The Wolf Among Us: Episode 2 - Smoke and Mirrors

 PlayStation 3
Metascore
82

Generally favorable reviews - based on 9 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 8 out of 9
  2. Mixed: 1 out of 9
  3. Negative: 0 out of 9
  1. NZGamer
    Feb 14, 2014
    95
    Smoke and Mirrors still suffers from the mechanical flaws of the first game, and particularly struggles with frame rate drops around scene changes, but these are minor annoyances in an otherwise top-notch episode that ups the ante for a game that had already gotten off to a great start.
  2. IGN Italia
    Feb 7, 2014
    88
    A great second episode, even better than the first one in terms of writing and with some pretty good design ideas in terms of the investigative process.
  3. PlayStation Universe
    Feb 10, 2014
    85
    A more focused, hard-boiled narrative and comic-book artistry make 'Smoke and Mirrors' a more compelling game than 'Faith,' even if it's not necessarily more fun or interesting to play.
  5. IGN
    Feb 5, 2014
    85
    The writing in Wolf is just so damn good that I can't help but seek out every line of dialogue possible.
  6. Playstation Official Magazine UK
    Apr 15, 2014
    80
    The cast, cues and fracas are still bringing down the house. [Apr 2014, p.86]
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  7. Playstation Official Magazine Australia
    Mar 19, 2014
    80
    A solid follow-up that although enjoyable, doesn’t quite reach the same heights of its debut. [April 2014, p80]
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  8. Push Square
    Feb 18, 2014
    80
    This second chapter picks up the ball from the first episode and runs with it.
  9. God is a Geek
    Feb 7, 2014
    80
    Where episode one faltered with pacing, episode two is an almost relentless barrage of action, barely giving you time to breathe. The only real problem with this is that Smoke & Mirrors flies by and is over before you know it, making you desperate for episode three.
  10. Eurogamer Portugal
    Feb 25, 2014
    70
    It is too bad that Smoke and Mirrors is not as spectacular and balanced as the first episode was, but at the end of the day it leaves us wanting more.

Awards & Rankings

12
#12 Best PS3 Game of 2014
50
#50 Most Discussed PS3 Game of 2014

User Reviews

All reviews »
User Score
7.9

Generally favorable reviews- based on 91 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 69 out of 91
  2. Mixed: 16 out of 91
  3. Negative: 6 out of 91
  1. TheBrak
    Feb 10, 2014
    8
    It was a long 3 month wait after the introduction to the wolf among us but episode 2 is finally here. The second episode is not as solid asIt was a long 3 month wait after the introduction to the wolf among us but episode 2 is finally here. The second episode is not as solid as the first mostly because of sloppier writing and a shorter running time. Despite all that the writing is still better than most other games and the world is unique and interesting.
    At the end of the day if you enjoyed the first episode you going to enjoy this one as well.    … Full Review »
  2. TheQuietGamer
    Feb 5, 2014
    9
    Many may disagree with me, but I feel this was step up from the already enjoyable first episode. I feel that this episode in particular reallyMany may disagree with me, but I feel this was step up from the already enjoyable first episode. I feel that this episode in particular really gives a darker and more mature feeling to a story that had already felt dark and mature in the first episode. There are some big revelations here and it makes the wait for the next episode unbearable.

    The biggest improvement I feel between this episode and the first is that player choice is given an even higher emphasis. This episode gives you plenty of choices on how to handle situations, either civilized or aggressively, and the really made me feel like I was in control of both how the story would turn out and who Bigby was as a person. This gave me a real sense of ownership over this game and story that I felt was missing in the first episode. There's not much in the way of really big choices that will effect future episodes, but I still feel like I made an impact on the events to come.

    Overall this is an extremely well done episode, but it does have some light flaws. The technical issues that have plagued Telltale games since The Walking Dead are still here, and let's be honest the wait for this episode was outrageous. In the end though, as always, these issues don't mean much when you are going to be so absorbed in the story and content of the episode. If Telltale keeps improving with future episodes the way they improved this one then we may have their best work yet. I am incredibly impressed with this episode and highly recommend you play it as well as the first episode.    … Full Review »
  3. Dallaswithad
    Jun 30, 2014
    8
    Don't let anyone tell you different. this episode rocked! Sure it may not have advanced the plot very much. but it takes its time to developDon't let anyone tell you different. this episode rocked! Sure it may not have advanced the plot very much. but it takes its time to develop its characters, these guys seem real to me. Another great episode by telltale.
    8/10    … Full Review »
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