The Expanse: A Telltale Series
The Expanse: A Telltale Series has potential. It’s clear that developer Telltale has a deep understanding of the world, characters, and narrative of The Expanse and has done its research in crafting a story that feels authentic to the sci-fi show. But potential isn’t enough – this first episode, and the entire game for that matter, is forgettable and fails to evolve Telltale’s formula, which has left me longing for a return to the style of The Wolf Among Us.
Camina Drummer and The Expanse Universe
With a focus on Camina Drummer, The Expanse: A Telltale Series takes us into the world of the Martian Marine through her eyes, offering a new perspective within The Expanse universe. It’s clear that Telltale has done its homework with regard to The Expanse lore and has a deep understanding of the world, but the episodic structure of the game does more harm than good, hindering the overall experience.
The Expanse: A Telltale Series retains Telltale’s signature style and mechanics, which will likely please fans of the studio. There’s nothing wrong with the general gameplay and formula, and it feels right at home in The Expanse universe. But I couldn’t help but feel like I was playing a game that was released five years ago and that the studio has failed to innovate or try new gameplay mechanics.
The narrative choices in the game have a significant impact on the story, which adds replay value, but it’s not enough to justify the episodic format. Other than that, there’s nothing really new or fresh about this game. The lack of innovation and fresh gameplay elements leave much to be desired.
Voice Acting and Visuals
What The Expanse: A Telltale Series does get right is the voice acting and character development. The dialogue is well-written and the voice acting is top-notch, bringing these characters to life and making them feel authentic. Hopefully, this will continue through the rest of the series.
The visuals are also well-crafted and capture the essence of the TV show, even though the character models look a bit stiff and the lip-syncing is a bit off at times. It’s a small detail, but it’s something that stands out when playing a game where almost everything else feels familiar.
Despite these strengths, The Expanse: A Telltale Series suffers from technical issues and occasional glitches. The biggest concern is the pacing of the story, which feels off. Some episodes feel boring and lack excitement, while others go by too quickly and feel rushed. There’s also the concern over the game’s length. At roughly four hours, it’s unclear whether the episodic format justifies the price tag.
Final Thoughts
In the end, The Expanse: A Telltale Series has potential, but as it stands, it’s a lackluster return to form for the revived studio. It definitely has fans of The Expanse in mind, but is unlikely to win over new players. The story has room for improvement, and hopefully, future episodes can address the shortcomings that are present in this first offering.
