Game of Thrones Iron from Ice PS4

Telltale Games mustered some impressive review scores for the first instalment in its Tales from the Borderlands series last week, so can its heavily publicised Game of Thrones spin-off secure the same acclaim? Surprisingly, not quite – but the scores for Episode 1: Iron from Ice are not exactly bad. A slow build-up appears to be the biggest gripe with this premiere, but with six episodes planned for the season, we’re sure that it will pick up pace in no time.

IGN - 8/10

Tough decisions, well-acted original characters in interesting situations, and a strong, provocative ending kick off Telltale’s new Game of Thrones series in a great way. Its nature as a side-story to the HBO show means we won’t get to decide the fate of Westeros, but this introduction is convincing evidence that the future of House Forrester puts enough at stake to make choices matter.

GameSpot - 8/10

Telltale has again successfully paired itself with a franchise that knows how to wring emotion from its audience. Game of Thrones is off to a slow but not uneventful start, with an almost unfairly large heap of teases and promises for the next episode. The pacing is true to its source material--slow, taking its own time--but the payoff for major scenes is worth wading through. If the show makes you scream, the game will make you scream, because it’s difficult not to get wrapped up in the struggle to serve and hold up your house. It’s a game about family told in perhaps the most un-family-friendly environment in fantasy fiction, and in a way that will leave you sick with delight and sadness as the credits roll.

Destructoid - 7/10

Still, that narrative is the focus, and it is strong. If Zer0 Sum left me looking forward to future episodes of Tales from the Borderlands because things are going to get awesome, Iron From Ice does the polar opposite for Game of Thrones. The bad situation that House Forrester is in is only going to get worse. It feels like a punch to the gut, and it sets the stage for an intensely emotionally draining experience. In spite of its blemishes, so far it looks like Game of Thrones: A Telltale Game Series deserves its place in the A Song of Ice and Fire lore.

Polygon - 6.5/10

Anyone new to the setting will likely become bored long before anything interesting happens. So far, Telltale’s game leans too heavily on prior investment in this world. It’s possible all of this is leading someplace interesting, and the final scene shows the kind of spirit and verve missing in the first two hours. But Iron from Ice is a rocky start to a promising story.

Will you be assuming your position on the Iron Throne this week? Get comfy in the comments section below.