The now-defunct Telltale Games developed a series of well-regarded adventure games. Their The Walking Dead: The Definite Edition stands out as a particularly strong title, arguably surpassing the TV series in certain aspects.
We have previously reviewed several entries in the Borderlands series. Tales from the Borderlands represents Telltale Games’ interpretation of the universe. As with their other adaptations, they have successfully captured the atmosphere and essence of the source material, crafting engaging narratives within that established world. (Our Telltale Games reviews are available in the archive.)
The gameplay mechanics are familiar to Telltale Games fans: players must make timely decisions in dialogue, influencing the narrative and character relationships. Careful consideration is crucial when responding. While the game features action sequences, unlike the core Borderlands titles, avoiding conflict is often the preferred approach. A single misstep can have significant consequences.
The voice acting is exceptionally well-directed, and the script is entertaining, successfully translating the distinctive humor and tone of the source material. Originally released for PC in 2014 as a series of five episodes, Tales from the Borderlands is now available on consoles, offering all episodes in a single package.
The primary criticism of Tales from the Borderlands lies in its animation quality, which can appear dated. Furthermore, despite branching narrative paths based on player choice, the overall experience remains relatively linear.
Despite these minor shortcomings, Tales from the Borderlands is a welcome re-release and receives a strong recommendation.
