Minecraft: Story Mode Episode 1 review - a great game for the whole family

The Minecraft we all know and love isn’t all too story-heavy, but that’s not the case for this new game. Developed in partnership with Mojang, the game’s original publisher, Telltale Games recently released Minecraft: Story Mode to the Google Play Store, bringing what some would say is a much needed storyline to the vast Minecraft universe. Although not without its faults, Minecraft: Story Mode is one heck of a point-and-click title that we think both fans of Minecraft and those who are unfamiliar will love.

Story Mode is split into five episodes, the first two of which are already available for purchase from Google Play. Today we’re reviewing Episode 1, entitled The Order of the Stone. If you have any thoughts on this game, feel free to leave a comment at the bottom of the post. For now, though, here’s what you need to know about the first episode of Minecraft: Story Mode.

Story

Much like other games from this developer, the storyline is critical here. You play as a hero named Jesse who, with the help of his oddball friend group, must save the world from death and destruction. You do this by setting off on a journey to reunite the legendary Order of the Stone, a group of warriors who once slayed the terrifying Ender Dragon. Your journey will take you across the Overworld, through the Nether and to the End.

Without getting into too much detail about the story, I must say, I’m completely hooked. It’s an interesting premise, introducing an in-depth storyline to the Minecraft universe, which is something many folks have wanted for some time. It’s a tad slow to start, and will definitely take some patience to get through the first 10-15 minutes of the game. This is where you’re introduced to the main characters, where they live, and what events are taking place. I get it – the world of Minecraft doesn’t normally have a storyline, so it will take some time to introduce all of the characters and plot. Just be patient and it will get interesting.

If you’re familiar with other Telltale games such as The Wolf Among Us, Game of Thrones, The Walking Dead, or Tales from the Borderlands, you’re in for a big surprise with Story Mode. You won’t really find any violence, sex or murder in this title. It’s a family-friendly game with no questionable content whatsoever. For the majority of the game, you’ll need to focus on deciding who to back up in your friend group, which members to keep around, and thwarting off the occasional zombie or two.

The fact that Story Mode lacks a certain edginess that other Telltale games have flawlessly employed should by no means be considered a disappointing aspect of the game, but it’s still a fact that Telltale diehards will have to accept if they plan on enjoying this title.

For the first time ever in a Telltale game, you can choose the gender of the main character. Jesse (voiced by Patton Oswalt and Catherine Taber) can either be a boy or a girl, and you can even choose between three different ethnicities for each gender. There are a few other characters in the game that you’ll spend a significant amount of time with, including Axel, Olivia and Petra. There’s even has a little pet pig named Reuben who is extremely cute.

Not only does Patton Oswalt voice the main character, there are a ton of other notable voice actors in this game. Other characters in the game are voiced by Brian Posehn, Ashley Johnson, Scott Porter, Martha Plimpton, Corey Feldman, Paul Reubens and many more. It’s really fun to be introduced to a character and instantly recognize who’s doing the voice.

Gameplay

If you’ve ever played a Telltale game, you know exactly what to expect here. Minecraft: Story Mode is mostly a text-based, point-and-click title that requires quick responses to keep you on your toes. There are four main aspects of the game – narrative choices, short puzzles, quick time events using a series of swipes and taps, as well as exploring.

For the majority of the game, you’ll be watching the story unfold before your eyes. Every once in awhile you’ll need to make a quick decision before the time runs out, which can affect where the game goes next and which characters remember what. This style of gameplay is par for the course when it comes to Telltale games.

You’ll also need to complete short puzzles every once in awhile. Throughout the game you’ll pick up random elements and objects that will come in handy much later on. For instance, at one point you’ll pick up some sticks, rocks and string which will help you create a bow and arrow to get past one of the obstacles. This is a very small part of the game, but fun, nonetheless. Telltale has also thrown in a few elements that take advantage of Minecraft’s open world structure. In select portions of the game, you’ll get to explore the map by walking around, allowing you to pick up objects, search for lost items and more.

To break up the monotony of the point-and-click gameplay, there are also a handful of delightful sequences that require quick reflexes to get through. For instance, you’ll need to quickly swipe Jesse out of the way to avoid getting hit by monsters or tap repeatedly on the screen to avoid getting attacked by zombies.

Final thoughts

With a solid storyline, all-star cast and unique gameplay, Minecraft: Story Mode is one of the best titles Telltale Games has ever released. The best part? You don’t even need to be familiar with the Minecraft universe to enjoy it. Sure, it helps to know to general premise of Minecraft and what it’s all about, but I’m pretty sure everyone who plays Story Mode will enjoy it in one way or another.

Much like other Telltale games, Story Mode is comprised of five episodes in all. Each episode costs $4.99 a piece. If you know you’re going to purchase them all eventually, you can invest in a “season pass” and purchase episodes 2-5 for a flat fee of $14.99. I know this might seem a little steep for a mobile game, but I’d honestly say it’s worth the price. Plus, it doesn’t feature any in-app purchases, which is always a bonus.

You can download the first episode of Minecraft: Story Mode from the Google Play Store link below.

What are your thoughts? Have you played Minecraft: Story Mode? Be sure to tell us what you think in the comment section below!