Recently, the movie Borderlands, based on the game series of the same name, premiered, and unfortunately, no miracle happened. A decent cast and nice visuals were crushed by weak action and chaotic direction. Let's hope that this movie won't be the killer of a vibrant gaming franchise with a huge fanbase. And if the pleasure of going to the movies has already been ruined, let's consider the release of the movie a great opportunity to remember the world of Borderlands and all the games of this crazy space western series. Moreover, on the occasion of the movie premiere, almost all platforms are currently selling Borderlands games, and discounts on some Borderlands titles reach 90%.
The birth of a legend
Once upon a time, in the middle of the decade before last, players did not know such a genre as Looter Shooter. But there were people who were looking for the reasons for Diablo's popularity, and besides that, they loved developing first-person shooters. These people - a fairly young Gearbox Software studio at the time - decided to combine Diablo's "lootability" and leveling with the mechanics of a first-person shooter and see what would happen. And the result was a whole universe called Borderlands.
In fact, the first game of the eponymous series was not a pioneer of the Looter Shooter genre. In 2007, the world saw Hellgate: London by Flagship Studios, which used almost the same gameplay mechanics. However, this game did not gain much popularity and did not become a model of the genre. Unlike Borderlands, which was released in 2009.
Borderlands went through many changes during development. Initially, the game was conceived to be much darker than it turned out to be. It was a gray post-apocalyptic open world. There were three main characters, and in addition to the single-player campaign, there was a cooperative mode for up to four players. That is, the characters were conceived more as classes than as bright personalities, and everyone could play as the same character. And if you played a single-player mission, you still had a team, but the other two characters were controlled by artificial intelligence.
They also promised a complex and interesting system for generating weapons, armor, and turrets on vehicles. By the way, the vehicles are cars that can be driven around the wasteland in the spirit of Mad Max. The environment had to be procedurally generated, there had to be a lot of shooting and a lot of loot dropped from defeated enemies. And this loot could be used to sculpt various weapons and armor. The gaming press of the time wrote about all this. The article by the legendary GameInformer magazine was especially significant. Unfortunately, this magazine has recently closed down, so the link to the "very" article stopped working at the time of preparation of this material...
However, you can still find a video from E3 2008 on YouTube, where Gearbox founder and the main "father" of Borderlands Randy Pitchford demonstrates the concept of the "old" Borderlands.
If nothing extraordinary has happened and the video hasn't been deleted, you can evaluate the concept of Borderlands at the time, as well as see a number of comments below the video from players who would have been happy to see that version of the game (What do you think? Would you like to see a Borderlands like that?). Some of the ideas never made it into the final version. Perhaps because they required a lot of effort and time.
Another reason for the change of course was different. Around the same time, high-profile announcements were made - Fallout 3 and Rage, with very similar "post-apocalyptic" concepts, loot, shotguns, and leveling up. Rage was created by the studio involved in Wolfenstein, Doom, and Quake. And Fallout... Fallout is a cult and a legend, and its return was eagerly awaited by those who could potentially become the audience of Borderlands.
This is to say that it was extremely difficult for the Gearbox project to stand out against this background. Therefore, the developers began to look for a recognizable "feature" for their creation. This is how a characteristic visual style resembling a three-dimensional comic book appeared. Rigid contours, sharp transitions between shadow and light, a small number of colors - cel-shading technology allowed us to realize a unique and unexpected image of the game that is difficult to confuse with anything else.
But was there a guarantee that players would like it? Of course not. The studio took a big risk by offering a game of an unusual genre and with an unusual visual style at the same time. However... however, everything worked out, largely due to the creators' sincere love for their brainchild. So the game was released on October 23, 2009, and by the end of the year, more than 2 million copies were sold, which can be considered a success for a small studio. Later, this success was consolidated by very successful additions to the game. And most of all, players liked the lore, besides the addictive gameplay. What is so special about the Borderlands universe?
Borderlands' World
The comic book style of the game not only set Borderlands apart from other projects, but also fit perfectly into its overall mood. It enhanced the unique atmosphere by bringing to the absolute a mixture of cheerful madness, adventurousness, irony, destruction, weapons, desert landscapes, dynamic gameplay, charismatic monsters, and eccentric characters. In fact, this is the quintessence of a hypertrophied parody comic book presentation. Although this approach sometimes lacks depth (in the first part, the plot was somewhat crumpled and the characters were not sufficiently developed), this is not expected from an interactive comic book-style action movie.
