Borderlands - Reviews

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Shir'le E. Illios
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Borderlands - Reviews

Post by Shir'le E. Illios »

Borderlands is a cross between a first-person shooter and an action RPG, making it an RPG in the same sense that Diablo is an RPG. And since the game is released this week (today in NA if I'm not mistaken and Friday in Europe) reviews for it have started to pop up. And they seem mostly quite positive.

The first review is over at [url=http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/borde ... w:30zinqht]Eurogamer[/url:30zinqht], who give the game 8/10. Here's an excerpt:

[quote:30zinqht]The common touchstone for talking about Borderlands' RPG influence has been Diablo, but I think until the third Diablo game comes out it's probably just as - if not more - valid to mention that Borderlands exhibits a large number of MMO-like characteristics. This feeling is at its strongest in the opening areas of the game, where you're picking up missions, running back and forth across small areas of the map, collecting loot and killing low-level punks and mutant dog-lizard things. Just like most mainstream MMOs, Borderlands takes time to hit its stride, and you're hours in before you really start to appreciate the approach Gearbox has taken. That's not to say it's not an entertaining game from the outset - because it is - just that it really does take time to unload all its tricks and have you revel in them.

There are a couple of reasons for this slow build. One is that you're probably going to play the first bit of the game on your own. And that's fine: single-player in Borderlands is entirely valid, and fun. But the sense remains that there's something missing. This is filled when you start playing co-op, because one of the most obvious mechanisms in the game suddenly makes sense.[/quote:30zinqht]
The second review is over at [url=http://uk.pc.ign.com/articles/103/10362 ... l:30zinqht]IGN[/url:30zinqht], who give the game an 8.8/10. Here's an excerpt from IGN's review:

[quote:30zinqht]For the uninitiated, this is a loot hunting game like Blizzard's Diablo. The action begins and you're flung out into an open world with a handful of quests and legions of baddies who'll do whatever they can to prevent you from killing their leaders, wiping out an arbitrary number of their compatriots, opening drain valves in their hideouts, snatching up important artifacts and documents, or collecting a large number of shiny objects. There's a tale of a secret vault and advanced technology and a snowy image of a female face that pops onscreen when important things are about to happen, nudging you forward and providing additional narrative context, but this isn't a choice and consequence game with morality systems and labyrinthine quest strings. It's the loot that's the real motivator here.[/quote:30zinqht]
The third review can be found over at [url=http://www.atomicgamer.com/article.php?id=899:30zinqht]AtomicGamer[/url:30zinqht], who give the game 92%. Here's an excerpt from their review:

[quote:30zinqht]I hadn't gotten very far in [i:30zinqht]Borderlands[/i:30zinqht] when I realized Gearbox Software really did manage to combine the first person shooter and RPG without quite nearly the compromise we've seen in other developers' efforts. With the spin and rattle of a revolver's chamber, with the satisfying clicks of dropping new shells into a shotgun, and with the bass-heavy explosion of a sniper rifle removing the head of an enemy downrange, [i:30zinqht]Borderlands[/i:30zinqht] is foremost a first person shooter.

But then the RPG elements sneak up on you. Your character - one of four Vault Hunters, each with a unique class and talent tree - levels up in order to unlock new abilities, hit harder, and find more powerful and accurate weaponry. No, you won't be solving murders by interviewing suspects, juggling opposing factions, or have a band of NPCs following behind you. [i:30zinqht]Borderlands[/i:30zinqht] isn't any more of an RPG than [i:30zinqht]Diablo[/i:30zinqht] ever was, but for most gamers out there, that's plenty.[/quote:30zinqht]
And the last review is over at [url=http://www.destructoid.com/review-borde ... l:30zinqht]Destructoid[/url:30zinqht] who give the game an 8.5/10. And an excerpt from their review:

[quote:30zinqht]Commonly described as [i:30zinqht]Diablo[/i:30zinqht] with guns, [i:30zinqht]Borderlands[/i:30zinqht] can't really be explained by comparing it to other games. The closest you could probably get is [i:30zinqht]Hellgate: London[/i:30zinqht] (as long as you were playing one of the gun/first-person shooter classes), but even then there are some pretty major differences.

If you haven't been paying attention to this game at all, [i:30zinqht]Borderlands[/i:30zinqht] is a first-person shooter with action role-playing elements. You choose from four classes -- The Soldier, the Berserker, the Hunter, and the Siren. Each has a unique "action skill," which is basically that classes special ability, and three different trees to drop skill points into. While every class can use every weapon in the game (the only limit on what you can equip is determined by your level), most characters have skills in their skill tree that enhance one or two particular types of weapons.

The Soldier is best with rifles and shotguns, the Berserker with explosive weapons and his melee attack, the Hunter with sniper rifles and revolvers, and the Siren with any weapon that deals elemental damage. Luckily, there is enough flexibility that these don't feel like absolute restrictions. If you wanted to make a Hunter that mainly used rocket launchers, that's completely viable. Sure, it won't be the best build for the character, but you won't feel like you have no options other than to use the "recommended weapons" for each class.[/quote:30zinqht]
Sounds like a fun game if you're looking for some first-person shooter action with leveling and without much in the way of story. Particularly if you've got some friends to play it with. But since it only barely falls within the roleplaying category I don't think I'll post any more reviews/news for this game. The above reviews should be plenty to make up your mind I think. :)


[[url=http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/borde ... w:30zinqht]link[/url:30zinqht]] to review at Eurogamer.
[[url=http://uk.pc.ign.com/articles/103/10362 ... l:30zinqht]link[/url:30zinqht]] to review at IGN.
[[url=http://www.atomicgamer.com/article.php?id=899:30zinqht]link[/url:30zinqht]] to review at AtomicGamer.
[[url=http://www.destructoid.com/review-borde ... l:30zinqht]link[/url:30zinqht]] to review at Destructoid.


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Post by Rixxen Bladedleaf »

So much fun, especially when everyone is on Comms and some of the crazy stuff happens.
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