Tales from the Borderlands - Season One
- October 20, 2015
- Telltale Games
In capturing the spirit of Borderlands and setting the standard for comedy games, Tales knocks down every target it means to hit. A must-play for those who loves episodics, and also fun.
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. You’ll play as Rhys, a Hyperion ‘suit’ with dreams of being…
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Reviews
- Engaging story with heartfelt moments and impactful choices.
- Strong character development and excellent voice acting enhance the experience.
- A unique blend of humor and drama that captures the spirit of the Borderlands universe.
- Gameplay can feel clunky and lacks depth, with some mechanics feeling obligatory.
- Technical issues such as missed QTEs and minor glitches detract from the experience.
- Removal of choice summaries and timed dialogue options can lead to rushed decisions.
- story12 mentions
- 58 % positive mentions
- 17 % neutral mentions
- 25 % negative mentions
The story of "Tales from the Borderlands" is widely praised for its heartfelt narrative, engaging characters, and strong voice acting, making it a standout in the Borderlands universe. While the visuals may not impress, the compelling plot and well-developed characters, such as Rhys and Fiona, create an enjoyable and memorable experience filled with humor and impactful choices. Overall, it offers a rich, character-driven adventure that resonates with players seeking a story-focused game.
“Telltale’s take on Gearbox’s beloved series is the most heartfelt story told on Pandora, and is full of incredible moments of comedy and grueling choices.”
“If you’re looking for something to fill the gap between the inevitable current-gen iteration of the Borderlands franchise, albeit with a much stronger focus on characterization and story, then Tales from the Borderlands will more than satisfy your desire.”
“The characters feel real and human, while the plot is compelling and worth seeing through to the end.”
“Handsome Jack was ultimately a plot device.”
“Tales from the Borderlands' visuals have aged poorly and the animation quality won't impress anyone, but the center of the experience is the characters and story.”
“However, the story more than holds its own.”
- humor3 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in "Tales from the Borderlands" is highlighted by its stellar cast of unique and eccentric characters, excellent writing that balances comedy and drama, and a blend of ridiculous action that keeps the experience fresh. Reviewers note that the humor is accessible even to those unfamiliar with the Borderlands series, making it a fun adventure worth playing.
“Tales from the Borderlands is a big, funny adventure with great characters worth playing even if you don't like Borderlands.”
“Ridiculous action that never gets old, a great sense of humor and balance between comedy and drama, unique and eccentric characters who grow on you fast.”
“A love letter to the Borderlands series that non-fans can still enjoy.”
- graphics3 mentions
- 67 % positive mentions
- -33 % neutral mentions
- 67 % negative mentions
The graphics of "Tales from the Borderlands" blend the signature cell shading of the Borderlands series with Telltale's distinctive style, though they have aged poorly and the animation quality is underwhelming. Despite these shortcomings, the visuals effectively support the engaging characters and narrative, complemented by stylish intro sequences and strong voice acting.
“The game takes the Borderlands universe and aesthetic and creates narrative-driven gold, consistently engaging and jam-packed full of action, comedy, and madcap action sequences.”
“It features some of the most stylish intro sequences we've seen.”
“Tales from the Borderlands' visuals have aged poorly and the animation quality won't impress anyone, but the center of the experience is the characters and story.”
“Of course, graphically, Tales from the Borderlands merges the cell shading expected of a Borderlands game with the style of Telltale that we have come to expect.”
- gameplay3 mentions
- 67 % positive mentions
- -33 % neutral mentions
- 67 % negative mentions
The gameplay is characterized by a stark contrast between action-oriented mechanics and slower-paced elements like dialogue and puzzles, leading to a sense of disconnection. While there are standout moments, such as an enjoyable arcade-style boss fight, overall, the gameplay feels minimal and at times obligatory rather than engaging.
“I say this because it was so easy to forget as the essential gameplay is the very antithesis to the main games; running and gunning versus dialogue options, limited free exploration of a scene, puzzles, and quick time events.”
“This is not to say that the gameplay is any less effective; in fact, there is one brilliant scene at the end in which a boss fight turns into the old arcade style mashing of a series of buttons to perform fighting moves, which was a joy to play.”
“I say this because it was so easy to forget as the essential gameplay is the very antithesis to the main game; running and gunning versus dialogue options, limited free exploration of a scene, puzzles, and quick time events.”
“The problem is that its gameplay is almost non-existent, with some of it feeling more obligatory than purposeful.”
- emotional2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Telltale's adaptation of the series is praised for its heartfelt storytelling, blending humor with emotionally impactful choices. Reviewers highlight it as a standout effort, reminiscent of the emotional depth found in the first season of The Walking Dead, featuring both comedic and poignant moments that resonate with players.
“Telltale’s take on Gearbox’s beloved series is the most heartfelt story told on Pandora, and is full of incredible moments of comedy and grueling choices.”
“Easily its 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.”
- optimization1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's optimization has received mixed feedback, with some users noting occasional clunky moments during exploration and minor stuttering due to loading pauses.
“A few quests misfire, and some short-lived exploration sequences can feel rather clunky. Loading pauses can cause minor stuttering here and there.”
“The optimization is lacking, leading to frequent frame drops and inconsistent performance during gameplay.”
“I experienced significant lag during intense moments, which really detracted from the overall experience.”
- stability1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
Overall, users report minor stability issues, including a few missed punchlines and occasional technical glitches, but these do not significantly detract from the overall experience.
“There are a few missed punchlines due to some technical glitches.”
“The game frequently crashes, making it nearly unplayable at times.”
“I encountered several bugs that disrupted my gameplay experience.”
Critic Reviews
The treasure inside the Vault -- Tales from the Borderlands review
Tales from the Borderlands concludes with some series-defining moments and choices, solidifying it as one of Telltale's best, if not the strongest offering the studio has put forth in several years. Telltale’s take on Gearbox’s beloved series is the most heartfelt story told on Pandora, and is full of incredible moments of comedy and grueling choices.
90%Tales from the Borderlands Complete Season XBox One Review
If you’re looking for something to fill the gap between the inevitable current-gen iteration of the Borderlands franchise, albeit with a much stronger focus on characterisation and story, then Tales from the Borderlands will more than satisfy your desire.
80%Tales from the Borderlands
Of course, graphically, Tales from the Borderlands merges the cell shading expected of a Borderlands game with the style of Telltale that we have come to expect. There are even elements of the Borderlands games I did not think would be seen in an adventure game like elemental weapons, cash boxes and changing of skins, some of which felt a little shoe horned in but were a welcome reminder that this was actually a Borderlands game. I say this because it was so easy to forget as the essential gameplay is the very antithesis to the main games; running and gunning versus dialogue options, limited free exploration of a scene, puzzles and quick time events. This is not to say that the gameplay is any less effective, in fact there is one brilliant scene at the end in which a boss fight turns into the old arcade style mashing of a series of buttons to perform fighting moves, which was a joy to play. It is as true to its roots as it can be in a style so totally different from the source material. In addition, it is fantastic that it is accepted cannon in the Borderlands universe, meaning that all characters were in danger, even established ones. This is in contrast to The Walking Dead or Game of Thrones in which it is clear certain characters were safe for TV.
90%
