Going Platinum #3: Tales from the Borderlands

Platinum Trophy #3: Tales from the Borderlands

Date Earned: 9th May 2017

Dopamine Index:

The Borderlands series is one I've dipped my toe into a couple of times, but I just don't get on with it.

It isn't even really the style of humour that puts me off, which I know is a hurdle for some. I like the cel-shaded art style, and the concept of a looter shooter is a strong one.

In my opinion it's just a bit of a clunker.

What little I've played didn't feel particularly great in the hands, and the UI and the menus always left me a bit confused.

I mean, I'd probably have a better time with the more recent entries, which I'd hope have streamlined some things and improved the gameplay, but with so many games to play these days, I don't really want to take the risk.

However, one game in the series I do like is a spin-off, made by an entirely different team — Tales from the Borderlands.

I only played it because it was one of the PS Plus monthly games many moons ago; I'd heard good things but hadn't played one of Telltale's narrative adventures before, so wasn't sure what I was getting into.

I remember being so pleasantly surprised by the game's writing; with almost no knowledge of Borderlands, I suddenly was able to care about its world and some of the characters within it.

As my first taste of Telltale's episodic formula, I was really into the whole journey. The idea that my decisions were having an impact on relationships and the story was great, making it feel like I was putting my stamp on things.

If I'm being really honest, I don't have very vivid memories of the game, but recalling it brings back particular imagery and characters and warm, fuzzy feelings.

Even though it was built within a world I didn't really care about, Tales from the Borderlands managed to transcend the broader series and provided a very different, but much more appealing, way in.

The reason I haven't really been talking about the Trophies yet is because they're extremely easy to obtain. To platinum the game, all you need to do is play through it.

It's not a particularly rewarding or hard-earned plat, then, but in this case it wasn't really the point — I just had a really good time with Tales from the Borderlands, and the plat is a nice cherry on the cake.

Cheers, Tales from the Borderlands.

P.S. I can't be the first person to ever point this out, but Robert from Dispatch doesn't not look like Rhys, right?

I mean, you know, it's not an exact match, but I've seen characters that look less like each other, put it that way.

Do you have the platinum Trophy in Tales from the Borderlands? Let us know in the comments section below.