A Game of Thrones Review

Release Date: OUT NOW!
£49.99 * Format reviewed: PS3
Also available on: Xbox 360 and PC
Publisher: Atlus

Game Of Thrones could never, in good conscience, be described as a quality product. It’s got flimsy, repetitive combat, looks like someone accidentally left the PS2 version on the disc and (lead characters aside) has some indecently bad voice acting. But despite its many, many problems Game Of Thrones is half an essential play because of its utterly brilliant story.

You split your time between two distinct characters – Mors Westford, a legendary head-cracking veteran of the Black Watch, and Alester Sarwyck, a Red Priest who returns home from decades in the brotherhood after the death of his father. Told in alternating chapters the game deftly weaves its narrative around the fringes of the first book/season, and features appearances from familiar faces such as Cersei and Varys. It’s consistently surprising, unexpectedly touching and utterly absorbing.

It’s been in development for well over half a decade (before the TV show was even commissioned), but feels half finished. Characters move with the grace of an action figure, customisation is undercooked and it’s riddled with bugs (opening a door causes it to clip through the character. Every. Single. Time.) Mors is a Skinchanger, and stepping into the paws of his loyal pup Hound, is the one bit of variety in the otherwise clumsy progression from The Wall to King’s Landing.

At 25-30 hours it’s impossible to wholeheartedly recommend, but if you have any love for George RR Martin’s world, and are willing to look past the game’s countless shortcomings, Game Of Thrones tells one of this generation’s very best tales.

Palpali gossips