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Telltale Games’ Guardians of the Galaxy: The Telltale Series had a lot riding on it, especially after the success of the movies and Telltale’s own Tales from the Borderlands. Unfortunately, the first episode stumbled out of the gate, leaving many hoping for a significant improvement in Episode 2: Under Pressure. Does this episode manage to right the ship, or does it continue to drift aimlessly through the cosmos?

This review analyzes Guardians of the Galaxy: Episode 2 – Under Pressure, exploring its narrative, character development, gameplay, and whether it addresses the shortcomings of its predecessor.

Narrative Thrust: A Step Forward, Two Steps Back

Under Pressure picks up immediately after the events of the first episode. Peter Quill, freshly healed by the mysterious Eternity Forge, joins the Guardians as they pursue Hala the Accuser, who seeks the Forge to resurrect the Kree race and her son. The episode introduces Yondu into the mix and sees the Guardians capturing Nebula to decipher the Kree language inscribed on the artifact. We also delve into Rocket’s backstory, offering a glimpse into the events that shaped him into the character we know.

While the narrative momentum is significantly improved compared to the first episode, it still suffers from some of the same fundamental flaws. The choices presented often feel arbitrary, lacking any real weight or consequence. For example, the decision to visit Halfworld with Rocket feels forced and out of sync with the urgency of the situation. Wouldn’t deciphering the Eternity Forge through Nebula be a more pressing concern?

Marvel

Character Development: Missed Opportunities

The writing continues to be a weak point, with characters remaining largely underdeveloped and unmemorable. Rocket, in particular, suffers from awkward writing that makes him unnecessarily unsympathetic. The flashback sequence intended to evoke empathy falls flat, leaving the player struggling to connect with his emotional turmoil. The other Guardians fare no better: Drax remains one-dimensional, Groot is practically invisible, and Gamora’s concern for Star-Lord feels forced and unconvincing.

Marvel

Gameplay and Pacing: A Familiar Formula

The gameplay remains largely unchanged, adhering to the familiar Telltale formula of quick-time events and dialogue choices. The action sequences are forgettable, and the mystery introduced at the end of the episode feels insufficient to keep players engaged. Excluding the Halfworld detour, the plot progresses very little from where the first episode left off.

Marvel

Conclusion: A Glimmer of Hope, But Not Enough

Guardians of the Galaxy: Episode 2 – Under Pressure shows some improvement in narrative pacing, but it fails to address the core issues that plagued the first episode. The weak writing, underdeveloped characters, and uninspired gameplay continue to hold the experience back. While the ending hints at more intriguing developments to come, it’s hard to remain optimistic after two consecutive disappointing installments. Telltale Games needs to significantly raise the bar in future episodes to salvage this series and deliver on the potential of the Guardians of the Galaxy franchise. Are they up to the challenge? Only time will tell.

Minimum System Requirements:

• OS: Windows 7 64Bit Service Pack 1
• Processor: Intel Core 2 Duo 2.4GHz
• Memory: 3 GB RAM
• Graphics: Nvidia GTS 450+ with 1024MB+ VRAM (excluding GT)
• DirectX: Version 11
• Storage: 15 GB available space
• Sound Card: Direct X 11