Marvel's Guardians of the Galaxy - Episode 1: Tangled Up in Blue
- April 18, 2017
- Telltale Games
Ep 1 of Telltale's Guardians of the Galaxy series hits most of the right notes to capture the spirit of comic and film.
Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy: The Telltale Series delivers a brand new story of the universe’s unlikeliest heroes, the rag-tag band of outlaws who go by the names Star-Lord, Gamora, Drax, Rocket, and Groot. In the wake of an epic battle, the Guardians discover an artifact of unspeakable power. Each of the Guardians has a reason to desire this relic, as does a ruthless enemy who is the last of …
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Reviews
- Great combat set-pieces and smooth gameplay mechanics.
- Fun and faithful renditions of the Guardians, capturing their personalities well.
- Engaging story with intriguing themes of friendship and trust.
- Technical issues such as poor animation and stuttering transitions detract from the experience.
- Dialogue and humor often fall flat, lacking the charm of the source material.
- The choices feel insignificant and the pacing can be inconsistent.
- story15 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 47 % neutral mentions
- 20 % negative mentions
The story of the game offers a compelling introduction and draws from the Marvel Cinematic Universe, featuring entertaining characters and a solid soundtrack. However, it suffers from predictable developments and a lack of depth compared to its source material, leaving players hoping for more character development and engaging plotlines in future episodes. While there are glimpses of potential, the overall execution feels somewhat lacking, reminiscent of a diluted version of the original Guardians of the Galaxy experience.
“The story poses a few interesting discussion points, which can easily see this story heading into a few different directions, while touching on themes such as friendship and trust, with a hint of something larger looming in the distance.”
“While I’d definitely like to see Telltale take their foot off the gas when it comes to driving the story along in future episodes in favor of more quality time with the characters, the high-tempo introduction to the series is sure to keep players hooked.”
“Introducing us to the characters, the story, and delivering some laughs, it looks like we're in for another wonderful ride with Telltale.”
“None of the characters feel quite right for some reason, and the story is filled with developments that are telegraphed or predictable.”
“There are flickers of hope – usually involving Rocket – that the characters will come into their own in future episodes, and some of the flashbacks and backstory hint that the storyline might go in interesting directions, but it feels like Guardians of the Galaxy-lite, lacking the irreverent humor, swashbuckling action, and the occasional heart of James Gunn's surprise hit.”
“Guardians of the Galaxy's story may eventually get someplace interesting, but it's a poor fit for Telltale's simple quick time events and stiff dialogue sequences.”
- music5 mentions
- 60 % positive mentions
- -20 % neutral mentions
- 60 % negative mentions
The music in the game is generally well-received, featuring entertaining licensed tracks that align with the source material and enhance the storytelling. However, some players find the soundtrack repetitive and feel that it detracts from the overall experience, particularly during combat and decision-making moments. Overall, while the musical choices are praised, they may not fully elevate the gameplay as intended.
“Great musical choices that maintain a fun tone consistent with the source material.”
“Entertaining licensed music that draws from the Marvel Cinematic Universe versions of the characters.”
“The soundtrack is good, providing a compelling introduction to the story and continuing the movie's penchant for music.”
“Music takes you out of the moment.”
“Battles seem too short and decisions don't seem to matter.”
“Guardians are excluded from most choices or seem insignificant.”
- gameplay4 mentions
- 25 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 75 % negative mentions
Gameplay reviews highlight a mix of experiences, with some praising the smooth combat and innovative puzzle mechanics, while others criticize poor animations, stuttering transitions, and a lack of fresh elements in the telltale formula. Although the initial gameplay is engaging, the decision-based mechanics feel weaker compared to previous titles, and quick-time events are seen as tedious. Overall, fans of the franchise may still find enjoyment in the story despite these drawbacks.
“Awesome first half hour, combat feels smooth and natural, new puzzle mechanics have a lot of potential.”
“Some poor animation during exploration, occasional stutters in transitions, and little new in terms of Telltale gameplay.”
