CARRIED AWAY

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Telltale Games‘ third installment of its six part Game of Thrones series strikes a lot of the right chords that previous episodes have been lacking: characters making meaningful strides toward their goals in ways that depart from their HBO counterparts and a plot that is beginning to form an idea of what this season’s resolutions might resemble. Episode Three: A Sword in the Darkness is one of the first episodes of the season that really makes this series feel unique in the universe it draws its material from. And yet, it can’t seem to step away from its endless need to pour in an unhealthy dose of fan-service.

A warning to those who have not ventured beyond HBO’s Game of Thrones episode 402, “The Lion and the Rose.” SPOILERS are soon to follow.

Much like Episode Two, Episode Three begins with Asher’s adventures in Essos. He’s in need of an army to bring back to Westeros in order to save his family, but a pesky mercenary group is still pursuing him and his companions. When they reach a dead-end (directionally speaking), it’s suggested that they hide in some caves. Unfortunately, they discover that they must share that space with a rather unruly resident.

If you know anything about this episode from seeing the trailers, or even from looking at the image you have to select in order to play the game, then it’s not spoiling anything to tell you that one of Daenerys’ dragons wriggles its way into the plot. I’d love to tell you that this is done seamlessly and with care: ‘One of the most impressive and mystifying characters (yes, I consider each dragon a character) of the television series fits perfectly into the story. It feels necessary.’ No. No, it does not. By the end of the episode, it actually becomes more apparent (after another unnecessary character reveal – I bet you can guess who!) that Drogon’s placement is little more than a cheap ploy to remind the audience of why they enjoy this world, and that’s unfortunate since this episode finally features elements that make the season feel different from the HBO series.

Although I make complaints about the unnecessary inclusion of high-profile Game of Thrones characters, I know it’s important that Telltale’s series feels like a small part of the big picture in the universe by inserting events that orient viewers in the overarching timeline. This is done not-so-subtly, but to effect, in the first episode when Gared must escape from the horrors following The Red Wedding. Similarly, in Episode Three, we find Mira at Joffrey Lannister and Margaery Tyrell’s wedding. This time, we don’t need text to place us in the thick of what’s to come, and when Tyrion is arrested for murdering the king, the implications to Mira’s plans are disastrous. We finally get to see the “little handmaiden” act with agency and take the situation into her own hands. What she must do, Sansa (a character from HBO’s series with strong parallels to Mira’s plight) never would have committed without significant prodding. It makes for one of the most intense scenes in the season so far, and not a single sword is swung.

At The Wall, Gared takes his vows to become a member of The Night’s Watch. Instead of it being a slow, boring scene where a few guys chant some words together, Telltale made the vow interactive. As a nice touch of detail, Gared continues when you prompt him to, and he’ll fall behind the others if he takes too long. Maybe he’s forgetting the words or maybe he’s having a difficult time saying them. Either way, it’s a nice way of adding depth to a rather shallow character.

Then, as he must decide if The North Grove is worth losing his life over, someone from his past is brought in to take The Black. The decisions he faces begin to make him seem like more of a growing character. We get a glimpse at the man he might become when its time to go North of The Wall, and I’m starting to think it’s going to get pretty dark.

While I finally found his sections more enjoyable, there was one part towards the end that had me slightly confused. I had thought that my combination of decisions during one particular encounter had ended more-or-less peacefully, only to discover, after subsequent decisions relating to the matter, that it had not. Suffice it to say that I would have acted differently if the outcome of that encounter was clearer. As it is, I’ll likely have to deal with the fallout of my misguided actions in future episodes. In games such as these, not every action will have the desired consequences (we’re looking at you, Ethan), but if a significant plot point is misrepresented on-screen, then it’s not a problem the player should have to sort out.

Things aren’t getting much better for the Forresters at Ironrath. Rodrick is still substantially mutilated to the point where it seems unlikely he’ll ever move around without that cane, and Whitehill forces are pressing their strength ever-harder. For the most part, Rodrick’s sections become more and more interesting, and as a nice turn of events, Talia gets a moment to shine as a more developed character from when we saw her in the first episode. Regardless of who players chose as Forrester Sentinel, both Royland and Duncan have significant parts to play. It seems that decision didn’t mean much in the long-run. Hopefully, that’s not a prelude to how the rest of the season will address some of the more major decisions of the past episodes and future ones.

The Verdict: 8.4 out of 10

The Sword in the Darkness continues the positive trend we’ve seen in Telltale’s work on its Game of Thrones series. It makes an earnest effort to flesh out both playable characters and peripheral characters while forwarding the plot towards something resembling a solid conclusion. Although the episode just won’t let go of what makes people ‘excited’ about dabbling in its universe, it makes a difference where it really counts. And hey, the art style is starting to grow on me a little. Well, it’s gotten less distracting, at least.

For more information about what the score means, check out our official review scale.

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Jordan Loeffler is an Associate Editor for MONG who drives a 2006 Pontiac Vibe with Minnesota license plates even though he lives in Portland, OR. She’s seafoam green, and she drives like a wave. You can also follow him on IGN and on Twitter.