2023 is shaping up to be one of the great video game years, with a plethora of titles releasing over twelve months that many have anticipated for years. Final Fantasy 16, Starfield, Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, Forspoken, and Redfall are all scheduled to launch in that time frame, and despite being from an esteemed developer, The Wolf Among Us 2 is rather getting lost in the pack. It's the newest effort from Telltale Games, continuing Bigby Wolf's story that began in 2014 and hopefully providing players with the elusive second season that most wanted, and expected years ago.
As the studio's first new game since The Walking Dead's fourth and final season, it has some catching up to do, especially with the new console generation boasting significant hardware upgrades over their predecessors. Telltale Games' offerings caught traction on the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360. When games like Tales from the Borderlands and Batman: The Telltale Series had the power of the PS4 and Xbox One at their disposal, there wasn't a huge difference in performance, which is where some of the company's titles struggled the most. Now that Telltale is back, it cannot rely on the old ways and be hampered by frame rate drops and texture issues; it has to do better.
The Wolf Among Us 2 is an Unexpected Treat
The Wolf Among Us is a fantastic game, adapting the Fables comic series and bringing an all-new investigative story in a murky, neon-draped Fabletown. People are getting murdered, and as the Sheriff, Bigby gets to work deciphering a mystery that has more layers that any of the characters thought possible. Suspects, victims, and bystanders are all recognizable from folklore, fairy tales, and nursery rhymes, with Georgie Porgie, Ichabod Crane, and Beauty and the Beast all having a role to play. It effortlessly straddles the line between familiar and fresh, and so when rumors of The Wolf Among Us 2 were squashed by Telltale Games closing its doors, it was a real shame.
However, when the studio reopened as a result of LCG Entertainment acquiring the rights to its franchises, the first order of business was seemingly to give fans the sequel they'd wanted for years. The Wolf Among Us 2 comes at a time when detective games are all the rage, and though adventure titles are fewer in number today, the stage is set for The Wolf Among Us 2 to be a satisfying second act to the story in Fabletown. After nine years in the making, it's got a lot to live up to, so looking and playing its best is of paramount importance.
Telltale Games are Plagued with Poor Performance
The PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X are powerful machines, and PC continues to push the boundaries with modern technology. It's not likely that The Wolf Among Us 2 will be a graphical titan or require too much from the hardware it's running on, so there is no mechanical excuse for a poor frame rate or blocky textures this time around. Telltale Games' releases were always narratively strong enough for fans to largely overlook the technical problems that plagued each game, but this can't be true of The Wolf Among Us 2.
Telltale Games needs this project to be a success; samey graphics and persistent performance problems undoubtedly contributed to the company's downfall. The California-based outfit has the unique opportunity to make a new impression on players, and though longtime fans of the developer are already suitably excited about The Wolf Among Us 2 and what fables it may include, it needs to capture a new audience. Putting its best foot forward with its performance quality will be vital to its continued success.
The Wolf Among Us 2 releases 2023 for PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.