The latest Tales from the Borderlands title may be currently in development, but its predecessor was one of the most underappreciated games from the recently-revived Telltale. Taking gameplay cues from The Walking Dead, it featured familiar mechanics but an entirely new approach to storytelling, giving players two distinct protagonists who have been impacted by Pandora in their own unique way. Rhys, Fiona, and the surrounding personalities were all memorable, be it the sarcastic Loader Bot, Vazquez’ smug aura, or the glorious reemergence of love-to-hate villain, Handsome Jack. It’s a shame, then, that New Tales from the Borderlands will not be requiring their services.
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Tales from the Borderlands’ Fantastic Ensemble
While the comedy of Tales from the Borderlands was a huge drawing factor, and the Telltale Games logo plastered on its cover surely helped garner interest, players saw the story through to the end because of the personalities it presented. Borderlands isn’t known for great character development, but Rhys and Fiona’s unlikely heroism and friendship was a pleasure to watch unfold, and the pair quickly became Borderlands royalty alongside Handsome Jack. Fiona’s pragmatism and street smarts balanced Rhys’ cowardice and complete naivety to the dangers of Pandora, making their back-and-forth such a motivation to see the game through to the credits.
It wasn’t just the two playable protagonists that were worthy of praise, though, as they were propped up by side characters who all felt unique and equally important while maintaining a consistent comedic style that carries through the game’s five chapters. All of them were essential to the plot, be they overbearing antagonists or plucky side characters. Handsome Jack was the icing on the cake, finding a place in the story that felt natural and plausible.
Tales from the Borderlands’ Cast Has More to Give
If New Tales from the Borderlands is to exist within the same universe as its predecessor, it should offer some kind of character crossover to help maintain a sense of continuity. It doesn’t have to be an Avengers Assemble-esque affair, but just feeling the footprint of those who came before would be a great way to give the game’s world a sense of identity. Not only this, but it would be a suitable nod to fans of the first game, acknowledging their appreciation for a classic.
Rhys and Fiona are among the best ‘good guys’ in the entire Borderlands franchise, and have made their mark on the harsh planet of Pandora. They surely left some kind of impact on the setting, and knowing how well-developed they were and how open-ended the first game’s conclusion was, it’s a shame that the characters don’t look like they’ll be featuring in the upcoming release. Abandoning them would be a fine example of wasted potential.
Tales from the Borderlands is about more than just a comedic story in the Borderlands universe. It’s a perfect entry point for those who don’t typically find enjoyment in the first-person shooter genre, as well as a stark difference to the grounded and dramatic events of Telltale’s The Walking Dead. New Tales from the Borderlands wielding an all-new cast isn’t all bad, as they have the potential to carve out their own tale in the franchise as Rhys and Fiona did before. However, dropping the old characters entirely would do the series’ continuity no favors, and neglects a handful of personalities who still have so much to offer the narrative.
New Tales from the Borderlands launches October 21 for PC, PS4, PS5, Switch, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.
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