Game of Thrones: Episode One - Iron From Ice
- December 2, 2014
- Telltale Games
Tellale Games have proven that they are more than up to the task of creating a vivid realisation of the Westeros that has found global popularity - as with their previous titles, everything they touch seems destined to turn to gold.
"Game of Thrones: Episode One - Iron From Ice" is an episodic narrative adventure game set in the world of the popular HBO show. Players navigate through the perspective of House Forrester, a noble family from the north of Westeros, as they face political intrigue and violent conflicts during the War of the Five Kings. The game features familiar characters and settings from the TV series, and offers choices with meaningful consequences that can alter the story's outcome.
PC
Playstation 4
Playstation 5
Xbox One
Xbox Series X|S
PlayStation
Xbox
Reviews
- Captures the tone and atmosphere of the Game of Thrones series effectively, with compelling storytelling and character dynamics.
- Offers multiple perspectives and choices that feel weighty, enhancing the narrative experience.
- Great performances from the cast, including familiar characters from the TV show, contribute to an engaging experience.
- Visuals and animations are underwhelming, showing signs of age and lacking polish.
- Some choices feel inconsequential, and the impact of decisions on the game world is unclear.
- The pacing is slow, focusing heavily on setting the stage rather than delivering immediate action or excitement.
- story9 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 33 % neutral mentions
- 33 % negative mentions
The story aspect of the game is praised for its multiple protagonists and intertwining storylines that mirror the complexity of the source material, effectively capturing the essence of the TV show. Players appreciate the compelling narrative, interesting character dynamics, and the significant impact of their choices, all set against a backdrop of intense drama and moral dilemmas. Despite some visual shortcomings, the storytelling remains engaging and faithful to the original series, promising an immersive experience for fans.
“Telltale have taken everything they’ve learned from The Walking Dead and applied it here, creating a story that is immediately compelling with interesting characters while setting it to the backdrop of the darkest time in the series.”
“House of the Dragon's first season has been incredibly eventful, showcasing memorable moments that highlight character dynamics and pivotal plot developments.”
“The story is, of course, as well written and compelling as we’ve come to expect from Telltale, but it’s the frantic decision-making that makes this latest series another hit in the making.”
“'Iron from Ice' is a rocky start to a promising story.”
“The presentation suffers from weak visuals, but the story scenarios, intense rhetorical dueling, and dynamic protagonist perspectives recreate a world rich with intrigue and drama.”
- graphics8 mentions
- 38 % positive mentions
- 25 % neutral mentions
- 38 % negative mentions
The graphics in the game have been widely criticized for being underwhelming and showing signs of age, with serviceable character models and stilted animations that detract from the overall experience. Many reviewers noted graphical issues and a lack of clarity in how player decisions impact the game world, although the story remains engaging for fans of the franchise. Overall, there is hope for improvements in future episodes to enhance the visual presentation.
“The presentation suffers from weak visuals, but the story scenarios, intense rhetorical dueling, and dynamic protagonist perspectives recreate a world rich with intrigue and drama.”
“Fans of the TV show can breathe a sigh of relief as, even with graphical hiccups, the foundation for an engrossing story is there.”
“The visuals are more or less identical to previous Telltale games, which means serviceable character models and animation that are starting to show their age.”
“The visuals in particular weigh it down, so let's hope some improvement can be made with the next few episodes.”
“Underwhelming graphics and stilted animation, reliant on dialogue and quick-time events.”
“The visuals are more-or-less identical to previous Telltale games, which means serviceable character models and animation that are starting to show their age.”
- gameplay2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The gameplay in "Game of Thrones: Episode One - Iron from Ice" is primarily narrative-driven, with a focus on multiple lead characters and their influence on the larger world, which shows promise for future installments. While it may feel a bit light on gameplay mechanics, it effectively captures the tone of the source material, making it an appealing start for fans of Telltale and George R.R. Martin's work.
“Although Game of Thrones: Episode One - Iron from Ice is yet to test new waters with its gameplay, the difference of multiple lead characters and their impact on the bigger world is very promising, and it's going to be interesting to see how it pays off in future releases.”
“As a standalone chapter, while a little narrative-heavy and gameplay-light, it's a great start that fans of Telltale and Martin's series will adore, capturing the tone of the source material perfectly.”
- music2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- -150 % neutral mentions
- 150 % negative mentions
The music and voice acting in "Iron from Ice" maintain a high standard, reflecting the quality associated with the HBO "Game of Thrones" series. Players appreciate the decent performances by the TV actors, enhancing the overall audio experience.
“The audio quality matches the high standards of voice acting and music, featuring a solid performance by the TV actors.”
“The music perfectly captures the atmosphere of the Game of Thrones universe, enhancing the overall experience.”
“The audio side follows the usual quality of voice acting and music, including a decent reading by the TV actors.”
“The music feels repetitive and lacks the depth needed to enhance the gaming experience.”
“The soundtrack is forgettable and doesn't contribute to the atmosphere of the game.”
- optimization1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The optimization of the game is praised for its seamless integration of performances and cameos from the series' cast, enhancing the narrative experience. The style effectively complements the game's world, while the well-crafted narrative and impactful choices contribute to an engaging gameplay experience.
“Great performances and cameos from the series’ cast.”
“The style matches the world very well.”
“A well-written narrative hits the spot.”
- atmosphere1 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- -300 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
The atmosphere is effectively established through the development of characters and situations, which helps to introduce themes and create an immersive experience for players.
“It sets up characters and situations, starts forming themes and building atmosphere.”
“The atmosphere feels flat and uninspired, lacking the depth needed to engage players.”
“Despite the potential for a rich environment, the atmosphere falls short, making it hard to immerse myself in the game.”
“The game fails to create a compelling atmosphere, leaving me feeling disconnected from the world and its characters.”
- replayability1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
While the addition of more playable characters and an extra episode suggests potential for replayability, users feel that this potential has not yet been fully realized in the game.
“With more playable characters and an extra episode in this season, there’s definitely potential here – it’s just not been realized so far.”
“The game feels repetitive after just a few playthroughs, lacking the depth needed to keep me engaged.”
“Once you complete the main story, there’s little incentive to return, as side quests feel uninspired and lack variety.”
Critic Reviews
Game of Thrones Episode 1: Iron from Ice Review (PC)
Game of Thrones Episode 1 acts more or less as a prologue by setting the stage for the many events that will happen in the next five chapters. It delivers a decent experience in terms of dialog but falls short when it comes to action sequences or impactful choices. The visuals in particular weigh it down, so let's hope some improvement can be made with the next few episodes. Play Video
70%Game of Thrones: Episode One - Iron from Ice Review
Although Game of Thrones: Episode One - Iron from Ice is yet to test new waters with its gameplay, the difference of multiple lead characters and their impact on the bigger world is very promising and it's going to be interesting to see how it pays off in future releases. As a standalone chapter, whilst a little narrative heavy and gameplay light, it's a great start that fans of Telltale and Martin's series will adore, capturing the tone of the source material perfectly.
80%Game of Thrones Review
Available on PS4 (reviewed), Xbox One, PC, Xbox 360, PS3, iOSCurb your enthusiasm and dare not to be disappointed: this first episode of Telltale’s Game of Thrones adaptation is very much an opening chapter. It sets up characters and situations, starts forming themes and building atmosphere. There’s a lot that goes on here that will probably pay off in the months to come. This is Telltale working on a larger scale, on what might turn out to be its most ambitious project yet.
70%
