Game of Thrones: Episode 5 - A Nest of Vipers

By: Robert Murphy

Victory is all too sweet a thing for one to have in the world of Game of Thrones. As soon as I began to feel confident in the previous episode I knew that I was bound for some sort of fall in the next, especially where things were left off for House Forrester. Do not get me wrong though I would do it all over again and relish the sweet taste of minor victories even knowing what happens in “A Nest of Vipers.” Nonetheless, the struggles faced in this latest chapter will prove to test you in a number of ways as all the best plans for the Forrester’s feel less and less certain. It will however prove to make the final chapter for the series one that I will not want to miss out on playing.

The story picks things right back up where they left it off as you square off with Ramsay Snow as he revisits Ironrath when word of what you have been up to reaches his ear. There is plenty of his trademark brutality spread throughout this opening scene and it sets the stage for all the other difficult moments yet to come for the rest of the chapter. What did make Rodrik’s decisions lack luster during your interaction with Ramsay was the fact that you knew no good would come off it. It’s the issue you get with adding characters from the show and putting them against fictional characters that never actually did anything to any of the people we know (and hate) from the show. So all the prompts for dialogue that would lead me to making threats towards Ramsay were frankly disappointing and would make you feel rather empty after even attempting to use them. What’s worse is a small but significant choice you make between the two of you that you just knew would go nowhere as soon as it happens but you suffer through anyways. It’s a very Game of Thrones thing to do.

That being said, not everything was disappointing for Rodrik in this latest chapter. Not only does he rekindle a flame that I thought would never be lit again he also discovers the identity of the traitor that is reporting to the Whitehills on every move they make. It’s a crucial moment in the story as you can potentially end up betraying the trust of some of the people around you by administering justice upon this traitor but it also serves as a triumph for Rodrick who once again stands tall against his enemies. This comes none to soon considering the battles ready to come in the final chapter.

Mira’s part of the story once again feels rather shorter than many of the previous episodes but it is still a difficult one to say the least. Once again you are caught in Cersei’s line of sight and as we all know she does not let up easily. The dialogue between you two is perhaps the most sweat inducing moments I have experience throughout the entire series and that is saying something. Squaring off against her is no easy feat despite how easy Tyrion makes it look half the time but whatever the case you’re tasked with getting information from her brother about his upcoming trial. Tyrion is once again a delight to see and his part in the story is so easy going despite the circumstance and Peter Dinklage hits it out of the park with some spot on voice work.

As for things north of The Wall, nothing too exciting takes place for Gared and his team of deserters as they try to make it to the North Grove. There is some enjoyable action here and the big baddies that I wanted to see in the previous chapter have finally made their appearance. As for everything else, the dialogue was a bit bland as you try to figure out what to do about Cotter’s injuries and the fact his sister seems unwilling to go further north. There was also a particularly annoying hunting aspect to his story as you attempt to use a bow with barely enough of a prompt to allow for any accuracy but hey, who needs food in a snowy wasteland?

Far across the sea, things in Meereen lead you to a promising future. Daenery’s pulls a bit of a 180 on you as the events during the sacking of the city are revealed to her but nothing some more relationship ruining with Beshka couldn’t solve and despite everything you must find the fighters on your own. You are however given enough gold to pay for some fighters and Asher makes his return to Meereen for some good old fashion but kicking. His is a character that continues to shine and he also makes the combat feel quite enjoyable every time I cockily take down whatever is in my way.

What Telltale continues to get right is the fantastic story, just like in the show this second to last episode proves to set the stage for a massive and dramatic finale. The last choice you will make for the episode is a horribly difficult one and it something that George R.R. Martin would be proud to see I believe. If no other choice has made you feel the need to play the story over again then this one may certainly test you on that resolve. “A Nest of Vipers” is chocked full of more twists and turns as House Forrester gets ready for what may be their final hours.

