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:September 13, 2016
    9.8

    Minecraft: Story Mode Episode 8: A Journey’s End?

    We’ve finally made it to the end of Telltale’s Minecraft: Story Mode…again. This second round of adventures (made possible by the Adventure Pass) has been better than I expected; the quality of some of these bonus episodes eclipsed that of the main game. This is especially true when comparing the final episodes…

    “A Journey’s End?” opens with our heroes climbing a flight of stairs leading out of the hall of portals. Their newest ally and former Old Builder Harper, was detailing their means of escape as they approached a door at the top of the stairs. The idea was to try and talk the other Old Builders into giving Jesse the Atlas, a book that maps the portals, in order to find their way home. Of course, things weren’t going to be that simple. The Old Builders were an eccentric bunch who enjoyed hosting competitions using combatants hailing from different dimensions. They liked these games so much that eventually they stopped inviting contestants and started abducting them. Having prior knowledge of this fact would have certainly made things easier for Jesse. That is, if Harper hadn’t booted him and his friends through the door without warning.

    With this being the last episode of the current season, it makes since that Telltale would use it to flex is writing muscles. Not so much in how things are concluded – there are no world ending events this time around – but in how they could have fun with the Minecraft license. One of the ways this was done, again, was by being self-aware of Minecraft (and gaming in general). As Jesse and crew are tossed into the Old Builders arena, they end up interrupting a game of Spleef – a real game mode created and made popular by Minecraft’s community of players. It’s humorous to see these characters treat this event so seriously given how it relates to the game Telltale’s title is based on.

    What’s really great is how this episode’s theme is all about friendship and teamwork. Two things that Minecraft is known for, you know, besides the voxel-based building mechanics. Encouraging friends to visit each other’s worlds to help them mold the environment to their liking or to find rare materials are a big parts of that game. This makes the challenges that our heroes face more interesting as they directly reflect this idea. The characters that were pulled from different places are akin to those of us who often visit each other’s worlds. Sharing materials to create a powerful item, teaming up to take down an opponent, finding new friends to help you complete a difficult task – all of these things can be seen in both Minecraft and this final episode of Story Mode.

    Even though there isn’t a Wither Storm to deal with, this last episode is the better finale. It just does such a great job of emulating what Minecraft has come to be while delivering a decent story. Not only that, but it actually feels like an end to a season; episode 5 just seemed like one of those mid-season finales that’s all the rage nowadays. Basically, I really enjoyed “A Journey’s End?”!

    Gameplay:

    10

    One of, if not the best, episode this season has to offer.

    Graphics:

    10

    Still looks like a better Minecraft.

    Sound:

    10

    The Old Builders were voiced well, including Harper (voiced by Yvette Nicole Brown). The rest of the cast always does a great job!

    Replay Value:

    9

    There are a decent amount of choices that could change the outcome of the story. Not in a major way (no one is killed for instance) but enough to warrant a few return trips.

    Final Score:

    9.8

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