Game of Thrones: S01E01 - Feedback Thread

Hello,

In case that this sort of thread already exists, please merge it to the original one. I wasn't able to find anything similar. Otherwise, please feel free to post your thoughts about Episode 1. Oh, this thread might contain spoilers, so don't read it, if you haven't played the game yet.

So, here is my feedback:

At the beginning I've felt a bit cheated, since I expected to play someone on the Forrester family and not some mentally challenged pig farmer (Gared). I didn't like this character, since he's portrayed overly idiotic. The mimic, the dialogues etc. ... bah. Also the situation with his family didn't strike me as very convincing. It seemed to me to be more of a story construct. So anyway, I was relieved that he went away and I do hope that in the coming episodes he becomes less of an annoying "Duck"-Person (TWDS1). The character seems to be some kind of misplaced comic relief person. Don't get me wrong. If done well, I would enjoy playing him. For example Podrick is one of my favorite characters. He's not that smart either, but at least his conviction etc. makes him seem less of a joke.

Then my next thought was. Great, first they make me play Gared and now I'm supposed to be this little boy? Can I please play some serious character? However, I was pleasantly surprised that this kid was in fact fun to play. Also the scenes in King's Landing were rather good. The rest of the episode was tense and interesting and enjoyable. All in all it was well done.

Pros:

  • Good story
  • Mostly well written characters (Duncan, the Knight guy, the Maester, the mother etc.)
  • Better than TWD Season2
  • Shocking ending like in the books or tv show. Please don't do this too often though.

Cons:

  • Very bad graphics (on PC with max settings). And why does it automatically launch in window mode with lowest graphic settings? The area around the red wedding/twin towers looked terrible. How about some new engine?
  • No exploration. The areas are too narrow.
  • No riddles
  • I didn't feel that there were any important decisions
  • So far not as good, as Tales of the borderland

Message to Telltalegames:

First, the episode was enjoyable. You did good. But you could still improve.
Guys, I know you're masters of story telling. You're doing this pretty well here too. But please be careful of how you present the characters here. In Game of Thrones strange facial expressions and overly stupid people seem to be a bit misplaced. So try to save Gared by giving him some inner flame that compensates for his lack of intelligence. Have a second glance at Podrick, since you seem to model Gared after him.
Honestly, this Game of Thrones feels too much of a fan service so far. You lack innovation or any kind of advancement, since you just make interactive movies recently. Why can't we see larger areas? Why can't we have some riddles to slow down the game at some stages? Why are there almost no optional dialogues? Why do you still use this out of date engine? Graphics might not be the most important thing, but instead of having 3 projects running at the same time, you should use some of your earnings to get ahead. Improve, instead of just milking what you have.
Also, so far your "decisions" are just illusions and provide almost no replay value. You really should improve at least some of those issues. Because your good story telling might not always be enough to save the game.

Comments

  • I'm unhappy with the way that most of the decisions in the episode ultimately failed to matter in any meaningful way whatsoever. Every action you may take leads to the same outcome, and the only decision which seems to carry over into the next episode is your choice of Sentinel. Also, Ramsay magically teleporting twenty Whitehill soldiers into your keep no matter how defensive you've been. On top of that the three playable characters seemed somewhat bland. Due to the changing perspective everything has to be action-focused with barely any time at all to begin to identify with these characters or understand them as people.
    I just wish Telltale would be a bit bloody braver. I'd rather wait longer for episodes that branch more severely than previous games, than get the episodes delivered quickly but all as part of the same homogeneous experience. It's not like the games contain difficult puzzles or challenges - Part of the challenge is trying to get the best outcome with the decisions you make, but when the outcome is the same regardless of those decisions, it starts to feel pointless. I'm being given the illusion of power in someone else's linear storybook, in every Telltale game I play.

  • edited December 2014

    Finished episode one.

    Goddamn, what a start. I was a little unhappy to see Rodrick and Gregor die in the beginning, and I barely got a chance to interact with Rodrick too. But at least I managed to fulfill my duty that Gregor gave me. And Gared seemed to be the only one to be caught in the "quick time events" so far in this episode. And I have to admit, hearing the English accents from Gared and Ethan was nice.

