How ANF: Ties That Bind Part One could've been improved.

Hello everyone! A couple of months ago, Telltale released the first two episodes of A New Frontier and let's just say that people weren’t too happy. Anyway so I had this great idea that maybe I could recreate the first two episodes of A New Frontier in a way so that what everyone wanted in ANF was in the first two episodes. I hope you guys enjoy it and if you want me to do ties that bind part 2 I’ll gladly do it.

So of course I have to show you a list of everything that people wanted in the upcoming episodes so here it is:

• Make decisions actually change the story.
• Character development.
• Character interactions
• Longer flashbacks.
• Longer episodes.
• More playable Clementine.
• More walker's.
• Main menu and end credit music.
• Clementine acting like how we made her in the past two seasons
• Not too much action

(There’s probably so many more that I haven’t written down)

Anyway so I’m obviously not going to rewrite the entire first episode because not everything was bad and it would take up more than one discussion. I also have to say that Kenny and Jane will still both die just in a different way than their terribly written deaths. I don't want them to die but I guess that's what TellTale thinks is best. Anyway here is my recreation of Ties That Bind Part One, hopefully you enjoy it!

The main menu:

The main menu is pretty much a copy and paste of the Batman game series's main menu. There's not much different about it. But someone very awesome by the name @OfficialMonkey actually recreated the main menu to make it look like season two's main menu:

All credit goes to @OfficialMonkey. Dude that main menu is sick! I don't know why TellTale didn't make a new main menu for ANF because they really should've instead of just using Batman's main menu. But we still need something else. What is it though? Oh wait! I got it!

There we go! We needed some music instead of the nothingness that TellTale gave us. Music like this makes us think about all the destruction, the emotions, the fear, and the sadness of the Walking dead. It's something that makes the game so much better and I don't understand why TellTale didn't put music like this into the main menu.

Now let's change the episode selection screen:

I obviously didn’t make this so I give all the credit to the person who made it, @OfficialMonkey. I love what you did man! It looks fantastic!

This game is looking better already!

Alright now let's start the first episode!

Ties that bind: Part 1

The whole beginning is fine so we’ll skip that. Let’s go to the part where Javier meets Clementine.

Javi gets out of the truck that crashed because of a tree that fell down. This is where TellTale could've made Clementine do things based on who you choosed Clementine to go with at the end of season 2.

If you’re with Kenny, Clementine is more friendly and says more bad words than she really has to and she needs the truck to go to Florida. She is also a little bit serious.

Javi hears a shotgun reload behind him.
“Fuck. Yeah all right.” Javi said.
Javi drops the pistol from his hands and it lands on the ground.
“That’s good. Just keep looking forward.” Clementine ordered.
“I surrender okay!” Javi said.
“Don’t worry I’m not gonna kill you.” Clementine said.
Clementine walks slowly towards the gun and picks it up.
Clementine walks away from Javi and Javi looks at her.
“You’re a kid. Wait. Did you do that? With the tree?” Javi asked.
“Yeah. What does being a kid have to do with anything?” Clementine asked.
Javi doesn't answer her.
Clementine walks over to the wreckage of the truck.
“Shit.” She said.
Clementine continues to look around the truck but not into it.
“How am I gonna get to Florida now?” Clementine asked to herself.
She walks over to Javi.
“If you wanted the truck why did you destroy it?” Javi asked.
“Tree fell slower than I thought it would." Clementine answered.
“So why are you in handcuffs?” Clementine asked.
“Me and my family were at a junkyard and we were getting some gas for our van and some other stuff. These guys showed up and they took me away from my family. I need to get back to them.” Javi said.
“You have a van?” Clementine asked.
“Yeah. Why does that matter?” Javi asked.
“I need a vehicle so I can get out of this place.” Clementine answered.
“Woah, no way! I need that van. It’s all we have.” Javi retorted.
“Than I guess you won’t be able to save your family.” Clementine said.
“You know where the junkyard is?” Javi asked.
“Yeah. But I’ll only show you if you give me your van.” Clementine answered.
Eventually Javi agrees and they start walking towards the junkyard.
“Can you take these cuffs off of me?” Javi asked.
“No I think It’ll be best if you keep them on. I don’t trust you enough yet. So it’s safer for the both of us if you’re tied up.” Clementine answered.
“I get it. You’re being cautious.” Javi said.
“Glad we understand each other.” Clementine replied.
“My names Javier, by the way. People.. call me Javi” Javi revealed.
“I’m Clementine.” Clementine revealed.
“Well thanks for not shooting me Clementine.” Javi said.
“No problem.” Clementine replied.
A walker shows up in front of them.
Clementine kicks the walker's knee and the walker falls to the ground. Clementine then takes out a knife and stabs it’s eye.
“You’re good at that.” Javi said.
“Thanks.” Clementine replied.
Javi and Clementine keep walking for a while.
“Do you have a group?” Javi asked.
“Not anymore.” Clementine answered.
“What happened to them?” Javi asked.
“The same thing that happens to everyone.” Clementine answered.
Javi and Clementine continue walking towards the Junkyard.

