For all its loot-based progression and frantic first-person shooter gameplay, Borderlands has a surprising amount of lore and world-building that satisfies even those who play games to enjoy a great story and immersive setting rather than a satisfying gameplay loop. Tales from the Borderlands was a shining example of a studio that took advantage of this, as Telltale crafted a story that used so many of Pandora's unique visual and atmospheric quirks to carry a genuinely emotional and heartfelt tale through five episodes. The first game was released in 2014 and rode the coat tails of 2012's The Walking Dead as the company's popularity was at its peak. New Tales from the Borderlands is a sequel that fans have been champing at the bit for, and will look to recapture the magic.
Now developed in-house by Gearbox Studios, New Tales from the Borderlands presents a different cast of characters to follow, and will drop the episodic format that Telltale relied on for all those years. In light of this, it's important for the title to retain at least some of the heart of the original. While Rhys and Fiona's reluctant relationship was the main focus of the 2014 project, the best inclusion was the return of the devilish Handsome Jack. He's one of the finest villains in gaming, and New Tales from the Borderlands has to provide a strong antagonist to avoid feeling like a disappointing follow-up.
Borderlands' History with Villains
2009's Borderlands was a promising first step into a potentially fantastic franchise, but it wasn't until three years later that the formula was made truly great. Borderlands 2 was more streamlined where it needed to be, and catapulted Pandora into the top tier of video game settings. Its best element, however, was Handsome Jack. The leader of Hyperion and self-appointed dictator of Pandora, Jack is smug, arrogant, self-centered, and a profoundly rude character. His own self interests are the only things that matter to him, and his favorite pass time always seems to be mercilessly mocking the vault hunters throughout their journey. He's a fantastic character, and the reappearance in Tales from the Borderlands after his death in Borderlands 2 was equal parts surprising and satisfying.
Borderlands 3's Calypso Twins were a valiant attempt at creating a new villain for the series, but ultimately fell flat as their influencer personalities and awkward dialogue were too cheesy to ever feel truly menacing. As such, the game didn't reach the heights of its predecessor and Tiny Tina's Wonderlands has made quick work of helping fans forget the disappointing story presented in Borderlands 3. New Tales from the Borderlands could remedy the issues of the past further, reminding fans that the series still has the ability to craft great villains.
New Tales from the Borderlands' Story Focus
The story isn't something that Borderlands is known for, which is why it was so puzzling when the narrative-centric Telltale Games brought players to the harsh wilds of Pandora. The series' characters may be loved by fans, but the tale being told often takes a backseat to the satisfying gameplay and quippy, though shallow dialogue that's sprinkled throughout. New Tales from the Borderlands will have a heavy emphasis on storytelling, meaning the character interactions will be appropriately scrutinized. Heroes will be needed more than ever, and any great protagonist should be balanced by an equally engaging baddy who's elaborate plans need to be foiled.
A compelling antagonist in New Tales from the Borderlands would do well to balance the tone needed to propel the story into one of the best of the year. Having an overbearing threat, like Handsome Jack was in Borderlands 2, makes every move made by the good guys feel like a rebellious feat, and further adds to the tone as there's potential danger around every corner. Borderlands needs a good villain, as the third game proved for all the wrong reasons, and with New Tales from the Borderlands being so narrative-heavy, the expectations of an evil presence will be expected now more than ever.
New Tales from the Borderlands is available October 21 for PC, PS4, PS5, Switch, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.