Over the last year, I’ve greatly enjoyed playing through Telltale Games’ episodic Tales from the Borderlands series. Now we’ve finally got our hands on the finale of season 1, how does it shape up? Well, in around 2 hours Telltale have managed to put together something that I can honestly call one of my most enjoyable gaming experiences. The Vault of the Traveler takes you on a rollercoaster of action and emotion, before finally arriving at a satisfying conclusion. Along the way, you’ll laugh, cry, and then panic when you miss a QTE because you were too busy laughing/crying.
In the last four episodes, you’ll have made a lot of decisions, and you’re probably wondering if they’ll have any effect on the outcome of Vault of the Traveler. I can confirm that many of your past choices, no matter how small and inconsequential they seemed at the time, will have impact on what happens in Episode 5. I’m not going to give any specific details, as that would be spoiler territory, but the conclusion you get is dependent on choices you’ve made, particularly how you treated characters in previous episodes. Honestly, in my opinion your choices have a greater impact on what happens in The Vault of the Traveler than I have ever seen in any other Telltale Games series. What you chose in past episodes will have consequences, and you’ll see how those consequences play out in Episode 5.
One of the biggest improvements is the toning-down of the amount of puzzles and exploration sequences. In previous episodes, these did not really add much to the gameplay or story, slowing both down to a standstill and breaking the tension. Having less puzzles and exploration allows Vault of the Traveler to make full use of what it does best; witty dialogue and hilarious action sequences. It also means, however, that there’s absolutely no time to stop for breath at all, as a QTE or dialogue choice could pop-up at any moment. That’s not always a good thing, if you’re like me and like a more relaxed experience.
The characters are, generally, the highpoint of any Telltale game, but that is doubly true here, as they make full use of the treasure trove of personalities they’ve been handed from the Borderlands universe. Handsome Jack is, as always, a sociopathic delight, as they develop his character in a way that the main Borderlands series seem unable to do. People may be starting to tire of Jack by now, but he’s still an excellent antagonist, injecting Vault of the Traveler with his murderous humour. Another character that really gets their chance to shine is Loader Bot, which is unexpected, considering they began Tales from the Borderlands as a subservient automaton. They finish this first season as one of the definite highlights, constantly dropping unexpected nuggets of humour.
The standout characters, however, are the two central protagonists, Rhys and Fiona. Throughout Tales from the Borderlands, their characters have evolved and shown a surprising amount of depth. Their personalities serve as a reflection of the choices you make throughout the game, and their interactions with other characters are influenced as such.
Honestly, the best moments in Tales from the Borderlands tend to involve the witty dialogue sniped back and forth between Rhys and Fiona, expanding their characters and giving us a few chuckles at the same time. It’s a testament to the writers over at Telltale Games how well their characters are written, easily taking over the reins of the formidable Handsome Jack, who I imagine isn’t an easy character to write for.
If there’s one major criticism I have for The Vault of the Traveler, it’s that Telltale try to stuff too much into 2 hours. Admittedly, nothing feels rushed, but it does feel as if not quite enough time is spent resolving the various issues with Handsome Jack, Valerie and the Vault. Everything is tied up with a satisfying conclusion, but it might have been a bit more rewarding to players if they could have spent a little more time with each aspect of the story. Too much time is given to the final action sequence, even though it was pretty amazing as it was, and what happens after it potentially sets up a second season of Tales from the Borderlands, or maybe even leads into Borderlands 3.
Honestly, this is definitely the best episode from any of Telltale Game’s series that I’ve ever played. In fact, it’s probably one of the best games I’ve played this year. A blend of emotions, one minute you’ll be crying and the next you’ll dissolve into fits of giggles. It really is a fantastic experience that every fan of both Telltale Games and the Borderlands series should enjoy. Every question you could possibly have is answered, leading to an excellent conclusion that will leave you wanting more. Hopefully, this won’t be the last we see of Tales from the Borderlands, because all I want right now is more.