If Clementine was with Jane she would loot anything she can loot and would be really cautious. Clementine needs the van to get out of the area, not to go to Florida. She would also be very serious and even more badass than she already is.

Javi hears a shotgun reload behind him.
“Fuck. Yeah all right.” Javi said.
Javi drops the pistol from his hands and it lands on the ground.
“That’s good. Just keep looking forward.” Clementine ordered.
Clementine walks slowly towards the gun and picks it up.
“Okay. Now, don’t do anything stupid.” Clementine ordered.
Clementine starts walking towards the truck.
“You’re a kid… Wait. Did you do that? With the tree?” Javi asked.
“I was trying to stop the truck.” Clementine answered.
Clementine walks over to the truck and enters it. She starts looking around and finds only an apple.
“Yeah, you stopped it all right.” Javi said.
“Tree fell slower than I thought it would.” Clementine replied.
Clementine takes a bite out of the apple and starts walking towards Javi, who is handcuffed.
“Put your hands up and close you eyes.” Clementine said with her mouthful.
“Look, I’m the victim here.” Javi stated.
“We’re all victims.” Clementine corrected.
“Oh, so it’s okay for you to rob me.” Javi said
“This is payment. For saving you.” Clementine replied.
Clementine takes the candy bar.

Here is where your past Clementine comes into action. If you chose to take Arvo’s bag, Clementine would keep the candy bar no matter what Javi said to Clementine.
But if you didn’t steal from Arvo, Clementine would put it back.

“Keep your eyes closed and count to a hundred before you go.” Clementine said.
Javi tells Clementine that he was taken away from his family and that they were in a junkyard.
“I know where that is. You said you were driving?” Clementine asked.
“In our van yeah.” Javi answered.
“I’ll take you to the junkyard. If you let me have your van.” Clementine said.
If Javi says no then Clementine will say that she can just kill him and take the van. Eventually Javi agrees and they go towards the junkyard.

If you chose the ending of staying at Wellington and not going with Kenny, than Clementine will be anxious, nervous, and cautious. And It would be pretty much the same as if you stayed with Jane except that Clementine will not keep the candy bar if Javi says that it’s for his niece and that Clem would be more friendly.

If you chose the alone ending and kill Kenny and Jane, than Clementine will be the same as she is if you stayed at Wellington.

Now let's skip to the part where Clementine and Javi are in the bar at Prescott. This is a place where we could’ve had some more character interaction and more character development. We could’ve learned more about Conrad. But all we know is that his name is Conrad and his girlfriend is Francine. There's a pool table in the bar. Here's what they could’ve done with this:

“Hey Javi, you ever play pool?” Conrad asked.
Here you can chose for Javier to say he’s good at it or not. But eventually Javi and Conrad play pool and you can learn more about him. He could’ve said where he was from, how he found out about the walker's, how he got to Prescott, how he met Francine. The list goes on! But instead we just learn his name and learn a little bit about Javier’s background. But maybe they couldn’t have done that since Clementine quickly went to the guy that sold her the bad bullets. But I would have liked to learn more about Conrad.

Now let's get to one of the most argued things that happened in ANF.

Clementine shooting the Guy that sold her the bad bullets, Eli.

