New Tales from the Borderlands Reviews
New Tales from the Borderlands is a safe, risk-averse sequel that gets more right than wrong.
This is the best the franchise has looked from a purely cinematic level. In the end, New Tales From The Borderlands succeeds because it lives up to its namesake and presents the best Borderlands storytelling since the original Tales.
There is heart behind New Tales From The Borderlands, however in trying too hard to be like its predecessor, it really only succeeds at being an inferior imitation.
If you are looking for a tale set in the Borderlands universe, this game is sufficient; however, if you are looking to recapture your love of Tales from the Borderlands or Borderlands 2 wait until the game goes on sale or avoid it entirely.
New Tales from the Borderlands tries to bring innovations compared to the first game, but they are not satisfactory and many give an impression of uselessness. Some characteristic elements remained in the franchise, but without the same quality, and the new characters don't manage to be as charismatic as the old ones. The game tries to be many things at the same time, but exaggerates in some and is not enough in others, failing to be anything with excellence.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review
New tale from the Borderlands is an enjoyable experience, but that being said, I think Developers didn't fully utilize its potential. technical issues and repetitive gameplay prevent this game from reaching its full potential.
Review in Persian | Read full review
New Tales From the Borderlands could have been a much better game. There is a huge potential in the Borderlands universe to explore stories about all those people who with their work and sacrifice pay the bills for the eternal greed of corporations. The potential of this world to tell stories we can relate to and then give us the illusion that the little guys can win, even if it's just once, was completely wasted. Sadly, New Tales From the Borderlands only delivers in concept and, in execution, leaves much to be desired.
Review in Spanish | Read full review
New Tales from the Borderlands is an entertaining and heartfelt game. Even with the directing, that doesn't hit the spot all the time.
Review in Russian | Read full review
New Tales from the Borderlands is a vapid vision of its remarkable predecessor, bogged down by exasperating choices from beginning to end.
New Tales from the Borderlands can’t match the first game due to a less interesting story and cast of characters but it still was a fun time. I did really like a few characters that weren’t part of the core cast and the presentation and audio work is excellent throughout. If you enjoy the Borderlands brand of humor and the universe you’ll likely enjoy this but it isn’t as memorable as the first game.
For a few moments, New Tales from the Borderlands captures the feeling of the series, but for the most part it's a rather generic and overlong trek that fails to excite, entertain, or amuse.
New Tales from the Borderlands tries to go all-out but ends up with unlikable characters, mind-boggling story twists, and forced comedic writing. Even some interesting decisions and entertaining side characters cannot save what is otherwise an uninteresting romp through the world of Borderlands. If anything, NTFTB confirms that the original was indeed a perfect storm that isn't easily replicated. Fans of the franchise may end up enjoying the adventure, but I'd advise waiting for a sale before embarking on this strange adventure.
As a slower-paced story, it lacks the action and zaniness of its predecessor – but by opting for a quieter, more intimate tale, New Tales from the Borderlands carves out a deeply heartfelt, character-driven adventure that highlights the power and potential of friendship in a barren land.
Overall, New Tales from the Borderlands is a great addition to the series, and despite switching developers, it hasn’t skipped a beat. Borderlands fans will certainly enjoy the many references that will get you past the fact that you can’t fire too many guns in this one. Even if you’re not a fan of Borderlands but enjoy story-centric Choose Your Own Adventure books and games, basically titles like any of the old Telltale releases, you’re in for a treat. The game feels distinctly more Gearbox now than Telltale – not necessarily for better or worse, but it’s a more refreshing version of the game genre that can easily get stagnant if not done right, and New Tales from the Borderlands is hilarious world-building and storytelling done right.
"While New Tales From The Borderlands doesn't quite reach franchise heights, it succeeds at providing an entertaining and whacky Borderlands experience."
New Tales From the Borderlands brings a humorous, exciting, and dramatic story that furthers the Borderlands universe.
Creating a sequel to one of Telltale’s best games isn’t easy, but New Tales from the Borderlands gave it a red hot go. It’s characters are reminiscent of the original, while also being funny and likeable in their own unique way. The story is no slouch either, even though it does drop off in the latter half. Still, if you are a big fan of interactive movies and QTEs, then this new tale is certainly worth experiencing.
At about 10 hours, New Tales from the Borderlands is a solid successor to the first title under Telltale, and its story has all the right emotional beats. I cannot count the number of laughs the episodes drew from me, but towards the end, the game's uneven pacing was hard to ignore. Paired with its stale quick-time events, there is more New Tales from the Borderlands to improve on, but this sequel is a step in the right direction.
New Tales from the Borderlands would be easier to swallow if it wasn’t trying to follow up one of the best cinematic adventure games ever made. Instead, we get a forced episodic structure to a game that isn’t episodic, a cast of characters that are more interesting on paper than they are in execution, and a story that ultimately lacks stakes since there’s no personal investment in what happens to three bad people that aren’t all that likable.
A worthwhile adventure that, while it does not reach the heights of the first episode, does not disfigure in comparison to Telltale's heavy legacy, with a mix of compelling new characters, dialogues that often crack a smile and an art direction worthy of the saga's fame.
Review in Italian | Read full review