(review only contains game spoilers, not novel/show spoilers)
For the uninitiated, Telltale's Game of Thrones is an episodic game that can best be described as a mix between a classic point & click adventure and a visual novel. It's a unique concept that has worked out very well for them in the past.
The game hits the nail on the head with regards to style and theme. Aside from getting the voice actors for some of the show regulars, the game earns major points by intertwining its narrative with that of the show and books, while still staying true to canon. The easy way out would've been to simply let it take place somewhere far removed from any of the original canon and characters.
Telltale games are almost entirely about choice and consequence. In fact, this one might offer some of their best choices yet - ones that will leave you pondering and calculating on how best to balance your honor, image, morals, wants and needs.
But - and here comes the elephant in the room - Telltale also has a reputation for invalidating these choices, usually by letting branching plotlines simply converge at the end of the episode. For example, failing to secure the aid of House Glenmore leads to them helping you out anyway later on. Not stabbing Damien in the back while he's drowning coal boy Tom results in ... Tom somehow overpowering the adult Damien and killing him himself. Consequences like these feel fake and stick out like a sore thumb, especially in a setting this grim.
Another mark against it is its Left HangingDowner Ending, that makes it clear there's more to come. It also means you've only seen half of its story, hoping that the next season will bring some sort of bittersweet closure. This is strange, because The Walking Dead and The Wolf Among Us proved that TG can tell a story arc just fine while still setting the stage for a larger narrative.
That said, the story itself is still very interesting and there are a couple of genuinely great moments such as Ethan meeting Ramsay and both of the Whitehill and Forrester peace talks. If you've played a Telltale game before and liked what you saw, or are just way into Game of Thrones, this one is definitely worth a try.
3/5, Worth a try, but not TG's best
(review only contains game spoilers, not novel/show spoilers)
For the uninitiated, Telltale's Game of Thrones is an episodic game that can best be described as a mix between a classic point & click adventure and a visual novel. It's a unique concept that has worked out very well for them in the past.
The game hits the nail on the head with regards to style and theme. Aside from getting the voice actors for some of the show regulars, the game earns major points by intertwining its narrative with that of the show and books, while still staying true to canon. The easy way out would've been to simply let it take place somewhere far removed from any of the original canon and characters.
Telltale games are almost entirely about choice and consequence. In fact, this one might offer some of their best choices yet - ones that will leave you pondering and calculating on how best to balance your honor, image, morals, wants and needs.
But - and here comes the elephant in the room - Telltale also has a reputation for invalidating these choices, usually by letting branching plotlines simply converge at the end of the episode. For example, failing to secure the aid of House Glenmore leads to them helping you out anyway later on. Not stabbing Damien in the back while he's drowning coal boy Tom results in ... Tom somehow overpowering the adult Damien and killing him himself. Consequences like these feel fake and stick out like a sore thumb, especially in a setting this grim.
Another mark against it is its Left Hanging Downer Ending, that makes it clear there's more to come. It also means you've only seen half of its story, hoping that the next season will bring some sort of bittersweet closure. This is strange, because The Walking Dead and The Wolf Among Us proved that TG can tell a story arc just fine while still setting the stage for a larger narrative.
That said, the story itself is still very interesting and there are a couple of genuinely great moments such as Ethan meeting Ramsay and both of the Whitehill and Forrester peace talks. If you've played a Telltale game before and liked what you saw, or are just way into Game of Thrones, this one is definitely worth a try.