Marvel's Guardians of the Galaxy - Episode 2: Under Pressure

With episode two, Telltale Games found the perfect storm of ingredients. A healthy dose of character development, a few servings of action to keep things alive, and a generous sprinkling of Guardians of the Galaxy charm to round it all off.

Get a glimpse into Rocket Raccoon's origins.

Play Modes

Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo

Reviews

71%

Audience ScoreBased on 17 reviews

emotional2 positive mentions

story3 negative mentions

Episode two features improved pacing and character development, making it more engaging than the first episode.
Rocket's backstory is a standout moment, adding depth to his character and enhancing the emotional weight of the story.
The episode successfully sets the stage for future installments, leaving players excited for what's to come.

Technical issues, including glitches and performance problems, detract from the overall experience.
Important decisions often feel trivial, lacking the weight and variety expected from a Telltale game.
The story struggles to maintain interest, with some moments feeling like filler rather than meaningful progression.

story
8 mentions
25 % positive mentions
38 % neutral mentions
38 % negative mentions
The story features strong character development, particularly for Rocket, whose emotional backstory is a standout highlight that adds depth to his character. However, some players feel that the overall narrative lacks momentum and that decisions made throughout the game offer little variety, detracting from the overall experience. Despite these criticisms, there is anticipation for future episodes as the overarching plot shows potential for greater intrigue.
- “The guardians are more important in Episode 2 and less like sidekicks, featuring great voice acting and an emotional backstory.”
- “The intrigue in the overall story arc is there, and the next episode cannot come soon enough, as it looks to finally pick up speed.”
- “Outside of Rocket's flashback and some interactions with Nebula, the story fails to really grip the audience.”
- “Decisions seem pointless, offering very little variety in story paths, and the music still detracts from the experience.”
- “While the rest of the episode did not really seem to move the plot anywhere, Rocket's backstory sequence is a major highlight of the story, and it is worth experiencing in order to add another dimension to him as a character.”
character development
3 mentions
33 % positive mentions
-33 % neutral mentions
100 % negative mentions
Character development in the game is well-executed, balancing emotional depth with engaging action sequences, and allowing for meaningful exploration and conversations. The narrative flows smoothly, enhancing the overall experience and providing a rich backdrop for character growth.
- “The story and overall narrative, along with the emotionality of the episode, contribute significantly to character development.”
- “The episode flows well between exploration, conversations, and quick-time events; less focus on action leaves room for more character development.”
- “The story and overall narrative, along with the emotionality of the episode, highlight the character development.”
- “A healthy dose of character development, a few servings of action to keep things alive, and a generous sprinkling of Guardians of the Galaxy charm to round it all off.”
music
2 mentions
50 % positive mentions
-100 % neutral mentions
150 % negative mentions
The music in the episode "Under Pressure" enhances poignant character moments and effectively incorporates pop music, elevating it above "Tangled Up in Blue." However, some users feel that the overall experience is diminished by the music, which they believe detracts from the narrative and fails to meet the high standards set by Telltale.
- “Poignant character moments and some impressive use of pop music make 'Under Pressure' a better episode than 'Tangled Up in Blue', but still nowhere near the lofty heights that we know Telltale is capable of.”
- “The decisions seem pointless and offer very little variety in story paths; the music still detracts from the experience.”
- “The soundtrack is repetitive and fails to enhance the overall atmosphere of the game.”
- “The music feels out of place and often disrupts the immersion rather than adding to it.”
emotional
2 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game is highlighted by a compelling story and character development, particularly in Episode 2, where the guardians play a more significant role and are portrayed with depth rather than as mere sidekicks. The strong voice acting enhances the emotional weight of the narrative, supported by rich backstories that resonate with players.
- “The story and overall narrative are incredibly emotional, with each episode deepening the character development.”
- “In Episode 2, the guardians play a more significant role and feel less like sidekicks, enhanced by great voice acting and an emotional backstory.”
stability
2 mentions
0 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
100 % negative mentions
The game's stability has been noted as somewhat lacking, with users reporting a slow start and encountering a few small glitches. Additionally, the abrupt cliffhanger suggests that the experience may feel incomplete or rushed. Overall, while there are some issues, they may not significantly detract from the overall enjoyment.
- “The game has a slow start, with a few small glitches that disrupt the experience.”
- “If the glitches are anything to go by, perhaps the game should not have been released so soon.”
humor
1 mentions
0 % positive mentions
-200 % neutral mentions
300 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is generally appreciated, but many users feel it falls short of being truly memorable or impactful.
- “It's funny, but not funny enough.”
- “The jokes fall flat and feel forced.”
- “I expected more laughs, but it just didn't deliver.”
optimization
1 mentions
0 % positive mentions
-200 % neutral mentions
300 % negative mentions
The optimization of the game has been criticized for poor performance issues and a lack of challenging decisions, indicating that it may not run smoothly or engage players effectively.
- “The usual telltale problems are once again in attendance, with some terrible performance and too many easy choices to make.”
- “The game suffers from significant optimization issues, leading to frequent frame drops and long loading times.”
- “Despite its potential, the lack of proper optimization makes it frustrating to play, as the game often lags and stutters.”
graphics
1 mentions
0 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
100 % negative mentions
The graphics in the game show improvement towards the final act, but this section is marred by significant bugs affecting both visuals and sound, detracting from the overall experience.
- “However, it only really managed to gain traction towards the final act, but that section also featured some of the worst bugs in the graphics and sound files of the game.”