These days , keeping up with games can be a full - time problem . So how do you separate the signal from the noise , the wheat berry from the shuck , the Temple Runs from the Temple Jumps ? Allow us to help by regularly choose a game You Should act .
Telltale Games has had immense success of late turn pop culture bash into piquant , well - write escapade games , consistently buck the trend of poor licence games . The Walking Deadremains its standout smash , using the comic series to spin out out a grim , occasional tale in which even ostensibly small determination affect the story ahead . And using the same template , The Wolf Among Us(based on funny classic , Fables ) and the currentGame of Thronesseries have won congratulations .
Tales from the Borderlandsis something different , however : An attempt to wrick a very popular biz into altogether dissimilar one . And it ’s a less obvious candidate for an adventure game series than a comic book or sprawl fresh series . marchland has a humourous edge and some narrative elements , but it ’s primarily a game about shoot monsters in the grimace with absurdly brawny firearm — and then using the loot and experience to become even more destructive .
Rhys , a incorporated suit , suddenly substantiate the power he ’s wields thanks to this insane stun baton .
But I ’ll happily give recognition where it ’s due : Tales from the Borderlands totally work , telling a hilarious account about questionable masses doing questionable things to each other , and construct an entertaining and even occasionally vivid pursuit around it . And good of all , you do n’t have to be a immense fan of the crap-shooter to enjoy this tap - and - swipe centric affair , thanks to the bully writing and affiance character .
Two of the five contrive episodes are out now , and it ’s off to a rousing start thus far . uncertain if this odd spinoff serial is deserving the stumble to Pandora ? Here are three reasons why Tales from the Borderlands is a slap-up little graphic adventure for your iPhone or iPad ( or Mac , even ) .
It ’s your narration : Despite the unique reservoir fabric , Tales from the Borderlands does n’t break from the excogitation of the aforementioned revealing quest . It ’s inspired by classic level - and - click adventures , but puts more of its stress on colloquial choices , which add up over the course of the story . Depending on the tone of your responses , how you treat mass around you , and how you reply to potential life - or - death situations , the narrative path could alter dramatically by the end of the five - part season .
Well , it ’s your turn to tell the tale , Fiona . What on the dot happen ? Your alternative could have issue down the contrast .
allot , the comedic feel means the stakes seem a little weak here than in , say , The Walking Dead , but the knowledge that your decision subject give the plot a slight redundant weight . And casual pat - and - swipe action moments bestow some agile - reflex selection section into the fray , making each two to three hour episode feel nicely wide-ranging and a utterly compact fit for the iPhone or iPad .
Jerks and jokes : tale from the Borderlands has dual leads , and neither is a altogether sympathetic person . Rhys is a ego - serving middle manager for the malefic Hyperion corporation , and justly when he thinks he ’s last being promote to a position of powerfulness , he ’s usurped — so he concocts a outline to get back at his rival . That ’s how he crosses paths on planet Pandora with Fiona , a con creative person who ’s mould with her sister and mentor to trade a fake Vault Key for many millions of dollars .
It ’s not all dialogue and cut - scenes : you ’ll occasionally tapdance and swipe through action sequences , or intercept to gun down foes as a monolithic golem .
You might experience a situation from both of their perspectives , separately , to not only see how they got into a mess , but how each twists and contorts the trueness . accept a couple of unreliable narrators adds a sport crotchet , and paired with deliciously sarcastic dialog and expectant carrying out from the likes of Troy Baker , Laura Bailey , and Chris Hardwick , the story really stands out .
No roadblock to entry : Being part of an existing franchise — not to mention one as intensely , gloriously violent as border district — might scare some potential players away , but it really should n’t : Tales is unassailable and cohesive ( so far , at least ) on its own merit . You ’ll recognise character , options , and themes if you ’ve act as the shooter , but all of the tether are unparalleled to the game , and it works as a standalone storey within that universe of discourse . And it ’s a playfulness , silly universe , at that .
If you ’re go to be a scumbag , you ’ll have to calculate the part , of course .
telling has a track platter of creating totally accessible game within existing , fan - favorite franchises : I love what I ’ve play of The Wolf Among Us , after all , despite having no experience withFables . So if you enjoy robust theatrical role , snarky dialogue , and a game that feels a bit like an synergistic comic , you may cut into Tales from the Borderlands .
Developer : Telltale GamesPlatform : iOS(Universal)Price:$5 per episode
