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.
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.