Borderlands: Big Money, Big Prizes, I Love It!!!


Despite many games being pushed back to Q1 2010 (gift card time) there is a full slate of games in October and November. I have read many a’ gamer say they may not pick up Borderlands due to braving Boletaria, driving ‘The Deuce’, or searching for Shambhala . Some even passing up a trip to Pandora because of future travel plans to shoot some M4’s in Rio de Janeiro, or yuck it up with some old friends from Baldur's Gate University. For those of you on the fence I would like to give you an HONEST account of the game so that you can get off that fence, because it’s smarting your jewels.


Put the ‘Vault Dweller’ to Bed
When this game’s story line was unearthed …
After finally arriving, the colonists discover that the planet is barren of anything of significant value other than deteriorated alien ruins scattered across the land. A beacon of hope for the remaining colonists emerges in the form of a mysterious vault carved in the side of a mountain. This vault is said to contain vast stores of alien technology and secrets.
… Many of us (me included) jumped to the conclusion that Borderlands was a Fallout 3 clone. This assumption is completely false. The only things these games share in their feel are…
- Both have piles of trash with rusty tin cans
- Both have some robots
- Both have the word ‘vault’
Borderlands feels nothing like Fallout 3, and that’s ok. Borderlands is more shooter than anything else. The story is not a huge piece of the game, it’s more about straight fun-gun-n-run. Which leads us to gameplay.



Big Money, Big Prizes, I Love it!
I’ve been trying to put my finger on it this week what Borderlands reminds me of; and I figured out it’s a Smorgasbord of the best flavors of many great games over time. The oldest of those games being ‘Smash TV’. Smash TV was a co-op, weapon, and loot fest, and so is Borderlands in the best way possible. There is something so addicting about the ‘Bazillion Guns’ in Borderlands, it feels like Christmas every time I open one of those enchanted crates of firearm delight. Borderlands does take some thought as to which gun you want to keep. “Do I keep the Fiery SMG that lights skags on fire, or the regular machine gun that deals a bit more damage?”


The only knock I have on the loot party is the collecting of the loot. I personally feel that because there is so much loot that the game would flow much smoother if we didn’t have to pick up every single piece. If we could just walk/drive over it and automatically pick it up it would make the piñata fest” perfect.


The Secret Sauce:

Borderlands has incorporated pieces that other games have focused on and put them all together into what I call a Piñata Smorgasbord . We’ve already talked about the Smash TV ingredient so I’ll cover the other components.
NOTE: I’m not saying they stole these components from these games, just giving them as a reference. Also I’m not saying all of these games were great on their own; but when thrown together it’s a recipe for something new and delicious.

Red Faction: Guerilla – Borderlands is on a strange planet, you get to drive weaponized vehicles (4 people at a time) A-Team style. The way the missions are given and rewarded is a kin to Red Faction. I didn’t think Red Faction was a fantastic game; a low ‘B’ or high ‘C’ for me. Borderlands is similar but has done a much better job at these portions.
Too Human – The skill tree and leveling up is quite similar in Borderlands. Again I didn’t think Too Human was a fantastic game either for me(sorry Dennis), but the way the skill tree works is similar, and Borderlands does a good job at making this tough to decide but not so tough that it’s overwhelming.
Call of Duty 4 – The controls and handling are almost identical in Borderlands. So if you like the feel of COD4 you will be right at home with Borderlands.



Art Style
I’ll be the first to admit that when Borderlands’ first screen shots (tusken raider looking dudes) were released it look interesting but generic. The new art style really got many people interested in this game. I’m not saying that the game would have been bad if it stayed the same (since for all we know the game play/story is still exactly the same), but it definitely didn’t hurt the game’s chances at all.

Prior to release I saw a handful of screen shots and trailers, but they really don’t do justice to seeing it on your TV in HD. This game is straight up gorgeous! Take the color pallet of Halo and the art style of Prince of Persia and you have Borderlands. This game also tosses in some Quentin Tarantino charm and wit for character designs.


MOAR FUN!!!
The best feature of Borderlands is the FUN factor. I’ve been playing co-op with a buddy of mine online (it’s meant to be played co-op) and every night I play until my eyes will not stay open any longer and fall asleep in the middle of the game. This is the part of the game that reminds me most of Smash TV; it’s piñata smorgasbord loot party fun. Borderlands is a mix of many things that previously were all separate, but now have come together in a glorious matrimony.


Reward Creativity
I really want to encourage all of you thinking of putting this game off to sincerely reconsider that. I too have Demon's Souls and Uncharted 2 wanting to be played, and will be getting MW2 and Dragon Age, but I'm making this game #1 right now because I believe creativity and innovation DESERVE to be rewarded. And based on how contests are decided here in the Dtoid Community I believe most of us feel the same way. Borderlands is tremendously fun! Take a risk if you’re on the fence, you just may be glad you did. Borderlands may pave the way for some MORE new IP's if it does well. The market is flooded with the same ole- same ole, this is your chance to change that.

Whether I see you in Pandora or not I thank you for your time, and thanks to @mikeyface, Randy Pitchford, and the whole Gearbox team for doing something risky and new, I think I’m not alone in saying like it!