BorderlandsWill Always Shoot to the Beat of Its Own Gun

In its heyday , the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 era produced many still - ongoing franchises , but few have endured quite as interestingly asBorderlands . Gearbox Software ’s shooter - RPG series has been so definitive and soinfamousfor so long in slipway that will never really go away . At the same time , it ’s always been itself : for better or worse , Borderlandshas no interest in changing what it is , or at least not for very long .

Gearbox and 2 K liberate the firstBorderlandson October 20 , 2009 for the two consoles ( and a workweek later on PC ) , and it almost was n’t what it is now . While it always seemed destined to be“HalomeetsDiablo ” and center on four Vault Hunters search for exotic hurdle on the major planet Pandora , its initial showing had a more brown and tan palette standardized toFalloutorMad Max . Its now classic cel - shadedart stylewas opt when the developers decided it needed a more distinct visual hook , much to the discouragement of the game ’s original art director . But the young face did its job : in addition to making it distinct , it inspired the team to get more outlandish , such as nixing “ boring ” class ability in favor of more witching , RPG - similar powers .

The destruction solvent is a triggerman that finger like a intimation of fresh air compare to others at the time . Back then , Borderlandscame onto the scene with a draw of self-confidence and personality . From its still - iconic scuttle set to Cage the Elephant ’s “ Ai n’t No Rest for the Wicked ” to the flashy , witty title cards for primal reference and boss , it was clean the object here was to have some good shoot - and - lootin ’ fun . Audiences largely groove with that ; it sell two million copies within two month , and that number climbed over the years . It did n’t hurt that four well - sized DLC battalion gave it a farseeing tail and reason to occur back , possibly with some newcomers joining in on the play .

Borderlands Featured

© Gearbox Software/2K

In 2012,Borderlands 2came out with more : more story , Modern course of study with more ridiculous abilities , more position variety , and most importantly , more guns . There ’s a lot of game in that plot , even before its own DLC expansion added onto the sight . Acclaim for the new release was even higher than the first , and it would n’t be wrong to say it ’s the most authoritative ( and perhaps still the good ) entry of the serial . But that definitive position cuts both way , particularly when it add up to the writing . Borderlands 2is where the cast becomes peculiarly … chatty , to put it charitably , and that does n’t always go over well . The humor can be a lot and not for everyone . In going through some of the game in recent long time , I found myself not really pay care to the story . If there ’s any series of game that ’ll help you whittle down your podcast or YouTube essay queue , it ’s this one .

Do theBorderlandsgames merit to be punched at so often ? Proooooobably not ; their gumption of humor is n’t dysphemistic so much as it just inordinate , to the point tuning out the dialogue becomes second nature . Really , the only time people have fully grooved with the writing was the firstTales from the Borderlands , in part because TellTale determine to dial it back several notches . The trace of that beloved , occasional narration dangerous undertaking looms over the prominent dealership , and Gearbox eventually folded persona from the originalTalesintoBorderlands 3 . But an grand megafranchise this is not ; Gearbox has been deliberate to keepBorderlandsbig , but notsobig it could make the studio ’s ruin . Thebad moviefrom this past summertime may as well have not happen , and it ’s soft to guess it wo n’t affect the series foresighted - term .

Unlike other franchises from the PS3/360 geological era , Borderlandshasn’t had some kind of critically and commercially ruinous blue point . Everyone may have a specific entry they do n’t like , but that has n’t extend to an installment that exist mainly to apologize for the previous game , as is the case withMass essence , Assassin ’s Creed , orHalo . Gearbox was also ahead of the biz in terms of preservation : the studio ’s made a continuous effort to not just expand the dealership to other system , but also make certain honest-to-goodness entries and their DLC total to the current console coevals to exist eternally . Whether by choice or by complete accident , this has grown into a hereafter - proof , bulletproof franchise .

Gearbox

The Vault Hunters and position may change , butBorderlandshas otherwise stuck to the same playbook during its 15 - year run . It ’s kind of singular that a major , non - sports triple - A dealership from a westerly studio apartment not concern itself with reinventing the wheel with each Modern installment . As the scratch of the current looter shooter epoch , this is even more notable ; it has n’t gotten lost in itself likeDestinysometimes does , and attempted competitors to both have been hobbled by an inability to to the full empathise what makes either so important . Gearbox is n’t interested in making these games chase after current trend like a seasonal post - launch model or struggle pass , even with more recent entries like the 2022 spinoffTiny Tina ’s Wonderlands . alternatively , participant are incentivized to keep tail loot and stats that are all right there in the plot right , just await to be found .

If there ’s a watchword that best fitsBorderlands , it ’s “ reliable . ” Across the three mainline game and two shooter spinoffs , it can just be a clap to play with friends and follow bandits and lusus naturae detonate or be ignite on blast ( or both ) and bust out a smorgasbord of wacky abilities . It is n’t for everyone , and it ’s more than aware of that ; but it ’s comfortable in its own pelt and is utterly fine being dunk on while its devout audience preserve come back for more . And as someone who pops in and out of that demographic , I say : bring onBorderlands 4,which is presently slated for 2025 .

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