Tales From The Borderlands: Episode 1 - Zer0 Sum

 Xbox One
Tales From The Borderlands: Episode 1 - Zer0 Sum Image
Metascore
82

Generally favorable reviews - based on 8 Critic Reviews What's this?

User Score
7.9

Generally favorable reviews- based on 67 Ratings

Your Score
0 out of 10
Rate this:
  • 10
  • 9
  • 8
  • 7
  • 6
  • 5
  • 4
  • 3
  • 2
  • 1
  • 0
  • 0
  • Summary: Set following the events seen in Borderlands 2, Tales from the Borderlands focuses on Rhys, a Hyperion company man who wants to become the next Handsome Jack, and it’s also about Fiona, a Pandoran con artist intending to score the biggest of all swindles. Baited into danger by a Vault keySet following the events seen in Borderlands 2, Tales from the Borderlands focuses on Rhys, a Hyperion company man who wants to become the next Handsome Jack, and it’s also about Fiona, a Pandoran con artist intending to score the biggest of all swindles. Baited into danger by a Vault key and all it promises, the unlikely pair are thrown together with a common purpose and a great amount of mistrust. Who is speaking the truth, and why is it important? That is for you to decide. It’s important to remember that there *are* two sides to every story, and you will tell this tale, or…tales, through the choices that you make. Your every decision as both Rhys and Fiona will affect the people and environment around you: this is a game where YOU are the final author in a brand new Borderlands story set on the unforgiving world of Pandora. [Telltale Games]… Expand

Trailer

Play Sound
Please enter your birth date to watch this video:
You are not allowed to view this material at this time.
Tales from the Borderlands - Episode 2, 'Atlus Mugged' Trailer

Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 7 out of 8
  2. Mixed: 1 out of 8
  3. Negative: 0 out of 8
  1. Hyper Magazine
    Feb 9, 2015
    90
    Telltale's take on normal people trying to be Vault Hunters is off to a great start. [Issue#257, p.74]
    All this publication's reviews
  2. Pelit (Finland)
    Jan 21, 2015
    90
    With Tales from the Borderlands, Telltale proves that they are not merely masters of drama; they can also write comedy. [Jan 2015]
    All this publication's reviews
  3. Vandal
    Nov 28, 2014
    89
    Telltale proves they can adapt their narrative skills to almost any franchise, and brings us one of the best first episodes we've seen in any of their series.
  4. Post Arcade (National Post)
    Nov 28, 2014
    80
    Still, Tales from the Borderlands is off to a great start in its plot and personalities. If Telltale can focus more on our heroes’ banter and comical interactions in coming episodes, it will only get better.
  5. Eurogamer Germany
    Dec 1, 2014
    80
    You know and recognize the Telltalte template, sure, but the funny Tales from the Borderlands draws a lot of entertainment value from removing itself from the more dramatic Wolf among Us and The Walking Dead.
  6. MondoXbox
    Jan 26, 2015
    78
    A surprisingly valid and entertaining story, capable of casting a new light on Borderlands' world. Too bad for its technical problems like huge stutters and the complete absence of an Italian localization, even in subtitles.
  7. X-ONE Magazine UK
    Jan 31, 2015
    70
    A good effort at bringing the OTT planet of Pandora down to earth for a game that's less about guns and more about characters and conversion. [Issue#120, p.74]

See all 8 Critic Reviews

User Reviews

Write a Review
Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 8 out of 10
  2. Mixed: 2 out of 10
  3. Negative: 0 out of 10
  1. Ray6701
    Nov 7, 2021
    10
    Awesome masterpiece wow amazing graphics cool bro experience great story mode
  2. jcarl663
    Nov 27, 2014
    9
    It's nice to see TTG move away from the drama genre, and teaming up with the weirdos over at Gearbox, they've made something truly fun andIt's nice to see TTG move away from the drama genre, and teaming up with the weirdos over at Gearbox, they've made something truly fun and memorable. I didn't think they could make a first person shooter into a story driven tale, but every moment feels like a truly authentic Borderlands experience. Oh, and those loads times are still not great.… Expand
  4. Whiston532
    Dec 2, 2014
    9
    I'm not a big Borderlands fan, so when this was released on Live I decided to give it a shot solely on it being TTG, and boy am I satisfied.I'm not a big Borderlands fan, so when this was released on Live I decided to give it a shot solely on it being TTG, and boy am I satisfied. As far as gameplay goes, it's still the same old TT style of choosing conversations to steer the story, plus the unfortunately still occasionally clumsy Interactive gameplay segments that are essentially the bulk of all combat. But there isn't too much, so it's acceptable.

