Minecraft: Story Mode - Episode 4: A Block and a Hard Place (Xbox One) Review

The latest episode in the Minecraft: Story Mode adventure kicks off with the protagonist and her pals visiting the mystical Farlands, a real location that very few will recognise unless having played Minecraft since the very early days. It's a location where the terrain has gone insane and Ivor's secret lair is hidden in the centre of it. Visually, this area looks fantastic and the developer has nailed the Farlands feel. What about the actual dialogue, though? Well it's appalling.

The conversations basically consist of "are we there yet?" and "how long until we get there?"
A recurring theme throughout a large chunk of Episode 4 is the rift that is forming between the main character's friends and the Order of the Stone members. They're constantly arguing about the best way to tackle the next issue, and it's down to the player to decide whether he sides with friends, the heroes, or even try and get everyone to work together.

There's a scene here which the entire quest has been building up to, and it's without a doubt, the best sequence of quick time events and choices so far in Minecraft: Story Mode. It's where choices show that they are making a difference in the world, but, unfortunately, for this play-through, the one thing that shouldn't happen happened; almost to the point where we're tempted to go back and do it again, just to try and get a different result - still slightly bitter about it.

While avoiding spoilers is the right thing to do, one thing near the end of the episode needs to be mentioned. Over the course of this adventure, various characters have been inflicted with different issues such as one of the cast getting withered, and another one becoming an amnesia; two fairly large problems. Then, with a blink of the eye, everyone is fine and dandy. It almost feels like a scene in the game was cut last minute; a scene which would have explained the cure.