Game of Thrones: Episode Four - Sons of Winter Reviews
Once again Telltale Games have succeeded at another attempt at bringing the player into the wondrous story of Game of Thrones with intrigue, turmoil, drama and action which is definitely an edge of your seat experience. The character development also furthers the story, especially Mira who has become this almost ruthless chess player in King's Landing to Rodrik who is desperate to find his army to save the Forrester's from annihilation. To complement the story and gameplay, the graphics mirror the TV series and the voice acting is perfect which even draws some of the original actors into the game. Game of Thrones: Episode 4 – Sons of Winter is another must have game for fans of this franchise or the HBO TV series. With only two more episodes, I really cannot wait to see how this game unfolds and how it furthers its links with the TV series.
While we have two episodes left in the season/series, fans of the franchise know that there are going to be a few more downs and downs coming, but "Episode 4" grants a brief respite of optimism in a jaded, borderline nihilistic world. It stands as the high point of the series thus far and goes a long way to cement the experience as a "must play" for fans of Game of Thrones.
A mid-season episode which keeps the narrative wheels turning, steps up the action in places, and (at last) gives the Ironrath Forresters some brief moments of triumph.
With just two episodes left, the stakes are higher than ever for House Forrester. There is plenty of political intrigue with the balancing of political and diplomatic might to consider. Still, if the books and show have taught us anything, there are precious few happy endings in this world, and I suspect the narrative of these next two episodes in this game will have its share of triumphs but also unexpected, darker surprises.
Why must you make us wait, Telltale? Why?!
Seeing the Forresters on the offensive delivers stressful excitement, and gives this lengthy story new life
"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.
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.
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.
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.
'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.
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.
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.
Telltale's Game of Thrones is looking more and more inconsequential.
Hopefully the fifth episode starts gearing up for a strong finale, because the plight of the Forrester family remains fundamental compelling.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.