Game of Thrones: A Telltale Games Series (2014 Video Game) User Reviews

Episode 1 review - Iron from Ice

[petra_ste · 7/10 · 5 December 2014]

Iron from Ice, the first episode of the series, makes you fearful and paranoid in a giddy kind of way during its best moments, which invariably involve decisions or verbal confrontations.

It's the classic Telltale template: excellent voice acting, compelling plot, strong dialogues (forgetting a terrible "okay" which somehow slipped through), simplistic gameplay - an enjoyable experience as long you expect neither a RPG nor an action game nor a point and click adventure, but rather an interactive story set in the Game of Thrones universe.

Iron from Ice stammers with its sparse QTE-based combat, wonky "exploration" (of the "walk around a room and collect items from the table" variety) and lack of puzzles, but shines when focusing on the interplay between characters and factions, desperate attempts at diplomacy and thorny moral choices.

A couple of scenes made me cringe (in a good way) as I argued with potential enemies and, for all my attempts at subtlety, I kept painting myself into a corner. I'm eager (and somewhat worried) to see the fallout of my decisions in future episodes, which will import saves and be influenced by them.

Iron from Ice introduces House Forrester, Stark bannermen struggling to survive the Red Wedding aftermath. The narrative switches between three protagonists: squire Gared; young Ethan, burdened with command; Mira, handmaiden in King's Landing. We meet four canon characters (Margaery, Cersei, Tyrion and Ramsay), all with their official voice and appearance from the TV series.

While this is an original story set in Westeros, knowledge of source material (show and/or books) is STRONGLY recommended, unlike in the Walking Dead games. Iron from Ice dives into a maelstrom of events and never attempts any exposition about the Iron Throne, Starks, Lannisters and the labyrinthine politics of the series.

Episode length: about 2 hours.

Valar Morghulis !

[rahtho · 9/10 · 3 February 2015]

Only Two episode in, but it's shaping up to be a good series. I often found I didn't have enough time to make decisions as the game is completely depend on the decisions you make.

I really loved the characters and while there were times I wondered why I had to even walk my character to the window when it was my only choice - it seemed fluid and made me feel like I was that character - not just an observer. I would have loved to see more done with this game in terms of strategic decision making.

I've tried various ways only for facing the only one result with very little differences. But still this game is very interesting and has the atmosphere similar to TV-series. And emotionally rich plot of course. They even made their own intro in style of Game of Thrones HBO series. So if you fan of these books or TV-series, you may buy this game. :)

+Original voice actors +Other voice actors do an excellent job as well +Cool visuals +Some difficult choices to be made

• Difficult to follow if you haven't seen the TV series.

Rating - 9/10

Another Telltale Classic

[SyoKennex · 9/10 · 12 September 2017]

So, I've never watched, nor read, Game of Thrones before. I've been meaning to and meaning to but I just can't seem to find the time to sit down and watch it, preferring to watch shows I'm familiar with, so I decided to download the free episode of the Telltale game when I spotted it when going through the Xbox Store.

Now, I love Telltale.

I downloaded their The Walking Dead games and The Wolf Among Us and almost instantly fell in love with the game play, the easy achievements, the way that it educates you on the subject of the game; (I'm a The Walking Dead fan, and the game showed me a lot about the universe that I didn't know before). I love the way you play; how it's like an interactive television show, in a way, I suppose, and that it lets you interact through the game without just mindlessly stabbing people or shooting them, or rage quitting when you can't beat that one damn boss.

It was honestly one of the best decisions of my gaming life.

The story was easy to follow even when you were jumping characters around (in the first chapter, without giving any spoilers – you play as Garad, Ethan and Mira). The characters look almost exactly like the actors who play them, which is great for people that have only seen adverts or one or two episodes - the actors even voice their own characters which I think is a wonderful thing.

The universe around you is fun to explore; in my opinion, it's well detailed; of course, I don't really know the universe the show and books are set in, having never seen nor read them. I understood the characters, who they were and who they were connected to. I did have some slight confusion when it came to Cersei discussing her family, but all was fixed with a quick character Google.

A solid 4.5/5 – the only issue I've found, is that sometimes it lags, so they'll be four lines ahead of what is being said, but they're still frozen on the guy that said something two minutes ago, however, that might be my Xbox, not the game itself.

I definitely recommend this game – especially if you're an achievement hunter because, honestly, to get all the achievements, all you have to do is play the game (that's another reason that I love Telltale's games).

