Telltale is known for their narration, and Minecraft: Story Mode is no exception. This game introduces a new and more relevant take to the well-known sandbox game, Minecraft. It departs from the obscenities, and mutilations that you would normally find in The Wolf Among Us, and The Walking Dead. Instead, you are given an adventurous game of betrayal, rivalry, and friendship.
The narrative doesn't feel rushed, and for the first episode, it feels fine. However, we only start to realise the characters' interaction with the environment, the characters' motivation towards the end of the episode, and while you want it to keep going, it just stops there.
As far as the first episode goes, however, there were some cheesy dialogue that Minecraft veterans will discern, while non-Minecraft players will be scratching their heads bewildered. The main character, Jesse, and his gang of pals are introduced to Endercon, an annual building contest. However, things quickly turn into a fight for survival as they scrimmage their way to the mystery entailing the famous Order of the Stone, a former group who have been known to defeating the great and powerful Ender Dragon.
The gameplay feels just like a normal Telltale game; a varied mixture of choices of dialogue, quick time events, puzzles, and combative sequences. Your biggest twist comes from the choices you make in-game, and so carefully should you pick. They tend to rely on either supporting your companion, or to help them in certain situations, and it works so well. Each character responds differently to each choice you assign.
Even the combative sequences tie in with the action so well, requiring quick reflexes. One moment, you are suspended precariously by a bridge; the next, you're battling your way through a crowd. As well as these sequences comes little tasks that really does help the overall "Minecraft" feel, such as occupying the crafting table and surviving hordes of creepers and zombies.
The first episode of Minecraft: Story Mode may be the "introduction" to a potential-wise episodic series, like Life Is Strange, but it works so well to set up the premise of what's to come. By the end of the episode, I just wanted more of what's to come. I'm hoping it doesn't disappoint.