Review: Borderlands 2

We live in an age where releasing sequels is the norm because it’s more profitable and less risky than releasing a brand new original title. So, it should be no surprise that some sequels start to feel like expansion packs to the original game instead of a true sequel. They might add a little content here and there but end up using a very similar (or the same) graphics engine and avoid fixing what could have been wrong in the first game. The good developers learn their lessons and attempt to improve every facet of the game instead of rehashing the original. I was a huge fan of the first Borderlands since I felt that it stood out among the other shooters out there mostly for its role-playing elements, random loot, a great shooting mechanic, and stylistic visuals. Even though it did a lot of things right, I felt the game had a lot more potential. The world itself felt small, the towns felt dead, and although the enemy A.I. was decent, there weren’t many variations of enemies. Add to that it had a weak storyline and a brutally disappointing ending. So when a sequel was announced, I was hopeful that Gearbox Software would learn from their first outing and release a sequel that was even better than the original. I had high expectations and I can safely say that Gearbox Software are one of the good developers since they have delivered a solid sequel that improves nearly every aspect of the original, while expanding on the formula they set up in the first game.

The premise of the game is quite simple. The villain, named Jack, wants to open a vault that is said to be home of something powerful. With this power, Jack hopes to become the all-supreme leader of Pandora. The game doesn’t take time to push you into the action; you start off on a train headed to your destination when a “complication” arises.

If you’re unfamiliar with the Borderlands series, don’t be fooled by its first person perspective. This isn’t your typical Call of Duty clone and it’s not a straight up shooter. Borderlands is a game that successfully merges role-playing-like elements with first person shooter aesthetics. Pandora is the name of the world you explore and it’s mostly a desolate planet except for a few human and bandit settlements. The characters you interact with range from the wacky to the diabolical (or both!). The game also mixes in some pop-culture like referencing the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and featuring a Minecraft easter egg. The loot you find while exploring is randomized; you’ll never know what you’ll find in chests and enemies drop items at random. You’ll encounter a whole range of bad guys in the game like your typical bandit who rushes at you with guns blazing or some really big bandits that use shields with hostages tied onto them (which you can free if you choose) – those can be challenging to kill.

So what’s new in Borderlands 2? Like I mentioned earlier there’s a greater variety of enemies. The game also features a day/night cycle which is a nice little touch and helps showcase the improved and upgraded visuals in the game. There is a greater variety of wacky weapons to find like a shotgun that shoots out fireballs or an assault rifle that fires grenades instead of bullets. The character skill-trees have been expanded and another interesting aspect of your character’s skills is the addition of “Badass Tokens”. You gain “Badass Tokens” by completing challenges and you use these tokens to improve a skill of your choice like increasing the speed you reload your weapons or decreasing the time it takes your shields to recharge. Challenges have also been improved and expanded upon with each area in the game having multiple challenges to complete. Some are silly like trying to find a way to climb onto a giant pig sign while others are a little more difficult like beating a certain boss without getting hit. The environments are also a lot bigger with more locations to visit.

It’s difficult to find a fault in Borderlands 2. Obviously, it won’t please the person looking for a simple shoot’em up or a gamer expecting a deep and meaningful narrative. Ultimately, Borderlands 2 is a game you should play with 3 of your best friends since you’ll get the most out of it through playing cooperatively. You can join a stranger’s game but I found that to be a nuisance since the majority of strangers choose not to use their microphones which defeats the purpose of playing with another human being. Playing the game solo doesn’t take anything away though; it’s still a fun experience filled with awesome boss fights, crazy weapons, and memorable moments.

Borderlands 2 was provided by Digumz

Posted by Patrick