Title: The Wolf Among Us
Format: PS3(reviewed), Xbox 360, PC, iOS, Vita
Release Date: 2014
Publisher: Telltale Games
Developer: Telltale Games
Price: $19.99(Season Pass), $4.99(Per Episode)
ESRB Rating: M
Telltale's newest IP has finally wrapped up this month, and boy did it end on a high note.
Story and Presentation:If you haven't yet played a single episode of the Wolf Among Us, then you've missed out on one of the more intriguing narratives I've experienced this year. You play as Bigby Wolf, one of the old Fables that has taken refuge in a small part of Brooklyn. Bigby is no longer the troublemaker in this story, with him being the sheriff of Fabletown, he's tasked with keeping the peace. Quickly in the first couple of episodes, a string of murders springs Bigby into action. Along the way you'll meet a number of recognizable and also some obscure characters you may have read about during your childhood. The 5 episode arc has some lows, but during the span of 9 months, you can't expect every episode to be a winner. The fourth episode is where the series hit a bit of a lull, and you could tell the developers were just gearing up for the final episode. The final episode will either satisfy you, or it'll leave you confused. The game definitely leaves you begging for closure, leaving the door wide open for a season 2. All of the major events and decisions you've made throughout the season comes forward in episode 5, but your decisions doesn't have that big enough impact that I wish there was. In a game like this, you can't expect a happy ending, and the endgame was proof of this. One of the last scenes was one of the more interesting moments out of the whole series, as it basically brings in the entire cast of Fables as they discuss the town's future. All of your decisions impact this scene, but it seemed to drag on a bit too much. With that said however, I can't get over how good the acting is in the game. Strong voice work throughout has been a staple in a TellTale game, and Wolf Among Us is yet another example of that. The music was strong as well, with a heavy Jazz theme running behind the scenes, it creates the perfect atmosphere for this type of game.
Core Gameplay:The Walking Dead and The Wolf Among Us have similar gameplay mechanics, but The Wolf Among Us has always handled the action scenes a bit better. Each episode always had a couple of scenes where you really got to flex those wolf muscles that Bigby possesses, but the fifth episode really has him go all out. One scene has you fending off dozens of attackers at once, and it'll have you glued to the screen in order to spot where the attack was coming from. There is no way of avoiding violence in the fifth episode, and there's nothing stopping Bigby from unleashing his true form. It was very cool seeing what his true power is, and if you remember the countless fable stories he starred in, the end of that scene will leave you with a smile. There's another scene in the game that resembles the chase sequence in the first episode that's just as exciting. The fifth episode really doesn't pull any punches in regards to the action, and it was the brightest highlight of the finale. The only negative I had with the gameplay was the technical hiccups. These hiccups have always been prevalent in a Telltale game, and it's starting to become a bit frustrating. I understand that the game is constantly saving and loading new scenes, but my game shouldn't lock up 2 or three times during a 2 hour episode. These stutters and lock ups are the only big negatives I had with the game, and I hope it gets smoothed out for future seasons.
Final Thoughts:The Wolf Among Us was a great first start in hopefully a multi season experience. The first season had some lows, but had even more highs. If you waited for the entire season to release but you still aren't sure, this is an easy recommendation from me.
+Interesting, Mature Themed Story
+Great Voice Work
+Intense Action Scenes
-Frequent Technical Issues
S&S Rating: 8/10 @whatsPlay
