Notes

'Minecraft' with a Story isn't as Weird as you Think

A story-driven game about Minecraft, the block-building phenomenon that is loved by both adults and children alike, may sound tad contradictory. By design, Minecraft has little in the way of plot or characters. The world is generated randomly and the most memorable "stories" are naturally generated depending on what you decide to create and explore. Its open nature is the reason that makes Minecraft so unique. This is also why Minecraft: Story Mode has been met with a lot of doubt. Minecraft is a game that doesn't have a story -- is it possible, or right for a different developer to give it one?



Telltale Games is most well-known for its adventure game adaptations of popular franchises, such as The Walking Dead, Game of Thrones and Fables. These properties, unlike Minecraft, have established characters, stories, and mythology that the team is able to work with. Cranial Cavity Telltale uses its own game engine and comic book style to create a series of five episodes. These are broken down into cutscenes, branching conversations fast-paced events and puzzles. Occasionally, you'll get the chance to walk through an environment, but there's little in the way of exploration or imagination. Do you want to build in a free-form style and crafting as in Minecraft? You'd better look elsewhere.



Despite these huge differences, Minecraft: Story Mode even works. It's a wonderful celebration of the game that made Markus Persson a billionaire. The story and characters appear to be part of the world despite not being mentioned in the original game. In episode one you play the character of Jesse, and unlike most Telltale games you can choose between a boy and a girl, and one of three different races. It's a nice touch and instantly gave me a feeling of connection to the character, voiced by either Patton Oswalt (best known for his roles in Ratatouille and The King of Queens) or Catherine Taber (you might recognize her voice from Star Wars: The Clone Wars, Final Fantasy XII or Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker). With a small group of people you set out to win a building competition at a Minecon-style convention known as Endercon.



There is no mention of Jesse's treehouse or his pet animal Reuben, or the Endercon contest in the original Minecraft game. This could be a problem, but Telltale quickly won my trust in a variety of ways. Story Mode is not the most epic storyline of Minecraft. It's a new approach to the blocky franchise, and is set in a distinct Minecraft world. The writers have the freedom to explore their ideas, while protecting the source material. Story Mode also weaves in numerous elements that will be familiar to players of the original game. Episode 1 features portals, beacons, and creepers that are easily identified. Telltale's new ideas such as a vivid amulet that could be used to track important characters, don't look out of place within the Minecraft universe. Story Mode respects the original game's mechanics and objects but doesn't overuse the same.



The pace is a bit slow at first however, once the Endercon building competition is over, the plot kicks into high gear. In the beginning, Telltale introduces a group of heroes known as the Order of the Stone, who once defeated the Ender Dragon, and then disappeared into legend. The peril the world now confronts is tied to these heroes, and it's here the developer lays out some of the major mysteries of the five-part season. It's not anything special but I'm still intrigued enough to play the remaining episodes.



Story Mode is intended to be family-friendly. There are limitations on the writing and Telltale's ability to utilize its fun characters. Fables (The Wolf Among Us) and The Walking Dead have provided more opportunities for the team to develop dark and unpredictable characters with shady strategies. These properties provoke stronger reactions from the player, making more difficult decisions and more complicated relationships with the characters you choose. Story Mode's cast is relatable, except for Jesse's friend Axel who is self-centered and impulsive. I spent the majority of my time trying to make friends with the best of them.



Despite this, the characters are distinct and possess quirky personality traits that make them lively. Each of them has clearly defined motives and desires, which makes it easier to predict the consequences of each dialogue decision. While the previous games by Telltale were not without issues, with slow pace and stiff scripts, they have always made me want to know more about the characters. Story Mode is no different, which is a testament of the quality of the script. Although Jesse's family members are a bit superficial, they are easy to root for. I really would like my "Nether Maniacs" (early on the show, you can choose your team's name for the building competition) to endure and remain together, so I'm interested to see how the show attempts to break them up in the later episodes.



Even if you have not played Minecraft before, there are plenty of things to enjoy in Story Mode's first Chapter. It's a charming but simple story with intriguing characters and memorable set pieces. It's not that far from Minecraft in terms of gameplay design, but Telltale has succeeded in making it work. I'm putting it down the quality of the writing and the way it cleverly integrates classic objects, monsters and gameplay mechanics. Story Mode uses Minecraft's entire toolbox to help tell its story. It works well. It could have been a sloppy and awkward cash-in game however, it's an elegant, respectful spinoff that celebrates Minecraft's unique style of creativity.


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