Guardians of the Galaxy flies onto home consoles
For Guardians of the Galaxy fans, May is the month we’ve been waiting for. Not only do we get the sequel to 2014’s blockbuster film, but also an original video game from Telltale Games. I recently played through the game’s first episode, and I’m here to tell you all about it!
Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy: The Telltale Series is available now for PS4 and Xbox One (version reviewed).
Telltale Games are master storytellers
Game DetailsPlatform(s): PS4, Xbox One |
Given the pedigree of Telltale Games, I was expecting nothing less than greatness from their take on Guardians. I mean, this is the same team that brought us hits like Batman, Game of Thrones, and The Walking Dead. Without question, when it comes to storytelling in video games it doesn’t get much better than Telltale.
With that in mind, I’m very happy to report that Guardians of the Galaxy is among their finest work yet. They nailed the heroes’ personalities, and even just one episode in the story has taken many exciting twists and turns. Best of all, the graphics are far superior to anything I’ve seen from Telltale before. I really can’t wait to see how the story unfolds in later episodes!
Get the Season Pass on disc
So here’s the deal with Guardians of the Galaxy. Like all past Telltale series, episodes are being released one-by-one over the course of a season. A special disc version (pictured above) is available on PS4 and Xbox One, which gives you access to the entire season.
Once you install the disc, the first episode entitled “Tangled Up in Blue” is immediately playable. Four more episodes will be coming in following months, with the disc granting you access to these as well. You will however need to download subsequent episodes, so an internet connection is required.
Considering the quality of the first episode and value price point, the Season Pass disc is an easy recommend.
Episode One – Tangled Up In Blue
To avoid any spoilers, my review of episode one will cover my overall thoughts without revealing major plot points. After all, this is a story-driven game best discovered on your own.
What I can say is this all-new, original Guardians of the Galaxy story starts off on the right foot. It’s humourous, action-packed, has a fantastic script, and the voice acting is top-notch. I also love the stylized graphics, which brings these characters to life like nothing else before.
Leader of the pack
Episode one has you step into the rocket-powered boots of Star-Lord, the heroic leader of the team. Of course, your Guardian pals Gamora, Drax the Destroyer, Rocket Raccoon, and Groot are along for the ride too.
Right away, it was great to see Telltale capture the essence of all five of these rag-tag characters. Star-Lord is brave and overly sarcastic, while Gamora’s hardened personality is firmly in tact. On the more comedic side, Drax is still hilariously awkward, and Groot, as expected, only says “I am Groot!” Then there’s Rocket Raccoon, my favourite of the bunch, who’s always tinkering with gadgets and thinking about his next heist.
Bringing these characters to life is a star-studded cast of voice talent. Scott Porter, who plays the role of Luke in The Walking Dead: The Telltale Series, voices Peter Quill/Star-Lord. Next, there’s Emily O’Brien from The Young and the Restless voicing Gamora. Thirdly, renowned video game voice talent Nolan North (Uncharted, Destiny, Batman) plays Rocket Raccoon. Fourth, we have Brandon Paul Eells, who did voice work on Watch Dogs, casted as Drax. And finally, Adam Harrington from Telltale’s own The Wolf Among Us voices Groot.
It’s a stellar cast, and the chemistry between these five is apparent from the get-go. It helps, too, that the script is so well-written and full of hilarious swerves. If you enjoy the Guardians’ movies, the dialogue here is just as whimsical and entertaining.
Travel to familiar places
I was delighted to discover that episode one of Guardians of the Galaxy takes us through many well-known locations. For starters, some scenes take place within the Guardian’s Milano spaceship, the same vessel used in the movies. We also take a return trip to Knowhere for some merriment at its seedy bar full of riff-raffs. There’s even a stop or two on Earth thrown in for good measure. It’s a great mix of locations that includes the Guardians’ usual stomping grounds, as well as a few surprises.
Decisions, decisions
As expected, the adventure also features plenty of player choices to make. You’ll need to decide how to react in a variety of situations, from combat to quieter moments with the team. Many decisions you make will impact the story later on, so make sure to choose wisely.
Even within the very first episode I was already seeing how my choices impacted the story. It may be siding with one character over another during an argument, and then later dealing with the fallout. Or, it might be choosing between being the nice guy or jerk, and seeing people’s opinion of you change afterwards. With that said, Telltale games tend to follow a critical story path, and so far Guardians feels like no exception. What does change though are all the in-between moments as you journey from A to B.
Final Thoughts
Guardians of the Galaxy: The Telltale Series is off to a great start. The first episode is a ton of fun and ticks off all the points a fan like me could want. Funny dialogue, superb voice acting, and a genuinely intriguing story set a high bar for future episodes to follow. If you enjoy the Guardians’ comic books and movies, you’re such to have a blast with Telltale’s rendition.
+ Entertaining story
+ Top-notch voice acting
+ Funny dialogue and good chemistry among characters
+ Beautiful, stylized graphics
+ Your decisions make tangible impacts to the story
– Adventure begins a little slow
– No release dates announced for future episodes
OVERALL
Gameplay: 3.5/5
Graphics: 4/5
Sound: 4/5
Lasting Appeal/Replayability: 4.5/5
Overall Rating: 4/5 (80%)
Get Guardians of the Galaxy: The Telltale Series for PS4
Get Guardians of the Galaxy: The Telltale Series for Xbox One
