Game of Thrones: Episode Four - Sons of Winter Reviews
Overall, Sons of Winter focuses on moving the plot along but doesn't quite have the impact "Episode 1: Iron From Ice" and "Episode 3: The Sword in the Darkness." It appears to set up the table quite nicely for Episode 5, however, so it'll be interesting to see where the story moves on from here.
Narratively, Sons of Winter is a definite improvement over the earlier episodes, and has a much easier, confident pace.
A major improvement on past episodes, but the narrative arc is hard to distinguish and there's too much thematic crossover with the series. Game of Thrones looks and acts the part but lacks 'water-cooler' moments that shock and provoke discussion.
Despite having some odd reactions from both Dany and the Night's Watch, this episode has plenty of action and story progression that keeps the player interested in the fate of the Forresters.
Episode four, Sons of Winter is arguably the most intense episode yet from Telltales Game of Thrones, from start to finish, you will be questioning every choice made and you will live to regret some in the heat of the moment. Business is certainly picking up in the game of politics.
Game of Thrones is really beginning to kick in to high gear as things start to possibly look up for the Forresters in Sons of Winter, but most importantly the characters start to get much-needed shots in the arm.
Game of Thrones: Episode Four - Sons of Winter again meets the high quality set by previous episodes. The superbly written characters continue to keep people truly invested in their stories and the choices are really beginning to show just how much player choice can influence the tale. This and Tales from the Borderlands are fantastic examples of just why Telltale's games are so well loved.
It's interesting that this episode came out so close to the last episode of the show, which is one of the best in the series. Game of Thrones as a sort of meta-property is doing very well.
Depending on your choices, "Sons of Winter" finally offers a payback for every loss the Forresters suffered. Every plotline lets the player experience a satisfying victory against your worst enemies - with the exception of Gared Tuttle, who is mostly setting up the North Grove story for next month. But with two episodes remaining and a last-second twist you might still lose it all - but it wouldn't be the Game of Thrones if you couldn't.
More than halfway through, Game of Thrones finally feels like its own story, not one trapped within the confines of another, and that's what makes "Sons of Winter" the best episode in the series yet.
It may be a fixed narrative with little alterations, but it's still an interesting narrative, but should that fail at any point than this entire castle built by Telltale may collapse.
Hopefully the fifth episode starts gearing up for a strong finale, because the plight of the Forrester family remains fundamental compelling.
Telltale's Game of Thrones is looking more and more inconsequential.
Telltale's Game of Thrones series, now over halfway through its first season, has been a huge disappointment so far, but it's been improving steadily, and Episode Four – Sons of Winter proves there's real potential in the concept, even if Telltale might not have been the right candidate for the job. There are the occasional flashes of brilliance here that make you wish the series as a whole could match the same level of quality, but they're appreciated anyway.
Sons of Winter maintains the good form of the previous episode by unloading plenty of tension, drama and action along the way. Roll on episode five.
'Sons of Winter' is another strong showing from Telltale and their take on the morbid, morally ambiguous 'Game of Thrones'. The writing, pacing, and production value are all top notch, it's just the engine holding them back now. This, in terms of the story, is probably the best so far in the season.
Game of Thrones' fourth episode is a solid Telltale affair, but it's just that. While the developer continues to churn out quality content using George R. R. Martin's famed license, it does so while struggling to maintain great pacing.
It's obvious now that Game of Thrones simply won't be as successful as Telltale's other series. It's been a worthy experiment, and there have been some enjoyable scenes in there, but it just misses the mark, featuring too many characters and not enough real substance. However, Sons of Winter is certainly a more enjoyable episode than the previous two, with some decent character development. It often gets to the point much quicker with a lot less filler in between, while also taking characters to new places and surprising you along the way as we head towards the series' conclusion.
I feel conflicted about Game of Thrones by Telltale. I enjoy it at points, when it's happening. The voice acting is great, the graphics are fine, there are fewer bugs this time around, and if I were watching someone else play the game, I think I would enjoy it quite a bit. But the fact that everything I do just seems to be unwritten at the end of every episode, and not in any way that ever makes me triumph, takes me straight out of the action. I can't get invested in this game, because I feel like I'm not doing anything. It might be fine watching Tyrion get put in shackles and carried off as a prisoner, but when the same thing happens to me, I keep wondering why I can't fight back.
"Sons of Winter" makes you feel almost as if the Forresters might find a way out of the darkness. Which has us incredibly worried about their future.