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THE BORDERLANDS EPISODE ONE
Tales from the Borderlands centers on Hyperion businessman Rhys and Pandoran conwoman Fiona, reluctant partners captured in the game's opening minutes and forced to recount their journey by a gun-toting kidnapper. As opposed to controlling one of these characters while the other acts as your wing(wo)man, you play both to tell different parts of the story.
This can be jarring the first time you're playing as one character and suddenly jump into the other's shoes, or on one occasion where you play both when they're standing side by side. However, the learning curve for controlling both isn't steep, and changing dialogue option fonts work as a nice, subtle signal that you've swapped. Playing as two characters also creates a lot of the game's humor, as their interpretations of events often clash in ways that one or the other will hilariously correct. When Rhys, for example, claims to have sealed a business deal in a hyper-violent way, Fiona's perspective reveals that he did a lot less killing and a lot more begging and crying.
Perhaps what Tales does best is integrate previous Borderlands games into the narrative, which is done in a way that will please fans without leaving newcomers in the dark. The events that set up Rhys' side of the plot are a direct result of a certain important death in Borderlands 2, and Fiona's initial get-rich-quick scheme centers on the mythical vault keys. Well-loved characters from the Borderlands universe take on roles of varying importance, from Mad Moxxi's appearance on a few posters, to Zer0 actively interfering with the protagonists' plans.
Some of these references will pass by those who haven't played much Borderlands, giving the sense that you're supposed to already know who this character is and shouldn't expect more than a cursory explanation. However, it isn't overly disruptive since the story centers on a brand new cast, and there's nothing you absolutely have to know that goes unexplained
GAME BLAST REVIEW FOR YOU
I wish I was playing Super Smash Bros. for Wii U right now. From the moment I finished my first match, I knew I was hooked on this highly polished fighter. To even talk about Smash Bros. or hear it being played in my vicinity triggers feelings of rambunctious excitement and competitive spirit within me. I'll level with you, dear reader: the quicker I tell you all about the Wii U version's triumphs, the sooner I can go back to it. By the time we're done here, I hope you'll want to join me.
At this point, you should know the Smash Bros. drill: select a character from a staggering range of legendary game series, then beat the snot out of your opponents in an attempt to knock them off the screen. By default, items will continuously rain down from the sky, creating little battles where everyone races to snatch up the flashy, potentially tide-turning power-ups. And unlike your typical 2D fighter, the stages are wide open and usually multi-tiered, making Smash Bros. bouts much more vertical.
There are only two attack buttons, making it so that anyone can pick up and play - but mastering your favorite character could very well take years. Each fighter has their own distinct weight and momentum, turning every match into a fluid, fast-paced duel full of speedy, tense spacing and impactful combat. Because victory depends on ring-outs rather than health totals, you'll constantly bear witness to miraculous ledge-grabbing saves that seemed impossible, or gasp-worthy moments as you just barely avoid a haymaker smash attack that would've surely sent you rocketing towards oblivion. Each fight naturally creates these exciting, nail-biting exchanges, which will continue to surprise and entertain you even after playing hundreds of matches.
Of course, the fighting swings from strategic to chaotic the more players you add. Whether in teams or a wild free-for-all, up to eight players can join the fun in local play, amplifying the frantic bouts to new heights of cartoon violence hysteria. Admittedly, eight-player rumbles make it almost impossible to tell what's going on (or what item you're picking up). But there's an inherent appeal to the madness of giddily walloping the nearest enemy, hoping that you'll still be standing when the dust settles. The downside is that you're restricted to a smaller subset of maps, some of which feel overly big even for an octet of combatants. And while the novelty of 8P eventually wears off, it's great being able to include those players who would've otherwise had to wait their turn from the sidelines.
If you've been playing Super Smash Bros. for 3DS, the core of the Wii U version is functionally the same - gameplay is a supremely satisfying middle ground between the unrelenting speed of Melee and the floatiness of Brawl. The 51-character roster is nicely balanced; no character feels like they tower above or cower below the rest. Custom fighters let you tweak any fighter's stats and moveset; unfortunately, you'll have to unlock equippable items and alternate special moves at random (even if you've already collected them on the 3DS). It's a slow, discouraging prerequisite to what's otherwise an enjoyable diversion.
Playing on the big screen comes with some pretty obvious benefits. First and foremost: the gorgeous graphics, which will punch you directly in the eyes with fists formed from crystallized rainbows the moment you start a match. Each fighter has a sheen of detail and polish, and the striking use of color and perspective in the backgrounds makes them almost as eye-catching as the brawling. Best of all, the Wii U maintains a consistent, silky smooth 60fps in 1080p, save for some rare, ever-so-slight stutters when large stage elements (like Ridley in the Pyrosphere or the Boxing Ring's overhead lights) spawn in. Speaking of stages, the Wii U selection puts equal emphasis on captivating backdrops and unique, well-designed layouts.
On top of the returning single-player modes from the 3DS version - the arcade-style Classic, All-Star's full-roster gauntlet, and the Stadium mini-games - you also get Event Mode, which is what single-player Smash Bros. was meant to be. It plops you in the middle of an expansive grid of addictive, bite-sized challenges, each with three difficulty levels and tricky bonus objectives. But the rest of the Wii U-exclusive solo content is nothing to high five your friends over. The board game-style Smash Tour is a disappointment, taking all the annoying bits of Mario Party - incessant randomness, the inability to strategically plan ahead, over-complicated rules - and sprinkling in the occasional brawl. You're better off just skipping the build-up and playing some traditional matches instead. There's also Special Orders, where you can risk in-game gold to attempt difficult missions with lucrative rewards - but the press-your-luck structure often ends in frustration.
Amiibos - Nintendo's line of data-saving statuettes - work with Smash Bros. as a neat gimmick, rather than an AI revolution. Tapping your $13/£11 figure on the GamePad summons that fighter as your new apprentice, letting you designate their name, costume, and ability set. But the end result is an computer-controlled buddy that feels more like a customizable drone than a disciple-in-training. Getting your Amiibo to the level 50 cap takes a few hours, with zero effort on your part - and from my experience, Amiibos never ‘learn’ anything from you. The real payoff is pitting your Amiibo against your pals', like some kind of Nintendo-endorsed cockfight. I may not feel like I truly ‘raised’ Amy Bo, my defense-specializing lady Villager, but I do enjoy a sense of pride when she wrecks house in multiplayer matches.
For those times when you don't have a group of willing competitors at your beck and call, there's always Smash Bros.' online component, which usually runs smoothly. Sadly, there are the occasional slogs through agonizingly erratic connections - and you have no way of knowing what you're in for lag-wise until the match starts. Unlike the online environment of, say, Ultra Street Fighter 4, where green-colored connection bars let you know that a lobby is worth joining, Smash Bros. haphazardly pairs you up with players based on a hidden ranking.
But when you do get a solid connection, it's fantastic being able to spar with players of your skill level, each one pushing your understanding of the game a bit further. The ingenious trick of making multiple versions of the bare-bones Final Destination level layout prevents fatigue for competitors and onlookers alike. It's also surprisingly easy to get hooked on the Spectator Mode, which lets you bet your coin stash on the outcome of other players' throwdowns (a bit like SaltyBet).
Super Smash Bros. for Wii U is the sequel you've been waiting for; a fighter that's as finely tuned and well-balanced as it is beautiful. The core experience of intense back-and-forth brawling is so spectacular that it makes the few lackluster modes feel more like unneeded extras than disappointments. Whether alone, with friends, or against equally skilled strangers, this Smash Bros. offers excellent fighting that's enduringly exciting.
