Game Discussion of the Week: Borderlands series

I definitely want to jump into series now that Borderlands 2 VR is a thing, I'm just waiting to finish other things first before jumping in.

Borderlands is one part RPG and one part shooter. But considering the plot isn't that deep, maybe that's actually two parts shooter, ^{because plot in a game like plot in a porno, unless it's an RPG. So, maybe if they tweaked the story a bit, and they made the classes weaker with certain weapons, it would diversify them and...}

AHEM!

BORDERLANDS 1 



Brick (melee, risky in a game full of guns), Mordecai (sniper and a homing bird-of-prey), Lilith the Siren (mage/thief) and Roland (warrior with a force-field and an auto turret). Each have a rechargeable special ability and their own skill trees. They have their favourite weapons and start with a 1 to those. From pistols, SMGs, bazookas, shotties and sniper rifles. Each proficiency can be grinded by use.

Enemies and boxes drop money, shields and guns. There's rares, uniques and the usual vendor trash that can be either of five elements: normal, explosive, electric, fire and acid. You have shields, as per the trend that started with Halo in the 00's, and a health bar. If it reaches 0, you have a chance to get back up if you kill an enemy in a limited time, or else lose money and get respawned at a checkpoint.

Story is semi-serious, following the guidance of a live-motion "Angel" on the desolate planet of the appropriately named Pandora (not to be confused with the other Pandora with the Indian Smurf people) on a quest to find 'The Vault'. Facing bandits, wildlife, military and aliens. It's basically Mad Max if it knocked up Star Wars, but the ending is a bit anti-climatic.




The front one ate a bay-bey

BORDERLANDS 2 refines what came before. It reimagines the first four classes with new characters and allows you to download two more: The Mechromancer, who can summon a flying robot who's almost as good as a real player.



And then there's Krieg...

 

Krieg is a massive upgrade to Brick from BL1. Also, as a character, Krieg is interesting. An escaped experiment whose disembodied inner voice is the only thing stopping him from being a mindless killer. But is powerless to stop him making insane comments like:
 
Trying to flirt is like...

The story is the same, but this time you have a clear villian in the charismatic Handsome Jack. It also has some more memorable characters like Sir Hammerlock and Mister Torgue, although some can be a bit grating. It rejects the semi-serious tone and settles for black comedy. The combat system is retooled. For one thing, it loses the proficiency grinding and settles for class mods. Also, adding the 'slag' element that debuffs armour vs other types of damage. They also added a few secrets, like in-game QR codes you can scan with your real phone.

Side quests are no longer optional, as you'll need them to grind for your next main quest. You can get multiple from the same giver, one after another, but this get tedious fast and it won't be long before you'll want to move on.

The PRE SEQUEL is a stand alone expansion. It's basically how Handsome Jack became the villian of BL2. The humour is forced, along with the numerous references to Australian culture. It replaces slag with cold damage and adds the laser-class weapons.

You're on Pandora's moon, Elpis, and have to get around with an oxygen pack (or Oz kit. O2 = Oz = Aus = Australia, get it?). You can use your air supply to stomp or change direction in mid air. They could have taken advantage of this by including some complex platforming puzzles, but the platforming never gets serious until the final levels. Air supply is rarely an issue. Maybe if they cut down the on-field oxygen geysers, it would keep the player on their toes.



Not much to say, I just didn't enjoy this one as much as 2. Pity. Although it does allow you to play as the Clap Trap robot, even if he is a bit of a support character with one useless skill tree.

As for 3 and 'Tales Of', no review yet.