Moving Past Huffing and Puffing

WARNING: Spoilers from Episodes 1 and 2 contained within; we are leaving all spoilers from Episode 3 out!

I haven’t always been the biggest fan of The Wolf Among Us. The adventures of a crime-fighting Big Bad Wolf couldn’t reach the same emotional highs as previous Telltale Games titles like The Walking Dead. I should have felt the shift in the wind during the last episode’s delightfully disturbing cliff-hanger, but I had no clue how attached to the series I could become in one episode. That being said, The Wolf Among Us is quickly becoming my new favorite Telltale series.

The story picks up in the Open Arms Hotel. Bigby Wolf is standing next to a puddle of blood from the murdered troll found on his own doorstep. Your neighbor (Beauty) is guarding the door, while her jealous husband (Beast) has nearly just beat the hell out of you for catching you with his wife in the prostitution haven. Meanwhile, you are shuffling through photos of your boss (Ichabod Crane), the head of the Fabletown police, having “relations” with the dead troll disguised to look like your co-worker and romantic interest, Snow White. Yeah, that is quite a set up.

Starting with a fantastic opening, The Wolf Among Us never dips in excitement. Questions constantly pile up: where is Ichabod, how can we find him, and what is his connection to the murders? I’m not going into the nitty gritty of the story, but I will say this is the first one that kept me on the edge of my seat. The story–now that all the pieces are set and characters introduced–had me so emotionally invested, I was hoping the episode would never end.

The story is not the only thing Telltale had improved on. While I love Telltale titles, they are constantly plagued with graphical, loading, and sound problems which drag me out of the immersive experience. So what about the newest episode of The Wolf Among Us? Bug and glitch free.

I’m not sure if its because I played the game a week after release (allowing for patches) or the sheer amount of time between Episode 2 and 3, but I never once had an issue with the game. However, loading times are still there (as always). Loading times seem like a necessary evil, and one that I’ve grown used to.

If you have played the first and second episode, you should understand what the gameplay entails. There is nothing truly new being added to the formula, and interacting with everything (which is what you should do) is a pure joy.

The Verdict: 9 out of 10 

The Wolf Among Us: “A Crooked Mile” is the episode that will get you hooked on the series, if you haven’t been already. Telltale knows how to craft a fantastic story, and now that the set pieces are in place the game is beginning to shine. Add to that Telltale’s newfound technical prowess, and this makes for an amazing title. If you haven’t picked up the title, do yourself a favor and grab the season pass.
__________________________________________________________________________

Lou Contaldi is MONG’s Nintendo Specialist and senior editor. He also spends his time habitating a law school. You can follow his incoherent ramblings at Twitter.

This review is based off of the PS3 copy bought individually. The reviewer spent 4 hours with the game.