The Wolf Among Us: Episode 2 - Smoke and Mirrors Review

Episode 2 of Telltale Game’s The Wolf Among Us, Smoke and Mirrors, has been a long time coming, especially considering the cliffhanger ending on which they left us last time. Unfortunately, this delay has some impact on this latest offering, as it’s harder to invest emotionally when memories of the first part are so distant. Nevertheless, Bigby Wolf's second outing is still an enjoyable and accomplished experience.

Once again, following on from our review of Episode 1, there will be no spoilers here. This review is safe to read regardless of whether you have played the first episode, or not.

Immediate comparisons to Episode 1 are inevitable, as the well received opening instalment clearly set the benchmark high for its successors. While this second part perhaps does not reach the lofty heights of the game’s beginning, it comes pretty close.

In contrast to the clearly signposted decisions thrust at the player in Episode 1, the branching paths here are more subtle. Where last time decisions largely led the story (or at least appeared to), this time chosen actions have less effect on what happens plot-wise. Instead, this episode tends to focus on Bigby himself, and the decisions made influence his personality, his methods, and how far he is willing to go to get answers.

While the above statement may have fans of the Fables comic series worried (after all, Bigby is an established and popular character) any fears are unfounded. While the player’s actions do influence how Bigby deals with the circumstances of this particular case, none of the available choices are out of character for Fabletown's gruff sheriff. In the comics, we've seen times where Wolf keeps a cool head where others would snap; but we've also seen him lose himself to his nature and surrender to aggression, intimidation and violence. He's a complicated man is Wolfy, and this episode reflects that well.

Despite feeling slightly shorter than the first instalment, the rate at which the plot progresses here is extremely rapid. The twists begin almost immediately, and there will be several startling revelations as the story unfolds and the investigation begins to yield results.

Given that so much happens, and that there is more of the game left in front of us than behind by the end of this episode, it seems inevitable that there may be a red herring or two thrown in there to mislead, especially considering the twists already encountered. Even if this is so, the abundance of new information certainly whets the appetite for more and gives the impression of real progress.

New characters are introduced in this episode, and one line of investigation with a well known Fable is particularly enjoyable. The strength of the comics is replicated in the game in this regard, in taking a well-known folk icon and placing them in a totally alien position, with a totally unexpected personality, to throw your perceptions and smash your assumptions. You’ll work out who you are about to meet before you see them, but you won’t be expecting the character that confronts you.

Once again, characterisation is brilliantly realised, with the Fables encountered coming across as a delightful mixture of the mystical and the mundane. While this may seem a contradiction in terms, the Fables series is all about this contradiction, in which fairy tale and the real world collide. Bigby’s interactions with each of these larger-than-life individuals is realistic and emotive, despite the fantastical undertones of magic and mystery, and leaves you with a greater understanding of both the Wolfman himself, and each of the individuals who share his world.

While all the performances are top notch, special mention goes to returning character, and comic regular, Bluebeard, who really captures the essence of his paperbound avatar with a combination of amazing voice acting and perfect graphical representation, with particular reference to excellent facial animations.

Smoke and Mirrors is an excellent follow up to a strong start, and while it may not live up to the excitement of the previous episode, it nevertheless makes a worthy successor. Episode 2 will shock with twists, drive the narrative forward and allow the player to steer Bigby through it all in a style that suits them. Was it worth the (nearly) four month wait? Perhaps that's a stretch, but hopefully Telltale Games won't keep us waiting quite as long for Episode 3.