Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxylooks like it is doing a lot of interesting things, all of which could come together to create a crowd-pleasing game. With Square Enix seemingly taking all theMarvel’s Avengerscriticism into account by avoiding another live service game, many seem excited to try out Eidos-Montreal’sGuardians of the Galaxy. However, it is not the only video game adaptation that the superhero team has seen.
Gamers were able to experience a story-based adventure with the band of misfits back in 2017, as Telltale shared its ownversion of the Guardianswith the world. Pulling heavily from the comics andMCU, the choice-based game was filled with the humor and action one would expect from the group. Much like the 2021Guardians of the Galaxygame, players only controlled Star-Lord, making Peter Quill a major focus of the narrative. However, fans should notice some major differences between Telltale and Eidos-Montreal’s versions of the hero.
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Comparing The Designs Of Telltale’s Star-Lord And Eidos-Montreal’s Star-Lord
One aspect of the new Star-Lord that has come under heavy scrutiny is his design. Many gamers seem to dislike the character’s hairstyle, comparing the blonde cut to the one worn by celebrity Logan Paul. While the look may grow on fans, it is proving divisive, with many likely to prefer Telltale’s version of the character. Alongside a more subdued hairstyle, his face is a bit more memorable than the one seen in the new game. Not only is it more arcadey, but Quill’s facial features have an edge to them that reflect a certain harshness to the character. GivenStar-Lord’s comic history, this is a fine touch. He can also rock an optional moustache, adding to the uniqueness.
The defining piece of Star-Lord’s costume is his helmet, though, and both are very similar to one another. The Telltale game’s helmet is essentially the same as the one worn byChris Pratt’s Star-Lord, with the red eyes and gas mask-like details standing out. His hair is also exposed like theMCUversion. The same exposed hair is seen withMarvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy, though there are some noteworthy changes to the helmet. While the eyes do remain red, they are entirely digital, with a proper pattern as opposed to a flat color. An interesting touch, this design choice makes Peter’s helmet look a bit more high-tech. The jagged black glass is also a big change from the usual grey metal.
Much like how neither helmet pulls from the Darth Vader-like look seen in the comics, the two Star-Lords drop the military attire as well. Seeing as the comics have done the same following the success oftheGuardians of the Galaxyfilms, this is hardly a surprise. Both versions see Quill rocking a red jacket, with the leather attire giving him a casual look. The only real difference is that Eidos-Montreal’s version has some pins attached to the jacket, adding an extra layer of detail. Star-Lord’s signature jet boots are also the same.
Comparing The Personalities Of Telltale’s Star-Lord And Eidos-Montreal’s Star-Lord
While gamers have been critical about Star-Lord’s appearance in the game, many more have called out his personality. According to some fans, there issomething off about Star-Lordin the gameplay demo forMarvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy. Specifically, gamers feel he is a bit too serious, lacking the quirkiness of theMCUversion. This does show clearly given how animated the aliens around him are, though there are still some flashes of familiarity to be seen. Quill’s finger gun in the mirror and his flirtations with a tentacle at the trailer’s conclusion line up more with what players would expect, indicating that he may be less straight-faced in the full game.
For those that prefer the comical side of Star-Lord as opposed to a stricter, mature version,Telltale’s take on Quillshould do the trick. Pulling from the live action version yet again, Quill’s sense of humor is seen throughout every bit of dialogue, with him only getting serious in a few specific moments. Telltale also leans heavily on his relationship with his mother, something that has been a massive focus in theGuardians of the Galaxyfilms. Flashbacks are spread throughout the episodes that show a young Quill with his loving parent, and it will be interesting to see if Eidos-Montreal touches on Star-Lord’s childhood.
While the new Star-Lord may be a bit less over the top than Telltale’s version, Guardians of the Galaxy fans should notice a big similarity between the two. Both games pay homage to theMCUby leaning onStar-Lord’s love of music, with a neat feature in the new game seeing Star-Lord boost his damage with “Bad Reputation" and other hit songs. If this special ability is anything to go by,Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxywill include plenty of 1980s music like Telltale had in itsGuardians of the Galaxygame. As such, both titles seem to do a fine job of incorporating Star-Lord’s biggest passion.
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Comparing The Journeys Of Telltale’s Star-Lord and Eidos-Montreal’s Star-Lord
Perhaps the biggest difference between the two Star-Lords is the journey that they undertake in their respective games. As of now, it remains to be seen who the main threat will be in Eidos-Montreal’s game. Thus far, the only villain revealed is Lady Hellbender, an obscure character from the comics. Serving as a monster collector inside the game, the Guardians attempt to steal money off the antagonist, pretending to auction offthe lovable Grootor aggressive Rocket. While this obviously goes sideways, it is hard to believe this will be the entire focus of the story.
WhileMarvel’s Guardians of the Galaxysees its take on Star-Lord being motivated by money, the one in Telltale’s game is already a hero by the time players take control. Stopping Thanos right at the start of the story, the narrative begins to focus on the Eternity Forge. A special artifact that has the power to bring people back to life, Quill eventually gets the Eternity Forge in the final episode. Once he has it, players are forced to make a brutally difficult choice that is fitting ofthe usual Telltale style. Quill can choose to bring back the mother he lost at a young age, Rocket’s dead love Lylla, or Drax’s daughter Kamaria. With the Forge being single use, players are forced to choose between several “right” options as the game comes to a close.
WhileMarvel’s Guardians of the Galaxywill let gamers make choicespertaining to Drax, Gamora, and the other heroes, it will be interesting to see how far they go with the decisions. Regardless, both narratives cast Star-Lord and the rest of the Guardians in a different light. While Quill is a goofy, experienced leader in the Telltale game, he seems to be struggling inMarvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy. With the team lacking money, they try to pull off a heist, an objective that is entirely different from a battle with The Mad Titan Thanos. While both Star-Lords may share a similar sense of style, it will be interesting to see how much more their paths diverge once Eidos-Montreal’s game launches later this year.
Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxyis scheduled to release on October 26 for PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.
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