At its core, the first season of "The Walking Dead" video game series is a story about trust.
It's trust against all rational odds that bonds little girl Clementine and convicted felon Lee as they struggle to survive after society breaks down. Their tale, while shaped by the horrors of a zombie-infested world, focuses squarely on the unusual, touching relationship that develops between the pair.
But growing up is never easy. With her mentor and protector gone, Clem's journey takes on a much darker tone in the opening chapter of season two, "All That Remains."
The question is, can players trust developer Telltale Games to deliver a similarly spectacular experience by season's end given the way episode one lands with such an unsatisfying thud?
Season one was an undeniable triumph, and it was at its best in the quiet moments when Telltale's brilliant writing gave full, realistic shape to its characters. Watching Clem and Lee stumble their way through an uneasy truce carried more weight than any shock-value zombie scares, and the developer wisely kept those encounters to a minimum.
"All That Remains" ($5 on Mac, PC, PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360) discards that slow-building formula in exchange for a surfeit of violence and suffering.
From the outset, players are relentlessly bombarded by scenes of agony both physical and emotional. Without a moment's respite for the sake of storytelling, however, the anguishing blows begin to take on the characteristics of a laundry list of tragedy -- a series of sad events connected by the barest pretense of plot.
The rapidity and predictability of these misfortunes render the player numb to their impact. Even scenes that would otherwise invoke caring or warmth are met with skepticism, and the inevitable tug of the heartstrings that follows begins to feel like a cheap manipulation.
There's a line of dialogue in which Telltale seems to acknowledge this reaction from the player. Almost as rare are the fleeting moments when Clem's loss of innocence is genuinely explored, reflected in her interactions with a naïve young girl and a bullying adult.
These instances all but cry out for the player to simply hang on. Buried beneath ceaseless waves of quick-time zombie attacks and busywork disguised as puzzle-solving, Telltale's gift for delivering heartfelt story is still present. Players are left to trust that the developer, having had its fill of gore, will return the narrative to the forefront in future episodes.
Likewise, it's difficult to assess how much of an impact choice will have on the story. Decisions from season one carry over into "All That Remains," but their effect is minimal. Aside from a climactic finish, it's impossible to guess how much of Clem's actions in the episode will influence the rest of the season.
I honestly can't say that I enjoyed much of "All That Remains." I will not, as I have done previously, replay this chapter to experience the effects of making different choices. Enduring the uncomfortable scenes of violence and dismay once was more than enough.
But trust is a powerful thing. Telltale Games has already proven it can turn a shaky start into something magnificent. What gamer wouldn't grant the developer a chance to do so again?
Final score: 7 out of 10