It's been a bit longer than we would have liked, but the latest in Telltale's newest episodic adventure series has arrived. Going in, The Wolf Among Us: Episode 2 - Smoke & Mirrors has expectations of you, and whether or not you live up to them will determine how much you will enjoy this second installment. This is very much a table-setter episode that takes the incredible shock of Episode 1's final scene and heaps a ton of kindling onto the smoldering remnants. It isn't as exciting as Faith, but it's gripping and unabashed in its brutality. More importantly, it's leading to bigger and better things.

Episode 1 - Faith ended with an incredibly shocking murder; one that had to have rattled the nerves of both newcomers and Fables fans alike. In a world where almost nothing is as it seems, the only thing that is obvious at this point is that there is a serial killer in Fabletown and he/she has a very clear target. Smoke and Mirrors is the story of Bigby's search for not only the identity of the murderer, but also the motive. This inevitably brings him directly into the paths of the Fables who inhabit Fabletown, from the glamoured (Bigby himself, Beast, etc.) to the nonglamoured (Mr. Toad and a couple of trolls, among others). Here's the really bad news: it's incredibly difficult to trust the individual who was once known as the Big Bad Wolf.

The Wolf Among Us: Episode 2 - Smoke & Mirrors takes its time, and this may turn off those who crave more action out of their Telltale games. In fact, I can only recall a single action sequence being completely unavoidable. Instead, this episode focuses on investigation and interrogation, much like in Rockstar's L.A. Noire. Granted, this is a much more interesting world and a much more entertaining story, and the stakes rise by the minute. And without giving anything away, the ending is handled perfectly. A wise man (I believe Vince Gilligan) once said something to the effect of "If you're going to tip your hand, you have to show your cards." Smoke & Mirrors does just that, and as a result, we have a lot to look forward to.

If you enjoyed The Wolf Among Us: Episode 1 - Faith, I would recommend investing in the Season Pass. It's apparent at this point that Telltale is really starting to hit their stride with this kind of game development, and if they're able to maintain that creative spark while maintaining that same perfect amount of artistic license, we should really have something special on our hands.