Notes

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

A story-driven game about Minecraft the block-building phenomenon adored by children and adults alike, could sound tad odd. By design, Minecraft has little in terms of plot or characters -- the world is created randomly, and the best "stories" happen naturally depending on what you decide to create and explore. The game's free-form nature is what makes it different and is the reason Minecraft: Story Mode, an spin-off game with a well-crafted plot has been met with so much skepticism. Minecraft works because it does not have a story- is it feasible, or even appropriate, for another developer to make it one?



Telltale Games is most well-known for adventure game adaptations of popular franchises, such as The Walking Dead, Game of Thrones and Fables. Unlike Minecraft these properties are based with established mythology, characters, and stories that the team can collaborate with. Telltale uses its own game engine and comic book style to create a series of five episodes. They are broken down into cuts, conversations that branch, fast-paced events and puzzles. There are times when you're able to walk through an environment. However, there's no exploration or creativity. Do you want to build in a free-form style and crafting as in Minecraft? Better look elsewhere.



Minecraft: Story Mode works despite these vast differences. It's a charming celebration of the game that has made Markus "Notch" Persson a billionaire, and its plot and characters seem to 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 other Telltale games you can choose between a boy and a girl, and one of three races. It's a nice touch that instantly made me feel a sense of attachment to Jesse as a character. The voice acting was performed by either Patton Oswalt (best-known for his roles in Ratatouille or The King of Queens) and Catherine Taber (you might recognise her voice from Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker or Star Wars: The Clone Wars). With a small group of friends you set out to win a building competition at a Minecon-style event known as Endercon.



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 my trust in many ways. Story Mode is not the ultimate storyline for Minecraft. It's a different approach to the blocky franchise, and is set in a distinct Minecraft world. This allows the authors to play around while still preserving the source material. Story Mode includes many elements that are familiar to those who played of the original game. Episode 1 is filled with portals, beacons, and creepers that are all easily recognized. When Telltale introduces a new concept -- like, a colorful amulet used to locate important characters it isn't out of its place in the Minecraft universe. Story Mode is respectful to the original game by expandingit, but not compromising Minecraft's existing elements and mechanics.



Although the pace is slow at first but once the Endercon building contest ends, the plot picks up significantly. At the very beginning, Telltale introduces a group of heroes known as the Order of the Stone, who once defeated the Ender Dragon and subsequently became a legend. The peril the world now is facing is a result of these heroes and this is where the developer lays out some of the larger mysteries of the five-part season. It's not anything special, but I'm intrigued enough to continue watching the remaining episodes.
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Story Mode is designed to be family-friendly. There are limitations on the writing and Telltale's capacity to use its cheerful characters. Fables (The Wolf Among Us) and The Walking Dead have provided more opportunities for the team to create dark and unpredictable characters with shady strategies. These properties trigger more intense reactions from the player, making more difficult decisions and more complicated relationships with the characters you pick. Story Mode's cast is enjoyable however Jesse's friend Axel who is impulsive and self-centered. I spent the majority of my time trying to make friends with the best of them.



The characters are distinct and have quirky, energetic personalities. All of them have clearly defined motives and desires that make 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 pacing -- an inevitability, perhaps, with branching stories -- but they've always made me feel strongly about the characters. Story Mode is no different and is a testimony of the quality of the script. Jesse's friends might be a little shallow, but they're easy to identify with. I really want my "Nether Maniacs" (early on you can pick your team's name during the building competition) to survive and stay together, so I'm eager to see how the game attempts to break them up in later episodes.



Even if you've never played Minecraft before there are many things to appreciate in the Story Mode's first Chapter. It's a delightful tale that features simple characters and some memorable sets. In terms of game design, it couldn't be further away from Minecraft, but somehow Telltale has managed to make it work. I'm putting that down to the quality of the writing and the way it cleverly incorporates classic items such as monsters, gameplay mechanics, and other items. Story Mode raids everything in Minecraft's toolbox in order to help with its own storytelling, and ultimately it works to amazing effect. The game could have been a sloppy and uninspiring cash-in, but instead it's a thoughtful and respectful spin-off that is a celebration of Minecraft's special brand of creativity.


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