Game of Thrones: Episode 2 – The Lost Lords Review
Game of Thrones: Episode 2 – The Lost Lords
Publisher: Telltale Games
Developer: Telltale Games
Genre:
PEGI: M
Comments:
The second episode of Telltale’s take on Game of Thrones feels a little too much like a second beginning, but shows that things are soon going to start heating up.
Despite more appearances from HBO’s incredible cast, it’s the developing stories of its original characters that hold your attention this time around.
Burning the Ironwood
As is to be expected from Game of Thrones, the first episode ended in death and misery. The characters you had grown to know best had been completely changed or killed, and hope was hard to come by.
With that said, the ending very much made what was an otherwise dull episode. It had its guest stars – very much welcome and the highlight of what we’d seen – but the new characters failed to make their mark.
That’s definitely turned around in the second outing. Now the original characters are starting to stand by the likes of Tyrion Lannister and Jon Snow. They’ll never be able to live up to four seasons of quality drama, but they’re beginning to interact in ways which make them more unique in their own right.
And while the second episode fixes many of the issues of the first, it adds a few of its own. With the introduction of two new characters – one of whom you’ll spend most of your time with – it almost feels like a second beginning. The first episode was about time and place within the world of Game of Thrones, while the second is more about what Telltale are going to do with it.
For that reason, The Lost Lords feels far more “introductory” than is ideal in a second episode. There’s the feeling that things are just getting started, and that you’re beginning again anew, rather than continuing a single plot.
This is helped a little by the sections where you play as Mira, still working as a handmaiden to Margaery Tyrell in King’s Landing. She is the one returning player whose story continues within the same location as the last game. The few scenes she stars in are nicely tense – a perfect representation of the tight atmosphere of the political and social centre of Westeros.
Garred Tuttle finally arrives at The Wall, but his story is probably the weakest. It’s a “Virtual Springfield” opportunity to take a look around as a new recruit, but there are hints that things will become more interesting in future episodes.
The new characters are well introduced and are bound to become well-loved in future outings. It’s just a shame that so much of this episode feels like it’s setting a foundation for a top quality mid-season, rather than bringing it from the word go.
Paint and Voice
It’s nice to note that the design is much better this time around. The first episode – at the time we played it – had terrible visual glitches that sadly ruined the interesting art style. It’s no longer an issue and the painted style absolutely shines.
The voice work is much better this time around as well, with only one point where the actor sounds more Australian than English.
Game Of Thrones: Episode 2 – The Lost Lords – Conclusion
Telltale’s Game of Thrones is definitely improving. It doesn’t yet feel like things are quite as interesting as they could be, but it’s interesting to look forward. It would be wrong to call it a filler episode, because it feels that way. Perhaps a longer first episode would have been a better move on Telltale’s part?
Trailer
Article By Mat Growcott
Mat Growcott has been a long-time member of the gaming press. He's written two books and a web series, and doesn't have nearly enough time to play the games he writes about.
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