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The Expanse: A Telltale Series
Released On: Nov 20, 2023
76
5.7
All Platforms
Metascore
Generally Favorable
Based on 24 Critic Reviews
76
58% Positive
14 Reviews
14 Reviews
42% Mixed
10 Reviews
10 Reviews
0% Negative
0 Reviews
0 Reviews
Metascore
Generally Favorable
Based on 24 Critic Reviews
76
58% Positive
14 Reviews
14 Reviews
42% Mixed
10 Reviews
10 Reviews
0% Negative
0 Reviews
0 Reviews
In a world of enormous RPGs with seemingly endless side quests and huge maps, The Expanse: A Telltale Series is a refreshing change of pace, and proves that sometimes, less is more. A great RPG doesn't necessarily need to be a 60-hour adventure; it just needs to convincingly drop you into another person's magboots. The Expanse does that and then some, forcing you to make difficult decisions that will haunt you long after you've finished playing.
The Expanse: A Telltale Series is a fun game that doesn’t stray from Telltale’s normal formula but is strong when viewed within that category. If you like the show or the books, you’ll get a kick out of it.
User Score
Mixed or Average
Based on 43 User Ratings
5.7
40% Positive
17 Ratings
17 Ratings
26% Mixed
11 Ratings
11 Ratings
35% Negative
15 Ratings
15 Ratings
User Score
Mixed or Average
Based on 43 User Ratings
5.7
40% Positive
17 Ratings
17 Ratings
26% Mixed
11 Ratings
11 Ratings
35% Negative
15 Ratings
15 Ratings
This game is really great for Telltale's reviving
You know some people may say blaa blah the old ones blah blah
But dude it's 2023 you don't have your ps2 anymore everything is upgraded the graphics the gameplays everything
The game having good graphic doesn't mean that developers focused on graphics because it has a great story too
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PC
Story is superb, as Expanse TV show lover I must say I did enjoyed the game. Cannot wait for new episodes. Original actress as Drummer amazing Game have expanse vibe and full immersion. I really enjoyed...
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PC
The Expanse shines as an alternative to the sleek space-age dream of franchises such as Star Trek, with its scrappy, survival sci-fi setting pairing perfectly with the gritty art-style and choice-driven narrative of Telltale Games.
Telltale’s entry to The Expanse feels like an obvious move. A world rife with conflict, character and violence is reimagined through the snarky and laser-focused lens of Camina Drummer - and it’s brimming with life and excitement. This carefully spun narrative buries the arbitrary action gameplay, and is totally worth the few hours you’ll need spare to sink this game.
The Expanse: A Telltale Series works well as a tie-in, because it recreates the atmosphere of the series and explores the past of a loved character (Cara Gee as Drummer is amazing as always!). However, as a whole, it is a middling game that ends before it really gets going. I also regret that the developers missed the opportunity to delve deeper into The Expanse’s universe, as this setting has a lot to offer.
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.
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.
TL;DR: is it good? I’d say yes – but it depends if you like the series and want the backstory. If you expect “grandeur” action gameplay, this is going to disappoint you. It’s also too short by far - EP 1 takes about 1-2 hrs max. Mind you: We’ve only seen EP 1 so far - It might get much better during EP 2-5 and Bonus Ep in Deluxe Edition.
Long:
Get this if you enjoyed Camina Drummer's Belter drawl and see where her fierceness comes from. You'll get a kick out of this telltale games ... Expanse of the Expanse's storyline (yes, I am proud of myself). If you are expecting a good old time "Walking Dead telltale", sadly it's not there and maybe never will since you know... they went bankrupt and just got "revived" by selling their tech.
This new showing of grandeur past is initially gorgeous, with its 4K graphics shine on the next gen consoles and PC, the sound design is minimalist, which is apt for a “Sci-Fi” genre game – since no one can hear your Dolby Surround in Space. Music has been licensed from the series and the Acting is quite decent – if maybe a bit generic by some of the voices, but that is well based on the script and material of the Series as well as this storyline. It was on and off also in the “old” games mostly, if we’re being honest.
And while we’re being honest, let’s talk about the actual gameplay: Since the revival would give the new telltale the true chance of redoing some of the core systems and improve on some QoL changes, sadly, in this regard they failed. The new game does work exactly in the same way as the old ones – if a bit flashier in execution - they still have the same “Quick Time” aka “press a button or fail” events – which to be fair now you can extend the time to “infinite” taking the pressure off a lot. The new studio has tried to mimic what made telltale games so good in the first place, namely the very narrative-driven, dramatic "choices" - which in the end, sadly, never made that much of a difference to tell you the truth. But they were excuted in a grand way that gave you satisfaction and a hell **** story most of the time.
