guarDiaNs of The galaXy TellTale series

Publisher TeLLTaLe GaMes / develoPer TeLLTaLe GaMes / format XboX one / release date ouT now / cost £5.19

Marvel’s Guardians Of The Galaxy: The Telltale Series – Episode One

Hooked on a good feeling alex avard

After taking on zombies, time travel and the caped crusader himself, Telltale has set its sights back upon the stars, though this journey into space remains somewhat stuck in orbit for this first episode. The good news is that you won’t have played a Marvel game quite like this one before, and Tangled Up In Blue(as if the name of the game wasn’t long enough) represents one of the studio’s most promising season premiere episodes to date. Even so, just like the team of misfits themselves, the opening 90-minute adventure leaves plenty of room for maturation.

ELO’s ‘Livin’ Thing’ begins to blast through the speakers almost as soon as you boot up Tangled Up In Blue, immediately setting the tone for what’s to come. Despite the completely new story, this is the closest thing we’ve had to an official Marvel Cinematic Universe game since Lego Marvel’s Avengers, but these

relational ties are also what’s holding GOTGback.

That original story sees the Guardians, already fully assembled, going up against a powerful new threat, while Peter (that’s you) must attempt to soothe hostilities among his crew. By maintaining a welcome focus on its five central characters, GOTG adopts a more critical, human examination of the dynamics that hold the team together, as the seeds of tension and conflict are sown throughout the events of Tangled Up In Blue. The testing of Peter’s relationships leads to some interesting conversations and difficult decisions, and the real draw for sticking with the season will undoubtedly be to see how these fractures come to heated fruition.

New faces

They may be played by a completely different set of actors (not to mention looking a little more puppet-like than usual), but these are still the Guardians you know and love from the movies. Star-Lord dances and cracks wise, Drax delivers blunt one-liners and Groot says “I am Groot”. Each character is portrayed authentically, complemented by stellar voice work from the likes of Nolan North, Emily O’Brien and Scott Porter. North as Rocket, in particular, is effortlessly entertaining, bringing a scrappiness to the role that makes the character’s hot temper all the more believable. The crew aren’t quite yet as endearing or memorable as their big-screen counterparts, but they could well be once the season draws to a close.

The driving plot of Tangled Up In Blue, on the other hand, is notably less engaging. While we’re treated to a cracking set-piece of an opening, the story quickly establishes an unwelcome sense of déjà vu by revisiting familiar themes and ideas from the original Guardians Of The Galaxy film, right up to a Howard the Duck cameo. After offering up such bold reinterpretations of DC lore with its take on Batman last year, it’s as though Telltale has taken two

short cut

What is it?

Telltale returns to space for another point-and-click adventure starring Marvel’s most unlikely team of heroes.

What’s it like?

Like watching a TV spin-off to the movie, only with much more interaction.

Who’s it for?

Marvel fans, Telltale enthusiasts, and anyone who enjoys light-hearted romps across the cosmos.

This isn’t the first time Nolan North has played Rocket Racoon – he voiced the character in both Marvel Heroes and Disney Infinity

far left each member of the team is presented authentically.

rigHt it wouldn’t be a guardians story without thanos, and he makes quite the first impression.

where’s baby GrooT?

Though it is by no accident that Telltale’s game releases just before Guardians Of The Galaxy Vol. 2 hits the theatres, the two stories should be considered as entirely separate to one another. That said, Telltale will assume that you’ve seen – or at least heard of – the original movie, as episode one begins with the Guardians already working together, and wastes no screen time on explaining the group’s origin story. Those who have kept up with the Marvel cinematic universe will also be able to appreciate all the references which winkingly allude to the films. sadly, there’s no post-credits easter egg to enjoy this time around. creative steps back here by sticking so closely to the movies, though a few key moments make for a welcome break from what we’ve seen on the big screen. If the season continues to deliver these subversions with greater frequency, then perhaps we’ll have something really interesting on our hands, but Tangled Up In Blue doesn’t deliver on that promise.

The excellent Tales From The Borderlands proved that Telltale boasts a good ear for writing comedy, and Tangled Up In Blue suggests that GOTG will deliver on another season of sci-fi smiles. The humour is underscored by a healthy dose of dry wit, though stilted animations and awkward timing can prevent some of the punchlines from landing, or can even end up creating unintentional laughs in the process. Still, well-written comedy in videogames is all too rare a commodity these days, and GOTG should be commended for delivering on the series’ trademark sense of humour when it needs to.

Walkie talkie

Telltale sadly doesn’t use its intergalactic setting as an opportunity to reinvent or refine its standard point-and-click formula, though a few mechanical flourishes – such as the ability to talk to other characters over your intercom – are thrown in to streamline the experience. You’ll spend most of your time walking, talking and fighting, and that last activity is smoother and more robust than it has been in any previous Telltale game, while the retro-futurist aesthetic provides a canvas on which to paint some genuinely pleasing visuals. It all adds up to a mixed bag

left We can only imagine what a telltale dialogue tree would look like if you played as groot.

“Each character is complemented by stellar voice work from the likes of Nolan North”

of an introduction for the Guardians, but one that leaves a largely positive impression.

Ultimately, Tangled Up In Blue’s biggest flaw is its self-imposed creative limitation, a problem exemplified by the tracklist of the game’s very own ‘Rad Mix’ tape. The songs might be different, but you just can’t shake the feeling you’ve heard them all before. n

oxm verdict

an encouraging start for the series, but future episodes need to pack more punch.