It's not all bad though. As I've said before the main characters are excellent as is the overall story. The writer of the books George Martin was involved with this story and it shows. This little side-story that takes place a month or so before the books and TV show has his fingerprints all over it. Even the way each chapter is broken up with a cliff hanger before switching over to the other character is just like the real story.
And to be fair there are a few moments in the game that make you go "this could have been something special." At the start of chapter 9 you play as a guard of the Knights Watch named Mors, and you and another knight have to protect another character in a cottage that's under seige from an enemy troupe. The battle requires you running around the house fighting enemies, while keeping an eye on the doors to make sure they don't break them down. It's a high pressure moment of the game that really stands out. Sadly there's just not enough of these moments.
But again it all comes back to the story. If you're not familiar with the books or show just forget about this game. It won't mean nearly as much to you unless you spend a few hours with the constantly updating in-game Codex. But if you are a fan you need to play this. It might as well be required. It's more true to its license than any other game I've come across. Fuck any of that Arkham crap or anything else based on a comic book or an action film. This game took much more intelligent subject matter and translated it into. . . well I can't say a great game. Maybe a great experience though. At times you'll get the same rush from this game that you get from the Game of Thrones books or show. Of course those momentary rushes will make you hate the game's down-time even more. Maybe if you know what you're getting into though you can have a decent enough time with it.
Oh and as for the in-game progress I've just reached what I belive it the middle or start of the last third of the game where the two protagonists meet. That moment has been a serious high point. I don't want to ruin anything but when they finally cross paths a smile just broke out across my face and I started thinking.... "now shit is gonna get real."
I cannot judge you. I chose to keep playing RAGE and Too Human despite a lage backlog of critically and commerically well received games.
Thing is given its source material I can't imagine that the story is any good either. 
Them's fighting words... to someone who actually gives a shit about that kind of stuff.
Thats what I heard.
- You shall not pass
- Gandalf
- Hobbit?
- Andy Sircus
- New Zealand
- Gimlee?
- Volcano?
So needless to say, I know nothing. Still worth playing?
No that sums up Lord of the Rings pretty well. Add the word "walking" between each of those and you pretty much nailed it.
I still can't honestly say I'd recommend this game to non-fans of the series though.
As a fan of the books and TV show, I shall buy this game.
When it's cheaper.
robio said:Them's fighting words... to someone who actually gives a shit about that kind of stuff.
robio said:No that sums up Lord of the Rings pretty well. Add the word "walking" between each of those and you pretty much nailed it.
Credibility dwindling.
Almost done. The final battle is possibly the most annoying one I've ever come across. No spoilers, but it pulls sort of the bait and switch where you have your final battle..... but not really. Then you start the real final battle.... and it gets interrupted by another one.... and then the final battle. And in the real final battle (I hope) the boss keeps getting stronger over 3 different stages. I've actually enjoyed the game, but right now I'm very much ready for it to be over.
Okay fuck it I cheated and I don't care. I was playing the game for the story, not the dull as shit WRPG combat. After nearly 3 hours of attempting the final battle and not making it close I went ahead and watched the ending(s) on YouTube. I hope everyone has a lower opinion of me. Fuck it man. Seriously though I was probably a level or two too low for the final battle, and I was in a position where I was trapped between my last saved game and the final battle. Oh well, I wanted the story and that was it. And I got it.
I'll just say this, just as in the books there is no happy ending... and that's why I'm a dirty fucking cheater.
So I've given Game of Thrones another try. I honestly have never been more perplexed by a game before. It's gotten a good bit better since I dropped it during the 4th chapter (approx 7 to 8 hours in). There's a lot less talking and more action and that was my biggest complaint during the first round I played. I still can't really say it's great though. I'm not even sure I'd call it good. In fact, everytime the game starts to get good it comes to a grinding halt, usually due to one of the mind numbing side-quests that you're unfortunately crippled if you ignore. Let me try to run down some of my thoughts about the game. I'll also be updating this thread as I go through the game from this point. I'll do my best to keep spoilers out unless someone actually requests them.
The gameplay is utterly average... that might even be generous. I'm not very familiar with western RPGs (at least not since Wizardry 7 back in 1993), with maybe EQ as an exception. Combat seems like it's from Dragon Age, based on what I've read and seen. I'm not sure how that game worked, but the combat strategies in this game are almost entirely reactionary. Going on the offensive is almost always a danger so you just have to do your thing and wait for an opening. It makes for a lot of dull moments.
I think my biggest gripe of the game though is the economy and how it cripples how you raise your stats or at least your health. HP is based on your armor. The better armor you have, the more HP you get and the way combat goes in this game high HP is critical. So there's 3 types of armor; shitty armor, not quite so shitty armor, and good armor. Shitty armor you start with and find on weaker enemies. Not quite so shitty armor can be found at reasonable prices from merchants and on occasion drops from enemies. Good armor (and weapons) seems to only be sold at merchants, but the price jump for it is way out of proportion. The jump from shitty armor to not so shitty armor is like 2 to 3 times the price. Not so shitty to good armor is about 10 X the cost. It doesn't really work though from my perspective because the enemies never drop high amounts of gold. It stays constant. So getting the good stuff is very difficult until near the end of the game. The only way to earn the extra money you need is from the mind numbing side quests.
These side quests seem to be the key to really advancing your character in the game. And they are fucking terrible. At least most of the time. They advance nothing in the game and generally involve C level characters you never see again. That essentially cripples all the momentum in the game. YOu can play straight through and focus on the main story (which is wonderful), but you'll struggle nearly the entire time due to lack of decent equipment and experience. It's a fucking paradox that drives me mad. These sidequests at time make me just want to quit the game because sometimes it really is nothing more than just going from one person to another to another to another. . . and doing nothing more than talking. Ughghhhhhhhh it's bad.