System: Xbox 360, PS3, PC
Title: Borderlands
Publisher: 2K Games
Circa: 2009



Intro
If one was to make a game and set it on a desert planet, this is something one could do. It has a successful synthesis between two unlikely genres, Roleplaying and First Person Shooting. While the RPG elements are rather light overall, there is enough for it to be called just that. This game has more guns than any other that I have seen and incredible variety even among the same company’s guns. It offers something new, that much can be said for certain.

Story
You are a Vault Hunter, someone come to Pandora in search of the Vault rumored to exist on it. While you are travelling, you receive a visitation from a mysterious woman, saying that she will help you find the vault. You get off the bus, meet Claptrap, and embark on your adventure in search of the Vault.

Gameplay
 The game itself is fairly easy to get used to. The game itself does a decent job of walking you through the opening and giving you a chance to get something of a grasp on the controls before you are in a firefight. While there are quest, it is more the usual kill this or collect that, which in a place like this, makes a lot of sense.

The quest system is fairly simple as well. As you collect them, you can choose which one will be your active quest. After that, the objectives are displayed on your map as well as on your on-screen compass. These will usually award you with money, experience and occasionally items. More often than not, the items are found simply from completing the objectives.

When it comes to talents and skills, this game has something to offer at least. Each class has a unique ability which it gets at level five. The Siren can phase in and out, doing damage to everything around her, the Soldier deploys a turret which attack nearby enemies, the Hunter sends their bird, Deathwing, out to attack enemies and the Berserker goes into a rage. Each of these can be modified through the choices one makes with their talent points. While the general flavor for each remains universal, at least each player can still have some say in how their character handles. The skills improve based on which guns you most frequently use. You gain experience with that particular kind of weapon for using it in battle and getting kills. This looks to be the only grind element in the game that directly impacts your character.



Multiplayer
This game really comes alive when you are playing with friends. The enemies get tougher, yes, but the loot gets better as does the experience. The game itself supports two-player co-op on one console and up to four players in the same game online. The game offers seamless drop-in, drop-out play. Your character is also persistent, for both online and offline. So that sweet gun you get in your friend’s game will come with you back to yours to blow off even more heads.

Controls
The controls are not too bad. Even for someone who has minimal or no experience with modern FPS games, this game proves to be fairly approachable. The game gives you a fair chance to get used to things and as you need to use abilities at first, it explains just how to do the different activities.

Graphics
This game, as many will remember received an abrupt change in graphical style. Having seen and played it in the cel-shading, I cannot complain. It really works for the game and plays well with the theme of the game. While nothing of amazing quality, it still looks great even on an older television.

Sound Effects & Music
What music is there is fairly nice, though the game took a little more conservative approach to it. There was not terribly much. I do blame this game for getting me into Cage The Elephant, who perform the opening track “Ain’t No Rest For The Wicked”. I do need to say that the voice acting in the game is solid though. It is easy to match the voice with the character. Honestly, the inclusion of it helps bring the NPC’s to life and adds a nice little touch for your character when they get stuff they need. The guns though take the cake. They deliver and it is something you cannot get bored of.

Obscurity
As a fairly modern release, this is a fairly well-known game.

Summary/Author’s Take
In a great number of ways, I see this as a more modern Diablo II. It does not have the randomly generated dungeons, but the looting aspect is remarkably similar. The focus on multiplayer is something different as well. While it does not detract from the game itself, sometimes having a friend really helps with a quest, especially when they have completed the quest before. Still, the game itself is a fun distraction. While not something that is completely enthralling it does offer something fun to play with your friends when you need a break from other shooters.

Story: 70%                Just about paper thin.
Gameplay: 79%            Fairly solid, kind of easy.
Multiplayer: 94%            The meat of the game.
Controls: 83%            Quick to learn, easy to use.
Graphics: 87%            Niiiice.
SFX & Music: 86%            Solid voice acting.
Obscurity: 44%            I know it, I have it.
Overall: 81%                A nice little addition.