2023-10-16 21:56:31
Intrigue, choice and familiarity.
Narration, as we know, is the strong point of Telltale Games, a software house specializing in the development of narrative video games, all linked by a common thread strongly linked to the classic operating mode of television series. After a five-year hiatus, Telltale returns to fashion by releasing The Expanse: A Telltale Series, a title that follows in the footsteps of the television series of the same name, released on Syfy and Amazon Prime, and the events of Camina Drummer. , one of the most iconic characters in the series, also magnificently played in the game by Cara Gee. Telltale’s new work is currently divided into five episodes, all currently available (the last episode was released on September 21, 2023), with a bonus episode releasing via special DLC, with a physical edition following once everything is released. published digitally. If it is true that a software publisher (almost) always manages to leave its mark on video games, we cannot present a Telltale video game to you without focusing on the plot and the particular game mode, with the important postulate that, being narration is the strong point of the company’s games, in this review we will try to avoid any spoilers. As mentioned, in The Expanse: A Telltale Series, the player will play Camina Drummer, crew chief of the ship The Artemis during the exploration of the Belt, an area of the universe full of particularities, which will have to manage social and not only that, particularly specific which also involves its team and its feelings. Just a few minutes into the game, The Expanse: A Telltale Series forces the player to make a choice. Yes, because it is above all The Expanse. A title in which choices, even if they do not always involve life or death, become a primordial element of the gameplay, a cornerstone of the Telltale brand that is transmitted from game to game.
The writing of the episodes proposed is well done, almost as much as the television show, with a focus more on the character of the different characters rather than on the more general politics of the universe and with a rhythm that follows the beaten time. by the TV series but which leaves room for not being mistaken about a cinematographic production. The best thing about The Expanse is certainly the presence of a story so well written that it stands on its own. The dialogues that Camina encounters will always present him with the need to choose between only two options which do not always, or even very rarely, boil down to good and evil. What’s most striking about The Expanse is that Camina Drummer is a simple human being who must make some particularly difficult decisions for herself and her crew, and the title is filled with intensity as we are faced with choices which are not the right ones to do, far from it. Small note on the dialogue system: this is particularly familiar to those who have already had experience with Telltale games. Each choice, as mentioned, allows the player to learn a little more information about the crew, in order to guide future decisions but also to increase the level of replayability of The Expanse.
Exploration: weak point or incidental element?
But that’s not all. The Expanse innovates in the formula present in Telltale titles by introducing the possibility of freely walking and exploring each area in which the player is immersed in weightlessness, with unprecedented environmental graphic quality (we will talk about this again), using commendably the third person point of view. The implementation is completely intuitive, allowing the player to attach Camina’s boots not only to the floor, but also to the walls and ceiling. In addition, the protagonist is able to easily explore all the areas present, from the wrecks of the different ships present in the universe to the narrowest closets, always looking for materials for the crew. What is functional for exploration is the jetpack, the use of which allows the player to jump over each chasm present in the title, to descend into a well or an abandoned elevator, as well as to splash around with deer and 360° to test its fluidity. For the rest, let us specify that, since it is not an open world, the exploration phases will be limited to the areas proposed by the title, with short exploratory licenses especially in the moments when we will be called to us move among the stars. This is more accentuated in the first episodes where Camina will be free to wander around the areas as the title approaches the end, completely concentrating the player’s attention in very specific moments, almost absolutely diminishing the possibility of wander around inside the game map.
The collaboration between Telltale and Deck Nine (Life is Strange) bears its greatest fruit when it comes to graphic design, with particular attention paid to the smallest details. The classic drawings of the different stylized characters, protagonists of the Telltale games, The Expanse: A Telltale Series replaces the classic drawings with a more realistic and less caricatured construction of them, with extremely detailed cutscenes. But not only that, even during the gameplay phases, the external and internal environments of the game, as well as the facial expressions are extremely detailed, with remarkable care in the creation of the universe. In reference to the facial expressions, these clearly improve on what has already been seen in other Telltale games, the characters’ faces are realistic, with body language always consistent. The feeling of immersion is, however, interrupted during the phases of space exploration during which there is frequently a notable drop in quality. Let’s be clear, this is not a defect that affects the gameplay of the title, but it clashes with the graphic cleanliness of the closed areas. Note on shots: the excellent job of capturing the essence of the TV series and its locations, as well as the episodic format, allows you to immerse yourself in a high-level spectacle, with a pace that never dulls your interest , but rather amplifies it. This is further emphasized in the fifth episode, the conclusion of an enveloping story full of creative ideas. This is certainly an advantage for those who make storytelling the strong point of their publications.
And the rest ?
On the other hand, certain game mechanics do not receive the same care as those already described. The combat, in fact, is nothing more than a series of QuickTime events that exclusively require the player to click, within a limited time, on certain buttons or move the sticks. Interaction with the world is not the strong point of The Expanse, and in fact Camina is only allowed to interact (collect, open doors or connect cables) with what the title offers, which perhaps limits the creativity of those who are often caught in the compulsive collector syndrome. A weak point of The Expanse is the collection mechanics: Camina can collect valuable objects scattered throughout the sections, very often to give them to a member of the crew, yet the title does not offer any inventory in order to have an idea of what and nothing else. a direct way to deliver these items has been collected. But not only. If at the end of the chapter, and therefore the associated main mission, you have not managed to deliver a collected item or complete the secondary quest, it will be almost impossible for you to retrace your steps until you restart the episode finished. via a menu that allows you to either continue the story or start again. Add to this that the title does present some environmental puzzles, which are also essential for progression in the game, but their solution does not seem particularly complex (sometimes you just have to look around, other times you just have to to follow a route as the treasure hunt, other times to interact with everything that surrounds us).
VERDICT
The Expanse: A Telltale Series aims to be a success in the field of narrative games, a certain evolution of Telltale games. Every choice the player makes has an influential practical implication, the plot follows a logic that is never banal and always engaging, without gaps or holes but full of twists and turns. The episodes, as well as the voice acting, are remarkable and help recreate the atmosphere of the TV series even when most of the series’ regular characters are absent. On the other hand, the title offers no engaging mechanics outside of dialogue scenes, relying too heavily on quick-time events and relatively poor movement challenges. The few flaws of the title are counterbalanced by its strengths which make The Expanse an essential video game for lovers of captivating narrative adventures and for those who like to make delicate decisions thanks to a crescendo of emotions which involve those who play completely in the spatial atmosphere.
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