TheTales From the Borderlandsseries has helped expand the mythos of its franchise in new and interesting ways, andAssassin’s Creedmay benefit from something similar. It seemed like an odd choice to take a series known for its wacky looter-shooter combat and turn it into an episodic adventure, but that bet seems to have paid off. The titles have introduced a plethora of new fan-favorite characters, and the fun has continued in 2022 withNew Tales From the Borderlands.
Assassin’s Creedhas been going strong for a while, and the future looks bright for Ubisoft’s flagship franchise. There are multiple games in development, and anew platform calledAssassin’s Creed Infinitythat will allow for even more uniqueAssassin’s Creedexperiences. One of those could be aTales from the Borderlands-style game that could help expand the franchise past the main games, and offer something exciting for fans to enjoy.
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Tales From the Borderlands Expands the Series in New Ways
Tales From the Borderandstook place after the events ofBorderlands 2, and it dealt withthe aftermath of Handsome Jack’s defeat. Players took control of Hyperion employee Rhys and con-artist Fiona on the planet of Pandora, who find themselves embroiled in the mysterious Gortys Project. Players were able to make choices that could shape the trajectory of the story, and encounter many characters from the main titles like an AI Handsome Jack, Marcus Kincaid, Scooter, and even the Vault Hunter Zer0.
WhileTales From the Borderlandsis not a must-play to understandBorderlandslore, it did add new story and create characters that help round out the franchise. Some ofthese characters even cropped up inBorderlands 3with new roles, and players who checked out Telltale Games' title were able to pick up on multiple Easter eggs.The first season ofTales from the Borderlandswas successful enough to warrant a sequel.
New Tales From the Borderlandslaunched in October 2022, this timedeveloped by Gearbox instead of Telltale Games. It plays like the first title, and tells a new story after the events ofBorderlands 3. Once again, players take control of new characters as they deal with brand-new events. This time around, they take control of a scientist named Anu, Anu’s brother Octavio, and a frozen yogurt store owner named Fran. They must protect their planet of Promethea from the invading armies of Tediore, and scour the planet in hopes of finding a powerful vault that would change their lives forever.
New Tales From the Borderlandswas met with mixed reviews, but it wasable to expand theBorderlandsstoryjust like its predecessor. These two titles are nothing like the main games, and can be overlooked as fun little side projects. However, these graphic adventures have given Gearbox a way to expand the series and tell new stories within it.Borderlandssuperfans are able to get as much lore as they could ever need, and those that may be put off by the main games can still experience this wacky sci-fi world.
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Assassin’s Creed May Benefit From the Same Treatment
Tales From the Borderlandsseemed like an odd direction to take the looter-shooter series, but it seemed to have paid off in the end. Other developers should consider exploring similar avenues. Specifically,Ubisoft’sAssassin’s Creedseries may be a good fitfor a title like this.
Assassin’s Creedfollows thebattle of the Templars and Assassinsacross history. The series has brought players to all different time periods and introduced them to a host of interesting characters, but it has barely scratched the surface. Players have been calling for new stories following previous protagonists, or eras that the series has not explored yet. While Ubisoft may have plans to answer some of those wants in the main series,Infinitygives it a chance to do so through spin-off titles as well.
Assassin’s Creedhas experimented withspin-off titles through the 2.5DChroniclesseries, and now it should try an episodic graphic adventure. These types of games are often called interactive movies, and they are a great way to tell a story. Players are able to connect with characters over multiple episodes, and the choices they make can have huge implications for the rest of the tale. The formula has worked out for all sorts of pre-established IPs, fromThe Walking DeadtoBorderlands, andAssassin’s Creedseems like it would be a good fit.
TheAssassin’s Creedfranchise is vast andUbisoft seems committed to making it even larger. While the focus of the franchise is on the action-adventure games, perhaps the studio should also consider exploring the world of spin-offs again. They not only help expand a series, but they can also help pull in new players. IfTales From the Borderlandshas shown anything it is that these types of spin-offs work, andAssassin’s Creedis just wafting to be tapped.
New Tales From the Borderlandsis available now on PC, PS4, PS5, Switch, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.
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