Game of Thrones: The Lost Lords Impressions: Lost and Found

Telltale Games continues to impress with the second episode of the new Game of Thrones adventure game. Like the first episode, this features appearances from characters from the HBO series, which use the likeness and voices of the TV actors. However, the game focuses on the plight of House Forrester, once longer time bannermen to the Starks, which now stands on the brink of ruin. The first episode established the characters and the problems they face, but the second one, The Lost Lords, holds plenty of new faces and its own surprises.

While Gared is surviving his first day as a member of the Night's Watch, Mira is still trapped at King's Landing, and has to decide how far she'll go to help her family. However, every action has its consequences, some immediate, others long term. It's up to the player to make decisions and deal with whatever happens next. Part of the suspense is in wondering which move might be your last, because no one is really safe in the Game of Thrones world. 

Although The Lost Lords features lots of political choices to make, but there's also plenty of bloodshed to go around. The episode even kicks off with a lengthy combat scene. Combat is usually fairly straightforward: You dodge when prompted, and hit targets when you need to. Episode 2 uses a mechanic I don't remember being in the first episode, where you have to wait for a prompt to fully charge before hitting it. It's quite unexpected, and given how rarely it's used, I didn't realize that I missed the move until after it cost me the battle. There are a handful of new elements that can be introduced in a new episode, but I don't think that new and unexplained combat moves should be one of them. Seeing how it's only used once or twice makes it feel insulting, like the game was trying to hit me with a "gotcha" moment by throwing in a move I had never seen before and expecting me to understand it.

The Lost Lords is also a bit meager when it comes to exploration. Despite so many locations, there isn't a lot to see. You're not allowed to wander around Castle Black, although you're treated to a nice view from atop the wall while chatting with Jon Snow. In some areas, especially in King's Landing and Castle Black, there are camera limits that can make non-purposeful movement difficult. The point of this episode isn't to linger and appreciate the scenery, which is all drawn using the beautiful water color style, but to get things done.

This is also the episode where things really start to ramp up. You need to make choices that will ensure the survival of your family, or at the very least, that you'll go out swinging. The pacing can be a bit uneven at times, given so may points of view, and an ending that comes a little out from left field. Still, the episode has plenty of exciting moments, marked with key decisions that have to be made quickly. In other words, it's very good episode, but pieces are still moving into place, and even after watching every episode of the TV show, we have no idea where our choices are leading us. That's not entirely true. They're most likely headed toward a violent end. Just how violent is the question.

Game of Thrones: The Lost Lords releases today.

Impressions are based on a PC code provided by the publisher. Game of Thrones: The Lost Lords is available digitally, and prices vary according to platform. The game is rated M.