Does "The Expanse" do the same? I think you can see the first inning of what could potentially be a very cool, albeit very short story in the "Expanse" universe just before the Amazon Series storyline picks up in full force.
You'll follow the life of Carmina Drummer, a hard-ass "Belter" who's been around the deck as they say - and who is a member of the so-called "OPA" - something that gets hinted on bascially immediately - which basically is a terrorist faction within that Sci-Fi Universe that made it a point of hating "Earthers".
The rest of the game”play” consists of a Space Walking/flying simulator with banter in-between the main characters, of course the usual twists and betrayals plus the “choice” making which consists of the occasional banter in-between characters with good to OK acting by the cast – Carmina Drummer stands out, as well as the Captain and the Ship’s Medic, the two goofy sidekick “Belters” are just like in the series – hard-ass but not smart-ass loose gun types, a job well done in scripting and acting. All of these characters have their “motivations”, although you’ll only know if you pick your choices and see the usual “XYZ will remember that” when speaking to them or interacting with things happening as they unfold, taking some tough choices along the way. Whatever it means when you see “they’ll remember that” stays shrouded in mystery as per the telltale formula. To be very honest, I actually think most of these have, if at all, only minor implications outside of a few changed voice lines likely. And that is the core of the main flaw, one the new telltale kept from the “old telltale”: what these games are usually good at is giving you the momentary illusion of making a huge choice – but when you dare to replay to see the “other side” of that outcome, it usually disappoints by showing you it’s ending (almost) the same way, no matter what. You might kill off one of the others, but guess what, it barely mattered outside of a few standout changes in TwD series games. I’m not spoiling anything here, but be prepared that choices seem “bigger than they are”, just like in your rear view mirror.
Since the story has just started it's unsure if her OPA past is coming to hunt her, but it certainly looks like exactly that is going to happen in the 5 Episodes and the Bonus Episode for you Deluxe Edition buyers.
I went Deluxe, because I could not stop myself wondering if telltale legacy can be revived and I’ll stand by to make my final calling after all Episodes are out sometime in September likely – they are saying a new Ep every two weeks – which would probably be the most dramatic change from the “old telltale” which had issues releasing Episodes in a timely manner. Which is what ultimately killed them.
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PC
I will give the current developers credit for the visuals of the game as well as certain aspects of the gameplay. I have always been a huge fan of The Telltale Games, it has become very obvious to me that the spark that gave life to the older games of Telltale is no more. It's very clear to me that the newer developers cared more about how the game looked then they did about creating an environment with both a compelling story as well as characters that you naturally gravitated towards.
These characters are so forgettable... Dull, that's the only word I can think of when I think about these characters in the story, The protagonist has this very strange monotone voice that gives you meaningless narration throughout your gameplay, and her colleagues that around her do not provide any sense of camaraderie, or any sense of belonging with the very minimal dialog options you have to interact with them.
I really hate to compare the new developers with the old, but I will never forget that first episode I played as Lee in The Walking Dead series when I ran into Clementine. Their interaction was so believable and genuine. It glued me in the moment I played it for the first time. Something is missing, I don't feel a connection between the characters and the protagonist.
I don't think these developers realize that the thing that drew us in so closely with the older games was literally the story itself, and how the characters interacted with each other. I am honestly kind of sad that this is all they have to bring to the table. A little bit of profanity doesn't bother me when I'm trying to indulge in a story, but it needs to fit with the circumstance. I feel like the writers for this dialog decided to drop F bombs needlessly just to fill empty space In between their gray storytelling.
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PC
A sad return for Telltale, the gameplay is solid, the performances are acceptable, but it's a short, limiting experience (only two choices of dialogue and actions), and the presentation of the story, characters and conflicts were very predictable and basic, it may improve, but it's a generic start.
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PC
Summary In the near future on the outskirts of the asteroid belt, a bloody mutiny breaks loose on the Artemis. You take the role of XO Camina Drummer, where your choices determine the fate of the ship. What will you do with the truth, Bosmang?
Rated M
for Mature
Platforms:
- PC
- PlayStation 4
- PlayStation 5
- Xbox One
- Xbox Series X
Initial Release Date: Nov 20, 2023
Developer:
- Deck Nine Games
Publisher: Telltale Games
Genres:
