Game of Thrones: Episode One - Iron From Ice Reviews
Iron From Ice could have been The Walking Dead in a Westeros winter coat, yet it is a fresh and faithful addition to the Game of Thrones universe. The story, is of course, as well written and compelling as we've come to expect of Telltale, but it's the frantic decision-making that makes this latest series another hit in the making.
A well-paced, well-observed and suitably vicious opening episode, showing that Telltale's latest series is up to the task of matching the theme and tone of the Game of Thrones source material.
Game of Thrones: Episode 1 - Iron from Ice is certainly not bad by any stretch of the imagination, but it hits nowhere near as hard as it maybe should have. Bits and pieces show promise for future episodes – particularly the conclusion – but all of the pieces are not yet in place. With more playable characters and an extra episode in this season, there's definitely potential here – it's just not been realised so far.
Experienced Telltale fans and achievement hunters probably know exactly what to expect here; an easy completion. All of the achievements are automatically unlocked through natural progression, so players can sit back, "relax", and "enjoy" the story. And what a story it is. While my ending left my jaw on the floor and a burning desire to "set things right", it held me captivated for just over two hours.
Much like the mega-hit HBO drama, "Game of Thrones: Episode One: Iron From Ice" is bloody, smart and addictive. Thanks for in part to an awesome script, beautiful backgrounds and the success of original characters, "Game of Thrones: Episode One: Iron From Ice" is anything but a joke.
The Lost Lords is an improvement, then. A significant one. But by introducing two new characters, there hasn't been enough development, despite the fact that we're approaching the halfway point of the series.
All the elements to recommend Iron From Ice to Game of Thrones fans are there.
Iron From Ice's weak characters and water-treading story don't get the series off to a great start, but there is hope things will improve.
Telltale has hit another home run with the debut episode of its licensed Game of Thrones series. However, it's not going to be for everyone, as it will only appeal to fans of the franchise and may be too wordy for some.
Game of Thrones Episode One: Iron and Ice isn't an easy game to play, mainly due to the nature of the theme at hand and the fact that no matter what you do, someone close to you is still going to get it. But that's just how Game of Thrones works, and the more of a fan of the show you are, the more captivated you'll feel playing the game. And if you're not a fan, it just might make you one. That Red Wedding, though…
For an introductory chapter, it sets up Telltale's take on the Game of Thrones universe very well.
This first episode is a bit dense, particularly for newcomers, but the attention to detail is meticulous and appreciated. Telltale's Game of Thrones manages to capture all the heart-racing moments and sweaty-palmed intensity fans have come to love. This episode sets up a sprawling adventure on the outskirts of the Westeros we know, and need more of immediately.
The first episode of the game series is a finely crafted adventure game adaptation — it's a good blade with a few imperfections, but with some polish and sharpening, it will be keen as a blade in the night.
Telltale's video game version of Game of Thrones gets off to a good start, though it's more dialogue-focused than ever and the reliance on quick-time-events is beginning to wear thin. If you're a fan of the books and TV series then you'll be happy with Telltale's faithful approach to the fiction, and this first episode sets up some interesting situations for future chapters to exploit. It's far too early for a definitive verdict, but we like what we see and we're keen to see more.
Iron From Ice, the first chapter in Telltale Games's Game of Thrones series, lays down a great foundation. The presentation suffers from weak visuals, but the story scenarios, intense rhetorical dueling, and dynamic protagonist perspectives recreate a world rich with intrigue and drama.
By the end of Iron from Ice, Telltale proves they are worthy of telling a tale in Westeros. It makes sense to me now that Telltale wanted six episodes for Game of Thrones – the amount of time they need to explain why they are here demands it, and it will give the rest of the season room to breathe.
Despite its technical issues, Game of Thrones has strong content.
Anyway, my final take on the game is that Game of Thrones fans will love it. They will probably like it less if they aren't current, as the game will spoil a whole bunch of stuff for them. People who have only read the series might have some problems telling which character is which, and people who haven't experienced the series at all might get lost in a huge pool of names and events that aren't really explained. Even so, the narrative woven by Game of Thrones is a compelling one, filled with intrigue, conflict, and death… lots and lots of death. I'd highly recommend it to either fans of the books, the HBO series, or Telltale games in general.
Though I'm sure the boobs will come, the interesting characters and nail-biting situations that Telltale puts you in, in just the first episode alone, is a nice setup to the cruel series you are about to experience. It's not going to be easy for House Forrester -- as evidenced by the events of the first episode -- but I look forward to seeing how things unfold in the remaining five.
While it has some minor foibles, and you undoubtedly need to have watched up to the end of the show's Season 3 to get what's going on, if you're a fan of the show you'll definitely love this. Telltale have tied themselves to Westeros brilliantly - now let's see if they can survive their Second Episode Is The Worst In The Season curse.