Developed By: Telltale Games
Published By: Telltale Games
Platforms: PS4 (reviewed), Xbox One, PC, Android, iOS
Telltale have developed some very interesting games in the last many years. Some like The Walking Dead and The Game of Thrones were extremely depressing but critically beloved. Others like Tales From the Borderlands and Batman: The Telltale Series were more polarizing. Just don’t ask about Jurassic Park: The Game.
Well, Telltale is back once again with a new series that aims to tell an epic story with some lighthearted moments. Big moments and goofier character interactions take center stage as Star-Lord and his crew head out on a universe-spanning adventure. The Telltale art style is a jarring way to see these beloved characters at first, especially considering that Drax’s head looks downright tiny, but it doesn’t inhibit any enjoyment. To be blunt, Episode one of Guardians of the Galaxy, AKA “Tangled Up In Blue” is a really strong start to what seems to be one of Telltale’s better series.
The Telltale style is strange for these characters.
Thankfully, Telltale’s version of Guardians of the Galaxy doesn’t follow the plot of either cinematic release, forcing the traditional choice-based system into already established stories. Instead, the episodic series forges a new path with some surprising enemies and direction. Granted, familiar races like the Kree do make an appearance, but Ronan the Accuser is nowhere to be found.
The best part about this story is that it is genuinely surprising at times, especially if you have stayed in the dark leading up to GOTG’s release. About 10 minutes into the episode, I had already mapped out the entire five-episode arc, only to be proven incorrect in short order. Telltale takes the Guardians–and Star-Lord in particular–to very unique places and some unexpected emotions.
He’s a little grumpy.
Given that this is a Telltale game, you would expect that these emotions and the choices would keep GOTG from being even remotely happy. Luckily, this isn’t the case as the humor is captured perfectly. Star-Lord and Rocket throw out the wisecracks while Drax makes those ultra-serious comments that end up being pretty funny. Even Gamora has some semblance of humor. Sure, you can make Star-Lord into an arrogant ass with your choices, but it’s more complicated (in a good way) to test your skills as a leader. How will you broker peace between Rocket, Gamora, and Drax? Plus, Star-Lord likes to lead with jokes.
The jokes also extend to the world in more subtle ways. For example, Star-Lord has access to multiple consoles throughout the world that let him open doors, call contacts, and check his email. Messing with these consoles unlocks special diary entries about the various characters and locations, most of which are pretty entertaining. Even his emails are a treasure trove of jokes and interactions with obscure characters.
The emails are the best.
Of course, all the humor and great writing are only part of the equation. Gameplay is also key. And as expected, GOTG plays just like Tales From the Borderlands, Game of Thrones, and The Walking Dead, only with some added features. Instead of simply walking around and hitting stuff, Star-Lord now has access to his guns, which are very handy during the bigger fights. He also can use the jet boots to access different floors when searching for clues. This adds some much-needed verticality to the levels and prevents mindless wandering. Finally, there is a scanning device that allows Star-Lord to briefly rewind time and see how certain characters died or where they went. It functions similarly to the scanning mechanics in Arkham City and The Division.
Jet Boots are very handy.
When Star-Lord isn’t wandering around clicking on items and starting conversations with his crew, he is taking part in those Telltale quicktime events that permeate every game. It doesn’t matter if you are flying around or are in the midst of a gun fight, everything is conquered by swiping left or right with the thumbstick or pounding the face buttons at the proper time. Sometimes you get to control every Guardian, which is an absolute joy during those larger battles. Although it can get quite complicated with the button presses. Nailing these button swipes in time moves Star-Lord (and his team, depending on the battle) around like synchronized swimmers. However, barely missing the button prompts forces a switch in the cinematics. This is fine except for the occasional moments when switching causes the game to lock up for 30 seconds. To be fair, this only happened twice during my playthrough, but it was frustrating mid-fight.
Decisions, decisions.
The first episode is obviously the tip of the proverbial iceberg, but Guardians of the Galaxy: The Telltale Series is off to a very strong start. The story is very interesting, the soundtrack is on point, and the humor just breaks up the innate stress from a choice-based game. It also helps that having a new cast that includes Nolan North, Scott Porter, and Emily O’Brien just further differentiates the game from the movies in the best possible way. Minor technical issues and strange art style aside, this episode is well worth playing.
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