Minecraft: Story Mode - Episode 2: Assembly Required

 PlayStation 4
User Score
4.6

Generally unfavorable reviews- based on 40 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 12 out of 40
  2. Mixed: 9 out of 40
  3. Negative: 19 out of 40

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  1. Darth24
    Jan 4, 2016
    5
    For someone who personally enjoyed episode 1 of this series, I must say I was disappointed with this episode. It didn't really hook me in and I never truly got into, and it feels like nothing really happened in this episode. I still think this series has potential and will play episode 3 to see if it can improve from the shortcomings of episode 2.
  2. nobey
    Nov 13, 2015
    7
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. It looks like Telltale Games have managed to get a tight schedule going for Minecraft: Story Mode – just a couple weeks after the first episode’s debut, they’ve unleashed the second. Whilst I personally enjoyed the first episode, it was met with understandably mixed reviews – does the second episode fare any better? Let’s dive back in and find out.

    At the end of the first episode, you’re presented with a choice as to who of the Order of the Stone you want to find and recruit first to fight the Wither Storm – either Ellegaard the Redstone Engineer or Magnus the Rogue. Thinking TNT and exceedingly effective mischief would (somehow) be more useful than Redstone inventions in taking down the massive skybeast threatening the world, I set off to find Magnus.

    As a result, Jesse was dropped straight back into the Nether with Axel in tow, riding Minecarts towards Boom Town, the domain of the griefers. Whilst I can’t speak for the other pathway, where you join Olivia to find Ellegaard, with the characters and story foundations already set up in the previous episode Minecraft: Story Mode’s second episode gets going a lot faster than its predecessor, with a greater emphasis on action at the start.

    Boom Town, being full of griefers, is a city ravaged by its own inhabitants, with most buildings sporting at least two big TNT holes and others reduced to little more than floating groups of blocks. I actually got a bit of a Mad Max-ish post-apocalyptic vibe from the place, with all the griefers you come across sporting masks of varying designs whilst throwing eggs and explosives all over the place. There’s a great sequence early on where an important item gets stolen and a big QTE-laden chase ensues, which depending on your actions could end with a really satisfying moment as Jesse finally turns the tables on his pursuers.

    I won’t reveal more just in case anyone hasn’t gotten around to playing the episode yet.

    Reviewing an episodic game, especially a Telltale series, sometimes means that I’ll end up repeating myself on quite a few aspects with each episode’s review, so I’ll get them out of the way now. Story Mode’s visuals still show the Minecraft world and characters in just as good a light as they did in Episode 1, the gameplay is still largely the same, with a lot more QTE sequences and fewer puzzles throughout this episode in particular and it’s still packed with those same “Oh, Minecraft!” moments, including a creepily underplayed introduction to another iconic Minecraft monster.

    Overall, Minecraft: Story Mode’s second episode is a short but entertaining ride. While the episode as a whole feels like it’s just setting up the bigger events that’ll take place in future episodes, it definitely does its job in keeping the momentum of the story going in as enjoyable a manner as possible, with some big plot twists to keep you wondering what’s coming up next. Bring on Episode 3!    … Expand

Critic Reviews

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Metascore
53

Mixed or average reviews - based on 7 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 0 out of 7
  2. Mixed: 6 out of 7
  3. Negative: 1 out of 7
  1. Vandal
    Nov 11, 2015
    65
    Telltale makes clear that this games is aimed at a younger audience. The thing is, it doesn't feel like it's telling a relevant story, and, unlike some other Telltale games, it ends up feeling like a game just for fans.
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  2. Hardcore Gamer
    Nov 5, 2015
    50
    Hopefully, with the potential that the series holds, the following episode will focus more on Jessie and give players a much wider variety of things to do, decide and explore.
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  3. Push Square
    Nov 4, 2015
    30
    Minecraft: Story Mode has, again, failed to impress. A miniscule run-time paired with a plethora of uninteresting events helped to make this one of the weakest episodes we've seen from Telltale in a long, long time. We're now two episodes in, and we're still not finding a whole lot to like.
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