Minecraft: Story Mode - A Telltale Games Series - 'Access Denied'
Overview -
'Access Denied' is the seventh and penultimate episode in the first season of 'Minecraft: Story Mode', following 'A Portal to Mystery' in the bonus, post-Witherstorm storyline.
Video Review
PAMA looks exactly as you might expect; a massive computer screen with emojis for a face. She is a sassy copy of HAL 9000, but with less angst. I was hoping for a nice set piece like we've seen the last few episodes, but the village in 'Access Denied' is pretty tame. The engine runs along smoothly for once.
Audio Review
Great voice acting abounds, and it's a small cast so each character stands out. New addition Harper has only a small role, but her actress (Yvette Nicole Brown, 'Community') successfully imparts her sarcasm and comically high blood pressure. The music and sound effects have changed little from previous entries; quite good and in line with the low-key nature of 'Minecraft' audio.
Final Thoughts
After last episode's streamer spectacle, I was hoping 'Minecraft: Story Mode' could shake off the cobwebs and head for the finish line with grace and aplomb. Instead, we have a tiny little episode with almost zero interactivity and a predictable plot. It's better than 'A Portal to Mystery', but that's a rather dubious honor.