The Council: Episode 1 - The Mad Ones

Critic reviews

• Game Debate

  Stuart Thomas · May 20, 2018

  9.5

  A game that doesn't spoon feed you but that never feels unfair. Where thoughtful consideration of the plot and characters is more important than quickness. I lapped up all the skulking, whispering skullduggery and a few of the plot twists caught me by surprise. I can't wait for more.

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• RPG Site

  Alex Seedhouse · May 12, 2018

  7.0

  More than enough new ideas have been thrown at The Council to make it stand out from the crowd, and, while flaws are clearly evident in the three hours that you will spend with this first episode, it makes for a promising start for what is left to come. Technical issues detract from the grandeur of its setting, but it's hard not to be swept up in the mystery that surrounds it all.

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• Hardcore Gamer

  Adnan Riaz · Mar 26, 2018

  8.0

  The Mad Ones is one of the strongest openers in episodic gaming to date. Big Bad has created a universe that is both original and captivating, leaving players to probe different characters encountered in The Mad Ones and dig deeper into The Council’s story to find clues behind Sarah’s disappearance. It’s disappointing that some notable flaws, from dialogue and voice acting to performance issues, hold back The Mad Ones’ full potential.

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• Destructoid

  Patrick Hancock · Mar 21, 2018

  5.5

  There are five acts of this game. While I'm sure some of my concerns like janky animations and a lack of interesting exploration options can be addressed, I think that most of the game's issues will plague each and every episode. They can't shake the bad voice acting. Maybe they can increase the quality of the writing. There is a great blend of RPG and narrative mechanics here, it just isn't worth muddling through everything else to experience.

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• COGconnected

  Jason Fanelli · Mar 17, 2018

  7.5

  The skill trees and RPG elements add a personal touch that other similar games simply do not emulate. For everything that the game does well the small technical aspects have the most hiccups, particularly in voice acting. If Cyanide Studios can smooth out the creases and keep delivering the narrative goods, I could see The Council becoming the next big narrative-driven franchise. It’s up to Episode Two to keep the momentum going.

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• Hey Poor Player

  Kevin Kissane · Mar 13, 2018

  7.0

  There is a lot to like about The Council. This first of five planned episodes ends really well, with anticipation high for the next one. Exploring the fine-looking locations blends-in knowledge and interest and thus keeps you invested. The often-odd facial movements and sometimes bizarre voice-acting do not fully deter from what is indeed an intriguing tale. The various paths you can take will keep replay level at a high. The use of varying attributes and skills adds a new dynamic to the storytelling genre, if a little overwhelming at first. The Council is well worth a look.

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