Minecraft: Story Mode - Episode 1 - The Order of the Stone Reviews
Mechanically you are left with a feeling that there was room for Telltale to - finally - stretch its template a little further than its standard 'side with one character or the other' choices. And if it didn't do so here, with the most open-ended licence going, then it may never. Like all recipes, if you have tried the end result too often then its taste may wear a little thin. But for lapsed Telltale fans or young Minecraft aficionados, Story Mode's opener is an enjoyable first bite.
Sparse interactivity and a lack of commitment to explaining this world and its inhabitants hold Episode 1 back, but I'm still absorbed in my story, and eager to find out what happens next.
An extremely slow start to Minecraft's first story adventure, but it's a game made with a clear love for the original and is bound to please most younger fans.
A Telltale experience through and through, the first episode is enjoyable and whets your appetite just enough to leave you wanting more
Minecraft: Story Mode doesn't deviate from the well-established Telltale formula much, keeping both what works (the storytelling) and what often doesn't work (combat). Even so, it accomplishes something impressive. I was skeptical of Telltale's ability to tell a story in the Minecraft universe that would be interesting to people who weren't already fans of the game, but so far, the studio is pulling it off with aplomb.
It's a slow start, but a pleasant one, for Telltale's narrative take on one of the world's most popular games.
Minecraft: Story Mode is off to a solid start, sending our heroes on a quest that will take them across their blocky world. If you're used to Telltale's current output, this isn't as serious, instead focusing on telling a family-friendly tale. With that understanding, Telltale kicks off a brisk adventure in this episode's two-hour running time.
Will Story Mode pan out? Will it stand as one of Telltale's best? For now, the answer is… maybe. Episode One is a fun two hours with plenty of shout-outs to fans of the series while also a solid balance of gameplay and characters for those who've never combined flint, sticks, and a feather to create an arrow. As a "player choice via conversation" game, though, the plot so far is fairly standard.
There is some hope for this series to be great in the future, but The Order of the Stone is just okay. The Minecraft-specific gameplay is a nice way to shake up the usual formula. The blank slate of the universe allows the tale to go wherever it wants. The voice cast is full of actors who can do great work. But the writing needs to be more engaging if Story Mode wants to be taken seriously among Telltale canon.
Minecraft might not have a story and lore of its own for Telltale to build upon, but that just means that a Telltale story can fit right in.
Overall Minecraft Story Mode is a great start to a new series. Although the child-like visuals will put some Telltale fans off this is to miss the huge investment and achievement so far. If the series continues in this vein it's set to be warmly welcomed by both Minecraft fans and families.
Minecraft: Story Mode gets off to a decent, but flawed start with Episode 1. The series is definitely going to be a more family friendly affair than its Telltale brethren, but not quite enough was done to accommodate the more mature gamer. Future episodes could help, but for now it is best to be wary, while still diving in if you appreciate the universe.
A solid, functional episode, but one clearly aimed at a younger audience and therefore less involving than previous Telltale adventures.
If Minecraft was around 25 years ago, this would be the Saturday-morning cartoon tie-in. And that's a good thing.
Minecraft: Story Mode will never have the same kind of success that Minecraft does. That's OK — few things do. But what's important here is that Telltale gets what makes Minecraft tick and has translated that into something that fits its story-focused mold.
Minecraft: Story Mode feels more like a Telltale adventure than a traditional Minecraft experience, but it's still a fun and unusual take on a world that, until now, has had almost no storyline.
Telltale's new point-and-click adventure nails the Minecraft vibe but fails to fill its world with memorable characters or much humour
The way that Telltale takes advantage of Minecraft lore to form its own narrative is intriguing and will delight fans of the original game, but what the studio is doing with this new story isn't doing much that will excite anyone else.
A new story in the world that they love, but one in which they're participating, not just watching – which isn't afraid to raise some sensitive issues around topics such as friendship. Roll on episode two.
While not quite as good as Tales From the Borderlands was, Minecraft: Story Mode Episode 1 is a pretty solid start to the series. The story is off to a pretty good start, the characters interact with each other nicely, and the voice acting is quite good as well. There aren't many puzzle interactions in the episode and the ones that are there are rather easy to solve, but hopefully that and the combat will improve in later episodes.