Marvel's Guardians of the Galaxy - Episode 2: Under Pressure
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Critic Reviews for Marvel's Guardians of the Galaxy - Episode 2: Under Pressure
Under Pressure transitions us off of the high-tempo radio hit that was the season opener and into a more relaxed slow jam punctuated with some meaty action riffs. The slower drip of meaningful events meant I didn't come off of it with the same level of feelgood euphoria I had after finishing Tangled Up in Blue, but Telltale is still doing an excellent job adapting this eccentric hero team to its tried-and-true format - particularly when the focus is on developing the characters and the relationships between them.
The second episode is better paced and more engaging than the opener, but still struggles under its own technical limitations
The second episode of Telltale's Guardians of the Galaxy series takes on a slower pace with more focus on characters (and drama).
Under Pressure keeps the story flowing and the jams pumping as Telltale provides a rare look at one of the Guardians' upbringings. The hit-or-miss humor and standard technical malfunctions are still on full display, but the strong storytelling helps keep the season moving forward as the dysfunctional space crew keep searching for answers.
Much better than the first, episode two features better pacing and more time being given to the supporting characters. I'm now excited to see where things go for the series.
Though some of the series' weaker aspects are unlikely to go away any time soon like some of its technical and visual shortcomings, the deeper focus on characterization and the relationships that players will build between Star-Lord and the rest of the Guardians is one I deeply look forward to exploring in the coming episodes. Telltale nailed the look of Guardians of the Galaxy in the first two installments, and with Episode 2 they're finally getting a little closer to nailing the heart of it.
Ultimately, while Guardians of the Galaxy: The Telltale Series: Under Pressure's array of choices doesn't quite feel as "consequential" as one might expect of the typical Telltale pitch, the new episode improves on the promise of the first outing's strengths in characterization, while still building up the main narrative into something a tad more engaging. Only the future will be able to show if these decisions will snowball properly, but the series now has me wanting to actually see that eventuality, which means it's done its job.
Marvel's Guardians of the Galaxy: The Telltale Series - Episode 2 is another great episode from the developer. It's better than the first episode in a lot of ways, but still has troubling technical problems that detract from the fun.
