14 DAY TRIAL // 
Telltale Games has delivered some stellar chapters in its Tales from the Borderlands series so far, with three very entertaining episodes paying homage to the franchise originally created by Gearbox Software, while simultaneously improving upon the source material through interesting ways.
The second-to-last part of the series, episode 4, is finally available. Titled Escape Plan Bravo, the new chapter not only has the tough task of setting up the conclusion in the next episode, but also to provide ample time for the characters to grow, the action to unfold, and the players to be delighted.
Does Escape Plan Bravo manage to continue the streak of success for Tales from the Borderlands or should the Hyperion corporation terminate it? Let’s find out.
Story
As always, I’ll be discussing things that happened in previous episodes, but I won’t spoil anything that hasn’t been portrayed in the official videos or screenshots released by Telltale Games in the last few weeks concerning the new chapter.
Escape Plan Bravo’s story impresses through its alternating pattern between poignant, emotional scenes, and hilarious situations. It also manages to pace its action pretty well, while delivering some great moments that don’t necessarily feel like they’re setting up for the grand finale.
The two main protagonists, Rhys and Fiona, are now under the villainous thumb of Valorie, who in turn wants to find the fabled Vault of the Traveler. While neither Rhys nor Fiona are Vault Hunters in the Borderlands sense of the word, they both have special skills and insight, not to mention the allegiance of Gortys, a small, cheerful robot that’s actually the key to finding the vault.
What follows are some relatively fun sequences on the planet of Pandora, as both Rhys and Fiona need to complete certain tasks before ascending to the Hyperion orbital station, where the final piece of the puzzle is located.
You once again get to experience some great interactions with secondary characters from the franchise, such as Scooter, as well as Janey Springs. Both get some pretty emotional scenes and Scooter plays a great role in the mid-point of the episode, alongside Fiona.
However, beating that sequence by a narrow margin is the actual conclusion to the whole episode, in which Rhys makes a pretty big choice concerning his future at Hyperion. I won’t spoil anything but it’s going to be very interesting to see just how the final episode will unfold depending on what players decide.
Special mention to the fabulous title card sequence, paying a stellar homage to Armageddon and making everything feel even more epic thanks to the song.
Gameplay
Besides the solid writing, the new episode also has a few interesting gameplay sequences in which players engage in some pretty hilarious adventures. From finding a face in a den of psychos, to “shooting” tens of Hyperion employees using your corporate-abiding finger guns, players will be able to take part in some great situations.
The actual dialog is also quite well done although there are some situations where it’s a bit unclear just how Rhys or Fiona will act a specific choice. Some descriptions are better than others, and in the many rapid conversations you might end up making a choice that you didn’t want.
The quick-time events are pretty well done and the finger-gun massacre mentioned above takes the cake as you get to “slaughter” your corporate foes in all sorts of ingenious ways, reminiscent of the actual Borderlands shooter games.
Visuals and Sound
Escape Plan Bravo retains the solid visuals and style employed by previous episodes, although some characters can get some fresh clothes that look even better than their original garments. Unfortunately, the actual choice to do so has no consequence on the story. Even so, animations are great, even the facial ones, which proved to be problematic in past Telltale experiences.
The voice work is, as usual, top notch. Rhys, brought to life by Troy Baker, and Fiona, by Laura Bailey, get to show their range by engaging not only in witty exchanges but also some emotional or intense dialog.
However, the main star this time around is Dameon Clarke as Handsome Jack. The AI modeled after the Borderlands 2 villain stuck in Rhys’ mind gets a lot more screen time in this chapter. Not only does he guide the hapless protagonist but he also comes to grip with his purpose, which is to find a replacement for Handsome Jack’s boss position at Hyperion. Of course, there are plenty of hilarious jokes cracked by the AI, but there are also a few emotional moments, especially once you reach his old office.
The Good
- Great mix of experiences
- Emotional situations
- Hilarious sequences
- Stellar voice acting
The Bad
- Some moments might feel a bit tedious
- Specific characters aren't given time to shine
Conclusion
Editor's Note: Due to technical issues, the video is just the official one supplied by Telltale Games.
