Above, a scene from “The Wolf Among Us.” (Photo credit: Telltale Games)

‘The Wolf Among Us’ enchants, entices us to keep playing episodic adventure

Under the auspices of Telltale, the developer behind the absolutely superb “The Walking Dead” interactive video game, the gaming world has been introduced to yet another exciting, immersive and Game of the Year-worthy title, “The Wolf Among Us.”

Broken into episodes similar to “The Walking Dead,” “The Wolf Among Us” engages us from the get-go with its first chapter, “Faith.” We’re quickly thrown into the nitty-gritty, being introduced to Bigby Wolf, the sheriff of a magic-laden version of New York City inhabited by popular fairytale characters you went to went to bed listening to when you were a child. From the beginning, the experience is engrossing and memorable, thanks in large part to the availability of choice. As with “The Walking Dead,” Telltale allows us to alter the course of the game through the decisions we make, though this time in a world surprisingly physical (for an adventure game) and dark (maybe not so surprisingly for a story about fairytales).

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And those decisions? They’re as tough as our title character. This magical world, gritty and noir-like, will push you to your moral limit. For those who truly enjoy this type of endeavor, you won’t find much problem getting into fights, destroying the room around you or busting into dangerous situations. And unlike other narrative-based games (think “Beyond: Two Souls”), the action sequences here are well-executed and immensely playable.

The fighting here is closer to a blend of “Uncharted” and “Heavy Rain.” During fight-scene interactions, you’re given a brief moment to make a choice. How do you want to proceed? Do you want to smash his head into the sink? How about the couch, or the cabinet? How about avoiding the fight, being the better man? Or maybe you want to sneak up on them? Your choice throughout, which is an addicting feature. (Even better: Go back and replay the scene to see how your choices affect the final outcome.)

The prequel to Bill Willingham’s Fable comic series, though, doesn’t just have the Big Bad Wolf Bigby causing all the chaos, though. All the characters in this violent, magical world are just as physical, and highly entertaining and compelling. From the introduction to the episode’s conclusion, you’re enthralled with the shocking murder-mystery taking place around you.

As Bigby, you’re entrusted (though that may not be the right word…) to protect the citizens of Fabletown from the outside world and from themselves. The community of displaced fairytale characters — from Snow White to the Woodsman — is interesting and complex. These characters, the fantastic settings they inhabit and the stellar writing gifted to them all add up to create a narrative just about unlike anything you’ve ever played.

The two-hour episode will pull your emotions and test your morality in situations both familiar and foreign. It’s not a normal day when you see talking toads who refuse to hide their magical identities, a woodsman with anger issues and a member of the Three Little Pigs smoking and cursing. The conversations range from hilarious to darkly disturbing, and the pace and inter-connectivity is smooth and natural.

But let’s not forget about the stunning presentation. “Faith” comes across with a strong sense of ’80s-noir inspiration, with stark, popping neon colors delivered against a harsh backdrop and synth-heavy score. Throw in some magic into the mix, and you come away feeling you know this place (think New York borough), but only just.

To go with such a set, the decisions you make during this adventure are just as grand and important. While the biggest of choices are punctuated with obvious announcements (the screen will slow, change colors and linger while you make your game-changing decision), you’ll immediately want to go back and play the episode again to see what could be different. Someone die during your first playthrough? He or she may live the second time through. Want to change who you decide is important to apprehend and who to let go? Have at it. The story web is complex and complicated, and you’ll no doubt want to uncover every secret you can.

One note of annoyance: The framerate can be a bit choppy, no matter your gaming system (played on the Mac for this review). The transition scenes also stutter for a moment, quickly though briefly reminding you that you are playing a game. “The Walking Dead” suffered from the same glitches, which is even more reason to be upset. These issues should have been addressed, but they’re minor in regard to the excellence in front of you.

So, yet again, Telltale has created a world of adventure, full of great writing and well-designed noir-inspired presentation. “Faith” is a fantastic entry into the big bad world of Sheriff Bigby’s chaotic life, merging brutal situations with magical mystery in ways you haven’t seen before. If this beginning episode is only a taste of what’s to come from “The Wolf Among Us,” we can expect to be just as entertained and engaged as we were when we embarked on Lee and Clementine’s adventure.

Four fairytale-inspired stars out of five.

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