The Wolf Among Us: Episode One
I have a love/hate relationship with TellTale Games' first chapter in its new episodic game about fable characters living in secret in the modern world. The biggest feature in this cell shaded adventure is a system which adapts story lines depending on the choices you make. You play Bigby, aka the Big Bad Wolf, who polices the fables in their troubles and keeps them from breaking their laws.
As you explore the world, the choices you make and when you make them come into play with not only the story but how you are allowed to interact with your fellow fables, chosing whether to be good cop or bad cop while submerged in a world of fairy tales, legends and classic noir detective work. The art style comes directly from Vertigo Comics' own "Fables" which The Wolf Among Us is based upon. The player will see some of those well known storybook characters in a grittier light than they are usually portrayed. These aren't your sweet and innocent characters any more, who've escaped from their world into ours and have troubles all their own. I found the game play to be rather interesting but somewhat puzzling the first time around. When it came to decision making there is a timer so some of your choices are a bit more rushed than others which I was unhappy with. I understand it is a game and there should be some skill involved in decision making; however the first few times the game just throws you in with no instruction and leaves you with your first detrimental story changer right off the bat.
The major downside to the entire experience is that combat is all just a quick time event. I can never stress enough the importance of gaming companies allowing us to play the game instead of pushing buttons in a cutscene. It is 2013, and this shit was barely acceptable in Dragon's Lair.
There is main dialogue that progresses the story but for me lacks some deviation with other characters since there are options for dialogue that don't fit in with the character the player may be attempting to create with the karmic style of choice and consequence.
The main selling for me that kept me playing, even though at times I just wanted to get back to actual gameplay rather than watching numerous cut scenes, was the encompassing concept. The neighborhood in the Bronx that the fables live in definitely has their signature all over it, from apartment building names to shops and bars that reflect the storybook character that might live or own it.
Most likely am going to enjoy my second playthrough, where I'm aiming for a different outcome whilst I wait for episode two to make its way to the market.
TellTale Games also released The Walking Dead and this series is lining up to be another big winner. Good to see that a company that used to make shovel ware step up to the plate and give some of the big studios a run for their money.
I give this game a total of 1 Smashed Controller for QTEs, but otherwise and outstanding addition to a long abandoned genre.
