Game of Thrones: Episode Three - The Sword in the Darkness Reviews
In short, I need a chill pill right about now. On the plus side, it looks like I finally made it to the fourth state of grief — anger — after wallowing in sadness through the first couple of chapters. As I mentioned in my reviews of "Episode 1: Iron From Ice" and "Episode 2: The Lost Lords," Telltale's interpretation of Game of Thrones continues to elicit a strong emotional response with its writing. Even the quick-time combat, which I normally don't like, felt good this time because I was able to relieve some stress by implementing my martial plan on some dudes. Will it bite me in the behind at some point? Who knows? One issue I have with the series so far is that choice feels more like an illusion sometimes. The drama continues to deliver, though, making Episode 3 a solid point-and-click adventure.
The Sword in the Darkness is the best of Telltale's Game of Thrones episodes yet, and sets up what will no doubt be a dramatic second half of the season.
The third episode of Telltale's episodic Game of Thrones series marks a triumphant return to form, and makes us wish that episode four was right around the corner.
While the actions of many of the characters are full of intensity this episode the debut of Daenerys Targaryen and the evolution of Gared Tuttle make this an experience any real "Game of Thrones" or Telltale fan can't afford to miss.
This was another great installment that should please both fans and those new to the series alike.
Fans of the books and TV series will love taking part in Martin's world.
An episode where plenty goes on, but neither story nor characters are actually advanced a great deal. The Ironrath Forresters are still miserable hostages, Asher still needs an army, and Gared is still doing Nights Watch duties. A few revelations, plus Mira's dynamism, keep things from going stale.
Episode Three fulfills all the promises it needs to for fans of the Game of Thrones TV series, even if it doesn't necessarily give old school adventure game fans much to actually do in terms of interactivity.
Even though the episode is quite short, it's quite a powerful release from Telltale Games as you attempt to make the right decisions which you hope will have the least resistance in the future for the Forresters but even the best laid plans of mice and men do go awry. With that said, there's some action scenes in this episode for Garred Tuttle that has a huge consequence for this ex-squire as this series goes into overdrive. All in all, another hit from Telltale Games, especially if you're a fan of HBO's Game of Thrones!
The flames of my attention are beginning to wane, my empathy draining, especially with the return of HBO's flagship show. The next episode will need to step it up, in terms of story and in finding a way for me to care about the Forresters again. As of now, this family is coming across as decidedly wooden, in need of a chop.
But the pacing has been strong so far, and if the second half of the season starts to set in motion a potential end to the conflict - or at least make the success of the Forrester clan look like a realistic possible outcome - this could end up being one of Telltale's very best seasons.
Following a disappointing Episode 2, The Sword in Darkness puts Telltale's Game of Thrones back on track and sets the stage for an intriguing second half.
Sword in the Darkness is a step in the right direction for the series. Sharp, unhurried yet eventful, the disastrous consequences of small decisions means that every conversation is conducted with the utmost care.
The overall story is still interesting enough to leave us anticipating, but much like how fans wish those damn dragons would cross the sea already, it would be in this game's best interest to hurry things along.
A very good continuation of the story then, but I hope and suspect that the "holy s**t" moments will come in Episodes 4 and 5.
At this point, the only reason I can see for people who enjoy Telltale Games' titles, and the Game of Thrones franchise to not pick this game up is because they're waiting for all six episodes to be available.
While Episode 3 of Telltale's A Game of Thrones still has some problems, it's certainly learning more about how the Game of Thrones narrative progresses. Its low points are still kind of disappointing and boring, but its high points are truly phenomenal. It's these set pieces like the fight with the dragon, the standoff against an invading house, and the fated confrontation atop the wall, that make Episode 3 a treat to play and make me very excited to see what Telltale has in store for Episode 4.
Game of Thrones: Episode 3 -The Sword in the Darkness puts the series in a good spot. Asher has a decent amount of action, and his straightforward story is a nice contrast to everyone else's tales. Mira's situation is as tense as ever, and it doesn't look like the game will let up anytime soon. Gared's tale has gotten traction and gone from boring to exciting in one fell swoop. Rodrik's part in the episode still feels like it's spinning its wheels, but if you played things out a certain way, the events at the end signal the beginning of a spark . As long as the pacing of episode releases is right, there's enough here to keep players invested while the TV show rolls on.
Game of Thrones Episode 3 is a pretty solid entry in the series made by Telltale Games. It takes the overall story to some interesting new areas, but some aspects, such as the Rodrik sequences, tend to feel repetitive and uninspired. The next few episodes are shaping up to bring some even bigger events, so expect to see even more interesting developments in the future.
As we reach the halfway mark in this season it's hard to imagine the main characters surviving for a second one. With the story ramping up and the plot chugging along, all the pieces are moving into place. As ever, a fantastic homage to the franchise and an event better game in its own right.