The Wolf Among Us (2013-14)

Game score: 92%
Platform: Steam, PC
Steam link: http://store.steampowered.com/app/250320


Wonderful, just wonderful! I may not be objective enough since this game is everything I like: it's an adventure, it's made after a comic and it's made by Telltale Games. But you should really trust me on this one, it is a wonderful gaming experience that everyone should try... and enjoy it very, very much!

Just like their first game of same kind (decision based adventure game split in episodes or something like that) The Walking Dead, The Wolf Among Us is also based on a successful comic book series known as Fables. Never heard of Fables? No problem, here's what Wikipedia has to say about it:

Fables is a comic book series created by writer Bill Willingham, published by DC Comics's Vertigo imprint beginning in 2002. The series deals with various characters from fairy tales and folklore – referring to themselves as "Fables" – who have been forced out of their Homelands by "The Adversary" who has conquered the realm. The Fables have traveled to our world and formed a clandestine community in New York City known as Fabletown. Fables who are unable to blend in with human society (such as monsters and anthropomorphic animals) live at "the Farm" in upstate New York.

 

So, decision based. What does that mean? Let me try this: it's a true interactive movie. Most of the time you watch the story unfold and it's your decisions (dialogues or options that pop up) that decide what happens next. It may sound as if the game is in charge and you are just an observer, but it's far from truth. And it's almost impossible to get stuck since you will never have to travel around, look for items to pick up and use or solve puzzles. There are none, none at all. It's all about story and what you decide will happen next.

You play Bigby Wolf, a town sheriff who just happens to be a reformed Big Bad Wolf from stories such as Little Red Riding Hood or Three Little Pigs and The Big Bad Wolf. Seriously, it's the same guy! Only he's actually a werewolf (with the ability to change into a really huge wolf... hence the name BIG bad wolf). His best friend is Colin, one of the Three Little Pigs. Bigby's partner at work just happens to be Snow White who works as deputy mayor of Fabletown and she plays a big part of this game. There's a lot of other familiar characters that you will recognize from the stories or legends such as The Little Mermaid (her name in this world is Nerissa), Beauty and the Beast (they are Bigby's neighbors), Ichabod Crane (from The Sleepy Hollow), Bloody Mary, The Jersey Devil, The From Prince etc. Quite a gang.

The Wolf Among Us is a murder mystery game. Someone is killing Fables and you, as Bigby, are trying to find the killer. It's split into 5 episodes and each one takes about 90 minutes to complete. However, if you decide to check out all the possible storylines you will have to replay and make different choices. The choices themselves have a huge impact on what happens next: you may be deciding to go to one place or the other or in some extreme cases to kill or spare someone. Depending on your choice, that person may or may not appear in the game any more and may or may not help you or make your life more complicated. Fun, eh?

What I liked the most about this masterpiece game is the story itself. It has everything it needs: an introduction, culmination, awesome characters and a great ending. And it's not the usual happy ending, it's... well, play and see it for yourself. I don't want to spoil it.

I really enjoyed this game a lot and I hope for a sequel in the near future. The graphics are wonderful, voice acting is superb and convincing, and the whole atmosphere is just perfect. Have fun!