This works fine in some wonderfully choreographed action sequences that actually engage the player with multiple inputs, but when a single button press is bookended by minutes of dialogue it tends to feel unnecessary. The game essentially plays out like one extended cutscene, but the pacing stumbles when all the characters pause what they're doing so the player can press a button or move the right stick in a certain direction. Outside of pressing the A, B, X, and Y buttons for choosing Rhys and Fiona's dialogue, the game is filled with QTEs that often feel meaningless and sluggish. This is not to say the gameplay is necessarily bad, but it is still only passable for what it is. This plays heavily in Tales from the Borderlands' favor, since its characters are the most compelling reason to play the game.

One major benefit to the Switch version releasing so recently is that the five-part episodic game comes in its complete form, meaning players won't have to wait to see the story's conclusion. The unlikely duo find themselves dragged into an adventure all too familiar to Borderlands: vault hunting. Rhys is a Hyperion employee stuck in middle management purgatory, while Fiona is a Pandoran con artist trying to make a living for her and her sister. Tales from the Borderlands puts players in control of dual protagonists Rhys and Fiona in a story set between the events of Borderlands 2 and 3. Related: Tales from the Borderlands May be Coming to PS5 & Xbox Series X The gameplay will not excite those who greatly enjoy the looter shooter mechanics of the mainline Borderlands titles, but the narrative is in a league of its own, featuring many characters from previous titles without entering the realm of fan service. Somewhere between full-fledged game and visual novel, Tales from the Borderlands offers a nuanced experience unique in the larger Borderlands canon. The player has limited control over character actions, usually through quick time events, while a branching story plays out dependent on dialogue chosen by the player.

Titles from Telltale Games tend to be narrative-focused, and often offer another entry into different franchises' universes that are perfect for dedicated fans. The choice-driven, light on gameplay title recently made its way to Nintendo Switch, this time published by Take-Two Interactive. The story of Tales from the Borderlands is still remarkable and impactful, but the game is slightly hampered by its obvious age and often hollow attempts at engaging the player. Tales from the Borderlands is an interactive narrative Telltale Games originally released on multiple platforms in an episodic format from 2014 to 2015.

Borderlands collection switch review