    Where the games strength lies is in its writing. I enjoyed TTs writing in previous series' like TWD and TWAO. But I'd personally say this games writing is a step above. The inclusion of a lot more humor feels appropriate despite the rather harsh and brutal setting, which I guess has always been Borderlands style. But it's executed well here. I wouldn't call the writing perfect exactly, there's some cliches and odd writing moments. But all in all I enjoy it, and I'm relatively hard to please normally with writing.

    The one negative thing I'd say is that if I had one big negative on TT games it's that, despite choices that do occasionally carry weight, most of the time you realistically always end up in the exact same spot. I get and understand why this is (having a hundred different endings would be insane) but at the same time occasionally it gets shoehorned in when your straying a bit off the eventual end result. This is actually kept to a relative minimum this time around. Granted its only part 1, so it's still just branching out, well see how it goes from here. That being said, there is one big moment near the end where your presented with a few different options. But it's obvious no matter what you choose, if you go A,B,C or D, X will always happen.

    Side notes. Loading times are a bug, plus it has the almost traditional TT occasional running issues. I'd say about a Third of all the scenes started with weird bugging, including having the audio play to a blank screen, only for the video and audio to replay seconds later. Weird and unfortunate but never game breaking. Although I had one part where it felt like the game crashed, but eventually worked itself out.

    The length is VERY satisfying. I felt myself wondering if they had released the whole thing at once at a point.

    TLDR: Good writing and VO. Cool characters that do need some inevitable development but a good start, technical issues are buggy but not terrible, should have been ironed out at this point in TTs existence i feel, gameplay is the same from TWD season 2 and TWAU both good and bad, great length for its value. Is enjoyable for non-borderlands fans. Worth buying.    … Expand
  5. Kenmei
    Dec 28, 2014
    8
    A good opening chapter for the Tales from the Borderlands. Telltale really did a wonderful job conveying the overall general tone from theA good opening chapter for the Tales from the Borderlands. Telltale really did a wonderful job conveying the overall general tone from the regular borderlands games into a story-driven piece. Plus the stellar voice acting by the awesome group, including Patrick Warburton of Family Guy and Venture Brothers fame, really do a great job of selling you that this world, while extremely violent and and brutal, is still very fun and extremely hilarious. I love the Borderlands subject matter, not so much the gameplay. This was a way to experience a story from the universe without having to slog through the tedious gameplay. There are some major technical issues here, including quite a number of lag points, audio glitches, and where the audio and the video don't meet up. I was almost about to give up on the game because of technical issues but I"m glad I didn't. Everything here is super fun and anyone who likes what the world of Borderlands can bring, needs to give this a shot as it's a really good first episode. The technical issues however, need to be straightened out for the remaining episodes.… Expand
  6. ITZZZPERRY
    Nov 13, 2015
    8
    Tales From The Borderlands: Episode One- Zero Sum is another one of Telltale'a finest. It sets up an engaging plot with likeable characters,Tales From The Borderlands: Episode One- Zero Sum is another one of Telltale'a finest. It sets up an engaging plot with likeable characters, and even makes a franchise not known for its story full of life.… Expand
  7. Achtlos
    Jan 12, 2015
    8
    Big borderlands fan and big telltale fan... so biased totally. Not plagued with frame drops like wolf within. Good plot, fun characters.Big borderlands fan and big telltale fan... so biased totally. Not plagued with frame drops like wolf within. Good plot, fun characters. Better than the game of thrones game.… Expand
  8. cish
    Oct 20, 2015
    6
    I am a huge Borderlands fan and this was my first ever telltale game played. While I am a fan of borderlands I found the way this game playsI am a huge Borderlands fan and this was my first ever telltale game played. While I am a fan of borderlands I found the way this game plays to be boring. The humor is great but I often found myself falling asleep while playing. This episode was average compared to the other 4.… Expand

See all 10 User Reviews

Trailers

Awards & Rankings

16
#16 Best Xbox One Game of 2014
61
#61 Most Discussed Xbox One Game of 2014
70
#70 Most Shared Xbox One Game of 2014