late me make it clear that I'm not necessarily complaining about this: in reality Clementine is a little girl with little control over events, and ultimately the point of making those choices- whether they matter or not- is to develop Clementine's character. But now Season 2 is over I'd really like the change this.
For the Third Season, I'd like to see Clementine in a more influential role, not just chipping in with her opinion and helping making decisions that make no differences. Take for example the decision to stay or go after Rebecca has had the baby- if a situation like that arose in Season 3 (I'm not saying I want another baby in Season 3!), I'd like to see Clementine making the call, or at least having more of a say on the matter, and then whichever option you chose could determine whether she dies or not. Even if the character died somehow later on, I'd like to see you be able to make more influential decisions.
Also, throughout Season 2 the pattern was that one person would suggest something and someone else would disagree, then you would have a say that (ultimately) didn't really matter that much. But in Season 3 I'd like to see Clementine providing solutions, not just agreeing or disagreeing with other characters (she'd be taking more of the role Lee played in Season 1).
For example, going back to the leave/stay situation after Rebecca's had the baby, it would be better if Clementine could suggest either to stay or go, and depending on your choice one of the other characters might oppose you- for example, if you chose to leave as soon as possible then Luke could disagree.
It would also make interactions with other characters more meaningful, as depending on how you treaty others they could agree/disagree with you- sticking with the Rebecca example, if I'd been horrible to Kenny all the time then he might not say anything, and vice versa if I had been nice with him. It would make the player pick their allies more carefully too- so if you were horrible to everyone then no one would agree with you and you'd have zero influence.
I know it'd be a lot of work for Telltale to do, sorting out all the possible things that could happen, but it'd be COMPLETELY worth it just to give the player some actual control of events. It also be more realistic and more intriguing- the way you acted with other characters and the decision you made could end up splitting groups, and maybe then you would have to try and bring them back together. The game is amazing already, but doing something like this would take the series to a whole new level.
Anyone agree/disagree?
Comments
Absolutely.
One of my biggest problems with the structure of season 2 is the player isn't given nearly enough agency. Clementine contributes a lot to the survival (and death) of the group throughout season 2. Yet every time the game throws Clementine a "choice," she's relegated to a prop that can only spectate others' actions.
Why can't Clementine herself cover Jane as she tries to rescue Sarah? Why can't Clementine tell Bonnie she can't come along with our group? Why can't Clementine convince Kenny to painlessly shoot Carver and not waste time and energy on scum like him? Why does she just stand around twiddling her thumbs while very important decisions are being made on her behalf?
I want at least the illusion of choice, not choices that subsequently result in the exact same outcome happening regardless.
Admittedly Season 2 has to keep some reality- Clem making all sorts of influential decisions for the group in would be unrealistic as she's only a little girl, but now Kenny only has her that he can trust and, as he says, he doesn't even trust himself anymore to keep them alive. I get the feeling that in the third season he'll become more dependent on her as he looses all confidence in his own ability.
There's a line in season 3 were Clem says "everyone underestimates me", which is completely true as she is still a little girl. In season 3 I want to see other characters taking her more seriously too- I want her offering solutions and not just agreeing with other characters. Besides, although Clem is still a little girl she's survived for so long in an apocalypse that any idiot that survived long enough should be able to tell that she's more than just a little girl.
they do that in jane's ending they have clementine choice to let in the family in season2 was to development of her personality is she good bad or both will she be in a good community or be like carver or go alone and be like jane same with kenny does she stay in willinton or goes with kenny it is her choices and that might be what season 3 starts who is my clementine
I think that staying a few more days would end up getting Rebecca killed, and she won't be with us when we're walking through the snow.
And if we leave first thing in the morning, the usual happens.
We've disscussed this topic many times, and again, I completely agree.
Maybe. I was a bit disappointed that, at the end of season 2, I still didn't really know what character she'd developed, but as you say that could well continue on into season 3. Good point.
True- either way she's going to die, no question. But, whatever option you choose, you still come across the Russians in the same circumstances. I mean its still a bit questionable how they arranged the ambush in the first place and knew which way the group was headed, and the fact that you get ambushed no matter what, despite the fact you left straight away/waited a bit is a bit unrealistic. They could've added different endings depending on that decision- say for example if you leave immediately you get the usual ending were they ambush you, but if you stay they might attack you while still staying at the observation deck.
I'm not really sure about that. As she is a little girl, it would make sense for the adults to not really listen to her opinion on most matters, only occasionally swaying opinion. It makes more sense to me that she shouldn't have any sway in a group filled with adults, so I think her dialog contributions with the group makes sense.
Maybe if you left a few days later, Arvo could admit that they had been waiting for them and coming out everyday to see if they were arriving.
i would like that allot, people have to consider that yes she is a little girl, but she is a little girl that has saved many peoples asses and has survived this entire time, doesn't matter about the people she was with (except for Lee) she has survived basically on her own, the cabin group was a total fucking mess, a doctor didn't know the difference between a human being walker bite and a dog bite, someone else in there didn't know a misquito bite to a dog bite, they didn't have their shit together, the lodge group had nothing aswell, maybe Kenny and Sarita knew what they were doing but Walter and Matthew, fuck no...
That was a bit of a rant but yes I do want Clementines opinions to effect more on the game unlike season 2 where it didn't really matter who you sided with you still had to like them, I guess..
Example, and I know this episode has been mentioned allot but in Amid The Ruins you are forced to talk to Kenny twice, now personally I don't mind having to talk to Kenny because I like him, but I know allot of people who really fucking hated that episode because their choice didn't matter, if Clementine is to choose the dialogue "I don't want to" the group literally tried to guilt trip you to talk to him, and the game forces you to anyway it's stupid, so yes I do want Clementines opinions to have more effect on the groups decision and the idea of your if you were mean to this certain guy, he won't agree with you is such a good idea and I want that implemented Telltale..
Sorry for the rant btw
Shes a child, it doesnt work