Summary
- Tales from the Borderlands focused on character development and storytelling, a departure from the main series' emphasis on combat and loot-based progression. It introduced some beloved characters, including Fiona and Sasha.
- The announcement of a novel centered around Sasha and Fiona from Tales from the Borderlands is exciting news for fans of Tales' cast, offering the potential for new adventures and character exploration.
- While a novel can provide a strong narrative, it is odd to continue Fiona's story in a novel since video game fans have been waiting to see a continuation for years. While it is better than nothing, many gamers do not read books, and they could miss out on the story because of it.
Borderlands is a series that prioritizes the thrill of combat and the lure of loot-based progression, and it has built a sturdy reputation of being a tremendously fun co-operative experience. The first game was improved upon by the 2012 sequel, and though the third mainline game took a few steps back, it still adhered to the overall philosophy of its predecessors. Borderlands is not a property that's afraid to mix it up a little, though, with Borderlands: The Pre Sequel doing well to flesh out beloved villain, Handsome Jack. However, the biggest deviation in the franchise was easily 2014's Tales from the Borderlands.
Developed by Telltale Games before it collapsed (and later returned), Tales from the Borderlands puts the emphasis on characters, world-building, and storytelling, three things that feel like an afterthought in the main first-person shooter series. There are returning personalities and a handful of new ones, and the fresh faces are likable from the get-go, quickly and firmly cementing themselves in Borderlands lore. The recent news that Titan Books is set to publish a novel that is centered around Sasha and Fiona is an exciting development, reintroducing two fan-favorite characters. However, all is not perfect, as the announcement of a book has some worried that the pair's adventures in gaming are over.
Sasha and Fiona Get a New Chapter
With New Tales from the Borderlands opting to focus on different characters, this time with a story tied to weapons manufacturer, Tediore, there was little hope that the cast of the first game would ever get any more substantial storylines. Rhys gets his time to shine in Borderlands 3, but there was a lot of potential to do more with the other people that inhabited Tales from the Borderland s. With the announcement of a novel following Fiona and sister Sasha, it's good to see that more is on the way for the first game's cast.
The pair is perfect for a book, as their transient nature due to Fiona's life of crime and their humble beginnings on Pandora means that they could fall into all manner of interesting situations. They are personalities that have had a compelling start to life, and an epic adventure that took place in Tales from the Borderlands, but knowing that a novel will further capitalize on their potential has to be welcome news for fans. After all, it's a lot better than nothing, and the project provides albeit an outside chance - of a gaming return in the future. If the book succeeds, or if it sets up its two leads for more adventures, perhaps Fiona and Sasha could show up in Borderlands 4.
Borderlands in Novel Form is Risky Territory
However, there's no denying that the book platform is going to be a disappointment to some gaming fans. Pandora is a place that is immersive in large part because it can be seen on screen, and though novelization has been a viable way of telling stories for centuries, Borderlands has proven to work as a game. Also, having a book continue Sasha and Fiona's story creates a disconnect between mediums, meaning gamers may not even be aware of the novel and its contents, as it's a different sphere entirely. The narrative may be strong, but when it lacks accessibility to people who would find enjoyment in it, there's the risk of it fading into insignificance quickly.
New Tales from the Borderlands was criticized for its lack of lovable characters and overall uninspired cast, so Fiona and Sasha heading up their own game could have rectified the issue. Instead, more story-centric games in the Borderlands franchise now seems unlikely, as a film is on the way and the loot-focused games are more successful. It would have made more sense to tell New Tales from the Borderlands' story in book form since it's based on something largely new, and have Fiona lead the 2022 project. While it's good to see that the sisters' adventures aren't over, continuing them in a novel is a bold, and potentially risky, choice.
Tales from the Borderlands is available now on PC, PS4, Switch, and Xbox One.