The Wolf Among Us Episode 3: A Crooked Mile Review

 

Welcome to a brave new world people.

First I want to apologize for the lack of reviews in the past few weeks. My life has gotten busy which has slowed my free time to play EVNs, but I was able to get out some features this month and I am thankful for that. Regardless, we have to get back to the work this site is known for: REVIEWS. And what better way to get back in the swing of things than to take a look at a game many of you have heard of, but may be on the fence about?

Now, as I discussed some time back, I consider what Telltale Games is doing a TYPE of visual novel. Like the EVNs we cover here, the bulk of Telltale’s library are story and choice driven, with a few action scenes to add some flavor. ‘But JP! That makes it a Click-And-Point Game! Not one of our Super-Special Visual Novels, you bastard!’ Well, to be fair (and ignoring MANY major EVN groups that don’t stick to a pure visual novel format in their projects), so what? The translation between Japan and the West on this subject doesn’t have to be point-for-point, the same way animation wasn’t. So to try and maintain a narrow focus on one particular format while others are taking the spirit of the idea of going their own way with it seems more self-defeating than anything else.

Now that doesn’t mean that we will be changing formats here on WVNN. But, as I have said, a rising tide lifts all boats. And regardless of different opinions on the subject, Telltale is a part of that tide. So, onto the main attraction! The Wolf Among Us is inspired by a Vertigo Comics fantasy comic called Fables. Well before it was cool to do, the comic followed several fairy tale character who have been chased out of their fantasy world and are trying to survive in New York City in a community known as Fabletown (not subtle at all).

From my understanding, the comic series is more in line with the popular ‘urban fantasy’ trend these days rather than the ‘noir’ feel of the game. Either way, our hero for the tale is the formidable Sheriff Bigby Wolf: who was once the Big Bad Wolf if the name wasn’t a dead giveaway (again, subtlety). As the sole law enforcement in the community , Bigby not only has the task of keeping the immortal beings in check but also to keep their existence out of the public eye. Like we see in the games, that isn’t always easy. Now, I won’t be going back and discussing Episodes 1 and 2, but it should go without saying that you should play Episodes 1 and 2 shouldn’t it? Good. So, strap yourselves in people: it’s time to review Telltale’s The Wolf Among Us Episode 3: A Crooked Mile.

Oh and there are some spoilers once we get into the review proper. YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED!

Gods of Nowhere Review

As an amateur writer myself, I can tell you guys that Samuel Beckett is the bar for me: the one I am always working towards and may never reach. The key to his work is simple: conversation. Whether it is a character conversing with themselves or with someone else, the story and characters progressed with conversation rather than a stated narrative. Another thing Samuel Beckett is known for is the bleakness of his work. The dark and absurd side of life was interesting to Beckett and, honestly, that may be where I got some of my own morose nature from. For example, consider this line from Malone Dies;

“Or I might be able to catch one, a little girl for example, and half strangle her, three quarters, until she promises to give me my stick, give me soup, empty my pots, kiss me, fondle me, smile to me, give me my hat, stay with me, follow the hearse weeping into her handkerchief, that would be nice. I am such a good man, at bottom, such a good man, how is it that nobody ever noticed it?”

Look at all we get from this character from just this line. We not only get a better grip of how insane he is, but also how the very notion of a relationship is absurd. We also see his misery and how ineffective ‘average’ people’s remedies for misery can be. It is brilliant. Beckett is brilliant. And anyone who tries to follow in these footsteps not only has my interest, but a long road ahead of them.

This brings me to Gods of Nowhere. It obviously follows the mold of Beckett: telling a very human tale in a very bleak atmosphere, but can it also capture the spark of brilliance that turned Minimalism into an art form? Let’s find out! Oh and, be warned, there are mild spoilers ahead!

Petrichor Review

Technically I shouldn’t even be doing this, there is a long list of games from 2013 I have to finish before month’s end. However, while working on my backlog I have watched and waited for someone to pick up on this visual novel. And waited. And waited. And although I’ve learned to be much more patient in my old age, I’m out of patience.

But to be fair, it’s kind of hard to talk about something you don’t know anything about. Only available at the Dischan store and the Orfeyus Studios’ website, Petrichor mostly slipped under the radar in the wake of more appealing free EVNs like Pyrite Heart. And while there will always be an audience for otome in this community, it is a shame that more people haven’t given this particular title a chance. Hopefully that will change after some of you read this review.

First Impressions: Solstice, Pt. 2

OUR HERO EVERYONE!

Solstice is split between two different main characters: Galen and Yani. Both have their own personal secrets and motives for coming to the North, but of the two Galen could have the bigger personal experiences while Yani has to most to accomplish with the larger world. Er, perhaps I should explain.

First Impressions: Solstice, Pt. 1

There seems to be an irrevocable connection between this site and Moacube.For those of you familiar with VNs Now lore (do we even have lore yet?) my first interview for the site was with Tom Grochowiak: the founder of Moacube. After that, as the development of Cinders continued I released my first actual visual novel feature on its inspiration; Cinderella. My first actual video on something actually related to visual novels was about what I was looking forward to for Cinders. And on the very first episode of VNs Now! TV, the release of Cinders was squarely in the spotlight.

So, we’re pretty much a crime family at this point yeah? With Cinders successfully under their belt, the group has been busy with two games: Bonfire which doesn’t fall under my purview but is still insanely enjoyable. So if you haven’t picked up a copy, I’d recommend at least checking it out. The second title is Solstice which shows that this group has more going for it than just a fairy tale. First, let’s start with the world we are preparing to enter!