Telltale Games, the iconic video game studio, once on the brink of death, is back on the scene and they're kicking things off with an exciting adaptation of Amazon's The Expanse, which was based on the science fiction novels by James S. A. Corey. This marks the first release since the studio's resurrection, and it seems they're holding nothing back. Through this new Telltale series, The Expanse has been given new life in a medium where its unique narrative style and universe can truly thrive.
Telltale's story was one of meteoric success, heartbreaking collapse, and now, resurrection. Renowned for their choice-driven narrative games, they reached their pinnacle with The Walking Dead series, only to face a tumultuous shut down in 2018. It was a major blow for gamers who cherished the studio's unique storytelling approach. Personally, I was a major fan of the Sam & Max and Batman series, and had hoped to see a revival or addition, and feared after Telltale’s fall, that any further adaptions would be completely out of the question. Meanwhile, The Expanse had its own tumultuous journey, starting as a book series, then adapted into a highly-rated Amazon series, only to be prematurely canceled after Six seasons, with the final season ending after only 6 episodes.
In 2021, however, Telltale's journey took a dramatic turn. LCG Entertainment purchased the company's assets and began to restructure the studio, promising a new approach while maintaining the narrative richness that defined Telltale's games. And they selected The Expanse, a series that resonated deeply with its viewers, as the vehicle for their grand return.
The anticipation was palpable when Telltale threw a press event as a preview for journalists and content creators in mid-May. Groups of press and creators were brought from all around the world for a play through of The Expanse’s first episode, and in many ways, the anticipation could be felt by fans and the developers themselves. The event was more than just a showcase; it was an immersion into The Expanse universe. It was a clear statement: Telltale wasn't just back, they were coming back with a bang. Within moments of entering the fog-filled room, adorned with neon mood lighting and Expanse memorabilia, each attendee was offered a space suit and LED-lit glasses. It was clear that what we were in for was meant to be an experience. A celebration. All that was left to do, was play the game itself.
Telltale's version of The Expanse is set as a prequel to the Amazon series, providing a unique, untapped timeline. Players assume the role of Camina Drummer, voiced by Cara Gee reprising her role, aboard the vessel 'The Artemis'. As Drummer, players navigate through the dangerous edges of The Belt, engaging in scavenging, surviving mutinies, and combating pirates, all the while shaping Drummer's resolve through their choices. Drummer is a particularly unique character in this, as she has a very distinct, future role to play in The Expanse Amazon series, so in a very real way, players are choosing how to build her backstory here.
The game carries Telltale's signature narrative style, while avoiding the puzzle-heavy approach seen in their earlier games like Sam and Max. The storytelling is top-notch which is to be expected from a Telltale game. The game also looked great, with stellar visuals, deep world-building, with minor notes and some deep cuts for Expanse fans, and the voice acting was excellent. A unique mechanic introduced in this game is space walking, adding a new dimension to exploration. Players can walk on walls, move upside down, or jetpack across wide expanses of space, which adds a new layer of engagement to the gameplay. While there are limits to what you can explore, exploration is also expected, as there are interesting interactable objects and items outside of the more linear paths.
The first episode of The Expanse feels a bit too short, wrapping up in about an hour and a half for even the most inquisitive players. This episode presents an array of difficult choices, though their impact on the narrative is not immediately apparent. It feels like a tantalizing glimpse into a sprawling narrative yet to unfold. From the moment you arrive in game, you’re met with turmoil right out of the gate, but this is only a glance at what’s in store. Then, the narrative starts from the beginning, where you build rapport with Captain Cox, and the rest of the misfit crew, like the raspy voiced pilot Khan, and the ship’s secretive doctor Virgil.
You’ll be met with a few distinct choices. Some seem to have little to no consequence, like choosing whether or not to take a drink with your captain, to what we assume are much more detrimental choices, like losing out on a payload to help a crew mate. These choices, while on completely different ends of the spectrum in terms of potential impact, have little to no immediate impact, which we can only assume is a means to keep players invested in the long-haul nature of an entire Telltale series. Motion capture producer Dan Ruescher explained this in more detail. “It’s really cool to know that these choices you make in Episode 1, have these ripple effects in Episode 2 and Episode 3, 4, and 5,” he said. “And you can get entirely different story branches just based on these nuggets of choices that you make so early on.”
While The Expanse is a narrative-rich adventure that fans of the series will surely appreciate, those looking for more action-driven gameplay may not be as enticed. The gameplay is simple and at it’s most dire, mainly involves timely button presses during action sequences. Nevertheless, the immersion in the universe of The Expanse will engross sci-fi fans and newcomers to the series all the same.
Telltale Games' return with The Expanse is a welcome sight for fans of narrative-driven games. The Expanse plays just as you would expect any Telltale game to play. It’s a BioWare title, stripped of the excess systems and gameplay, and redirected primarily to focus the narrative. It’s a game made accessible to anyone, but just barely enough to be considered a game, rather than a visual novel. The studio's resurrection, however, is a testament to their enduring legacy, and The Expanse is a fitting reintroduction to their storytelling prowess. Despite the short length and immediate lack of payoff from choices, there is a palpable sense of anticipation for the subsequent episodes. The Expanse: A Telltale Series. Episode One is coming to PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One and PC via Epic Games Store on July 27, 2023. New episodes will be available every two weeks. The rebirth of Telltale Games has begun, and it's off to a promising start.
