Tales From The Borderlands: Episode One - Zer0 Sum does stray far from the mechanics of the rest of the Borderlands series, it still retains its charm and humor which makes it worthwhile for any fan or newcomer to Pandora
Tales From The Borderlands: Episode One - Zer0 Sum
OpenCritic Rating
Top Critic Average
Critics Recommend
Tales From The Borderlands: Episode One - Zer0 Sum Review Summary
Tales From The Borderlands: Episode One - Zer0 Sum Media
Critic Reviews for Tales From The Borderlands: Episode One - Zer0 Sum
Tales from the Borderlands Episode 1 is a hilarious, fantastic start to Telltale's trip to Pandora
A very promising start to what is mechanically just another Telltale adventure, but where the comedy and characterisation feels very different to their more recent games.
Telltale avoids a complete flop with a more engaging second half and a well-done finale
Everything I'd expected from Telltale's take on this franchise, executed with such skill that it's hard to find anything to complain about...It's an enjoyable, violent and well-crafted introduction to the series. Episode Two can't come soon enough.
Tales from the Borderlands is a beautiful new twist on the Borderlands experience with lovable leads and breathless action sequences.
Aside from the disappointing lack of puzzles and limit on exploration, Tales from the Borderlands: Zer0 Sum is excellent. Where the first episodes of other Telltale series can start off slowly, Tales maintains high energy throughout. Its consistently funny writing and duo of unreliable narrator protagonists set the stage for a great overarching story, and it feels very much like it belongs in the Borderlands franchise. If the rest of the season maintains this level of quality, Tales from the Borderlands will be up there in history with the other great recent Telltale adventures.
When Tales from the Borderlands was announced, I honestly wasn't sure what to anticipate, but with one (quite long, but well-paced) episode, Telltale have sold me on another one of their ideas. It's shares a lot of DNA with both Borderlands and the usual Telltale adventure games, and yet it's nothing like them at all. It's one of their best offerings, and a refreshing new direction for both a game series that had begun to go stale and a gameplay formula which had started to feel repetitive.
Tales from the Borderlands: Episode One is just one (relatively) big nudge in the ribs to all Borderlands fans as if to say "did you get that reference? Did'ya?" Luckily, in true Telltale style, there's something good for the rest of us as well. It's a solid first episode that brings in anticipation for episodes to come.