With Episode 3, The Expanse: A Telltale Collection reaches the midpoint of its story. After the tip of the second episode, we discover Drummer and her crew piloting the Artemis towards the coordinates discovered on a knowledge card within the first episode. Episode 3 begins with the Artemis approaching the situation of these coordinates: an outdated derelict house station.

Apparently, this is without doubt one of the earliest created house stations. It was constructed shortly after the creation of the Epstein Drive, which allowed interplanetary journey within the photo voltaic system. This station existed earlier than the time period “Belters,” and earlier than the formation of the OPA. This station was dwelling to a few of the first people to go away Earth and settle in house.

The Expanse: A Telltale Collection – Episode 3 (PC [Reviewed], PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Collection X|S)
Developer: Deck 9
Writer: Telltale
Launched: August 24, 2023
MSRP: $39.99

A monumental narrative episode that connects with the present

Till this episode, The Expanse: A Telltale Collection has form of been its personal standalone expertise in The Expanse universe. Extra particularly, it takes place earlier than the occasions that unfold within the six-season tv collection. Nonetheless, in Episode 3, the general narrative really connects with the present and offers us a extra detailed take a look at the occasions main as much as it.

Truthfully, I used to be curious if Deck 9 would find yourself doing this, however wasn’t too certain if it could. In spite of everything, the occasions of The Expanse: A Telltale Collection are canon in The Expanse universe. A part of me felt like it could simply be its personal separate standalone story that merely takes place utilizing a personality we got here to like from the present. However let’s be actual right here. If the aim is to make this a very memorable expertise, it could in all probability have to connect with the present ultimately. Now that it does, the story positively feels extra impactful and significant. I’m extra thinking about seeing the place we go from right here with the ultimate two episodes.

The gameplay loop continues

I had acknowledged in my impressions of Episode 2 that I used to be afraid each episode could be exploring ship wreckage. For the primary two episodes, that’s what we had been doing more often than not. Luckily, we step foot in an precise house station for almost all of this episode, although exploring a construction in zero-G is clearly similar to exploring what’s left of a derelict ship.

Whereas Episode 2 launched a laser-dodging gameplay mechanic, Episode 3 incorporates a new puzzle. For a number of spots all through the house station, it’s a must to direct energy through cables to attach a grid of energy packing containers. It’s actually quite simple and never troublesome in any respect; you simply hint the place which cable goes to the following field and activate it. As soon as once more, The Expanse: A Telltale Collection is primarily a narrative-driven expertise. Nonetheless, it’s good to see the developer attempt to throw in some new gameplay parts with every episode, regardless of how easy they might be.

Yep, my decisions mattered

In Episode 2, it felt like my decisions had been beginning to matter. However, in Episode 3, it’s very clear that my decisions do in actual fact matter. Two huge issues occurred on the finish of the episode that made me curious—did I have an effect on this consequence? In commonplace Telltale vogue, on the finish of every episode, you get to see how your decisions evaluate statistically to the alternatives of different gamers. Whereas it seems one of many huge issues that occurred does in actual fact occur it doesn’t matter what, it seems as if the opposite huge factor might be prevented. Sorry for the dearth of element right here, I don’t need to spoil something.

Nonetheless, it will get much more fascinating. Out of pure curiosity, I speed-ran by way of Episode 3 once more, particularly attempting to alter the end result. Don’t fear, I nonetheless deliberate to make use of my authentic playthrough going into Episode 4. With a majority of these titles, I discover it most fascinating to reside together with your decisions. However I used to be shocked to seek out out that regardless of altering issues, I nonetheless had the identical consequence. I may very well be improper, however I feel it was really a selection I made on the finish of Episode 2 that had an impact on the end result in Episode 3, which is nice.

A stable expertise to date

As we head into the ultimate two episodes, I’m general feeling fairly proud of The Expanse: A Telltale Collection to date. My solely concern with it to date could be the size compared to the value level. The Wolf Amongst Us was $14.99 for 5 episodes that totaled near 10 hours. Up to now, by way of three of the 5 episodes of The Expanse: A Telltale Collection, I’m at rather less than 4 hours. And the value is $39.99, over double the value in comparison with The Wolf Amongst Us.

Not taking the size and worth into consideration, this has been a enjoyable trek by way of the universe of The Expanse. And, I really feel prefer it’s about to get much more fascinating as we head into the again half of the story.

In two weeks we are going to check out Episode 4. And on September 21 we are going to attain the conclusion of The Expanse: A Telltale Collection with the ultimate episode.

_{[This review is based on a retail build of the game provided by the publisher. We’re saving the score for the final episode to encompass the complete experience.]}