Notes

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

A narrative-driven game like Minecraft the block-building phenomenon adored by both adults and children alike, may sound tad odd. By the nature of it, Minecraft has little in the way of plot or characters -- the world is created randomly, and the best "stories" are naturally generated depending on what you decide to create and explore. The game's open nature is what makes it different, and it's the reason Minecraft: Story Mode, an spin-off game with a carefully crafted plot has been met with so much skepticism. Minecraft is a game that does not have a storyis it possible, or is it even necessary for a different developer to create one?



Telltale Games is renowned for adventure game adaptations of popular franchises, such as The Walking Dead, Game of Thrones and Fables. As opposed to Minecraft the properties of these franchises come with established stories, characters and mythology that the team can collaborate with. Telltale utilizes its own game engine and comic book style to create five episodes. The episodes are broken down into cutscenes and a series of conversations. You may occasionally be able to explore an environment. However, there's very little exploration or creativity. Do you want free-form building and crafting, like in Minecraft? Better look elsewhere.



Despite the vast differences, Minecraft: Story Mode works. It's a wonderful celebration of the game that created Markus "Notch" Persson a billionaire, and its plot and characters feel like they are part of the real world -- despite the fact that they were never mentioned in the original game. In the first episode, you take on the character of Jesse, and unlike most Telltale games, you can pick between a boy or a girl, and three different races. It's a nice addition and immediately gave me some sense of attachment 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). You and a small group of friends are determined to win a building competition at Endercon, a convention which is like Minecon.



There is no mention of Jesse's treehouse nor his pet animal Reuben or the Endercon contest in the original Minecraft game. This could be a problem, but Telltale quickly won me over in a few different ways. Story Mode is not the ultimate storyline for Minecraft. It's a fresh take on the blocky franchise, and is set in a separate Minecraft world. This lets the creators experiment while still protecting the original material. Story Mode also weaves in numerous elements that will be familiar to players of the original game. Creepers, beacons and portals all appear in episode one and are easy to recognize. Telltale's new ideas, such as a colorful amulet which can be used to locate important characters, aren't out of place within the Minecraft universe. Story Mode is respectful to the original game's design by expanding, but not compromising Minecraft's existing items and mechanics.



The pace is a bit slow to begin with however, once the Endercon building competition ends, the plot kicks into high gear. Telltale introduces the Order of the Stone, an elite group of heroes who once defeated the Ender Dragon, but then disappeared into legend. These members are responsible for the current threat that is threatening the world. Telltale opens up a few of the most important mysteries for the five-part season. While it's not the best but I'm still interested enough to continue watching the remaining episodes.



Story Mode is designed to be family-friendly, so there are some limitations on the writing and where Telltale can take its cheery characters. Fables (The Wolf Among Us) and The Walking Dead have provided more opportunities for the team to create dark and unpredictable characters with devious strategies. These properties trigger stronger reactions from the player, making more difficult decisions , and more complicated relationships with the characters you select. Story Mode's cast is likable, except for Jesse's friend Axel who is self-centered and impulsive. I spent most of my time trying to be the best of friends.



That said, the characters are distinct and possess quirky, energetic personalities. They all have clearly defined motives and desires, which makes it easier to predict the consequences of every decision made in a dialogue. Previous Telltale games have been plagued by occasionally stiff scripts and inconsistency in pace -- a common occurrence of a series with a variety of storylines , but they've always made me feel strongly about the characters. The same is true for Story Mode, which is an indication of the quality of the script. Jesse's friends may be a bit shallow, but they're easy to identify with. I want my "Nether Meniacs", (early on you get to choose the name of the team for the building contest) to make it through and remain together. I'm interested to see how the game attempts to break them up in later episodes.



Even if you've never played Minecraft before there's plenty to enjoy in the story mode's first chapter. It's a charming tale with simple characters and a few memorable sets. It could not be further from Minecraft in terms of game design but Telltale has succeeded in making it work. I'm putting it down to the quality of the writing and the way it cleverly incorporates classic items, monsters and gameplay mechanics. Story Mode raids everything in Minecraft's toolbox to aid in its own narrative, and ultimately it works to amazing effect. Minecraft The game could have been a sloppy and awkward cash-in, however instead it's a smart and respectful spin-off that is a celebration of Minecraft's special brand of imagination.


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