When we last left our heroes, things weren’t looking good at all. Without going into too many details, Fiona and Rhys were in a bit of a pickle, but on the flip side Gortys had managed to find to not only find an upgrade for herself, but also reveal more about the Path of the Traveler. Making matters worse, however, was the new addition to the group, Vallory, and her group of bandits. The real kick in the pants was that Gortys’ final upgrade wasn’t even on Pandora. Instead, it was on Hyperion’s moon base, Helios.
As Episode 4, “Escape Plan Bravo” kicks off, we are treated to another one of Telltales outstanding intro sequences, this time an 80’s themed rocket launch sequence that is every bit as absurd as the past three. This isn’t the only funny part of the game, however, as Telltale continue to show their strength in not only writing serious material, but the ability to bring the laughs as well.
After being introduced in the previous episode, Gortys continues to be a source for constant joy in the episode. Her innocence really shines through in the game and is a stark contrast to the rest of the jaded world of Borderlands. The rest of the characters we’ve come to know are the same throughout the story, and while nothing of serious note happens during the episode, it is still a very solid entry as we go down the home stretch.
While I can’t say too much else about the episode for fear of spoiling it, I think the best thing I can say about this episode, and the game as a whole, is that it truly feels like it takes place in the Borderlands universe. Other Telltale ventures, such as Game of Thrones, while it is a well made and executed well, doesn’t really feel too grounded in the world they take place in. It never really feels like anything we do will matter in the actual world of Westeros.
That is almost the complete opposite in Tales from the Borderlands, however. The things that happen in this game feel as if they will have repercussions in the future. While this may not be true, it speaks a lot to how the team at Telltale has managed to capture the essence of Borderlands, and if Gearbox is ever looking for writers for Borderlands 3, they should start first with Telltale.
When Telltale Games first catapulted themselves into the limelight following their incredible take on The Walking Dead, I doubt many people would have considered them capable of creating more games like that. However, it’s quickly becoming clear that The Walking Dead was no one hit wonder; as we move into the penultimate episode of Tales from the Borderlands, it’s evident that Telltale Games has not only emerged as one of the better story telling game studios out there, but also one of the best studios period.
As we inch closer to the finale of Tales from the Borderlands, it’s becoming very clear that this game is special. Not only does it manage to fit itself neatly within the world of Borderlands, but also manages to capture what makes the game so fun. It’s lighthearted, serious, funny, and violent all at once, and it’s a true testament as to how talented the folks over at Telltale Games really are.
This review is based on a digital copy of Tales from the Borderlands Episode 4: Escape Plan Bravo for the PlayStation 4 provided by Telltale Games.
