The Wolf Among Us: Episode 5 - Cry Wolf Reviews
It is sad to think that with the Fables comics ending, the game presumably not being the runaway critical and commercial hit The Walking Dead was and Telltale having so much on their plate right now that The Wolf Among Us could be the last we see of Bigby Wolf. The season may have had down moments but it was never bad and certainly the story was never less than gripping - often the worst moments was just when there wasn't enough of it. Overall I'd give the season around an 8.5, but this last episode was an utterly superb way to finish it off.
Overall, it was a fun ending to a great series. Its ending isn't satisfying at first, but it grows on you as you think about it. This is the sort of ending that has you talking with your friends for days about it. Everyone is going to look at the ending in a totally different way. But what's the true ending? What really happened? Where are the answers to all the questions you have? If you ask Telltale about it, they'll only say one thing: "These Lips Are Sealed."
As Cry Wolf interlaces the straggling parts of what has come before, the cunningly concealed ace up Telltale's sleeve is the denouement, a staggeringly audacious climax which will either offer huge rewards to the patiently observant, or completely infuriate those players who want the narrative's purpose and meaning spelled out in glowing neon. Telltale have once again given a lesson to writers of other story-driven games in how an ending should be done and if that isn't enough to recommend this episode - and indeed, the series - then nothing will be.
Some might feel uncomfortable with the slightly ambiguous ending to Cry Wolf, but to me it felt perfectly in tune with the overall tone of the series. Morality and Fabletown society in The Wolf Among Us is never a clear cut thing at any point in the series, and I worried that tying it all up in one neat fifth episode might prove too much even for the accomplished writing team of this game.
Cry Wolf has succeeded in doing what seemed like a difficult task, in taking the amazing journey that has been The Wolf Among Us and delivering a conclusion that lives up to the lofty standards set by the episodes that came before. Telltale have weaved a tale that is as emotional as it is engrossing, as complex as it is beautiful, and have done themselves, gamers and the Fables franchise a great service in their telling of this tale.
Cry Wolf is the perfect finisher to end the fantastic series. The ending did not only leave me perfectly satisfied but had me replay the prior episodes to look for clues and answers. As a series The Wolf Among Us is defiantly in my favorites list. I would recommend all gamers, not just adventure game fans to try the game, it converted me and will hopefully convert you too. I just hope somehow in the future Telltale comes back and gives us a season two or even a spinoff in the same universe.
'Cry Wolf' does an excellent job of concluding and capping a powerful season. (I don't know if there will be a second, but I would like one.) It also managed to instill a much greater desire to replay the whole thing than I was expecting. Even after the last episode's thrilling almost rampage, this was the first time I felt the full weight of playing as Bigby, and I don't know that the character would be proud of the choices I made. That's a good thing for the game, and Telltale must be tremendously proud of what this initially questionable series has achieved.
The Wolf Among Us Episode 5 delivers a stellar conclusion to the adventures of Bigby Wolf. There are great conflicts in terms of dialog and combat, so players will be solicited in all sorts of ways. It also displays Bigby in all his big bad wolf glory and leaves a fair amount of possibilities for a likely second season of series.
Cry Wolf lacks a sense of inevitability. The Telltale Engine telegraphs social consequence to players throughout (in the form of notifications such as "She will remember that" during play) which lends a sense of weight to player decisions. Yet there never came a moment in which my decisions caught up to me, when I was caught helpless.
The Wolf Among Us ends on a high: a masterful conclusion that delivers massive revelations, ties up loose ends and even delivers some profoundly satisfying catharsis without losing touch with Willingham's bittersweet gritty universe. Most of the choices we've feel impactful and important, whether big or small, while Cry Wolf saves some of its biggest for last. "Dealspwn will remember that." Bring on Season 2.
The Wolf Among Us has gone out with the bang the series deserves.
One final interaction with Nerissa takes place, and the conversation is left up for interpretation, perhaps suggesting that Telltale will be releasing a second season of The Wolf Among Us. Although unconfirmed, this seems highly likely with the closing of Cry Wolf.
From a purely story point, The Wolf Among Us is a very good conclusion to Bigby’s tale because they did a good job of resolving the major plotlines that have been hanging over the investigation since episode one.