Now a lot of people are angry because they’re saying that the Clementine they’ve helped raise and play as wouldn’t have done something like that. I think Clementine has to shoot at Eli but for different reasons based off of who she stayed with in the end of season two. So let's recreate what it would be like with what you chose for the ending of season two.

Like I said, if you went with Kenny, than Clementine would say more bad words, be more friendly, and a little bit serious.
Things would start to heat up and Clementine try to make things calmer.
Eli tries to stab Javi and cuts his eyebrow. Javi pushes Eli back into the chair he’s sitting in. Clementine points her pistol at Eli.
“Hey let's all cool down, huh?” You were acting crazy… I was, too. We just… got a little outta hand, that’s all.” Eli said.
“Just give me what I’m fucking owed.” Clementine ordered.
“Jesus.. You gotta get her under control, man!” Eli continued.
“I don’t control her.” Javi replied.
Things start heating up and Clementine accidentally pulls the trigger and kills Eli.
“Oh, shit.” Clementine said.
Clementine kills Eli on accident because she thought the bullets didn’t work.

If you went with Jane, than Clementine would try to calm things down. But things would get heated up and Clementine would be forced to shoot Eli when Eli tries to stab Javi.
Clementine shoots Eli on purpose.

If you chose to stay at Wellington or go it alone, than it would be pretty much the same as Jane’s. Clementine tries to bring the heat down but can't and is forced to shoot Eli.
Clementine shoots Eli on purpose.

Now let’s go to another controversial moment in ANF. The flashback! Oh man the flashbacks! They killed two characters that we stayed with in probably the worst way imaginable. Kenny got killed by flying through the windshield of a car and being paralysed. While Jane died by killing herself because she was pregnant. These two deaths were the most stupidest, the most rushed, and the most terribly written deaths I have ever seen.
I’m not gonna make a whole flashback right here because that would take up more than just one post but I’ll do a quick flashback for Kenny as an example.

Kenny flashback:

Kenny is teaching Clementine how to drive a car.
That part is all fine and dandy but let's skip the part where Kenny gets flown through the windshield.
Kenny and Clementine see a gas station on their right.
“Hey Clem, drive to that gas station over there. We need to get some food for you, me, and little A.J.” Kenny said.
“Alright.” Clementine replied.
Clementine drives the car towards the gas station and parks in front of it.
“Alright Clementine. I’ll go and get some supplies. You stay in the car with A.J and make sure he’s safe.” Kenny ordered.
“Alright Kenny. Hurry up though, this place doesn't feel right.” Clementine said.
“Yeah it doesn't. I’ll be back soon.” Kenny replied.
Kenny gets out of the car and walks into the gas station. After a couple of minutes Kenny doesn't come back.
Suddenly Clementine hears a scream.
“What happened?” Clementine asked.
A.J. starts crying.
“Hey it’s okay goofball. I’ll go check it out.” Clementine said.
Clementine gets out of the car and closes the door. She runs towards the gas station and enters it.
“Kenny?!” Clementine yelled.
“Clem! Help!” Kenny yelled.
Clementine can hears walker's groaning and it sounds like there’s a bunch of them.
Clementine runs towards Kenny’s voice and sees he’s surrounded by walker's. Clementine starts taking down walker's one by one how Jane taught her.
Hit the knee, than stab the head.
She takes down six walker's and Kenny helps take down the rest. But Clementine sees something that shocks her. On Kenny’s right arm there’s something on like a bite mark.
One of the walker's bit Kenny.
“Kenny, you’re bitten!” Clementine yelled.
“Yeah, one of those fuckers got me good. Don’t worry I’m fine.” Kenny said.
“Kenny you’re not fine!” Clementine replied.
“Clem, I said I’m fine!” Kenny yelled.
Clementine doesn't say anything.
“I’m sorry Clementine. I didn’t mean to yell at you like that.” Kenny apologised.
Suddenly Kenny and Clementine hear something banging on a door. Suddenly the door breaks down and walker’s come out. There’s too many of them.
Kenny and Clementine take some down but are surrounded.
“Kenny what do we do?” Clementine asked.
Kenny doesn't answer.
“Kenny?!” Clementine yelled.
Kenny suddenly grabs Clementine.
“Kenny what are you doing?!” Clementine asked.
Kenny holds Clementine and runs into the walker's. As he runs through the walker's. The walker's bite Kenny over and over and over again. But Clementine doesn't get bitten.
They get to the gas station exit and they get to the car. Clementine hops into the driver's seat.
“Come on Kenny!” Clementine yelled.
Kenny gets into the passenger seat and closes the door. Clementine starts up the car and drives quickly down the road.
“Kenny you okay?” Clementine asked.
Kenny doesn't answer her.
Clementine looks at Kenny and sees him covered in walker blood and some of his own blood.
“Clem, stop the car.” Kenny ordered.
“Why?” Clementine asked.
“Just do it.” Kenny answered.
Clementine stops the car on the side of the road and Kenny and Clementine get out of the car.
“Why did you tell me to stop the car?” Clementine asked.
“Clem. I’m not gonna make it. You have to kill me.” Kenny answered.
“No! I can’t!” Clementine retorted.
“Clem you have to. For you and A.J.” Kenny said.
Clementine starts crying.
“Hey it’s alright.” Kenny continued.
Clementine runs towards Kenny and hugs him.
“I’m gonna miss you Kenny.” Clementine sobbed.
“I’m gonna miss you too.” Kenny replied.
Kenny and Clementine stop hugging and look at each other.
“It was a pleasure to met you Clementine.” Kenny said.
Kenny goes to a tree and sits down and leans on it.
Clementine takes her pistol and aims it at Kenny.
“Goodbye Clementine.” Kenny said.
“Goodbye Kenny.” Clementine sobbed.
Clementine looks away from Kenny and pulls the trigger.

