This is mostly thanks to how strong of characters Rhys and Fiona are, and how great it is to be able to shade them in with your own unique decisions. While having prior Borderlands knowledge helps add a bit of context to the relationship between Hyperion and Pandora, why Zer0 is so rad, and just who the hell Handsome Jack is and why he’s so notorious, newcomers will be just fine in Tales. The entire thing is enhanced by a fantastic score that draws from classic westerns, Cowboy Bebop-esque jazz, and some great nods to various Borderlands themes. Talking my way out of a deal gone bad, watching the face of my adversary to see whether or not they believe me, and choosing how far to take a lie was as tense as any shootout I’ve ever experienced on Pandora. Traditional Borderlands games have you interacting with the world mostly through emptying the chambers of your various guns, but Telltale pretty much strips you of power save for you wit. In the span of Episode 1: Zer0 Sum’s two and a half hours, Rhys and Fiona became some of the best lead characters Telltale has ever created, and I’m entirely on board for their journey. By exploring the world of the loot-driven shooter trilogy through the lens of a dialogue-heavy adventure game, Telltale has created a fantastic opening to a story rife with humor, interesting characters, powerful decisions, and effective mysteries. You don’t need to be a hardcore Borderlands fan to love Tales From the Borderlands.

Tales from the borderlands age rating