Tales From The Borderlands: Episode Four - Escape Plan Bravo Reviews
While still far from perfect, Escape Plan Bravo contains enough good moments to get me excited for the final entry
Tales from the Borderlands' penultimate episode stretches thin its gamey bits, but its emphasis on character relationships and humanity make it a heartbreaking experience.
The beginning of this review stated that Tales from the Borderlands' fourth episode was its worst episode to date, and while that's technically true, we're basically talking about the difference between great and amazing. Tales from the Borderlands has firmly established itself as a bona fide game of the year contender, meaning that Telltale has earned the right to take an episode to set up what will inevitably be a grand and thrilling final episode.
Escape Plan Bravo marks a departure in setting and tone for the series, but the humor, fun, and charm of the series remains intact. It's the funniest installment yet, and despite a few technical hiccups, it will have you preemptively sad that a series this entertaining only has one episode left.
Escape Plan Bravo solidifies Tales as a must-play series for those interested in the Borderlands universe. I cannot wait for the last episode, The Vault of the Traveler.
Because of a greater focus on subtler story cues, reining in Pandora's complete irreverence for normalcy, "Escape Plan Bravo" works in a way previous episodes didn't, though "Atlas Mugged" came close. The emotional moments worked without that awkward, out-of-place feeling that came with similar scenes in the past. There is an action scene, a giant shootout of sorts, but you have to see it to believe it, and it serves as some necessary comic relief before the final act.
I loved this latest episode, and I'm adoring Tales From The Borderlands, easily the best thing Telltale's done since season one of The Walking Dead. It continues to demonstrate how the light-adventure formula can be played for humor as much as tragedy, how good writing can shine in a videogame with the right presentation, and just how accomplished the studio behind it is.
It's been a bumpier ride than I'd expected – especially given the potential comic goldmine that is the Borderlands universe – but Tales from the Borderlands seems to be back on track just in time for what's shaping up to be weird and wild final episode.
From the opening with Rhys hilariously attempting to zig-zag as he runs from his masked captor, to the epic Borderlands staple credits sequence set to a great soundtrack, and all the way to the jaw dropping conclusion, Escape Plan Bravo manages to cram humor, heart, and tension into one of the best episodes that they've ever created in any of their series.
Outside of the irritatingly expected technical hiccups, Tales from the Borderlands: Episode 4 – Escape Plan Bravo is brilliant. Creative, heartfelt, and fittingly ludicrous, it's represents Telltale at its best, in what is quickly becoming the most consistent series in its portfolio. When this was announced, we never thought that we'd ever write that sentence.
There's certainly a lot to digest in this episode, which is good on one hand because it moves the plot along as we approach the finale but also bad in the sense that parts of it seemed a bit rushed and could've used a bit more fleshing out.
Serving as a fitting appetizer for the grand finale, Tales From The Borderlands Episode 4 takes its foot off the gas just enough to set up what should be a tense and entertaining resolution.
"Escape Plan Bravo" keeps the laughs coming, moves the story along in interesting ways, and is might just be the ultimate penultimate episode Telltale's ever delivered.
Forcing the gamer to go through a bevy of emotions, "Escape Plan Bravo" more than makes up for its short length and mediocre finish by providing several cool moments that'll keep you invested throughout.
With only one episode left Tales From The Borderlands has proved itself a worthwhile experience. If you haven't picked this up yet, do it now.
A return to hilarity much overdue.
Tales from the Borderlands was already one of my favourite Telltale series', second only to the groundbreaking first season of The Walking Dead. But with Escape Plan Bravo, I think this goes from "second" to "first-equal", and that's no mean feat. I can't wait to see what the finale has in store.
With only one episode left to go, Escape Plan Bravo offers a well-deserved but still enjoyable break in the action
Another solid, if unspectacular episode in the Borderlands series.
Without much time, Escape Plan Bravo brings plenty of smiles and sets up grudges to be settled in the series finale.