See? Now that was a death that would’ve been way more emotional and more fit for a man like Kenny instead of being thrown out of a windshield and being paralysed. I could’ve been more descriptive but I just wanted to give a quick example. This flashback would've lasted way longer than the one that's in ANF and fans would have a more longer episode, play more as Clementine, and have a better flashback.

I don’t really have any ideas for a Jane death scene but I think it would be crazy if somehow the family that goes towards Clementine and Jane at Carver's camp at the end of season two, kills Jane or something like that. I know it’s not really that great but it’s better than Jane killing herself. (Or at least I think it is.)

I think that the alone and Wellington flashbacks are fine even though I don't like Clementine losing a finger or that Wellington looked like it fell down pretty easily.

Everything after the flashbacks is fine. Except that Gabe should’ve died instead of Marianna but hey you didn’t hear that from me.

Although I do think it would be kind of cool if Javi and Clementine had a shootout with the New Frontier in first person, shooting at them. Kind of like in episode 3 of season 1 when those bandits start shooting at Lee and the others while you can shoot at them in first person. But maybe that’s just me.

Also we need to bring back that emotional music in the ending of the episodes like season two. So here’s some music to hit you right in the feels:

Now that would’ve been a good episode don’t you think? If TellTale did ANF like this then I can almost guarantee that the episode would've been longer and fans would be way more happy.

Anyway like I said I don’t hate ANF. I think the game has potential to be really good. So far yeah the first two episodes haven’t lived up to our expectations but hey, we have three episodes left so there's still some hope left.
(I hope).
But overall I enjoyed ANF so far and I just wish they would listen to us, the fans. But they see us as the minority and aren’t listening to what we want. Longer episodes? Job said it was fine how the episodes are right now. Are you serious? You’ve done it for like two seasons and now all of a sudden you think it's a good idea to have a little bit more than one hour episodes instead of having the close to two hour episodes we’ve had over the last two seasons? Okay I’m getting a little bit too crazy here, I need to stop and calm down.

Takes a deep breath

Okay so like I said, I’m enjoying ANF. It’s not the best season we've ever had obviously but it’s still a good season nonetheless. I just hope that TellTale listens to what we’re asking of them and that they are implementing them into the rest of the season. Because we’re not the minority. We’re the majority. And if TellTale want to make their games better for them and their fans, then they better start listening to their own fans, on their own forums, in their own community.

If I missed something that could've made Ties That Bind Part One better please comment and let me know! Like I said if you want me to do Ties That Bind Part 2 I'll gladly do it. Anyway thanks for reading and I hope you have a great day!