I really liked the show The Expanse. I purchased the first three books as a result of the cancellation, but I haven’t read them yet. Needless to say, I was excited about this game. Telltale games usually have a solid story with some interesting decision-making thrown in. The gameplay elements are sparse, but that’s not what you play these for.

This game follows a story before the events of the show focusing on Camina Drummer. Drummer is a belter, someone born and raised in the asteroid belt between Earth and Mars. Earthers and Martians don’t respect the belt, so they have to take drastic measures, as an entity, to garner respect. Camina and her crew discover something that could give the Belt the power they need to be recognized as their own nation. The only catch is that there are other parties interested in this weapon as well and the crew of the Artemis has to get to it before they do. The story here isn’t too overbearing and it’s relatively basic. It’s a serviceable plot, but you’re really in it for the characters.

The crew of the Artemis are complex people with their own troubles. Your pilot, Khan, is a crude, short-tempered, older woman who's been through a lot. If you chip away at her brash exterior, you’ll find a true companion with regrets. The twins, Arlen and Rayen, are opposites. Rayen is kind, but a klutz who can’t do anything right. Arlen is a jerk, but usually gets things done. I didn’t care for these two much, but there are a few decisions regarding them that I wonder what would’ve happened if I chose differently. The captain, Cox, is exactly what you would expect a person in power to be. His bottom line is money, so he’s untrustworthy. Virgil is the medic and I felt his presence was unnecessary. There are some important details of his mysterious past that are unveiled, but it was too late in the story to really make an impact. I ignored him most of the time. Maya, the engineer, is a potential love interest for Camina. You can make that choice, and I don’t see why you wouldn’t. She used to be a part of the Martian army, but turned her back on her people because she didn’t agree with their ideals. Maya is cocky, funny and a great balance to the seriousness of Drummer. Camina Drummer is your vessel into this story. She is tough but fair and hard-ass when needed. Camina wants what’s best for the Belt and her crew. She was one of the best characters in the show, so they made a great choice by having her be the focus of this game. It’s a great way to show her life before the events of the series and provide her some more backstory. Her character is dynamic as she constantly has to make difficult decisions and the presentation of these within this game is spot-on.

The gameplay isn’t much to write home about. Most of the time you’ll be walking, or floating, around ships and pressing the action key when needed. There are a couple “puzzles” but they mostly come down to turning on generators in the right order. The real gameplay are the choices. Some missions have side objectives that revolve around finding something for the crew. I’m not sure how much of these are impactful to the story, but the cigar helps Khan open up about her past, which added a lot to her character. The big decisions in each chapter are denoted but a big screen with two options. Both are extreme, but your choice in these is what influences the game the most. I will say that I ended the game with all of my crew members alive, which apparently only 8% of players did. It didn’t seem difficult to achieve. If you’re careful and thoughtful, you’ll get everyone out in one piece. Quick-time events are the other main element of the gameplay. Simply press the right button at the right time and you’re golden. Compared to other Telltale games, this mechanic was less impactful. If you mess up a button prompt, you can try again if the timer hasn’t run out. In previous games, an incorrect press would result in drastic consequences. It kept these scenarios tense, but this implementation takes away that impact. I never failed any of these as a result, so this change took away from the pressure of the situations.

As a package, this is a good game. The character depth really carries the experience. If you take the time to get to know the crew of the Artemis, you’ll be invested in their fate. That investment will allow you to experience a short story of hardship and perseverance for the good of the Belt. It’ll make you a true Belter.