But let's talk about the game world. Borderlands takes place in the XXIX century, when humanity has already mastered interstellar travel and is actively colonizing space. One of these colonies is the planet Pandora, located on the outskirts of the explored space. This Pandora is different from other planets of the same name in science fiction, including the famous Pandora from Avatar. In Borderlands, we see a deserted planet, perhaps after some kind of catastrophe that destroyed intelligent life here. However, the Pandoran apocalypse is not the fault of humanity, but of someone else.
Pandora's climate is harsh: seven-year winters are followed by short springs, and the landscape consists of inhospitable rocks, deserts, and swamps.
But there is enough oxygen here, so representatives of humanity stayed and tried to find some useful resources on Pandora. They didn't find any, but they did find the remains of an ancient civilization. Suddenly, spring began, which awakened the local fauna. It turned out to be (surprise, surprise!) not the friendliest, so the colonists had to build fortifications for protection.
It has to be said that only the most desperate adventurers and corporate mercenaries are left on the planet. The reason for their interest in this cosmic wilderness is the mysterious Vault found by one of the archaeological expeditions, full of alien artifacts and technologies. It was left behind by the representatives of the lost Eridian race. They learned about it from the recordings they found, because the archaeologists themselves disappeared without a trace. That's how the legends about the Vault and its seekers, Pandora's stalkers, both individual and corporate, came to be.
Representatives of the Dahl Corporation were among the first to arrive on Pandora. They built the local infrastructure: cities, power plants, roads, teleports, and even something like mobile communications.
However, their plans were ruined by a revolt by the prisoners they used as labor. Some of them even mutated under the influence of ancient artifacts. After that, Dahl was forced to leave Pandora.
Later, the Atlas Corporation arrived on Pandora, also eager to search for the legendary Vaults. But by that time, a peculiar society of adventurers, hunters, and bandits - the true Warehouse Seekers - had already formed here. They become the main characters of the first game in the series.
The inhabitants of Pandora and the main antagonist of the series
The flora, fauna, and iron inhabitants of Pandora turned out to be very successful and colorful. The people here are dominated by corporate representatives and thugs, mostly in gangs formed by former Dahl Corporation prisoners. Some of them have undergone minor mutations, while others have changed radically. And then there are the crazy masked dwarves.
Pandora's wildlife is also not inferior in diversity. Here you can find stingrays - predators with vertical jaws and armor plates that gather in packs. There are also spider ants covered with strong chitin, warkids, insects with an extremely fast life cycle, and rakka, aggressive hairless creatures similar to pterodactyls.
A special place in the Borderlands universe is occupied by the Sirens, a group of women with supernatural powers. In the entire universe, only six Sirens can exist at a time, each with a unique power related to energy manipulation or other forms of technomagic.
As befits comic book worlds, Borderlands has a great antihero, probably the most colorful personality in Pandora. His name is Handsome Jack. At first, Jack was a humble programmer at Hyperion Corporation, but later he grew into a mad tyrant who wants to conquer all of Pandora. With the help of the Vault Seekers, he acquires powerful artifacts of the ancient Eridians, allowing him to turn into an all-powerful ruler. However, in the end, Jack suffers... No, let's not spoil it so aggressively, we've already said enough. Note that Jack appears in two main series of the game and in Tales from the Borderland. Let's move on to the games themselves. First, we will mention the main parts, and then the spinoffs.
Borderlands
Year 2009
Genre лутер-шутер, action/RPG
Platforms Windows, Mac, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch
So, players took their first step into the madness called Borderlands in 2009. And I must say, not everyone found it so exciting. At the beginning, the game may feel a bit long (frankly, I got bored with the first Borderlands after the next two parts). But once you get into it, once you feel that adventurous and frantic Pandora's box... you won't be able to put it down - the Diablo effect in action.
The plot here is... let's just say that it is present and sufficient to enjoy it with the proper imagination and the ability to immerse yourself in the story. We have already spoken about it briefly when describing the world of Pandora and the processes of its creation. So, we have four desperate Seekers. They go to Pandora in search of the legendary Warehouse, which is rumored to be filled to the brim with alien technology and other goodies. And, of course, they encounter enemies - other Seekers, kindly local animals, and the Atlas Corporation.
