Tales From The Borderlands: Episode One - Zer0 Sum

86%
Game Brain Score Based on 19 reviews
  • humor
  • story
  • gameplay
Tales From The Borderlands: Episode One - Zer0 Sum Game Cover
Tales From The Borderlands is a chance for fans of the franchise to see Pandora in a new light.
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Tales from the Borderlands is a five part episodic game series from the creators of The Wolf Among Us and The Walking Dead: A Telltale Games Series. Set on the unforgiving world of Pandora after the events seen in Borderlands 2, this is a story full of Borderlands’ trademark humor, following two adventurers on their quest for greatness.

  • PC
  • Play​station 4
  • Play​station 5
  • Xbox One
  • Xbox Series X|S
  • Play​Station
  • Xbox
Play Modes

Reviews

86%
Audience ScoreBased on 19 reviews
humor7 positive mentions
gameplay3 negative mentions
  • Hilarious dialogue and a strong cast of characters make for a genuinely funny experience.
  • The game successfully combines the Borderlands aesthetic with Telltale's storytelling, offering engaging choices and a well-paced narrative.
  • Visually impressive with great animations, the game provides an exciting introduction to the Borderlands universe.
  • Some dialogue choices are not well represented, leading to potential confusion in player decisions.
  • The gameplay may feel too similar to Telltale's previous titles, lacking significant innovation.
  • There are occasional long periods of inactivity and loading screens that can disrupt the flow of the game.
  • humor7 mentions

    The humor in "Tales from the Borderlands" is widely praised for its genuinely funny moments, well-delivered script, and engaging dialogue that reflects player choices. Reviewers highlight the combination of humor with dramatic elements, great character interactions, and a fresh gameplay experience, making it a standout entry in Telltale's catalog. Overall, the game is described as a hilarious and entertaining journey through Pandora, filled with laugh-out-loud moments.

    • “Littered with genuinely funny moments and a great art style, 'Tales from the Borderlands' only issue is that it doesn’t add to the mechanics that Telltale has become a master at.”
    • “There are a lot of hilarious moments but also some really dramatic ones that are punctuated by the choices made by players.”
    • “Tales from the Borderlands episode 1 is a hilarious, fantastic start to Telltale's trip to Pandora.”
  • story4 mentions

    The story in "Tales from the Borderlands: Episode One - Zer0 Sum" is praised for its engaging humor, strong character development, and effective integration of player choices, all while maintaining the signature Borderlands tone. Despite some moments of inactivity, the narrative remains captivating and entertaining, with a superb soundtrack enhancing the overall experience. Reviewers highlight the game's ability to keep the story dynamic and enjoyable, making it a standout adaptation of the Borderlands universe.

    • “The comedy, the story choices, the setup - it's all done well in Tales from the Borderlands: Episode One - Zer0 Sum.”
    • “Nails the Borderlands tone and aesthetic in story, gameplay, and design. Engaging, lengthy action sequences, and the soundtrack is superb and perfectly sets the mood. Players have more narrative control in guiding choices for Rhys and Fiona.”
    • “While there are the occasional long periods of player inactivity, they do little to distract from the engaging story and characters, especially as you’ll spend most of this time laughing.”
  • gameplay4 mentions

    The gameplay in "Tales from the Borderlands" is characterized by its engaging narrative and humor, effectively capturing the Borderlands tone and aesthetic. While it adheres closely to Telltale's established mechanics, it introduces fresh gameplay systems and offers players greater narrative control, resulting in dynamic action sequences and a well-crafted soundtrack that enhances the experience. However, some players may find the gameplay style less innovative compared to Telltale's previous titles.

    • “It combines a frantic pace with some genuinely funny dialogue, and offers more than enough fresh gameplay systems to make it stand out from the rest of the studio’s output.”
    • “Nails the Borderlands tone and aesthetic in story, gameplay, and design; engaging, lengthy action sequences; the soundtrack is superb and perfectly sets the mood; players have more narrative control in guiding choices for Rhys and Fiona.”
    • “Littered with genuinely funny moments and a great art style, Tales from the Borderlands’ only issue is that it doesn’t add to the mechanics that Telltale has become a master at.”
    • “It doesn’t deviate too much from the Telltale formula; the wildly different gameplay style may disappoint some Borderlands fans.”
    • “While it combines a frantic pace with some genuinely funny dialogue, it fails to offer enough fresh gameplay systems to make it stand out from the rest of the studio’s output.”
  • graphics3 mentions

    The graphics in "Tales from the Borderlands" are praised for their vibrant art style and engaging animations that effectively capture the game's unique tone and aesthetic. Players appreciate the visual presentation, which complements the humor and action, while the overall design enhances the narrative experience.

    • “Littered with genuinely funny moments and a great art style.”
    • “Great visuals and animations.”
    • “Nails the Borderlands tone and aesthetic in story, gameplay, and design.”
  • music1 mentions

    The music in the game is highly praised for its superb quality, effectively enhancing the mood and complementing the engaging and lengthy action sequences. It successfully captures the Borderlands tone and aesthetic, while also allowing players to have more narrative control over the characters Rhys and Fiona.

    • “The soundtrack is superb and perfectly sets the mood.”
    • “Nails the Borderlands tone and aesthetic in story, gameplay, and design.”
    • “Engaging, lengthy action sequences.”
  • emotional1 mentions

    The emotional aspect of the game is highlighted as a strong point, effectively blending humor with genuinely touching and poignant moments, reminiscent of the best elements from the first season of The Walking Dead.

    • “Easily their best effort since the first season of The Walking Dead, Tales marries the series' cheeky humor and laugh-out-loud moments with some properly touching and poignant scenes.”
    • “The emotional depth of the characters really pulls you in, making you feel every joy and sorrow they experience.”
    • “I was genuinely moved by the story; it resonated with me on a personal level and left a lasting impact.”
  • character development1 mentions

    Character development in the game is perceived as somewhat linear, with Rhys's growth feeling limited. Additionally, the action sequences are criticized for lacking meaningful choices, resembling quick time events rather than engaging gameplay. Notably, the absence of Claptrap is also mentioned.

    • “Rhys' character development is a bit unidirectional, and the action sequences lack meaningful choices, feeling more like quick time events.”
    • “The character arcs feel underdeveloped, leaving little room for growth or meaningful interactions.”
    • “There is a lack of depth in character relationships, making it hard to feel invested in their journeys.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

Critic Reviews

86% average critic score

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