Sure, it's a bit pricey, and I'm going to have to kiss goodbye to my paychecks after Christmas so I can buy season passes for all their games, but you can get the first chapter of the game for free and I highly recommend it, whether you are a fan of Game of Thrones or not; I definitely will be getting into the seasons and books after I complete the game.

Absolutely amazing

[sniperboss-15366 · 10/10 · 31 May 2022]

A game based of a brilliant tv show is just awesome im not too keen on choice games but this is really good but what bugs me is that the just couldn't be bothered to but the full title sequence in bc they shortened it but overall the game is amazing.

A bargain for PS3 players

[patypoo · 8/10 · 12 November 2017]

I been toying with getting this game, But was put off by some saying its boring. Well its not, unless you want play full on battles. PS3 store still has this. The First part is actually free, the other episodes are just £3.99 each.

Its nice to find something new, and affordable for millions , who still don't / cant afford / want to upgrade to a PS4 yet. I wont, until the price drops.

OK so the graphics have a weird shimmering effect, which I actually like. Thought the walk through the snow by the new sworn members of the "Nights Watch" especially pretty, and can almost feel the cold, its a piece of art the ambient surroundings.

I like the odd clash between rivals and enemies and err Dragons, the lannister soldiers, really modeled well certainly are and look mean as hell......

Looking at things is a bit boring, but sometimes a pertinent piece of information can be found. The one great thing that makes its more enjoyable, is the real cast of GoT voice over the main characters, Im on episode 4 or 5 now, Just met Daenarys, voiced by none other than Emilia Clarke. best character, both by voice and looks is Jon Snow, but the Forrester actors are good to, Although so far, Lady Marjorie comes over as a bit Testy. Tyrion is funny in this, catching two ladies drinking on a balcony a flagon of Cersei's best wine! As ever, he is the diplomat, only telling them if Cersei found out, she would drown them in it! Also, at the start of each Episode, there is the title track and similar graphics to the real TV series, this makes it even more immersive, and at times, you really can get lost into the world, and forget your coffee has already gone cold!!! Try it, I would say, for the price its a bargain for any GoT fans :)

Family First

[851222 · 9/10 · 16 July 2017]

Greetings from Lithuania.

"Game of Thrones", a game by "Telltale Games" was much better then i first think it would. First episode was disappointing to be honest, it was simply pretty boring. But then with episode 2, things have changed in a very good way. Second episode was simply amazing. Character development was great, story started to have a true weight and writing was superb. All other episodes were great. I was so involved into this story of saving House Foresters that it kinda heartbreaking when some later events didn't turned out as expected - some moments later in a game literally did generate some tears in my eyes, and that happen highly rarely in video games. Although i was a bit disappointing by the ending of Mira's story, this game overall was simply great.

Overall, "Game of Thrones" is a great game by "Telltale". Voice acting was great, writing was superb and story was highly involving. Its not without its flaws, but in the end it left me highly surprised of how good it was.

Better than season 8

[Green-Bubble · 9/10 · 6 April 2020]

Just finished e02. I never play games but during quarantine I got tempted by this.

So far it is awesome. The graphics aren't good for a game of 2014 ( ok I have seen games even though never played them) but the story is captivating. Definitely suggest this.

Mind Blowing

[meshrestha-49329 · 10/10 · 28 March 2023]

Game of Thrones is known for its gritty, realistic portrayal of violence, sex, and political intrigue. The show's production values are top-notch, with elaborate sets, costumes, and special effects that transport viewers to the world of Westeros.

The first few seasons of the show were highly praised for their tight pacing, strong character development, and unexpected plot twists. However, some fans and critics felt that the later seasons suffered from rushed storytelling and a lack of attention to detail, leading to a controversial ending that divided the show's audience.

Overall, Game of Thrones is a groundbreaking television series that pushed the boundaries of what was possible in terms of scale, complexity, and visual storytelling. While its ending may have disappointed some fans, it remains a cultural phenomenon that will continue to be discussed and analyzed for years to come.

Pretty Telltale-y Game.

[colorthekid · 7/10 · 27 January 2019]

This game really feels like it was made by Telltale Games.

