Official Score
Overall - 50%
50%
The first episode of Telltale's Guardians of the Galaxy felt like it was phoned in. Though the trademark characters and world are there, it lacks the essence that put the series on the map. Here's hoping future episodes recapture the spirit that made the comics and movie so great.
Star-Lord, Rocket Raccoon, Drax, Gamora, and even Groot are ready for action in the first episode of Telltale’s Guardians of the Galaxy. Does this unlikely band of heroes save the day, or is the game worse than the Howard the Duck movie?
Guardians of the Galaxy Episode 1 Review
Those unfamiliar with the comic book series or the movie of the same name are going to be lost right away, as the game wastes no time throwing players into the thick of it. The Mad Titan Thanos is up to no good, and it is up to Star-Lord (aka Peter Quill) and the Guardians of the Galaxy to save the day. Those wondering how they got together or are curious about their role in the galaxy best do their homework, as this game was designed for those already familiar with the material.
This complexity is made even deeper with the many plot threads the game throws at players. By the end of the first episode, players will be accustomed to stories regarding the Nova Corps, the Eternity Forge, Gamora’s sister, Peter’s past, and more. This is likely done to set the stage for future episodes, but it feels like the game can’t just settle down and pick a story to flesh out. As a result, the story feels incoherent at times, like they had a number of ideas in mind and decided to go with them all.
It also feels like the flavor of the series just isn’t there. James Gunn did a stellar job at keeping people on their toes and offering up some sharp dialog. However, the characters here feel more like the boilerplate ones found in other Telltale games, complete with introspective monologues, campy jokes, and awkward situations. Groot still has the same dialog though, so there’s that.
The gameplay formula in Guardians of the Galaxy is similar to other Telltale titles. Players choose what they want to say, what sides to take, and which paths to pursue. A few bigger choices are made in this two hour episode, but it is too soon to see where they will end up in the long run. For most conversations though, almost all choices end up being the same.
This episode does deserve some credit for being more open-ended. Rather than railroad players through a barrage of quick-time events and dialog choices, there are also opportunities to figure out situations and catch up with your crew. This isn’t the most groundbreaking thing around, but the option to (somewhat) explore the world is a welcome one.
The first episode of Telltale’s Guardians of the Galaxy felt like it was phoned in. Though the trademark characters and world are there, it lacks the essence that put the series on the map. Here’s hoping future episodes recapture the spirit that made the comics and movie so great.
