The Expanse: A Telltale Series Reviews
The Expanse: A Telltale Series is a short, unexciting, and slow narrative adventure, full of unlikable characters and repetitive gameplay. Despite a great performance from Cara Gee as Drummer and a few engaging player choices, it is a waste of space.
Telltale & Deck Nine's Expanse prequel weaves a compelling-enough yarn, but archaic design elements could tempt even ardent fans into spacing it.
So for now, episode one is a good start. Very much a Telltale interactive story. And if you’re down with that and not too much actual gaming you’ll be satisfied.
Another passable series under the auspices of Telltale. It's hard to believe that this is the work of the authors of Life is Strange: True Colors.
Review in Russian | Read full review
An affectionately crafted prequel to The Expanse which, while worthwhile for fans, fails to evolve Telltale's tired gameplay design in any meaningful manner.
The Expanse: A Telltale Series feels like a fairly decent return to form for Telltale Games after its temporary closure. As a fan of The Expanse, I can attest that this Telltale series represents the show, and the character of Camina Drummer in particular, very authentically, and it was a joy to return to that setting and explore it from a different perspective. Despite those positives as a fan, the series also suffers from feeling especially short, linear and low-stakes. While The Expanse: A Telltale Series certainly has its high points, diehard fans of The Expanse or Telltale Games' previous output are likely the only ones who would get much out of the experience.
The game is a great addition for fans of this universe, who will glimpse what might have happened before the first series. Newcomers will find specific dialogue and things strange and make no sense to them, and unfortunately, they won't get any explanation.
Review in Czech | Read full review
Overall, fans of The Expanse will enjoy this story. I’m curious about what happens in the next couple of episodes, and that’s exactly the sort of narrative pull that I was looking for. But you might also get frustrated with the game at times - it’s not a flawless experience by any means, and I really wanted more from it.
This isn't an instant classic, but fans of the series will no doubt enjoy stepping into Drummer's shoes in her time before the show. It's an assured first outing for a studio brought back from the dead and will no doubt give confidence to the studio and fans alike.
We're one episode away from completing Telltale Games' first game back since its death and rebirth. It's woven an intriguing story that I'm keen on completing; let's just hope they'll stick the landing.
A strong opening for Telltale games in its first game back since its rebirth. They've chosen a strong IP in The Expanse to kick things off with and hopefully the future episodes will build upon the strong foundation episode one has made.
The Expanse: A Telltale Series retains what made the earlier games such a success, for better or worse, and smuggles in upgraded visuals and a tight, well-told story. It's still classic Telltale at its core, but if you weren't a fan of those earlier games, this bold new direction isn't likely to make you a believer.
While not the strongest entry so far, episode three still manages to feel like it takes the narrative forward with a powerful revelation and climax. Learning the history of some of the first belt settlers was fascinating, however a lack of decision-making opportunities bogs down the gameplay loop. While it may not be the middle act I was hoping for, Telltale certainly still has its hooks in me with Drummer's story.
While not a mind-blowing start, The Expanse: A Telltale Series - Episode 1 sets things up nicely for the rest of the story.
The Expanse: A Telltale Series is a return to form, though that form is almost out of style. Each of the five episodes takes an average of about two hours to complete if you’re hunting for all of the collectibles, so the amount of content is on the shorter end. But if you’re looking for solid writing and characters that fit well within The Expanse universe, this adventure is another chance to revisit the series and see Camina Drummer be a badass all over again. However, the dated mechanics and the game’s choice to be a prequel impair the effort.
Unfortunately The Expanse: A Telltale Series probably won’t stick with me like The Wolf Among Us or even The Walking Dead did. But there is still some fun to be had, and it’s proof there is the potential to add a little more gameplay to Telltale titles. I even think another proper Expanse entry that has a bit more meaningful of a story to tell could be perfect for the Telltale formula. If that happens, I hope the narrative doesn’t play it too safe next time.
A solid addition to the Telltale roster that accurately captures its source material while falling prey to the faults of the studio's other licensed games.
To begin, you play the role of protagonist Camina Drummer. She soon becomes commander of the ship Artemis. Her crew are salvagers who scavenge for wreckage in space. Like any good narrative game, you'll have to make choices that will have consequences for the story. QTEs (quick actions) add an interesting element to the development of the story in The Expanse: A Telltale Series.The script is well written and the result is that you always want to know what happens next. Unfortunately, the controls in space aren't ideal and can be frustrating. On the other hand, it's not catastrophic, and the graphics are rather pretty.To fully understand the story of the members of the Artemis, I recommend that you read as many of the recordings as possible and delve into every nook and cranny. You'll learn more and become even more attached to the characters.Finally, the choices you make are represented in a chart. You can see this in the third image in the slideshow below. Don't worry, the titles don't mean much and I'm not divulging any important secrets.
Review in French | Read full review
The Expanse: A Telltale Series brings back all the features we've seen before in Telltale games, both the good and the questionable. The transmedia text is great, and the rhizomatic bifurcations look promising, but combat and exploration systems remain shallow and unappealing. For fans of the genre and/or the franchise, a treat. For others, not so much.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review
Episode 1 of The Expanse: A Telltale Series is designed by and for the fans, but sci-fi aficionados will appreciate its worldbuilding and deep atmosphere. Those that like a good story will enjoy their time exploring the UNN Urshanabi.