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The Borderlands universe expands with the cinematic narrative adventure, New Tales from the Borderlands, developed by Gearbox Studio Québec and released on October 21, 2022. Serving as a spin-off and spiritual successor to Telltale Games’ acclaimed Tales from the Borderlands, this title raises the question: can it recapture the magic of its predecessor? This review explores the strengths and weaknesses of New Tales from the Borderlands.

Anu, Octavio, and Fran in New Tales from the Borderlands

A Disappointing Narrative Arc

Set one year after the events of Borderlands 3, New Tales from the Borderlands follows the chaotic journey of three unlikely heroes amidst Tediore’s invasion of Promethea. Anu, a scientist striving to create non-lethal technology, Octavio, her fame-seeking brother, and Fran, a frogurt-slinging entrepreneur whose business is destroyed in the crossfire, find themselves thrust into an extraordinary adventure.

Initially, the game presents a promising cast of quirky characters reminiscent of the Guardians of the Galaxy or the lovable misfits of Yakuza: Like A Dragon. However, the narrative execution falters, failing to capitalize on its potential. The story feels unfocused and meandering, ultimately undermining the impact of the characters’ journeys.

Octavio and Anu in New Tales from the Borderlands

Despite facing numerous hardships, Octavio and Anu’s character development feels stagnant. Their decisions often appear illogical and frustrating, impacting the overall player experience. Supporting characters like Fran, Lou13, Timm-e, and StapleFace, ironically, offer more compelling narratives and memorable moments than the supposed protagonists.

The narrative’s weaknesses become glaringly apparent in the final chapters. The pacing feels rushed, failing to build tension around the mysterious antagonist or the threat posed by Tediore. An overreliance on forced humor further detracts from the emotional impact, leaving the player with a sense of dissatisfaction.

Screenshot from New Tales from the Borderlands

While the environments, ranging from cityscapes to space stations and underground lairs, offer visual variety, the player’s interaction with them is disappointingly limited. Opportunities for exploration are scarce, reducing the overall gameplay experience.

The gameplay itself suffers from oversimplification. Puzzles are trivial, often requiring little more than pressing a button or scanning an object. Mini-games, such as hacking devices or debugging systems, feel tacked on and perfunctory. Even the strategic combat sequences, like the Vaultlanders figurine battles, boil down to context-sensitive button presses.

Redeeming Qualities: Choice, Visuals, and Audio

Despite its narrative and gameplay shortcomings, New Tales from the Borderlands shines in its choice-driven narrative, impressive visuals, and stellar audio design.

The game offers a multitude of choices, both large and small, that impact character relationships and the unfolding story. These choices don’t always present clear “right” or “wrong” answers, adding a layer of unpredictability to the narrative. The impact of some decisions may not be immediately apparent, encouraging replayability.

Fran in New Tales from the Borderlands

Even though the overall plot falls short, the individual dialogue exchanges are well-written and engaging. The voice acting is superb, bringing each character to life with nuance and personality.

Anu in New Tales from the Borderlands

Visually, New Tales from the Borderlands is a treat. The signature Borderlands cel-shaded art style, with its bold outlines and vibrant colors, is beautifully realized. Character models are detailed and expressive, conveying a wide range of emotions. The animation quality is high, and the game runs smoothly with minimal technical issues. The sound design further enhances the experience, with impactful sound effects and a fitting soundtrack.

Conclusion

New Tales from the Borderlands presents a mixed bag. While it boasts impressive visuals, strong voice acting, and a choice-driven narrative, it ultimately falls short of its potential due to a weak and unfocused story and overly simplistic gameplay. While it offers moments of brilliance, the overall experience is unfortunately underwhelming.