“Unfortunately, Telltale’s trademark decision-based gameplay isn’t quite as strong as it has been in The Walking Dead: A New Frontier, but if you’re a Guardians of the Galaxy fan, you’ll likely still enjoy following the story.”
“The gameplay is slick, but the quick-time events are a chore.”
- emotional3 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game is characterized by its exploration of themes like friendship and trust, offering moments that provoke thought and discussion. While it features stylish graphics and a wealth of content, some players find the emotional moments to be a mix of touching yet unrefined, with a balance of humor that can sometimes feel dull.
“The story poses a few interesting discussion points, which can easily see this story heading into a few different directions, while touching on themes such as friendship and trust, with a hint of something larger looming in the distance.”
“The episode is funny but boring, touching, yet unrefined.”
- graphics3 mentions
- 67 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 33 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game receive mixed reviews; while some players appreciate the stylish visuals and emotional moments, others find the art style inconsistent and distracting. Overall, the graphics are noted to enhance the action and complement the diverse characters, but opinions vary on their effectiveness in supporting the overall experience.
“Emotional moments, stylish graphics, as promised, different than the movies, lots of content.”
“Great action, nice graphics, hilarious, interesting and diverse characters, really intriguing story.”
“The rest of the game is a drag; the art style feels inconsistent and distracting, with weak choices that have no weight. The dialogue is stilted and the jokes are poorly delivered.”
- humor3 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in "Guardians of the Galaxy" is highlighted by the witty banter of Star-Lord and his crew, complemented by classic rock tunes. However, while some find the episode funny and the characters diverse and interesting, others feel the overall experience is marred by a lack of engagement and refinement.
“Guardians of the Galaxy is packed with Star-Lord and the crew's humor and classic rock tunes, making for a fun experience.”
“The episode is funny but also touching, showcasing a blend of humor and emotion.”
“Great action, nice graphics, hilarious and interesting diverse characters, and a really intriguing story.”
- stability1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's stability is characterized by a few minor glitches, which are common in initial episodes, and players note the challenge of maintaining team harmony as a recurring theme.
“There are a few small glitches that disrupt the experience.”
“The game feels like a typical first episode setup, lacking polish.”
“It's a chore to maintain peace in the team due to frequent stability issues.”
- optimization1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
The game's optimization has been criticized for relying on an outdated engine, leading to notable performance issues. Additionally, some players feel that the handling of certain characters, like Thanos, may frustrate purists.
“The same old tiring engine leads to persistent performance issues.”
“Telltale's handling of Thanos could enrage purists due to optimization flaws.”
“The game suffers from significant optimization problems that hinder the overall experience.”
Critic Reviews
Marvel's Guardians of the Galaxy: The Telltale Series - Episode One: Tangled Up in Blue Review
Tangled Up in Blue is an excellent pilot that does a superb job in introducing each of the Guardians to new players, while remaining very faithful to their source material. The story poses a few interesting discussion points, which can easily see this story heading into a few different directions, while touching on themes such as friendship and trust, with a hint of something larger looming in the distance. However, this episode suffers from technical problems that are an annoyance. Coupled with the dry humour that falls flat, causing a few eye-rolls more often than not, it shows that there is definitely room for improvement in subsequent episodes.
80%Telltale's Guardians of the Galaxy GBAtemp review
I like Telltale games for the most part. I loved The Wolf Among Us and Tales From The Borderlands. Those were also games that I played years ago. As of now, the engine feels the same if not slowly getting worse. It could also be that I was more forgiving in the past when I was playing those games on older hardware. Now it is 2017, and I'm all out of patience. Guardians is hindered by its engine and will continue to be if Telltale does not change, which is a true shame.
50%Star-Bored: Marvel's Guardians of the Galaxy: Tangled Up in Blue review
Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy feels like a mixed bag. While there’s the promise of a fun adventure in the Marvel universe with a likable group of characters, it’s hampered by the same problems of nearly every Telltale game in the last few years, plus a few new ones. It’s not terrible, but I’d wait to see what the other episodes look like before picking it up.
65%
