Review

Developed by:Telltale Games/Mojang Published by:Telltale Games Genre(s):
  • Adventure
  • Platform:
  • Handhelds
  • Microsoft
  • Nintendo
  • PC
  • Sony
  • Cost:$24.99 (Full Season) ESRB Rating:EVERYONE 10+ Players:1 Release date:October 13, 2015 Reviewed on:PC Episode Release Date:October 27, 2015
    8.3

    Minecraft: Story Mode Episode 2: Assembly Required

    Telltale totally caught me off guard releasing “Assembly Required” only two weeks after Minecraft: Story Mode’s first episode. Just as a comparison, the second episode of Tales From the Borderlands released four months after the season premier. It would seem that Telltale is trying to move things along as quickly as possible with this series. This might explain why this installment felt a bit rushed this time around…

    Assembly Required picked up right where the last episode left off. Jessie is searching for a member of The Order of the Stone – which differs depending on who you chose to pursue in the previous instalment. In my case, our heroes headed to Redstonia in hopes of finding Ellegaard. Since she is known as “the brains” of the group, Jesse and Olivia believe that this master builder can create something that can destroy the Wither Storm. Or at the very least, slow it down long enough for them to come up with a plan. The first thing they’ll need to do is find a way into her Dome of Concentration though. Apparently, she has locked herself inside until she’s created her next big invention.

    So far, I’m enjoying what Telltale is doing with this series. Most of the accolades I bestowed upon the first episode transfer to this one. However, the plot seems to have simmered down a little. There isn’t much excitement this time around and none of the new story beats are particularly interesting either. We’re given more information about the order but it’s all surface level detail. And while my decisions are bound to have serious repercussions, I wasn’t too concerned. Not because I didn’t want to make the “right” choices but because I didn’t sense any urgency; instead of a logical fear of what’s to come there is sarcasm and random bickering.

    What’s ironic about the lack of urgency in the cast is how fast this episode moves. There aren’t that many puzzles and the ones that are present aren’t too challenging. Certain situations that could have lingered a bit to build suspense are glossed over. Even the action segments, beyond one particular showdown towards the end, feel as though they are hurried along in order to get to the next scene. Nothing meaningful came from the encounters either. I hate to say it but Assemble Required feels like a filler episode.

    Still, I didn’t hate my time with Jesse. The overall conundrum our heroes face is certainly worth seeing through and the dialogue, though seemingly inappropriate considering the impending doom, is ripe with charm; this episode uses the most tasteful F-bomb ever (note, they didn’t actually use the four letter word). I just hope that the future installments are more…engrossing. The premier did such a good job of raising my expectations that “just ok” isn’t good enough.

    Gameplay:

    7

    Assembly Required isn’t bad. It just feels rushed and disjointed; like Telltale is making it up as they go along.

    Graphics:

    10

    Still looks like Minecraft, but better!

    Sound:

    10

    The voice work is still great!

    Replay Value:

    6

    Like other games of this ilk, most will want to wait to see how things turn out before redoing early episodes. On the other hand, this one buy itself doesn’t entice me to replay after the closing credits.

    Final Score:

    8.3

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