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 adults and children alike, could sound tad contradictory. By the nature of it, Minecraft has little in terms of plot or characters. The world is generated randomly and the most memorable "stories" occur naturally depending on what you decide to build and explore. The game's free-form nature is what makes it different and is also the reason why Minecraft: Story Mode, an off-shoot with a well-crafted plot is doubted by many. Minecraft works because it does not have a storyis it even possible, or right for a different developer to create one?



Telltale Games is most well-known for its adaptations of adventure games of popular franchises such as The Walking Dead, Game of Thrones and Fables. These properties, unlike Minecraft have well-established stories, characters and mythology that the team is able to collaborate with. Using its own game engine and comic book art style, Telltale typically offers a game "season" consisting of five episodes. The episodes are broken down into cutscenes, and then branching conversations. It is possible to explore the environment. But, there's no exploration or creativity. You are looking for freeform crafting and building like in Minecraft? You should look elsewhere.



Despite these enormous differences, Minecraft: Story Mode works. It's a charming celebration for the game that made Markus Persson a billionaire. The characters and narrative seem to belong in the world, even though they're not in the original game. You take on the role of Jesse in the first episode. In contrast to other Telltale games, you can pick between a boy and a girl and also choose one or more of three races. It's a nice addition and instantly gave me a sense of attachment to the character, voiced by either Patton Oswalt (best known for his role 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). You and a few of your friends aim to win a building contest at Endercon, a convention that is like Minecon.



There's no mention of Jesse's treehouse nor the pet animal he or she has named Reuben or the Endercon contest in the original Minecraft game. This could have been a problem, however, Telltale quickly impressed me in a variety of ways. Story Mode is not the ultimate storyline for Minecraft. It's a distinct take on the blocky franchise , and is set in its own distinct version of the Minecraft world. This allows the creators to explore their ideas, while protecting the original source material. Story Mode includes many elements that are familiar to players of the original game. Minecraft servers Portals, beacons, and creepers all appear in episode one, and are easily recognizable. Telltale's new ideas, such as a colorful amulet which can be used to locate important characters, don't seem out of place in the Minecraft universe. Story Mode respects the original game's mechanics and objects but doesn't overuse them.



Although the pace is slow at first, when the Endercon building contest has ended, the plot picks up considerably. In the beginning, Telltale introduces a group of heroes known as the Order of the Stone, which once defeated the Ender Dragon, and then faded into legend. The danger that the world faces is linked to the members of the Order and this is where the developer sets up some of the major mysteries for the five-part season. It's not anything special, but I'm intrigued enough to play the remaining episodes.



Story Mode is designed to be family-friendly, however there are some limitations regarding the writing style and where Telltale can use its cheerful characters. Other properties that it's modified in the past, such as The Walking Dead and Fables (The Wolf Among Us) have provided the team more chances to create darker and more uncertain characters with a variety of strategies. These properties trigger stronger reactions from the player, more difficult decisions , and more complicated relationships with the characters you select. Story Mode's cast is enjoyable, except for Jesse's friend Axel who is self-centered and impulsive. I spent most of my time trying to be best friends.



However, the characters are distinct and have quirky personality traits that make them lively. It's easier to predict the outcome of each dialogue because they all have clear motives. Previous Telltale games have had sometimes stiff scripts and inconsistent pace -- a common occurrence maybe, due to the fact that they have branching storylines , but they've always made me feel passionate about the characters. This is the same in Story Mode, which is an indication of the quality of the writing. While Jesse's friends may be somewhat shallow, they're easy to be a fan of. 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 stay together, so I'm interested to see how the game is trying to separate them in the later episodes.



Even if you have never played Minecraft before, there are plenty of things to do in the first chapter of Story Mode. It's a charming tale with simple characters and some memorable sets. In terms of game design, it couldn't be further from Minecraft however Telltale has come up with a way to make it work. I'm putting it down to the quality of the writing and the way it cleverly integrates classic items, monsters and gameplay mechanics. Story Mode raids everything in Minecraft's toolbox in order to help with its own narrative, and ultimately it works to excellent effect. The game could have been a lazy and awkward cash-in, however instead it's a smart and respectful spin-off which celebrates Minecraft's special brand of imagination.


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