Game of Thrones Episode 2: The Lost Lords – Review

While Telltale’s Game of Thrones Episode 1: Iron From Ice was shock and awe, Episode 2: The Lost Lords calms down to embellish love and family. As the exiled second-eldest son Asher Forrester starts off the chapter talking about the importance of family the entire episode follows suit to the theme. The Forrester’s Lost Lords talk about both the lords they lost and found.

[signoff icon=”alert”]Spoiler Alert: Some spoilers from Episode 1 and up till Season 3 of the TV show.[/signoff]

The game takes on four perspectives: Asher Forrester in Yunkai as Daenerys Targaryen frees the slaves of the city, Rodrik Forrester, the son who miraculously survived, back at Ironrath, Mira Forrester at King’s Landing and Gared Tuttle on the wall. The perspective shifts far too often and you don’t end up playing any character for an extended period of time. Perhaps this decision was due to the lack of action in the chapter or an attempt to more closely follow the narrative style of the book series.

A few new characters have been introduced in this chapter as well as familiar faces. Beskha, the rude mouth mercenary who starts with dark humor and fast blades in Yunkai, but has her own past to face as unfinished business in Meereen. Frostfinger, the grim trainer on the wall. Then of course you have Jon Snow, Tyrion Lannister, Margaery Tyrell as familiar faces involved with the ongoings of the Forresters.

The game does not feature the tension present in the first episode due to the presence of the Boltons, but the Whitehills return often enough to keep reminding us of the danger that lurks. The choices this time around have a more direct implication. Forging a letter from the Martells will break their trust, but help Rodrik’s betrothal gaining him a new ally. Bowing before Lord Whitehill to allow your brother to attend his father’s funeral shows off your house as weak, but refusing will result in him not being able to attend the funeral and leave Lady Forrester tearful.

The game captures the essence of the backstabbing politics and invisible servants listening like little birds throughout King’s Landing. The strongest point of the chapter is the conversation you have with the other characters. There are moments where the source politics of Game of Thrones shine through like when Tyrion warns you that your choices will either be very good or very bad for both of you. You stand on the wall with Jon Snow and he tells you how the very liars and bullies you fight with, are your brothers and will be the only thing standing between you and the wildlings, if you can trust them. My favorite part of the episode was the parallel drawn between Jon Snow and Gared Tuttle as they go up conversing in the lift to the top of the wall.

In true fashion the game also hosts a few surprises with the character that was supposed to be the safest, ending up in a life threatening situation.

The episode lasts around 2 hours. Which is a lot on the short side since you will play as four different characters this time around. For such a long wait for the episode, I would not have minded a little more content. But this is a small gripe with a game otherwise hard to fault with. We expected a game with intricate political repercussions, good combat and a well-built world and that’s what we got.

Even though your point of view changes quickly, the game does a great job of reminding you of the story arc through in-game actions. A quick look in your inventory shows you the choices made in the last chapter; like when Mira chose to steal the house stamp from the Tyrrells or the locket Gared got when he left for the wall.

The episode takes small steps rather than progressing the story at full pace. The questions of the first episode about the North Grove, the Forresters’ search for allies and the control of the Ironwood remain unanswered. There seems to be calm as the Forresters prepare to mourn their dead and rejoice in the return of a son, whose arrival opens up new choices. Game of Thrones by Telltale still has many secrets to unfold and stories to progress. It has yet to put its best foot forward, but whatever I have seen till now leaves me impressed about its faithfulness to the source and compassionate for the fate of the Forrester family.