After the success of The Walking Dead it only seemed natural for choose-your-own-adventure game studio Telltale to tackle George R.R. Martin's grim fantasy epic Game of Thrones. More in vogue than The Walking Dead and predicated on politicking rather than action, it seems like a fine fit. Yet in the opening hour or two it becomes quite clear that this is Telltale's greatest challenge yet.
For starters, Telltale has its work cut out for it by creating a mid-budget spin-off to one of the most visually arresting TV shows ever made. This series' impressionistic, painterly aesthetic can look very impressive at times (the matte painting-like establishing shots are particularly a treat), but there's no denying that these rudimentary avatars and blocky backgrounds pale in comparison to the TV series in which it's based. It's a fine looking budget game in its own right, but the inevitable comparisons to the HBO show do it no favours.
Furthermore, Telltale's Game of Thrones is tethered to a series of staggeringly complex lore. The TV show's cast of several dozen can be a doozy to keep up with, while this video game spin-off introduces at least a couple dozen more colourful characters. Oh, and it's set concurrently to the HBO show between the tail end of its third season and the beginning of its fifth. Remember what everyone was up to two years ago?
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