Borderlands: The FPS/LOOTER that started it all

Borderlands is the first game in the Borderlands Series, originally released in 2009. It is a mixture of RPG and FPS where you can play as one of four characters, a Soldier, Hunter, Berserker, and Siren, and complete missions for various NPC's. You start on the planet of Pandora, where you are sent by the Dahl Corporation to locate a vault containing alien technology, which is believed to exist on the planet. The planet had previously been abandoned by several large corporations due to their inability to find any alien tech, so it is a broken wasteland of desert and scattered settlements, with wild creatures and raiders a plenty. There is more to the plot, but I don't want to spoil the surprises for anyone.

Visuals & Graphics

Compared to the most current game benchmarks, Borderlands definitely is quite dated, so I will base my standards back when it was released. The visual style is quite unique employing a mix of 3d and 2d elements that give off a very "cartoony" vibe. Not the best but with the hours you'll be spending on this game, it'll definitely grow on you.

Music and Sound

I'm not a big fan of the ambience music used in the game. The grindy gameplay + a forgettable background music will result in excruciatingly painful grind sessions. So why the high rating? - - - No Rest for the Wicked.

Characters/Plot/Story

Some would say that Borderlands 1 has a very shallow plot, and for the most part that is true. The story doesn't get any solid direction until prequel and Borderlands 2. However, their characters are definitely interesting. Attempts at humor are so over the top they become very corny, to the point that it's laughable. You don't laugh at the jokes, you actually laugh at how corny the jokes are...

Gameplay and Mechanics

• An example of a very successful change and experimentation of game mechanics; probably one of the pioneers in FPS-RPG hybrids
• Standard 3-Tree Build RPG mechanics is actually successful in differentiating build path styles for certain characters.
• Loot, Loot, Loot! - Variations of certain Rare Items are also available so the loot hunt will will definitely extend your gameplay by at least an additional 100+ hours past level cap
• A lot of DLC, and the DLCs have a large amount of content on their own, except maybe for Moxxi, not really my thing.

• Grindy... very grindy. Without merchant of death glitching or Willow Tree quest resets, getting to level cap will take forever. At higher character levels you will end up being friends with Willow tree to reset your quests so you can continously farm Destroyer and Crawmerax for Loot and XP.
• Majority of the fun in the gameplay comes from playing Multiplayer online, definitely not the game I would recommend to someone who plays only Solo. needless to say, finishing 100% of the content in solo is far from impossible
  

Positives

• Borderlands has a gigantic sellection of weapons (over 17,750,000 different weapons)
• It has a ballanced skilling system
• There are 4 different characters with their own personality and class
• There are a lot of different side quests
• Story is interesting and pretty intense at the ending
• It's much fun with friends
• The music is awesome
• It has good DLC (except for one which I will mention at the ending)
• The game is pretty cheap for the existing content (GOTY)
• The Boss enemies are almost always challenging

Negatives

• It has many connection problems
• There are way to many bugs (especially when driving)
• The Story is hard to understand for new players
• The game can get really boring when playing alone and doing trivial to normal missions
• You sometimes can't play side missions on your specific level, that means you're sometimes overleveled for some side missions
• A high level player can easily boost you on their playtrough
  

Downloadable Content

• Most of the DLC is really good and has a lot to offer.

DLC:

• Claptraps new Robot Revolution: A really funny DLC packed with side jokes (must buy)
• The secret Armory of General Knoxx: A DLC with many new maps and good missions (must buy)
• The Zombie Island of Doctor Ned: Interesting but can get easily boring (only enjoyable with friends)
• Mad Moxxis Underdome Riot: Most boring DLC with dumb arenas (only for 100% players)

Trailer:

Conclusion

85/100

Borderlands is a pretty great game; an even better co-op game. Amazingly good for the brain-dead gaming sessions whilst listening to music or podcasts. The story of borderlands isn't anything spectacular, it's not something I cared about whilst playing, however there are some charming characters to be found within. Aesthetically the game sports stylistic comic book-esque graphic that not only look great, but is a nice change from graphically realistic games. Soundtrack is stronger at some points than at others, overall it's generally decent. As far as being a first-person shooter goes, borderlands does most if not everything right, and let me say this now; reloading whilst sprinting is a godsend. Not only did I enjoy the combat but the loot system is great, always nice to find a better gun, and well guns are pretty much Borderlands' thing. I highly recommend buying if you have the friends to play it with.

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Next Review will be Borderlands 2!