Good:

- Some critical choice that will lead to a great ending

- Mira’s story and her interaction with Cersei and Tyrion

- The final choice at the end of the chapter

Bad:

- Ramsay Snow was far too untouchable

- Gared’s story goes nowhere slowly

Scully Rating: 7.5 out of 10

Game of Thrones: Episode One - Iron From Ice

By: Robert Murphy

You know that scream at the screen moment you get when you watch just about every moment in Game of Thrones? Well, now you can live out that moment yourself in Telltale's new game for the Game of Thrones universe. Telltale Games have already proven their worth with The Walking Dead franchise and now aim to do the same here with Game of Thrones as they tell the story of House Forrester. This noble house has served the Stark family in the north for generations and has supplied them and most of the North with expertly crafted Ironwood for shields, boats and many more things. The story though takes a dark turn immediately though, as you would expect a Game of Thrones game to do, placing you right on the down turn for all the North, the Red Wedding. Difficult choices are flung at you right from the get go and you must choose to save lives, bring honor to your house and a great deal other things before your first night in the game is through. It's exactly what I want in a Game of Thrones title and I set out for the series first episode, Iron From Ice. 

The turbelent time that this first episode is set in sets the tone for the entire episode, The War of the Five Kings has taken it's tole on everyone and House Forrester has given a lot to Robb Stark and the cause. Now though, things have changed and the North and House Forrester are about to witness serious hardships. This story is less about the combat and more about interactions with the people you meet, you never know who might be able to help you or hurt you and any little thing you say and do has a consequences to it. A verbal battle is exactly what Game of Thrones does increasingly well and you will need to prove yourself worthy in that regard to some of the series biggest characters. You don't want to risk saying the wrong thing to Cersei Lannister or test the patience of the bastard born Lord Ramsey Snow, no you must know your place and how to play the game or else your goose will be cooked. During this first episode, you will take on the role of three different characters of House Forrester, a young but able bodied steward Gared Tuttle, the third born son of Lord Gregor Forrester, Ethan Forrester, and lastly is the eldest daughter of the House, Mira Forrester, who is currently living in King's Landing and is also handmaiden to Margaery Tyrell. All of them have their role to play in the future of their House and in order to save it you must make the right friends and right decisions but given the time you have to do this can make things challenging.

My first time through the first episode, I was sweating bullets as I stood in front of Cersei, trying to think of just the right thing to say to her that would appease her and not lead me to have my head on a spike. The choices you face are sometime agonizing and you will always try to make the right choices but as you know things don't always go the way you want in GoT. But there in lies the fun for this game, the panic you feel for character during the show is now brought to life right in front of you and you feel the weight of making certain decisions for yourself and your House. Sometimes you need to choose self preservation to maintain a friendship and loyalty from someone close to you and sometimes you need to make the hard decision that changes your character and the way other characters look at you. Characters will remember how you treat them and the actions you took in front of them, every time the prompt came up in the corner saying "so and so will remember that" I cringed but it's not always a bad thing. As I said, people will remember your loyalty as well, making smart decisions and reassuring others faith in you will allow them to trust you more later on in the game too. The whole first episode created an atmosphere that I deeply enjoyed, I like and or liked these characters and fell for them is such a short time and that's what I truly love about the show as well. Even though most of what is done in this first part is setting the stage it is an excellent stepping off point to be sure.

Telltale Games have done a great job once more as they've managed to pair a game and a franchise together in a way that fans will love. The characters and movements do have some work to be done though, there are moments with glitchy characters stumble about and slow scene changes occur but this is the extent of my issues with the game. Iron From Ice serves as a great jumping off point for this Game of Thrones story and hopefully I will continue to make wise choices as I progress through. I definitely feel the weight of what it must have been like to square off with many of these iconic characters and I don't know if I would survive long in this world if given the chance. Never the less, I am looking forward to the next episode and hope you all pick up this first part of what looks to be an amazing story. Hopefully, I'll survive long enough to keep reviewing them as they come out. 

Good:

- Taking part in a piece of Game of Thrones history is incredibly fun

- The Forresters may not be House Stark but they're pretty darn close in many regards and I loved playing as their family members

- The anxiety inducing decision making makes you feel on par with what an actual GoT experience might have been like

- Facing off with iconic characters is both thrilling and terrifying

Bad:

- Characters movements and some slow screen changes prove that some of the games design may need to be worked on

Scully Rating: 8.8 out of 10