Tales from the Borderlands is a spin-off title from the Space Western Borderlands series. This game has vastly different mechanics than the other Borderland titles, and is largely a stand-alone game, though there are references to other games and characters in the story. It is an episodic game, and we will be updating this entry when new episodes are released.
Exceptional Learning
Great Characters
Great Graphics/Art
Great Story
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Story & Themes
Tales from the Borderlands stars two criminals--one petty, one corporate--who must find a way to work together when they both end up tangled in the same plot. The game begins with both characters tied up by a mysterious third person, and are being forced to relate the story of how they got there.
Rhys works for Hyperion, a mega-corporation of shady morals. When he is suddenly and unexpectedly demoted from a semi-prestigious position to janitor by an old rival, he and his friend Vaughn decide to get back at the rival. Their idea involves stealing a deal from under his nose, and embark for the surface of the planet.
Meanwhile, Fiona and her younger sister, Sasha, are the adopted, grown adoptees of a con man and thief. They've lived in the tumultuous, backwater cities of the planet their entire lives, and are no fans of Hyperion. As the game progresses, we find out that they are both involved in the deal Rhys is attempting to steal, and things quickly go bad, leaving the group without the artifact and without the money. They agree to work together for the time being as they have little other choice.
Tales from the Borderlands emphasizes class differences and ethical decision-making in the face of complex issues.
Save Points
Like other Telltale games, Tales from the Borderlands doesn't have a traditional save option. Rather, the game saves automatically at certain points. It is meant to be played in one go, so there is no option to go back and change an action.
Difficulty
While the mechanics are not complicated, the primary difficulty comes from the quick decision-making players must make. Some of these decisions are quite emotionally complex, and players aren't given much time to think through them.
Heads Up!
Violence This game is extremely violent, though the cartoon aesthetic minimizes some of he impact. The main characters don't spend much time inflicting violence themselves, as they are not fighters by nature. There is, however, a lot of blood and gore.
Scary Imagery There are some fairly unsettling scenes, and at least one jump scare. These include body modification, preserved corpses, and some frighteningly and unusually murderous characters. The game is, however, darkly humorous, and many of these interactions are played more for laughs than for genuine fear.
Sex & Nudity There are sexually flirtatious dialogues.
Strong Language Pretty much anything goes.
Substance Use Alcohol and drugs are present, but not a focus.
Discrimination One group of bad guys is--somewhat affectionately--referred to as "Psychos," which may be off-putting to some.
Conversation Starters
- Did you sell out Vaughn when you had a chance? Did you do it because that's what Rhys would have done, or because that's what you would have done?
- Do you think Sasha's treatment of Rhys is fair? She herself is a criminal, after all. Is criminality different when done on a corporate scale? Why do you think she distrusts him so much?
- Were you hurt or upset when Fiona and Sasha's adopted father betrayed them? Do you think his betrayal negates his place as a father figure? If he were their "real" father, would that change anything? What does it mean to be a family?
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