    Talking to Cercei was... interesting. Tyrion seemed amused with how I spoke to her. Answering questions while at the same time, not saying anything at all. But it was until the discussion was coming to an end that I dropped the act and chose who I'm loyal to.

    MY CHOICES:

    • I saved Bowen and stayed with him. Never leave a man behind. (Also, I liked how it went into slow-mo at that moment. Really lets you know that you gotta make decision right away)
    • I swore loyalty to Margaery. Cercei may have gotten a lil peeved by that, but so what?
    • I sent Erik to the wall. I thought about showing mercy, but then I thought that would mean others in the house would take advantage of that.
    • I picked Duncan as the Sentinel. He seemed like my kind of guy.
    • I chose to meet Ramsay at the gate. I didn't want him be anywhere inside where he can cause any kind of damage.

    And now I'm peeved that Ethan, one of the playable characters, just got killed by that psycho Ramsay, and now there's only four left. I'm starting to think that Gared and Mira might be the only PCs remaining by the time episode 6 arrives.

  • I thought it was very well done.

    They nailed the feel of the world, one hand how harsh it is and how unfair it is but also perhaps more importantly the good in the world too.

    That said please take your time, I dont mind waiting as long as the game is good; no need to rush and try to make choices do... welll anything but a few determinants surviving would be good. Finally if you are going for a multi title project then plana bit for some of the current characters t have a role rather than just kill all and start over like the walking dead

  • edited December 2014

    Hi @all

    I liked the game so far, you nailed the feel and the atmosphere and thank god you had NOT as many bugs as the last two GoT games and am awaiting episode 2.

    Yes, it is kind of idiotic to make decisions that do not count for anything, but what really pisses me off are the game controls, is this suposed to be a puzzle game or a RPG? Why have WASD controls if they feel like having a controller? Why not allow to edit the controls? Why not allow for controllers? Why the .... not allow for real WASD+Mouse controls (third person or even first person) and a decent fighting system like it is done in any other successfull PCGame one would care to name?

  • Actually, this is the one game where I DON'T have a problem with choices not mattering.

    A big thing in the books is a lot of times it doesn't MATTER what your decision is.

    You're going to get screwed by events.

    As for the "teleporting soldiers." They said you didn't have enough men to man the walls.

  • I don't know what you're smoking dude. Gared is awesome.

    Favorite character, hands down.

  • edited December 2014

    Indeed. Every character we play is just a minor pawn in the game of thrones, so who are we to make an impact in this world? Our lives are decided by the Wardens, Kings and Queens.
    I think Telltale has chosen appearances of famous characters over a story that can be highly influenced. Not that I mind, I always wanted to call Ramsay 'Lord Snow'.

    Actually, this is the one game where I DON'T have a problem with choices not mattering. A big thing in the books is a lot of times it doe

  • That's the whole point of the machine, anyway, that it functions like a clockwork device which influences events one place then another.

    It's really like Ned.

    No matter what Ned did, he was going to be executed.

    He just needed to choose HOW he was going to be executed.

    DutchBagel posted: »

    Indeed. Every character we play is just a minor pawn in the game of thrones, so who are we to make an impact in this world? Our lives are de

  • And while we are at it.

    I like (and see the sence) in having conversations the way they are in the game, BUT why have the character movement scripted? Why not have areas and allow them to move around freely and just have a pointer (or a map) showing them where they need to be.

  • edited December 2014

    Actually NOT TRUE:

    He always had the option of coming with 500 of his men and taking over Palace security.
    Or leaving the Palace and "stealing" the king away to his brother.
    Or having the Queen killed when he was Hand of the King.
    Or using the power given to him to have Joffrey and Cercei thrown into a cell right after Robert Baratheon died.
    Or......

    Well I guess you see the picture.
    He was in character and his chacracter was that of the honest guy. In politics that's a bad idea.
    And after beeing the Warden of the North this long he should have known!

    That's the whole point of the machine, anyway, that it functions like a clockwork device which influences events one place then another.

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