Author’s Note: The following will discuss the Game of Thrones TellTale game, the books, and the TV show. I will try not to spoil anything too badly but some events must be discussed. Proceed with caution.
My interest in Game of Thrones changed last summer, moving beyond a standard nerdy interest and into a potential lifelong obsession akin to Star Wars. After enjoying a few seasons of the HBO show I, on a whim, purchased all five books in the series and read through them all over that summer. I was impressed how different the TV show had been and how detailed and complex the novels were. I kept a map open for reference and on occasion would Google characters just to remind myself of their importance. The obsession was serious, but as with most of my obsessions, it waxed and waned over time. With no new episodes to watch, the books finished, and a paltry choice of video games, I submitted to the fact that I would have to wait some more for my Game of Thrones fix.
Then TellTale took on the interwoven setting of Game of Thrones with their typical style, and as of this writing I have finished the first two episodes of the first season. The episodes follow the family Forrester, a family made up specifically for the video game, as they deal with the changing landscape of Westeros. The family was staunchly allied with the North and Robb Stark as he marched his army against the Lannisters. Unfortunately the events of The Red Wedding leave the Forresters scattered and torn apart. In the first two episodes you play out the aftermath of that event trying to keep up with the shifting sands of politics that continue to spill more and more blood.
Every conversation and small moment feels like it springs from the TV show. Simple conversations may feel as if they’re going your way before a typical, but nonetheless shocking, twist takes place. Characters die, relationships change, and quite often I found myself pretending to be confident and daring without hope of surviving, and the game would sometimes take notice. Other characters would note when I was being falsely confident or overly kind to my enemies. You feel as if every decision you take is under scrutiny of others, even those who are sworn to your side.
The final scene of episode one especially stood out for me. The weight of your choices were pressing in as the story played out and right before the end I felt guilt and sadness over the ending. My actions didn’t feel predetermined and that level of control over each character’s fate suddenly became a reality for me.
With every word, action, and decision I feel their echoes resonating throughout the rest of the game. I feel as if I’m actually playing through my own episodes of Game of Thrones and watching as everything falls apart as the entire world’s moral barometer changes with the wind. TellTale has a lot to live up with such wonderful books and a faithful and unique television show to emulate. They do their best and while it doesn’t completely stand on its own, it does well as a wonderful addition to that universe.