There are four colorful characters to choose from: Roland (soldier), Lilith (siren), Mordecai (hunter), and Brick (berserker). Each of them has three development branches, which allows you to level up your character to suit your playstyle. For example, a hunter can become a sniper, a "master of animals" with his bird assistant, or a revolver master.
Other characters appear here as well, and you will encounter them throughout the various games in the series. For example, Dr. Zed is a local "doctor" who provides medical care with a chainsaw and other questionable tools. He distributes tasks to players and sells first aid kits, but it is unlikely that you would want to visit him in real life.
Claptrap is also a small, annoying robot from the CL4P-TP series. He gives out quests, sometimes tries to dance, and constantly gets into trouble, but the game wouldn't be as fun without him. Marcus Kincaid is an arms dealer and storyteller who is always ready to sell you a variety of weapons to fight your enemies.
Weapons are the heart of Borderlands. The game features seven main types of weapons: assault rifles, submachine guns, rifles, pistols, revolvers, shotguns, and rocket launchers. Doesn't that sound like a lot? It's just the tip of the iceberg! Each type has many variations: fast-firing with low damage, slow but powerful, with different magazine sizes. In addition, weapons can have additional effects: ignition, lightning, or increased damage. Thanks to procedural generation, you can find millions of different types of weapons in the game, each with its own characteristics and effects. Elite weapons are dropped from bosses or given out in the story and look especially cool.
As for armor, there is no armor as such in the game. Instead, shields are used, like those of spaceships. Shields take damage, but are not as versatile as armor in other role-playing games.
Despite its flaws, the game remains extremely fun and replayable. It received positive reviews from both critics and players (Metacritics scores in the range of 80-85 points depending on the platform). Players were attracted by the originality of the gameplay, a great cooperative mode, and, of course, endless loot. The main thing here was the exciting gameplay (there is little routine, mostly fights, fights, and more fights) and the original universe imbued with the spirit of madness and adventure. However, the game was criticized for not revealing the plot and characters in the best way, as well as for the monotony of tasks. However, the situation was significantly improved by the release of DLC, which turned out to be more exciting than the main game in some ways and revealed some characters better.
DLC
The Zombie Island of Dr. Ned. Zombies plus Borderlands for Halloween? The task is as simple as possible: crush, shoot, or better yet, just tear to pieces a bunch of zombies that the crazy Dr. Ned is setting on you.
Mad Moxxi's Underdome Riot. Meet Mad Moxie, one of the most charismatic and colorful characters in the Borderlands universe. She is the owner of battle arenas and a crazy bar. Moxie is known for her eccentricity, love of extravagant outfits, and bright makeup. She can often be seen with huge guns or near combat robots. Four arenas, endless waves of enemies, and a chance to show your cool.
The Secret Armory of General Knoxx. The plot of the DLC revolves around General Knox, who works for the Atlas Corporation and protects his secret army and weapons warehouse. The general is obviously not happy to meet the Vault Seekers and will do everything possible to prevent them from getting to his treasures. Players will find new missions, bosses, and, of course, a sea of loot, among which you can find some of the best items in the game.
Claptrap's New Robot Revolution. Now the cheeky little robot Claptrap has a whole army! And he wants to rebel against his creators. The player's task is to stop this absurd rebel movement before Claptrap and his mechanical friends take over the whole of Pandora. These DLCs did what add-ons are supposed to do: expand the universe and reveal some of the game's characters. They also became a solid foundation for the release of the second part.
Borderlands 2
Year 2012
Genre looter-shooter, action/RPG
Platforms Windows, Mac, Linux, PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, PlayStation Vita, Xbox 360, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch
If the first part was a breakthrough, then Borderlands 2, released in 2012, consolidated the success and turned the series into a real legend. It was the case when everything that was good in the first part was refined and made even better and bigger.
So, welcome back to Pandora - a world where even the morning landscape is trying to kill you, and weapons are so diverse that you can get lost in their number. In fact, in a sense, this game is about weapons. Definitely more about weapons than the plot. Some guns just shoot, and there are those that blow up, set fire to, or turn enemies into ashes. And just when you think you've found the perfect shotgun, a new firing unit, even more dangerous and crazy, is lying under your feet in a couple of minutes.
The gameplay of Borderlands 2 has improved significantly. The procedural generation of weapons has become more diverse, enemies have become smarter, and missions have become more interesting. In addition, the game introduced new types of enemies, such as Hyperion robots, which brought new tactical elements to the battle.
