Borderlands (Xbox 360)

[fixa46]

I first checked information of this game when it wasn't even done yet/released. I read the whole thing trough and wasn't amused about all we knew now, maybe the funny graphics. Well, it was christmas, and I ended up to get this game after all and had to try it. In the end, Borderlands is a great, addictive game with lots of action happening on the screen, great humor and you never get tired in fighting.

My first reaction to the game was.. Well, I was a littel interested. The main menu looks dull but the opening cutscene with Marcus telling about The Vault was worth watching. The Vault is a place full of hidden treasures and opulences.. But it is rumored that it doesn't even excist. That is when we step in.
There are 4 classes in the game: Hunter, Berseker, Soldier and.. Siren? Well, I guess it's a better choice than having an engineer in the game. And Lilith is hot. Really hot. I guess.
After lots of thinking, I decided to choose Soldier (Roland). The Soldier is pro with shotguns and combat rifles, and the other characters have their special weapons and abilities - and also Action Skills. Rolands action skill is the Scorpio Turret, that I didn't use that much..

Well, the game has begun, and the annoying, nerdy Claptrap-robot introduces me Fyrestone and lots of important stuff. As a searcher kind-of guy, I checked the opening place and managed to get money and hidden weapons from the roof.. Well, not that hidden.
After that, I get to fight some bandits with my nonscope combat rifle that still feels powerful. I decide to also give a try to the Terrible Scattergun I found. Holy god-exploding heads and limbs while getting close! Sort of clishee, but this game just makes it look awesome.


The non-finished version looked a little too serious, you think?

The graphics are marvellous. It's like playing a comic book! The black lines and the cool fading effects fit in the game really good. That is pretty much all you can say about the graphics.

There are "a bazillion guns" in the game, which is because a random generator names and builds the weapons the bandits and weapon storage lockers hold. The rarity of the weapon is noted by the color of the line above the weapon (this line is in all items, it really makes searching easy). The rarity level goes white-green-blue-purple-orange. But do not let the rarity fool you: I used the same, green-rarity leveled Terrible Shotgun troughout almost half of the storyline and it was SUPER EFFECTIVE.

After I got in trouble of money, I decided to search for nooby weapons and sell all of them. While in the store, I almost sold something I didn't realize before: "Eridian Blaster"? I though this gun was a glitch, but it wasn't. It is classed as alien technology, but my Eridian Blaster somehow isn't that effective. Later in the game, the other alien guns jost popped out for me, and the infatry boss had the 10001010101-gun thingie. (Was it supposed to?)


Such a groovy situation. And this is my Boomstick!

Leveling up in the game is okay. You should get yourself level 2 after beating the first enemy wave in the game and entering Dr. Zed. Getting levels starts to get harder later in the game, but also later in the game you'll face tougher enemies which makes it easier again.
The enemies of the game are really fun. Normal bandits may be boring after a few fights, but the Psychos and their little brothers are so hilarious to listen to and kill. One of the important things in enemies are their soundtracks.. Like the bandits. "You scared? Or something?" "I don't wanna die!" It just kills me. There is also a "badass" version of nearly every enemy, which is just a bigger and stronger version of the enemy. They are first just a pain in the ass, but later I managed to kill Badass Bruisers with a shotgun shell in the head. Splatters.

Boss battles are also a pain in the ass. In the beginning. The guy called "Bone Head", that I fighted 40 times before winning is now easier to beat than opening the fridgerator. Every enemy should drop rare weapons which are not effective for long. Sledges Shotgun is powerful and it fires two shells automaticully, but it's annoyingly slow to reload.


Skags are one of the most seen creatures on the game.

I do not have much to say about the musics of the game. The main trailer and theme songs like "No Heaven" and "No rest for the wicked" are fitting in the game, but the quiet country songs start to annoy the player at some point. Vechiles are good only for roadkills and traveling long distances.

After you beat the game, you get to start it again and keep all your stuff.. But you have tougher enemies, more money from them and better weapons on the way. Also, all the enemies names change. But why? I liked "Psycho", "Maniac" is stupid

This is one of my best games on Xbox 360. The start of the game may seem boring and hard, but after a while, you'll be addicted. For sure.

Graphics - 9/10
The cartoonish graphics are good but the places in the game repeat themselves pretty much.

Music and audio 8/10
The trailer songs and all are good, but the music while playing doesn't amuse me. The talk of the enemies is hilarious.

Gameplay 9/10
The gameplay - all the fighting, collectin stuff and that are great. Only 9 for the annoying traveling.

Storyline 7/10
The storyline.. Nah. A Vault that opens itself between every 200 years? Nice try.


Overall: 9/10

Borderlands is a great Role Playing Shooter with lots of guns, interesting enemies and missions to complete. This game is one of the best from year 2009.
I haven't still got the Zombie Island Of Dr. Ned add-on, but I'll be reviewing it soon.. As long as I get it and beat it.

Also, I haven't played it that much on the Co-op.