Summary: 4.0/5.0
The Wolf Among Us is one of Telltale's player choice games and combines classic fairy tales with a gritty noir atmosphere, and the result is extremely well-executed. This game combines a compelling story with a lovely stylized world and plenty of lore in which to immerse yourself.
Story
Telltale is well-known for their writing, and this game is no exception. The Wolf Among Us weaves player choice into both plot and action sequences to let the player drive the character development of Bigby Wolf, which is just as compelling as the conspiracies, magic, and serial killings that plague Fabletown. Bigby's investigation takes you all over this world augmented with fairy tale elements, and momentum of this game builds with such speed that you won't want to put the controller down as you track down leads and chase down suspects in dark alleyways. Be warned, the conclusion leaves you with more questions than answers. Nonetheless, I found the story's end to be much more satisfying than anything erroneously labeled as "happily ever after."
Characters
The cast of The Wolf Among Us is incredibly diverse and ranges from the top ranking officials to the poorest citizens who can't afford to keep up appearances. Your relationships with these authentic personalities will strain and break with the choices you make. The beauty of The Wolf Among Us is the interactions between the gruff sheriff of Fabletown and its residents. The character development that spans only a single episode will create a genuine bond with that character, which is not an easy feat. You will feel the weight of Bigby's responsibilities with each choice as you witness firsthand the effects on those who depend on the city's governing officials.
Mechanics
The mechanics in this game, like other Telltale games, are very simple. The primary mechanic is choice. The choice to speak. The choice of what to say. The choice of which lead to follow. The choice of whose side to take. And subsequently dealing with the consequences of those choices. The secondary mechanic is the occasional quick time event, which requires a timely button press from the player. This is not a game with a steep learning curve. It's extremely approachable, especially for a game with combat sequences. This allows the player, regardless of skill level, to engage fully in the gritty noir narrative set forth. There are only a few moments where the game lagged, and no game-breaking bugs that I encountered.
Conclusion
I had been vaguely aware of this game for the four years since its release, and I'm not sure why it took so long to finally pick it up, but it was certainly worth the wait. The Wolf Among Us is a wonderful narrative experience that will leave you scouring the internet for viable theories about the strange happenings in Fabletown. With Halloween just around the corner, this is a perfect way to spend a cool autumn night or two.
