Gamersledge Video Review – Borderlands 2Gamersledge Video Review – Borderlands 2
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Gamersledge Video Review – Borderlands 2


Watch the video review above if you don’t want to read the wall-o-text!

 

Doublebarreled shotgun of fun to the head.

Doublebarreled shotgun of fun to the head.

Borderlands 2 is the follow-up from Gearbox Software to its 2009 smash hit debut of debauchery, juvenile jokes and diablo-esque loot hunting rolled into a first person shooter.  That last sentence may sound like I disapproved of the first game.  I did not.  (9/10 for you historical junkies)

After just receiving a Guinness Book of World Records entry for the most guns ever for the first game, the new game launched, and according to staff with the company, they’ve already resubmitted since the number of randomly generated weapons in this game is literally to the tenth power.

Gameplay:

It’s a standard first-person shooter.  They have switched up a few of the buttons, but honestly I adapted within 20 minutes.  Gearbox really hasn’t strayed from the traditional FPS formula of aim and pull the trigger.  There are five new characters to play, and each has a new and different special power (save for Axton, who still has the commando sentry turret).  There is a tutorial level to do some handholding for players new to the franchise, but within an hour or two, you should be level five (especially if you are starting in multiplayer), and have access to your special power.  The RPG progression aspects are still here, with three experience point trees that take you down different strategic paths (although the final point you can apply seems to be the same down each tree).

One of the new features of progression are called Badass Ranks, which give you a percentage bonus to a random list of stats you can choose from.  These ranks are gained by completing in-game acheivements, and every perk you earn applies to ALL characters you make, giving your ‘testing’ sessions with new characters a big headstart.

Lastly, the developers have introduced a new currency to the game called Eridium, which is used for purchasing greater amounts of bank slots, bullet carrying capacity and backpack slots.  It’s a great addition that you are currently looking for in drops.

Plusses:  The gameplay still feels very tight.  Online play is responsive assuming you connect to a decent host.  It is a familiar friend, and you’ll slip back into (or into it the first time) and the hours will slip away.  At its’ core, it is still an addictive loot hunt/shooter.  Great RPG progression will have you farming the big enemies repeatedly.  Redesigned menus make for easy navigation and buying/selling.

Minuses:  Reviving friends in online play is frustrating.  The ‘hit’ window, the area of detection for pressing and holding the button to revive a teammate is off.  Sometimes it does not detect even though you are being prompted on the screen.  Sometimes you will be prompted on the screen to press the revive button (which is the same button as reload) and instead reload, which can take a very, very long time depending on your guns.  In a game where every split second matters, this is a big oversight!  Also, whoever designed the new vehicle you earn that drives *even worse* than the original game should be buried up to his neck and let Salvatore the gunzerker practice with their head.

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The new gang of four. .. plus the mechromancer makes five.

Story:

Borderlands 2 picks  up five years after the band of four vault hunters successfully opened the vault.  There was no great treasure, but by opening the vault, a rare and valuable mineral called Eridium spread throughout the planet.  This attracted several of the megacorporations, but Hyperion, run by its charismatic and pompous new Boss, Handsome Jack, staked a claim to use the Eridium to civilize the Borderlands.  You are in a group of four new vault hunters who have just arrived on Pandora, only to have Jack try to assassinate you.  You survive (barely), and thus begins your journey to join Lé Resistance… er, the resistance and overthrow Jack.

Plusses:  I have to say that streamlining the story to focus on one goal:  killing a man that is obviously smarter than you, is really a great way to keep you engaged.  There are many twists and turns; and although the story suffers from some classic blunders (why doesn’t anyone ever shoot the bad guy while they are performing exposition?) once in a while, overall it’s very well thought out.  Best new character:  Tiny Tina.  Big Plus.

Minuses:  It is a bit on the short side, comparitively.  It can be rather crude in a sometimes-feels-forced method.  Overall it’s good, but there are a few times where you’ll roll your eyes.

Presentation:

Yes, that is a statue of Marcus.

Yes, that is a statue of Marcus.

Voice work is great, and amusing.  The music and background noise is appropriate, and the sweet, sweet sounds of various death contraptions firing into the bodies of your victims is most satisfying.  Why are you looking at me like that?

The game still looks great in its cell-shaded-yet-3D style.  I played and reviewed the PS3 version, and did notice the same problem they had with the original game of texture pop-in (very low res textures for walls/posters/etc).  After a few seconds of loading/catching up, they looked fine, but it can be annoying every once in a while.

Pandora is fun to be in, but not that appealing to look at.  Expect more muted browns, grays and greens.  There isn’t a whole lot that stands out/pops.

Plusses:  Great audio and voicework, and for the most part, great graphics

Minuses:  Occasional texture pop-in issues, drab color palettes for long-term exposure.

The overall verdict:  I can say, without a doubt, that Gearbox has not only managed to repeat their successes with the first game, but even improve (albeit slightly) on the formula.  The end of the game leaves room for many, many more adventures to be had.  Borderlands 2 is a tight shooter with amusing characters, a preposterous storyline that is so much fun, that you’ll gladly play along, and an OCD player’s worst nightmare, as there is always something better to be had around every corner from loot drops.  Multiplayer is fun and engaging.  It is well worth your money!

8/10 Handsome Jack masks