Game of Thrones “A Nest of Vipers” review for Xbox One, PS4, PC

Platform: Xbox One
Also On: PS4, PC, PS3, Xbox 360
Publisher: Telltale Games
Developer: Telltale Games
Medium: Digital
Players: 1
Online: No
ESRB: M

Dubbed ?A Nest of Vipers?, this fifth installment of Telltale?s Game of Thrones series is aptly named. Coming off of the action-packed fourth episode, which gave us numerous reasons to cheer on House Forrester, there?s a number of unfortunate events in store for those that thought things were looking up for the Northern clan.

Ramsay continues to be one awful SOB this episode, revisiting the Forrester home base while making a number of not-so-idle threats that?ll lead into the final showdown between the Forrester and Whitehill clans. Rodrik?s leadership is called into question, a traitor is revealed, family is briefly (and tragically) reunited, and Mira gains a potential, unlikely ally in King?s Landing.

got nest of vipers 001There?s also some other familiar faces from the TV show that reappear, pulling the story of Telltale?s game into the events of Season 4 nicely. There?s one particularly fun use of the standard ?so and so will remember that? mechanic, and also one really tough choice in store for those that hit the final moments of this chapter. I?ll be pretty curious to see what the final breakdown is on that last decision, I imagine it?ll split pretty evenly.

This chapter is not nearly as action-focused as the last, but there are a couple events that involve mostly hand-to-hand combat sequences, primarily from Asher and Beskha?s point of view. Everything else about this chapter is pretty much par for the course as far as dialogue options go, with some of your actions from the last chapter already appearing to have ramifications here.

got nest of vipers 003My only real issue with ?A Nest of Vipers? comes from the opening of Asher?s sequence, dovetailing off of his mission for Daenerys. I felt like she?s a bit too cold and unreasonable in comparison to her TV/Book portrayal, in regards to how events went down based on my actions in the last episode. Maybe I?m being a bit too picky here, but it didn?t feel entirely true to her character for me.

Outside of that, this is another solid episode in the series, and I?m as interested in what comes next as I?ve ever been. I feel like the finale will bring nothing but sorrow, but I?d expect nothing less out of Game of Thrones at this point, so what the hell. Hopefully we?ll only have to wait a month or so more to see the be all, end all of Forrester vs. Whitehill. It should be one heckuva fight.

Grade: A-