The plot has also become deeper and more interesting compared to the first part. If only because the same mega-charismatic thief named Handsome Jack appears here. He is the head of Hyperion Corporation, who has decided that he has the right to conquer Pandora and cleanse it of the "gangster infestation". And yes, this means the player and almost everyone else who lives here. But the players have come to this planet for a reason. They are the new Warehouse Seekers, and their mission is to stop Jack and save Pandora.
Borderlands 2 offers a new main four heroes. The first of them is Zer0, an assassin with a mysterious past who can disappear and create a phantom clone of himself to confuse enemies. His main trump card is accuracy and speed, and he doesn't mind leaving his enemies without a head, because why would they want one, right?
Maya is a siren who can paralyze enemies and wreak havoc with her abilities. She is graceful, dangerous, and always ready to turn your enemies into helpless dolls just waiting for their inevitable defeat.
El Salvador is a fan of firing two barrels at once. It doesn't matter if it's two grenade launchers or a pair of giant machine guns. It is not afraid of enemies and is always ready to throw its entire arsenal at them, turning the battlefield into a continuous zone of destruction.
Finally, Exton is a soldier and a strategist. He can install turrets, which makes him indispensable in situations where heavy weapons support is required. It's hard to find a better combination of strategic thinking and a love of guns.
In this world, all roads lead to the same goal - to stop Jack, and for this you will need the entire arsenal that can be found on Pandora. And with such a variety of weapons as in Borderlands 2, battles with local bandits, corporations, and monsters can be very different every time you try.
The variety of weapons, enemies, and characters with their leveling gives rise to a truly almost bottomless variety (within the framework of a shooter, of course) of the passage. And there's also a very cool cooperative mode, shooting enemies together with your friends is a complete pleasure.
Some of the familiar faces from the first installment return in Borderlands 2, but there are also new, colorful characters that greatly enrich the game's universe. First of all, old friends are back on the scene. Claptrap, the little robot, is once again handing out tasks and annoying with his excessive talkativeness. The main characters of the first part have not been forgotten either. Lilith is now the leader of the Resistance and a key figure in the fight against Handsome Jack. Roland, the soldier from the first part, also returns to continue the fight for Pandora's freedom, as does Mordecai, the hunter with his bird companion Bloodwing. Brick, a former berserker, now leads the Slab King gang and continues to use his incredible strength to fight against his enemies.
Angel, Handsome Jack's daughter, who turns out to be another Siren, plays a key role in the story, manipulating events in her father's favor but also striving to help the Seekers. Her tragic story is revealed gradually, and her sacrifice becomes one of the most emotional moments of the game.
Among the new characters making their debut in Borderlands 2, Tiny Tina is a standout. This crazy thirteen-year-old with a passion for explosives has quickly become a fan favorite thanks to her unique humor and charisma. She is a hilarious local version of a "dark Alice in Wonderland". She organizes several important missions in the game and also plays a central role in the DLC Tiny Tina's Assault on Dragon Keep, where her fantasy world becomes an arena for new adventures.
Moxie is the owner of a bar and battle arenas. She first appeared in the DLC for the first Borderlands, but in the second installment, her role expands significantly. Moxie is always extravagant, wearing bright makeup and loving big guns, making her one of the most memorable characters in the series. Ellie, Moxie's daughter, is a new character who owns a vehicle repair shop. She is big and strong, but also has a kind heart. Ellie helps you with vehicle repairs and modernization.
Another wonderful and unconventional character is Sir Hammerlock, a famous exotic animal hunter, explorer, and just a very eccentric gentleman. His appearance corresponds to a classic British hunter: a monocle, a top hat, and a robotic arm instead of a lost limb. His missions often involve exploring the wilds of Pandora and hunting various dangerous creatures. Hammerlock's humor, like that of many Borderlands characters, is full of irony and a peculiar British charm that adds a special flavor to the game.
Borderlands 2 has several DLCs that add new missions, locations, weapons, and characters. This is Gaige the Mechromancer, an inventor who created a robot called Deathtrap. Gaige also has unique skills, such as the ability to use anomalous physics to increase damage with random numbers. The second additional character is Krieg the Psycho, a psychopath who used to be a local gangster. He likes to blow things up and throw around battle axes.
And now a few words about the storyline DLC.
