Game of Thrones: Episode One - Iron From Ice

 PC
Metascore
75

Generally favorable reviews - based on 44 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 28 out of 44
  2. Mixed: 13 out of 44
  3. Negative: 3 out of 44
  1. Game World Navigator Magazine
    Dec 24, 2014
    40
    A choice between two evils or two truths was a good fit for The Walking Dead because that’s what the series was about. But “A Song of Fire and Ice” isn’t about such decisions; its characters solve rather primitive dilemmas actually, but they solve them wrongly. Therefore, choices that you make in this game just don’t feel right; they don’t leave that “Westeros” impression. [Jan 2015, p.71]
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  2. Hardcore Gamer
    Dec 14, 2014
    40
    In the moment, it can be thrilling to spar words with Cersei or choose whether to execute a thief or send him to the Wall. For that to work, however, you have to be willing to put up with a lot: the slow pacing, the exaggerated visuals, the awful animation and the fact that those choices don’t make much of a difference at all. Things could improve over the long haul, but based on this first episode, committing to a season pass is not recommended to anyone but the most diehard Game of Thrones fans with a high tolerance for mediocrity.
  3. CD-Action
    Feb 7, 2015
    35
    If this is how the rest of Telltale’s Game of Thrones is going to look like, I want nothing to do with it. Too many dialogues that lead nowhere, too much nonsense inconsistent with the source material, and the visuals are simply laughable. [01/2015, p.59]
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Awards & Rankings

81
#81 Most Discussed PC Game of 2014

User Reviews

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User Score
7.4

Mixed or average reviews- based on 305 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 195 out of 305
  2. Mixed: 62 out of 305
  3. Negative: 48 out of 305
  1. Davisx3m
    Dec 2, 2014
    9
    Telltale seems to have adopted the same success in telling a story in the world of Westeros as HBO did with it's hit series. In the firstTelltale seems to have adopted the same success in telling a story in the world of Westeros as HBO did with it's hit series. In the first episode you'll get to play as three different characters and explore different parts of Westeros. Each one of them are somehow related to the House Forrester, a house loyal to the Stark Family.

    You'll get to fight (QTE) and use diplomacy in a very satisfactory way, everything you do seems to affect the whole story, even if most or some of it might just be an "illusion". But I can work with that, especially in Telltale Games, they always handle that in a good way. But there are some options that seem so... big, that there must be quite a big difference between those. And hopefully they will change parts of the story quite a lot.

    This game offers much more walking and inspecting objects and such comparing to let's say Tales from the Borderlands, which is quite nice since it makes the game feel more like a game than a interactive story. However I'm not sure how the objects will affect the game play, it will probably be shown in the coming episodes.

    One other thing is that to fully enjoy the game you need to have watched the series, because there are things that is connected directly to the show, like characters, voices, places, etc. I myself was really deep into the story, and I don't think people who haven't watched the show will feel the same way.

    The story starts at a slow pace for about 5 minutes and after that it has it's up and downs, which both fits perfectly to the story and the characters, and it's quite refreshing to switch between these characters, to move the story forward on all fronts.

    And let's end this review with the end of the first episode, I won't spoil anything, but it's worth the Game of Thrones name, I'll leave it at that!    … Full Review »
  2. Riskyreview
    Dec 2, 2014
    6
    Let me start by saying this game is not bad but it's not good either, this review is going to focus more on Telltale as a whole rather thenLet me start by saying this game is not bad but it's not good either, this review is going to focus more on Telltale as a whole rather then just this one game.
    Telltale can be compared to a roller-coaster ride, they used to make games that where terrible until they made TWD S1 that game was the start of a whole new genre and it was amazing, all the characters where interesting and so was the story, but after they made TWD S1 they hit a downhill again.
    TWAU was the start of the downhill it was pretty good but not as good as TWD S1, then came TWD S2.
    Jesus H. Christ what a disappointment that was, none of the characters where interesting or likable except for the ones brought over from TWD S1!
    And now they're getting closer to the bottom with Iron from ice.
    First of it doesn't capture the feel of the show at all, second yet again none of the characters are interesting or likable in any way and yet again except for the ones brought over from the show.
    The story is extremely dull apart from some gory scenes.
    I think it's time for Telltale to hire some new writers or at least try and beg the ones that wrote for TWD S1 to come back.    … Full Review »
  3. linkenski
    Dec 2, 2014
    9
    So far Telltale's take on Game of Thrones is quite impressive, both being authentic to the tone and feel of the main show (minus sex so far)So far Telltale's take on Game of Thrones is quite impressive, both being authentic to the tone and feel of the main show (minus sex so far) by having the complexity and greyness in character-writing, the premise is well-shaped and captivates you within the first half hour of the game. All in all it sets the bar quite high from the get-go.

    To see cameos from the TV show performed by the real actors is a treat, one I would never have even hoped we could get, but the performances are as good as in the TV-show, and Peter Dinklage definitely got his redemption here after his lacklustre performance as Ghost in Bungie's Destiny earlier this year. The new and original characters who are the central element of the story are also well-acted but it is a little jarring to see the design-difference as they are not stylized sculptures of real actors, but instead Telltale's design-teams own artistically crafted designs, and to be honest this shows, but you will get used to it.

    There are choices to make that all seem to have proper weight to them, and no matter what there are shocking developments you will not see coming just in this first episode, in true GoT fashion. The best thing is, all of it feels properly developed and is not just shocking for the sake of nonsensical shock-value as we've seen in earlier franchise adaptations from Telltale. I'm pretty pleased to tell that Game of Thrones under Telltale's vision is as mature and sophisticated as the real thing. The coming episodes will determine if this quality lasts though, but so far all is good, heck, even better than I hoped it would be!    … Full Review »
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