Minecraft: Story Mode - A Telltale Games Series - 'Assembly Required'
Overview -
'Assembly Required' is the second episode in the 'Minecraft: Story Mode' series by Telltale, following quickly on the heels of 'The Order of the Stone'.
Video Review
Despite the issues in the narrative, I still really enjoy the big blocky set pieces that Telltale comes up with. The Order's temple, Ellegaard's redstone laboratory, even the garden variety mountains in the distance are all signature 'Minecraft'. It may not be advanced on a technical level, but in terms of nostalgia and enthusiasm/nerdiness, it's delightful. The character models are entertaining too, with their wide, cheesy grins and crestfallen rectangle eyes.
Audio Review
I don't have much enthusiasm for Ellegaard as a character, but she does have a good voice actor (Grey DeLisle, who also plays Catwoman in the 'Arkham' franchise). She is just the right amount of self-interested and helpful. Patton Oswald has a much smaller role in this one, as does everyone else because of the short running time.
Final Thoughts
'Minecraft: Story Mode - Assembly Required' came so quickly after the first that I can’t help but wonder if it was rushed. Parts of it seem that way - the duration, the weaker script, the lack of entertaining interactions. It’s almost as though the episodes were created by different people. It’s still early in the season though, and Telltale has some time to pull it together.