Captain Scarlett and Her Pirate's Booty takes the player to the pirate deserts where Captain Scarlet is looking for a mythical treasure. Here you can find some rare cannons and see a ship that flies on the sand instead of sailing on the sea. Pirate romance in the style of Borderlands!
Mr. Torgue's Campaign of Carnage – If you miss explosions, this is the DLC for you. Mr. Torg, a fan of big explosions, organizes a tournament, and the player must become the champion. Explosions are everywhere - in the arena, in dialogues, in the soul of Torg himself. And it's also a chance to get a weapon with the most explosive potential in the entire game.
Sir Hammerlock's Big Game Hunt – jungle safari awaits you here. It's not a simple safari, but one for mutants, giant insects and evil shamans. All this under the leadership of Sir Hammerlock, a true gentleman and hunter.
Tiny Tina's Assault on Dragon Keep – this is where the Borderlands imagination goes wild. It's a role-playing game within a role-playing game, where Tiny Tina becomes the Dungeon Master and you are the players in her amazing world full of dragons, skeletons, and magic. When you play Bunkers & Badasses with Tina, you can forget about the "real" world of Pandora. So if you love this crazy kid, this is a must-have DLC.
Commander Lilith & the Fight for Sanctuary takes place after the main events of Borderlands 2 and serves as a kind of bridge to Borderlands 3. In this DLC, Lilith becomes the leader of the Crimson Raiders. The plot revolves around a new threat - an aggressive toxic gas that causes plants to mutate and create dangerous creatures, as well as a new gang led by Hector that is trying to take over the Sanctuary. Players will have to team up with Lilith and old friends to defend the city and stop the new threat.
Borderlands 2 received a very high score on Metacritic - 89-91 points (depending on the platform). The game sold millions of copies and became one of the most successful games of 2012 in terms of sales.
Borderlands: The Pre-Sequel!
Year 2014
Genre looter-shooter, action/RPG
Platforms Windows, Mac, Linux, PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, Xbox 360, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch
For the first time in the series, the main events do not take place on Pandora: Pre-Sequel takes players to the spaces between Pandora's two moons - natural Elpis and artificial Helios. As the name implies, the events take place between the first and second parts of the series, and the plot focuses on the rise of Handsome Jack to power.
After the events of the first game, programmer John (who will later be known as Handsome Jack) offers Hyperion Corporation to use the old Helios station to monitor the harmful emissions on Pandora. But Jack has his own ulterior motives. He recruits a team of heroes to help him find a new Vault. At the same time, however, Helios is attacked by the soldiers of the forgotten legion of the Dahl Corporation, led by Colonel Zarpedon. The heroes are forced to evacuate to Elpis, where they enlist the support of the locals and help Jack create an army of robots to retake the station.
In the process, the characters uncover several important secrets. It turns out that the laser Jack plans to use to "cleanse" Pandora is actually the eye of the monster from the first game. Zarpedon, though seemingly an antagonist, is actually trying to prevent a catastrophe by destroying the Vault on Elpis.
The main characters of the game are Athena, Nisha, Wilhelm, and Claptrap. Athena is a former assassin for the Atlas Corporation who uses a shield to protect herself and repel attacks. Nisha is Handsome Jack's future girlfriend and a skilled marksman. She has a two-handed shooting technique and uses a whip. Wilhelm is a mercenary who gradually turns into a cybernetically enhanced fighter capable of summoning two drones: one to attack enemies and the other to heal himself. Claptrap is an experimental robot with a variety of skills, including analyzing the environment and applying random effects. It does not need oxygen, which makes it unique among other characters.
As for shooting, everything is very similar to the second part, but with new interesting additions. In particular, there is a laser weapon with concentrated damage, and a new type of elemental damage - the element of cold - has been added. Of particular note are the legendary weapons, which include both familiar models from the second part and completely new, unique ones.
Borderlands: The Pre-Sequel also received several new mechanics that significantly affected the gameplay. One of the most notable novelties is the verticality in levels and combat mechanics. On the Elpis satellite, where gravity is much weaker, characters can make high jumps like in platformers, use special panels to jump long distances, and perform powerful punches from the air (butt slam). Locations became multi-level, which added more opportunities for exploration and searching for secrets, although it became more difficult to navigate them due to the not very informative mini-map.
