The sudden closure of Telltale Games meant that many fans of its franchises were left wondering which would continue, and which would never to return. However, the revival of the outfit in Summer 2019 renewed hopes, which were answered whenThe Wolf Among Us 2was confirmed.Tales from the Borderlandswasn’t so lucky, but Gearbox Software wasn’t inclined to let it die, so it worked on a sequel in-house. ANew Tales from the Borderlandstrailer at Gamescom 2022gave fans a release date of October 21, and anticipation has quickly risen about how it will handle the story this time around.
The latestTales from the Borderlandstitle may be currently in development, but its predecessor was one of the most underappreciated games from the recently-revived Telltale. Taking gameplay cues fromThe 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, thatNew Tales from the Borderlandswill not be requiring their services.
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Tales from the Borderlands' Fantastic Ensemble
While the comedy ofTales from the Borderlandswas 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.Borderlandsisn’t known for great character development, butRhys and Fiona’s unlikely heroism and friendshipwas a pleasure to watch unfold, and the pair quickly becameBorderlandsroyalty 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 Jackwas 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
IfNew Tales from the Borderlandsis to exist within the same universeas its predecessor, it should offer some kind of character crossover to help maintain a sense of continuity. It doesn’t have to be anAvengers 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 entireBorderlandsfranchise, and have made their mark onthe 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 Borderlandsis about more than just a comedic story in theBorderlandsuniverse. 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 ofTelltale’sThe Walking Dead.New Tales from the Borderlandswielding 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 Borderlandslaunches October 21 for PC, PS4, PS5, Switch, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.