It's A Telltale Game/10

Not the Best in the Telltale Library, but Still Worthy of a Playthrough

[NDbportmanfan · 6/10 · 4 January 2017]

The Telltale series of Game of Thrones primarily deals with house Forrester and their squire Gared Tuttle. The main goal as the episodes unfold is to save their house from the Bolton's. The story does branch out to include most of the territories and characters from the critically acclaimed show. What enhances the experience even more is that the actual actors from the show provide their own voices.

The mechanics work like any other Telltale game with quick time events and dialogue choices. Only this time around the choices feel less dire compared to well received player choice games like the Walking Dead. I feel you can really mess up the conversations with little consequence. That makes the game boring when players are not properly punished for their actions.

The graphics are good, but that depends if you like looking at a cell shaded picture which I for one do. The picture looks like you are playing inside a comic book.

If you are a fan of the show then this is something to at least try. The story isn't all that compelling but there are still enjoyable moments that fans would appreciate.

There should be a spoiler warning on the game though, and I don't believe there is one. If you haven't seen the show but plan to, I suggest to watch the first four seasons before giving this game a try. Some of the important events are included in the game.

Good storyline and game but decisions ultimately do nothing...

[HonestReviews · 4/10 · 29 July 2015]

OK so for those of you who are fans of Game of Thrones it's probably worth checking this game out seen as the first episode is free. It's a fun game and the storyline is gripping. Most of the characters are likable with the exception of Mira whose storyline is pretty dull and unrealistic for the scenario. But the story is gripping, it's well written and you'll want to know what happens next. The gameplay can be fun at times especially some of the fight scenes in the later episodes. It's an addictive game with good voice actors that will make you want to play through it to the end.

However there are some problems with this game. Some of the things in the storyline just don't really add up and I found myself thinking why would this character bother doing this. For example, Cersei appears in the game, and wants to meet with Mira (Margaery's handmaiden) in person. I found myself thinking why would Cersei even care or have the time to deal with a handmaiden from some minor house that was associated with the Stark's. It just doesn't seem plausible that Cersei, Tyrion and Margaery would all discuss Mira's case with her present in the throne room. Cersei really wouldn't care about her would she? and has far more important things going on to care about some nobody. The other problem with having main characters from the TV show in the game is that we know they're untouchable. Take Ramsay for example, we know we can't do anything to him or kill him because he is in the TV show.

The main problem with this game however is the decisions themselves and the fact that they have literally no effect on what happens. Basically, the writers of this game have a set story planned and no matter what you do, you have to follow the storyline and events that take place. I'll give you several examples. SPOILERS:

In episode 2, Mira meets with a corrupt Lannister guard who tries to kill her. Her friend, a coalboy, intervenes and the guard attempts to drown him. The game presents you with the choice of either killing the guard with a knife, or running off and leaving the guard to drown the boy. The way this choice is presented makes it seem as though if you don't attack the guard the boy will die. Unfortunately for the makers of this game, we now have youtube videos and Game of Thrones wikipedia pages that tell us what happens if you pick each choice. Basically, whatever option you pick has no effect on the story. If you stab the guard the boy lives and approaches you in the next episode to talk to you about how he disposed of the guards body. If you don't stab the guard and just run off, the boy surely dies right? Nope. He approaches you in the next episode and says he managed to overpower the guard and kill him. This proves the decisions have no effect. The writers have a set plan, and the choices are just an illusion to make you believe what you're choosing is really effecting the story.

Another example, in episode 4 Beshka wants to kill her old master. You can either let her do it or stop her. If you let her kill him, Daenerys Targaryen doesn't give you the Second Sons because you disobeyed her. Oh so if we had stopped Beshka killing the master we'd get the Second Sons? Once again the answer is NO, she says she needs the Second Sons for her own protection, even if you spared the master and followed all of her orders.

So as you can see, the choices have no real effect on the storyline. In the first episode, a playable character (Ethan) is stabbed and killed by Ramsay. Whatever options you pick, say or do, this will always happen. The choices are just an ILLUSION, nothing you really do has any main consequence or will change the overall story of the game. Yes certain characters can be killed off or brought along, but ultimately the choices don't do anything that will change the end game result. Because of this the game is somewhat disappointing. You don't have much freedom. You can't beat some annoying villain to death because the game storyline says he can't die till the end of the game. The game lacks freedom and with a planned end result and options, no matter what you do, certain events will happen because the story says it has to happen and you can't change them. Ultimately you may as well just pick the funniest or most brutal options because they're the most enjoyable to watch and by not picking them, you're not changing anything anyway.