Another important innovation was the oxygen system and survival in airless space. Since Elpis has no atmosphere, players have to constantly monitor their oxygen supply using oxygen masks. This could add an element of survival, but in practice, oxygen is rarely a problem, as oxygen tanks are easy to find. However, enemies can lose oxygen if their mask is knocked off, which adds tactical depth to battles.
Quests in Pre-Sequel have their own peculiarities. The main plot often passes through numerous intermediate tasks, which sometimes makes it a bit long. Players have to run back and forth a lot, running various errands, which can lead away from the main storyline. However, side quests, on the contrary, often turn out to be more interesting, while maintaining the humor and atmosphere characteristic of the series.
Two more heroes appear in the paid DLC: Jack's unlucky doppelganger, who can summon an additional doppelganger to help in battle, and Baroness Aurelia Hammerlock, Allister Hammerlock's sister, who has the ability to create mini-blizzards and enter into mutually beneficial agreements with other Warehouse seekers.
Borderlands: The Pre-Sequel also received two storyline DLCs: Claptastic Voyage and The Holodome Onslaught. In the first of them, players dive into Claptrap's mind to find a powerful alien code. This expansion not only adds new missions and enemies, but also allows you to better understand this strange robot. The Holodome Onslaught offers arenas for battles against waves of enemies where you can get new weapons and equipment, but the emphasis is on battles, not on the story.
Pre-Sequel received mixed reviews from critics and players. Although the game's gameplay remained at a high level, the drawn-out plot, repetitive tasks, and a feeling of some inconsistency with the spirit of Borderlands caused controversy among fans. Perhaps this was due to the fact that the game was developed by another company, and it was treated as an extended DLC. Nevertheless, despite these shortcomings, the game contributed to the development of the Borderlands universe by revealing the backstory of some key characters and the motives of Handsome Jack.
Borderlands 3
Year 2019
Genre looter-shooter, action/RPG
Platforms Windows, Mac, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S
Borderlands 3 is a long-awaited triquel that has returned to immerse players in the world of crazy loot, quirky characters, and endless shootouts. The game was officially announced in the spring of 2019 and released in the fall of the same year. But fans were so interested in the game that it started breaking records right at the start. The threequel sold 5 million copies in the first five days after its release, and by the end of the next year, it had already sold twice as many.
As before, the plot revolves around the search for the Great Vault, where, according to legend, incredible treasures are hidden. Players can choose one of four new characters: Fl4k, a robot that controls a zoo of deadly beasts; Mose, a girl who summons a battle mech; Amara, a siren with biotic abilities; and Zane, a former agent with drone and holographic support.
After choosing a character, you are recruited by the good old Claptrap and immediately introduced to the main antagonists - the Callipso twins, who want to become gods by taking over the power of the Vault. They organized the Children of the Vault sect, which has grown throughout the galaxy. The Twins try to be Charismatic Evil, but they are more like modern-day internet influencers than serious villains. Though perhaps that's what they're supposed to be - the villains of the future... a kind of loyal Technoboy from Neil Gaiman's American Gods. There's also Ellie, who makes a commodore, and Lilith, who now leads the Red Raiders (we'll learn about this and many other starting points for the plot of the third part in the latest DLC for Borderlands 2).
The game's storyline is well developed and has a good pace, especially towards the middle of the game, when events take on an epic scale, and some moments can even evoke emotions. Borderlands 3 is also filled with both old and new characters, each with their own character and interesting dialogues. We have a confrontation between two groups: Lilith and her raiders and the Children of the Vault. Both of them are looking for a map of the Warehouses and trying to understand what kind of mystery is connected to it. Meanwhile, Ellie's mechanic finishes building a spaceship that can be used to travel through space and use it as a home for the heroes.
One of the main features of the game is the side quests, which are as good as the main ones. They are fun, full of humor, and have an interesting plot. For example, the Reactivation quest, where you help a talking thing return your friend's consciousness to a new body.
It is worth mentioning the innovations in the gameplay. Locations have become larger and multi-level, with the ability to explore different planets, each with its own atmosphere and enemies. This emphasizes the verticality of the gameplay, adding dynamism through fast movements, rolling and the ability to pull yourself up on ledges.
