Minecraft: Story Mode Season Two - Episode 5: Above and Beyond (PC) Review

At the very least, Above and Beyond feels like a fitting send-off for the characters of Minecraft: Story Mode. Almost everyone in the main cast makes an appearance, though obviously that can be impacted by the choices you made. Some of the reveals can feel a bit contrived, though, as characters "just happen" to make it out of previously inescapable scenarios. Maybe Telltale wanted to give the game a kid-friendly happy ending, but it makes those earlier scenes completely lose their tension and kills a lot of the desire to replay the series.

Speaking of suspension of disbelief, episode five occasionally takes it a bit too far. A large chunk of the episode involves sneaking into Beacon Town to avoid the wrath of Romeo the Admin. This frequently does a great job of raising the stakes, resulting in nervous grinning and nail-biting tension. To put it bluntly, though: there's unobservant, and then there's bloody Romeo. There are instances where Jesse and co. are literally a few metres away, and he's completely oblivious. He'll see Jesse, but then pause to squint, giving them time to escape; he doesn't even follow up on his suspicions until it's too late. At first, it's mildly amusing, but by the end it just grows tiresome, especially considering how willing the game is to kill you if you fail a QTE to evade Romeo. Apparently, Jesse's silent and invisible in cutscenes, but not when player input is required.

Speaking of QTEs, while they get "better" as the game goes on - as in, many have ramifications for failing them - the opening in particular is littered with useless ones. Likewise, the classic "illusion of freedom" sections are present, in which the path forward involves simply holding a direction so Jesse walks down a hallway. Jesse walks down tons of hallways in cutscenes; why do some have to be "special." It forces the player to manufacture their own drama and tension, rather than earning it with clever camera work and the like.

If it feels like there's a lot to dislike about Above and Beyond, it's simply because there are a few rough edges that stick out on an experience that is otherwise comparable to its predecessors. The characters are fun, aside from a couple of brief (mercifully dialogue-free) appearances by good old YouTubers. The story concludes in a satisfying manner, even allowing the player to choose how they want Jesse's personal narrative to continue past the game. Lastly, while some may feel that choices they made didn't have a meaningful impact, there are enough events that clearly result from personal playstyle that it's liable to be a minority opinion.