The Wolf Among Us
" Immersive action-adventure thriller with compelling story and moral choices but repetitive gameplay "
The Wolf Among Us Review
The Wolf Among Us is widely regarded as a Telltale masterpiece, praised for its compelling noir-inspired narrative and unique setting where fairy tale characters navigate a gritty, modern world. Players take on the role of Bigby Wolf, a morally complex detective whose choices shape the story, although some note that not all choices drastically affect the plot.
The game’s art style stands out with a striking comic book aesthetic that enhances the atmosphere, accompanied by fitting music and voice acting. The gameplay follows Telltale's signature interactive cinematic style with quick-time events and dialogue choices, which some players find engaging, while others consider it somewhat limited.
Despite minor bugs and occasional glitches reported, the game holds up well over time, offering a tightly woven mystery with rich character development. Many players express strong attachment to the characters and eagerly anticipate a sequel, lamenting its long delay.
Highlights
Players praise the game's immersive noir atmosphere, unique comic book art style, and strong narrative. The detective story with fairy tale characters is captivating, with well-written characters and meaningful moral dilemmas.
Bigby Wolf as a protagonist is highly regarded for his complexity and player-driven personality. The soundtrack and voice acting also receive frequent commendation for enhancing the mood.
The game’s choice-driven mechanics, while not always deeply branching, add to the replay value and player engagement, making it a standout in narrative-driven games.
Criticisms
Some players note that many choices have limited impact on the overall story, reducing the sense of agency. The gameplay is sometimes described as repetitive or too reliant on quick-time events and cutscenes.
Minor bugs and glitches, especially near the end of the game, have caused frustration for some players. Additionally, the game’s relatively short length (around 6-10 hours) and limited replayability are mentioned as drawbacks.
The absence of a sequel after many years is a common disappointment expressed by the community.
Pros
- • Compelling and immersive noir-inspired detective story with fairy tale characters.
- • Unique and striking comic book art style enhances the game's atmosphere.
- • Strong character development, especially the protagonist Bigby Wolf.
- • Meaningful moral choices that affect character relationships and tone.
- • Excellent voice acting and fitting soundtrack amplify the mood.
- • Engaging narrative with twists, mystery, and social commentary.
- • Well-crafted worldbuilding that blends fantasy and modern urban life.
Cons
- • Many choices have limited impact on the overall story progression.
- • Gameplay can feel repetitive and overly reliant on quick-time events.
- • Minor bugs and glitches, especially near the game's conclusion.
- • Relatively short game length limits long-term engagement for some.
- • Frustration caused by some timed dialogue choices being too fast.
- • Lack of a long-awaited sequel disappoints the fanbase.
- • Some characters feel two-dimensional despite good writing.
Rating Criteria
From the makers of the 2012 Game of the Year: The Walking Dead, comes a thriller based on the award-winning Fables comic books. As Bigby Wolf you will discover that a brutal, bloody murder is just a taste of things to come in a game series where your every decision can have enormous consequences.