As for weapons, the arsenal in Borderlands 3 is, as always, extremely rich. Once again, it is the main character of this universe. Procedurally generated guns have become even more frantic and diverse. Many weapons now have an alternative firing mode, as well as new types of elemental damage such as radiation and freezing. Shooting has become even more enjoyable thanks to great animations and sounds (really great and varied sound!), and most importantly, the recoil has increased. There are a lot of interesting weapons, but in order not to dive into this abyss, we'll just mention the Hyperion cannon that speaks in Handsome Jack's voice and phrases.
The enemies on Pandora itself remain roughly the same as before, but in the new worlds that can be reached by Ellie's spaceship, they are significantly different.
Boss fights have become more spectacular than in previous installments. But on the other hand, some bosses have become too weak (if you don't play on the Chaos level). Another controversial feature is the periods of boss immunity to damage, which does not have the best effect on the dynamics of battles.
Borderlands 3 has released several major DLCs, each of which brought new adventures, locations, weapons, and enemies to the game.
Moxxi’s Heist of the Handsome Jackpot, where players together with Moxie go to a space casino to rob it.
Guns, Love, and Tentacles: The Marriage of Wainwright & Hammerlock. In it, players help organize the wedding of Wainwright Jacobs and Sir Hammerlock, facing terrifying monsters and a cult that wants to prevent their happiness.
Bounty of Blood: A Fistful of Redemption takes players to the wild desert planet Gehenna, where they become part of a western story, fighting local gangs and dinosaur riders.
Psycho Krieg and the Fantastic Fustercluck, allows you to immerse yourself in the psychedelic inner world of Craig, one of the most unstable characters in the series. Here, players will have to face his inner demons and try to uncover the secrets that lie deep in his mind. In fact, this is one of the most touching stories in the series, which is related to another character in the series.
As a result, the game received mixed reviews due to technical problems, but fans of the series were satisfied. Not all, of course, but most.
Spinoffs
Among the spinoffs of the Borderlands universe, we have games of three different genres. Half of them turned out to be really great, while the other half is not worthy of attention at all. But for the sake of argument, we'll mention both of them. And let's start with the very first spinoff, released on the back of the success of the second part of the main franchise.
Borderlands Legends
Year 2012
Genre strategy, action
Platforms iOS
Borderlands Legends is an attempt to bring the chaos and action of the original game to the iOS mobile format. The developers of 2K Games decided that players would want to enjoy the Borderlands universe on the go. It sounds quite logical for our times, but the result was very far from expectations.
In the game, you need to fight off waves of enemies by controlling all four heroes at the same time. But for this to work, you need to think through the mechanics and controls. Unfortunately, the developers didn't care too much about this, so the controls turned out to be downright stiff. And the gameplay is monotonous. And then there are bugs, bugs, and more bugs. Unfortunately, this is one of those cases when porting ENT to mobile devices turned out to be a completely failed experiment.
Tales from the Borderlands
Year 2014
Genre interactive story, adventure
Platforms Windows, PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox 360, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, Android, iOS
If you've played at least one Telltale game, you're already familiar with the gameplay of Tales from the Borderlands. It is an interactive story with QTEs and branching, usually a bit clunky, but with a good story, it can give you several hours of interesting immersion in certain worlds.
Tales from the Borderlands is a clear spinoff. That's because it's a Telltale game, not just another shooter. But here's what I'd like to point out. It may sound strange, but Tales from the Borderlands in some ways seems more "Borderlands" than Borderlands itself, produced by Gearbox Software. And certainly more "Borderlands" than, say, Pre-Sequel. Because here every frame, every sarcastic word, every character is imbued with the spirit of the series.
The plot of Tales from the Borderlands revolves around two main characters - Reese and Fiona. Reese is an ordinary corporate clerk who dreams of climbing the career ladder at Hyperion, and Fiona is a skilled swindler who grew up on the streets of Pandora. As chance circumstances bring their paths together, they find themselves in the midst of events that will force them to search for artifacts, fight enemies, and, of course, get into a lot of trouble.
The plot is presented from the perspectives of both protagonists, which adds dynamics, variety, and... doubt. Each character has his or her own motivation and unique perspective on the unfolding events. This allows the player to see the story from different angles and make decisions that affect how the plot develops.
In addition to Reese and Fiona, players will meet many other colorful characters, such as hacker Yvette and security guard Vaughn. Not to mention the most narcissistic boss Hyperion, who will become an unexpected companion. These characters add charm to the story, and their interactions with the main characters fill the game with unique humor and drama.
