Minecraft is a perfect blank canvas for anyone who wants to spin a narrative. In season two of Story mode we find that all the characters from the first game have all gone their separate ways, at least until a new threat looms. Just like all the other TellTale games this is a choice-based game that feels like an interactive TV series. The are however a number of changes to the gameplay this time around in addition to the fresh story-line. Those who played the first game are bound to know what they are getting into and for everyone else I definitely recommend starting with the first season. This is a natural continuation so hopefully a new plot and a couples of changes are enough to warrant playing this sequel.
After all the adventures of the first game Jesse has settled down and now has her own city Beacontown. You sneak away from your responsibilities to hang out with Petra for a little bit and soon after discover strange pyramid with a mysterious glove thanks to a treasure sniffing llama. After investigating you find out the glove is a powerful tool normally exclusive to the admin. Once you get the attention of the admin he is determined to use his supernatural power destroy Beacontown and make your life miserable. Somehow you'll have to find a way out of the admin's games long enough to find a way to stop him and restore order.
Many characters return for season two while quite a few newcomers join in as well. For one that treasure sniffing llama is Luna and it turns out Petra is in debt with the llama's owner Stella. Stella runs the city across from yours and feels like that makes you two official rivals. Thankfully Petra also know Norm the villager and his friend Jack, a former treasures hunter. Jack likes brag about his abilities but in reality he is troubled by the fact that he is the lone survivor of his old crew. Lets not forget your secretary Radar, although a he lacks confidence he is a huge fan of the order and tries his best to be of assistance. Finally you have the admin who believes power is everything and he is eager to show just how much power he has. It seems however that he seeks something that power alone won't get him.
The gameplay is more or less the same decision based gameplay from the first game with a couple tweaks. You still have to make big choices that will have major consequences on the way the story unfolds. Now the combat has been improved so that you not only have quick time events but in many instances you can actually move around, dodge attacks, and time your own strikes. Also this wouldn't be minecraft without building. So about once an episode someone will put you in charge of building a monument of any number of reasons. Of course you'll still get some downtime to move around and talk to the different characters on the off occasion you aren't in immediate danger.
It took me a little longer to warm up to season two but in the end I found it to be just about as much fun as the first season. Personally, I found the story in the first game about rounding up a bunch of old heroes to save the world a little bit more exciting. In this game the antagonist appears to have such vast power its hard to imagine what you can do to stop him. Even if the overarching story isn't as compelling the characters really steal the show anyway. Additionally, the new gameplay features, such as combat and building, are definitely successful additions. It really is as simple as to whether or not you enjoyed the first season as to whether you'll enjoy the second.