Review

Minecraft: Story Mode Episode 7: Access Denied

Telltale’s take on Minecraft as certainly been interesting, if not outright entertaining. In spite of how I feel about this whole Adventure Pass thing, I have to attest that these extra episodes are worth experiencing.

In “Access Denied,” our group of portal jumpers enter yet another dimension. A montage shows what happened hours before – the group can be seen moving between the portals in the hallway, emerging with distraught expressions as they continue to fail in finding their way home. Tensions mount as they argue on what to do next. Petra, having grown tired of listening to Jesse, sets out on her own through a nearby portal. The group follows because that’s what friends do. Thankfully, this new dimension isn’t immediately hostile in nature like the others.

No. The hostility comes later, after the group finds the inhabitants of this land under some sort of mind control. People, livestock, even monsters are all being manipulated by these little boxes on the back of their heads. Their enslaver is a computer that goes by the name of PAMA (Prototype: Autonomous Management Agent) who was created to automate certain tasks. Like always, this AI overthought its programing. Instead of helping the townspeople learn to become more efficient in these tasks, it decided to ensure efficiency by seizing control.

Like the episode before it, Access Denied is entertaining. I enjoyed the power struggle between those that were free and those that had been assimilated into PAMA’s army. Some of the encounters even offered a look inward, providing an “ah ha” moment; having the other characters comment on how silly Jesse looked when using a VR headset to save a friend is the sort of comedic self-awareness that I applauded at the binging of the season. Then there was Harper, the new character who created PAMA and subsequently helped our heroes prevail. Voiced by the talented Yvette Nicole Brown (The Odd Couple), Harper came across as a quirky scientist who’s been alone for far too long. She isn’t crazy, but I’d understand if she was given the circumstance. Ultimately, her presence was welcomed as she seemed to fit right in with the more established cast.

There’s only one episode left remaining (assuming Telltale doesn’t announce another pass). I’m sure our heroes will find their way home. Just how great of a conclusion this next episode will be, well that remains to be seen. I’m not sure if it is possible to top the Wither Storm arc at this point. Then again, Telltale isn’t known for lackluster finishes!