Instead of running around with a shotgun and collecting loot, like in the classic Borderlands, you'll have to focus more on dialogues, choices, and story development. QTEs (quicktime events) can be said to add some tension (to one finger at least), but not too much.
Despite the lack of traditional shootouts, Tales from the Borderlands remains an exciting and atmospheric game. This game is a real gift for all Borderlands fans, allowing you to immerse yourself in your favorite universe from a new, unexpected perspective. And a good example of how to work with worlds already created by someone.
Tiny Tina’s Wonderlands
Year 2022
Genre looter-shooter, action/RPG
Platforms Windows, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S
Tiny Tina's Wonderlands is a self-described sequel to one of the most successful DLCs in the Borderlands universe, Tiny Tina's Assault on Dragon Keep. And although it looks like a standalone game, it feels like a Borderlands 3 remake - in both good and bad ways. So if you've played Borderlands 3, you know what you'll find in Wonderlands in terms of gameplay and engine. It's the same shooter with frantic shootouts, numerous loot boxes, and now magic. Instead of grenades, it's spells, and the loot box now has more slots for gear, armor, rings, and other fantasy accessories.
The plot here is quite simple, as it should be for a game within a game. You find yourself in a Bunkers & Badasses board game campaign led by, you guessed it, Tiny Tina. The world can change depending on her mood, so get ready for surprises, absurdity, and sharp turns.
Tiny Tina is once again the same sweet and (un)slightly schizoid 13-year-old girl (in Borderlands 3, Tina grew up and not everyone liked it) that Borderlands fans love so much. Fans love Tina, and Tina loves explosives and Bunkers & Badasses. Her role as a Dungeon Master gives the game the same atmosphere that the original DLC was appreciated for - chaos, madness, and everything that can be called "Tina does what she wants... and we're with her."
Speaking of new features, there are new character classes, multi-classes, and various magical gimmicks. Oh, and there is a jRPG-style map traveling, with random battles and search for secrets. In fact, the developers have made a good spinoff. But the main problem is that this is still not a new game. It's Borderlands with a fantasy flavor, but with the same gameplay we've already seen. Read more about the game in our review.
New Tales from the Borderlands
Year 2022
Genre interactive story, adventure
Platforms Windows, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch
If you liked the original Tales from the Borderlands, then you were probably also waiting for New Tales from the Borderlands. Moreover, Gearbox Software itself is responsible for its development, and not Telltale, which was bankrupt at the time.
At first, New Tales from the Borderlands looks like the good old Tales. This time, instead of two characters, you get three: Ana, Octavio, and Fran. Each of them has their own ambitions, fears, and motivations, but unfortunately, they are not developed as deeply as Reese and Fiona from the first game.
The game takes place on Prometheus, a planet familiar from Borderlands 3. It all starts with the invasion of the Tediore Corporation troops, and our heroes find themselves in the midst of events, where their main goal is to survive and possibly find the "most valuable thing in the Galaxy". The plot is set up quite well, but it quickly becomes apparent that it cannot boast of much originality or depth.
New Tales from the Borderlands tries to maintain the spirit of Tales of through familiar gameplay elements: dialog choices, QTE scenes. And there seems to be enough absurd jokes with puns, but... But something is wrong in this mix. The main characters do not evoke sympathy, while the secondary characters often draw all the attention to themselves. Characters like the android killer L0U13 or the AI rifle named Brock look much more vivid than the main characters.
Among the innovations are loot containers scattered throughout the locations. They seem completely unnecessary, adding to the feeling that the developers were just trying to cram more elements from the standard Borderlands titles into the game. Unfortunately, they don't add anything meaningful to the gameplay other than visual clutter.
There are also Vault Hunters' battles, but they don't complement the game in a good way, to put it as tolerantly as possible. Neither does the fan service. The reappearance of old acquaintances here is somewhat artificial and ill-conceived.
Read more about the game in our review.
What's next?
And then let's hope for Borderlands 4... or some interesting spinoff. In fact, this universe is so vivid and extraordinary that almost every character could become the main driver of a full-fledged game. However, as we can see, this material is not easy - even serious Hollywood producers could not cope with the adaptation of lore to a movie for some reason.
But we hope that the developers have not lost their creativity and stubbornness, because they made Borderlands what it is today: iconic, recognizable and, despite everything, loved by millions of players around the world. We hope that the future of this series will be as exciting as its past, and that even more crazy adventures in the vastness of Pandora and beyond await us.