Two people are better off than one, for they can help each other succeed.  If one person falls, the other can reach out and help. But someone who falls alone is in real trouble.

Ecclesiastes 4:9-10

When Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy was released in 2014, it was a surprise hit. People wanted more of these unlikely space heroes (two of which included a talking raccoon and walking tree), and Marvel suddenly realized that they had struck gold.

One of the many properties that sprung from the Guardians of the Galaxy name was an episodic graphic adventure game developed by the defunct Telltale Games. Released in 2017 and covering five episodes, it follows an original story, and begins with the Guardians pursuing the Mad Titan Thanos for a final showdown. They are able to take him down, but not without discovering an artifact that Thanos had had his eyes set on – the Eternity Forge. Things soon appear to settle down afterwards, but Peter Quill (leader of the Guardians) soon realizes that the real battle has yet to begin…in more ways than one.

The gameplay in Guardians is simple, but that doesn’t mean it isn’t intense. In action sequences, you have to be paying attention to the quick time events, and that means keeping your eyes on the screen at all times. If you miss one prompt, it’s a very easy game over, and you have to start that part of the chapter again.

It’s not a long game to complete, like most episodic adventure games. There are five episodes to go through, but I was able to complete the entire game in less than a week.

As someone who enjoyed the dynamic of the Guardians team in the films, that was the thing I was pleased with the most while playing this game. You play through the eyes of Peter Quill, the leader of the Guardians, for the majority of the game. You have speech choices that can affect your relationship with your team members, for better or worse.

The frustrating thing about making your choices in this game is that many times two of the Guardians (usually Gamora and Rocket) will vehemently disagree about how they should go about a certain situation, and you’re forced to side with either one or the other. From what I can tell, there isn’t a middle of the road choice you can pick that will please both characters, but if you happen to play through and find out otherwise, let me know in the comments below.

My question is, for something as straightforward as a game based on beloved comic book characters, can we take anything of value away when we shut the game down and step away from the computer? I believe that yes, there are some lessons we can learn from Telltale’s Guardians of the Galaxy video game.

The Guardians have become known as an unlikely team in popular culture…on paper, they just shouldn’t work. They’re all too different, and they each have an enormous amount of baggage. No one is too stable on the team. This point really comes to home in this game, where little squabbles here and there becoming breaking points later in the game. You as Peter (who has not exactly had the easiest life either) have to play the role of mediator for the team, and must work to sway opinions and choices back and forth in order to get the outcome that you most want.

Other characters come into play that add to the complexity to the story in different circumstances. The Guardians battle Thanos early on in the game, but Thanos’ daughter (and Gamora’s sister) Nebula also comes into play later on, and great consequences can occur that depend greatly on your choices when interacting with her.

Other characters come in and out as the story deems necessary: Yondu (Peter’s mentor/father-figure) appears several times and gives direction and assistance to the team when they ask for it. There are also surprise appearances and Easter eggs from the films and comic book lore, which I won’t include here as they include spoilers.

The other Guardians are also given their own time to shine, with each episode centering on them as individuals. You get to play through their backstories, and see just how and why they ended up the way that they did.

Rocket’s past is further fleshed out here than it has been in the films thus far – we get to see his origins, which had only been hinted about before. Rocket is the most difficult of the Guardians to communicate and bond with, so his relationship really depends upon you listening to his more emotional views of what’s going on and agreeing with him – even if it puts you at odds with the more level-headed Gamora.

Drax’s loss is expanded upon, and we even get to see what he was like as a father for his young daughter – seeing how close they were really adds a layer to Drax’s character that I felt was missing before, even in the films.

Gamora’s story is the only one that actively changes as the story progresses. As mentioned before, depending how you interact with her and Nebula when you come across her can change her perspective of where her life is going, and if she is even making a difference as a Guardian (which she views as a personal penance for her role as Thanos’ daughter and weapon of violence).

Groot, just like in the films, is the most innocent member – when his backstory is explored, it’s telling that you play as him meeting the other Guardians for the very first time, rather than another scenario from a period before their formation. He is easily dismayed by the fights and squabbles with Rocket, Gamora, and Drax, and you can comfort and encourage him as you try to bring the team back together.

As a Christian, I believe that God created each of us to be individuals – unique and different from one another, with our own set of skills and spiritual gifts that we are tasked with to bringing Him glory.

It comes to no surprise that in the New Testament the apostles come across church members who were squabbling with each other, and avoiding one another. Grudges are created, and unity is broken. The family is divided.

Paul, in particular, wrote a letter to the Church of Philippi pointing out two women (Euodia and Syntyche) who were in conflict with one another, and beseeched them to ‘settle their disagreement’ (Philippians 4:2 NLT). He also encouraged the other church members to help mediate the women to resolve their conflict and bring peace to the church again.

There are numerous verses throughout the Bible calling for unity amongst one another. Grudges lead to conflict if they are not resolved entirely, and they also stain the soul as well as destroy relationships.

We are called to be the Body of Christ, and just like a body there are many different parts with numerous functions – each vitally important to help sustain health and life in the living being.

The Guardians, however different they may be and despite the trauma that they carry, are able to put those things to the side and fight as one team – one body. One family.

I think we can look at them and see how we can get along and grow our relationships with others, no matter how different they may be from us – from their looks, to their backgrounds, to their views…we are called to minister and encourage one another, just like a team. Or to use a stronger word, like a family. That’s how God designed the church to be like, and how we can make the biggest impact with one another, as well in our communities and lives.

A person standing alone can be attacked and defeated, but two can stand back-to-back and conquer. Three are even better, for a triple-braided cord is not easily broken.

Ephesians 4:12