Borderlands 2

The Borderlands trilogy is one of my favorite series for first person shooters ever created! The game has spawned a sequel and also a pre sequel, but today we are looking back at the first game in the Borderlands series.

The Loot, It Is All About The Loot

The first Borderlands does have a pretty fun and nuts story that does move things along. It is set in the future, there are greedy corporations, alien weapons, bad guys, bad guys and badass hunters like yourself. However, Borderlands is all about getting as much loot as you can for yourself. You start with these pretty lame weapons, but the more you play the better weapons you get. You go from these haggard looking weapons to shotguns to alien weapons and everything in between. Add to these the different items you will be collecting that can make you better as well and you will be addicted to tracking down the loot.

Choose Your Class

The first Borderlands game features four different classes for you to play as. As you progress through the game you will be looking for better weapons and gear and you will always be swapping them around so you are best equipped for the mission at hand. In regards to the four classes, they only have one special ability each. The Berserker can shoot forward and do some major damage with their fists. The Hunter can use a bird that will attack while they stay at a safer range. The Soldier can use a sentry turret to give some extra firepower or cover in a battle. Lastly, we have the Siren who can turn invisible for a short period of time. There is also a leveling up system and skill tree in Borderlands. When you get skill points you can use them to do the things you would expect like make yourself stronger or make yourself faster. These are light RPG style elements that are sprinkled on Borderlands and they do help make your character more of your own.

Best Played With Buddies

While Borderlands was a game that could be played in single player. The real fun to be had was when you got online with some buddies and you just tore it up! This was one of the most fun multiplayer first person shooters when it was released and in all honesty, it holds up very well to this day.

The story is still pretty funny, the shooting mechanics are great and the loot…. Oh, the loot! This is very addictive and whenever you see an enemy fall, you will be rushing right over to see if they dropped anything good. If you and your teammates can work together, using your classes skills at the right time and sharing loot (which is easier said than done) you can make one epic and powerful team.

The first Borderlands still has a lot of charm and there is fun to be had here. However, to tell you the truth, Borderlands 2 and Borderlands: The Pre Sequel surpassed what this original game did so I would suggest you would probably be better jumping into one of those. Still, though, Borderlands is a very well made game and a game that is a lot of fun, especially if you can play with people you know.

8/10

Pros:

• The different classes are fun
• Playing with people is great
• The loot, the glorious loot!
• Lots of weapons to have fun with
• Story and presentation have a lot of personalities

Cons:

• The sequels have surpassed this
• No as much fun in single player

Borderlands 2 is a first person shooter developed by Gearbox Software, and it's a game that's all about crazy guns and massive loot. This sequel contains all the great stylings of the original Borderlands game, but amps up the color and mayhem tenfold. This wacky title effortlessly combines solo and multiplayer play, providing an awesome shooter/RPG with dozens of hours of content. Whether you're gearing up for a solo adventure or looking for the next best four-player cooperative shooter, Borderlands 2 is a surefire bet.

The game takes place on the alien planet of Pandora. A beautiful but dangerous planet, Pandora hosts a wide assortment of characters, enemies, and valuable loot. Across its various unique locations and settings, you'll encounter plenty of characters with quests to complete, resulting in a huge supply of fun objectives and adventures. You assume the role of one of four skillful “vault hunters”; treasure seekers with unique abilities and playstyles. There's a good mixture of both classic shooter archetypes and fun and inventive character classes, so there's a great character choice for all kind of players. There's Axton, a super-powered soldier with a helpful turret. Alternatively, you can play as Maya, a powerhouse of telekinetic and supernatural power. Those who enjoy holding down the “shoot” button for as long as possible will enjoy Salvador, a short but stocky man who loves duel-wielding huge rifles. Finally, the stealthiest of players will love Zer0, a cybernetic robot who is as silent as he is deadly.

Although the main focus of the game is to overthrow the villainous Handsome Jack and his mega-corporation Hyperion, you'll find plenty of fun side-missions and stories in between. Your quest for bigger and better guns and loot takes you to a wide variety of evocative and interesting locations, including deserts, swamps, ice lands, and more. You can choose to venture by foot, but those looking to save time will likely make use of the various vehicles available. Taking a spin in the wickedly quick but hefty tank-like vehicles is tons of fun, and a quick way to see what each area has to offer. You won't be able to drive everywhere, but Borderlands 2 is often about reaching the action as quickly as possible.

As you bounce around Pandora's many areas seeking new quests and the promise of loot, your character will grow in level. Each new level reached will unlock the ability to equip better armor and guns, but it also allows you to unlock a slew of useful skills. Each character has their own unique collection of skill trees, and it's up to you to decide how you want to improve your character. For example, Axton players can choose to focus on their turret, improve weapon damage, and much more. Maya players might have the option to cause more havoc with their telekinesis, or choose to allocate points in other areas. In this way, Borderlands 2 offers another extension of customization, as the skills you choose make a pretty big impact on overall gameplay. Between the insane amount of guns to find and unlock and the large variety of skills, Borderlands 2 encourages you to find your favorite playstyle and go wild.

Overall, Borderlands 2 is a surprisingly expansive shooter with addictive and entertaining RPG elements. The combination of both solo and cooperative play makes it an easy choice regardless of your gaming group, and it's a game that offers tons of gameplay with replayability. The unique nature of the four different playable characters encourages repeat playthroughs, and the vast assortment of unlockables ensures there's always something new to track down. Between the wacky world design, memorable characters, and outstanding action, Borderlands 2 delivers plenty of charm with its action. Few games are as stylish and entertaining as Borderlands 2, and if you've never had the opportunity to try it out, I couldn't recommend it more.