An unfinished game

[mmuggi · 6/10 · 19 January 2023]

/ A lot of people are inside, many have been involved in The Wolf among us.

/ Unfortunately, there will not be a season 2, as Telltale no longer exists. But if they existed, they would probably have a hard time writing a season 2, since the playthrough's are different from player to player. And since Season 1 ends open-ended and not rounded, they would have written themselves into a corner.

-Poor voice acting at times -The dragon didn't seem very threatening -John Snow -Involuntary choice!

-There are no consequences anyway - People can only die if it's scripted

• The sequences where you can walk around and collect things are unnecessary and are not used for anything.

+Episodic +Hard choices

My playthrough House Forrester 0-5 Squire for Norren 0-1 (DEATH) The Norse King Forrester 0-1 (DEAD) Rodrick 1-1-2 (DEAD)* Uncle Duncan Tuttle Lady Elissa Forrester (DEAD)* Ethan Forrester 0-1 (DEAD?) Talia Forrester Ryan Forrester Ser Roland Degore 0-1 (DEAD)* Master Ortengryn Malcolm Branfield 1-0 Asher Forrester 4-1-1

Beshka 2-1-1 Soldiers 1-0 Amaya 1-1 (DEAD) Bloodsong 1-2 (DEATH)

Elena Glenmore 1-0 Arthur Glenmore 0-1 (DEAD) Glenmore Army 1-0

House Lannister 0-1 Cersei 0-1 Tyrion 0-1 Margary Tyrell 0-1 Sera 0-1 Damien 0-1 (DEATH) Tom 1-1 Podrick Lucan (soldier)

Mira Forrester 2-2 (DEAD)

Lord Morgeyn 1-2

Garibald Tarwick

Night's Watch Frostfinger Finn Jon snow

Garrett Tuttle 2-1-1

Cutter 0-1 (DEAD) Wildlings 0-1 Sylvia

North Grove Josera Snow Elsa Snow

Danereys Croft Hellhounds Second Sons

House Frey 1-0

House Bolton 1-0 Ramsay Bolton 2-0 Whitehill 2-1-1 (DEATH) Gwyff whitehill 3-2

Andros 1-0 Lyman Lannister

The Lost legion 0-1

Dezor zo raza 0-1 (DEAD)

Your decisions don't really matter.

[j_stromoski · 2/10 · 30 January 2020]

I will admit, the first play-through of the first episode was very fun when I started the game. You are presented with a variety of options for the characters to choose, which will(presumably) lead to different outcomes in the future. The story was engaging enough to keep my interest and the raw brutal nature of the world is as Game of Thrones as you can get. Punishments are severely harsh and the politics lay the groundwork for the story. Ultimately, it seemed like a very intricate and engaging game of choice, like you'd want from a simulation of living in the GoT world.

The SECOND play-through, however, reveals the game's biggest flaw: Your decisions don't really matter. It was very disappointing. Even as I made completely different decisions, the outcomes were the same. The biggest moments of the story were unchanged as were the consequences of your decisions. As we all know, the heart and soul of GoT is that what you do renders consequences, which is not represented here whatsoever. The game takes it upon itself to enforce the finality regardless of what you do. It ceases to be a game at that realization.

Contrivance is an undesirable element when watching a story unfold, at least for me, and it is present throughout the chapter. Gared fails to save Lord Forrester and WILL be sent to the wall, Mira fails to please Cersei and WILL NOT garner aid for her family, and Ethan fails to appease Lord Whitehill and WILL be killed. I must have played the first chapter 4-5 different ways and these outcomes were absolutely unavoidable. The game will even contradict my choices to ensure the outcome, making me question what the hell the point is in the first place.

For instance, if you choose to have Gared stay, the game will tell you "Nope, he's going to the wall anyway". Just as if you decide to only let Ramsay inside the castle, his men come in anyway and take over. These immediate contradictions to your choices are frustrating and betray the notion that you have any control whatsoever. An overall waste of time, except for a few minor dialogue and setting replacements.

I'll admit, I did not pay for he next episode, so I can not speak to whether the new choices would yield any significant consequences to the main narrative, but if the play-through was as contrived as the first, then I would guess not. After playing this chapter, the only possible enjoyment I can see anyone having would be from the story unfolding(ignoring the contrivances), rather than from any personal contributions they make. Would NOT recommend.