Telltale’s Game of Thrones: Episode 1: Iron from Ice |
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Review by Philip Cole
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I, like many of our readers and staff, am a massive fan of the Game of Thrones Television series. It’s a brilliantly realised world that leaves you wanting to devour episode after episode until there is nothing left. Needless to say when I heard that Telltale games, makers of the brilliant The Walking Dead series, were going to be chipping in with more content for this franchise I was very excited (even more so when they announced it was going to feature voices from the cast themselves). I eagerly dived right in this week as soon as the first Episode was installed on my PC.
In gameplay terms, there’s nothing here that you wouldn’t have experienced in any of Telltale’s other franchises. For the most part you are having to make torturously difficult decisions between various conversation options in a very limited time frame, with the results often leading to the ominous “So and So will remember this…” pop-up appearing in the top corner (indicating that something of relevance has occurred). During the more action oriented moments there are Quick Time Events aplenty, and during these moments you can reach an insta-fail moment where your character is killed in some usually gruesome way. This can be particularly frustrating if you’re playing on a slightly slow device (as I was on my Surface Pro 2) and you’re unable to follow the prompts in-time, leading to repeated deaths. The game is definitely best when it follows the “battle-of-the-minds” conversations so prevalent in the show.
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In terms of looks, the game follows the same style as the Telltale’s other games – unsurprising given it’s the same engine. I have to be honest and say I really like the painted style visuals of the game, as it really lends itself well to the semi-fantasy style setting and makes up for the slightly basic models and “levels”. The game also manages to be surprisingly graphic – flayed men and throat stabbings abound as you would expect and even some lovely medieval style medical procedures crop up. Several famous faces appear, and some are better done than others. Whilst Queen Cersei and Tyrion are pretty accurately portrayed, there’s something slightly off about the lovely Margaery Tyrrel’s features. This uncanny valley feeling doesn’t detract from the overall experience though, as the voice work is very well done and features all the correct actors.
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Speaking of which, the story is very well done and fits within the universe of the TV series. I won’t spoil much but the game starts in the shadow of Walder Frey’s Castle, in the camp of the Forrester family – Bannermen of House Stark. As watchers of the show will know, things go swiftly downhill for the Stark’s at this point and their allies are not immune from the fallout. You get to experience the story from several perspectives, mirroring the show’s multi-faceted approach and, alongside the Squire Gared and the young Lordling Ethan Forrester in the North, you also get to experience the viper’s pit that is King’s Landing as one of the Forrester children who is a handmaiden for Queen-to-be Margaery Tyrell. The story plays inbetween the main plot of the series and features several major characters without it feeling like they are shoehorned in, given a glimpse at what some characters were up to when they were off screen.
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I have to say that the story and characters are definitely well written and are definitely worthy of their literary and screen counterparts. I had chills down my spine during the intro when the Rains of Castemere began to play from the high towers of The Twins, and Queen Cersei is just as intimidating digitally as she is in the show. You really feel the weight of your decisions upon you wrestle with what’s best for your family against the array of threats they face and, as I always play these games with no rewinding or replaying in one go, they leave you with some frankly shocking moments – The end of this Episode left me reeling and questioning what I had chosen to do. |
Wrap Up
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Simply put, if you are a fan of the Game of Thrones TV show then this is a must. As an alternative whilst you are waiting for the incoming Series 5, it allows you to experience yet more of this great world and its characters in a nicely interactive format that leaves you caring about this ailing house at the most vulnerable time. Even if the show has passed you by, it still features strong story-telling and has a collection of characters you will both care about and loathe.
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4.5/5I really can’t wait to see what Episode 2 has in store.
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Meet House Forrester from Telltale’s Game of Thrones
Game and Images provided by publisher
