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The Wolf Among Us Episode One: Faith

I must admit, I’ve never actually read a Fables comic. I’d heard about the premise – characters from fairy tales living together in the real world – but never has it found a place on my pull-list. Thanks to the excellence of The Wolf Among Us, I think that’s about to change.

The Wolf Among Us is Telltale Games’ latest attempt to future-proof the point-and-click adventure. Like The Walking Dead adaptation it came up with last year, play entails relatively simple environmental puzzles mixed with frenzied action scenes where you’ll have to hit the correct buttons to complete purposefully tough quick time event sequences.

Fables: Wolf Among Us

My, what big fists you have

Central to proceedings is Sheriff Bigby Wolf – aka the Big Bad Wolf of both Little Red Riding Hood and Three Little Pigs fame. His job is to protect the Fables living in New York City, or else consign them to The Farm should they misbehave and refuse to use “Glamours” – magic that makes the likes of Mr Toad appear human.

Bigby is a clichéd noir character, as likely to solve any given situation with his fists (and claws) as much as with his wits. The constant battle between brains and brawn is neatly portrayed in the offering of a variety of responses that genuinely alter how certain parts of the story pan out.

It’s a narrative that soon sees Bigby on the scent of a killer, and one that offers up new suspects at every cliffhanging turn. It weaves its way between such characters as both Beauty and the Beast, Snow White and Colin – the pig who built his house from straw — as it goes.

Fables: Wolf Among Us

Ya huffed, ya puffed, and now my f**n’ house is f**n’ blown down

Each section is written as if the fairy tale really was a long, long time ago and New York’s dark underbelly has been eating away at the Fable’s virtue. Don’t be surprised to see your favourite characters addicted to illicit substances or even working the streets.

Bigby himself habitually smokes Huff’n’Puff cigarettes – the only item of “nutrition” in his otherwise barren fridge. Colin the pig is a bourbon-slugging couch potato who has still to come to terms with the loss of his straw house.

It’s these clever references, combined with some of the best character dialogue I’ve heard all year – just watch Bigby consult the Magic Mirror – that makes The Wolf Among Us a real joy to play.

Fables: Wolf Among Us

Mirror, mirror on the floor, who’s the fairest mutha of them all?

For the record, I completed it, without any problems or pauses for thought, in about 90 minutes. Yes it’s linear, and more interactive story than game, but I don’t think that changes what is a fantastically realised piece of entertainment. And it only 19 quid.

Besides, you can always do what I did and complete it all over again, making sure you take all those different forks along the road to discover whole new scenes and exchanges. Believe me, you’ll be glad you did.

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