Spreading the gospel of Borderlands

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CdBFWti6mkg&feature=fvw

It has recently come to my attention that people are sadly ignorant about Borderlands, about what it is, and even about its existence. This is a tragedy as it is looking out to be a great game coming to XBox 360, PS3, and PC.

Above is what should be the most recent trailer for the game and if it didn't turn out or if you don't like HD (sorry in that case) here is a link.

The game is a FPS RPG. And now you are thinking, "Oh boy. I haven't seen that before Confused " In which case I shall now tell you to hush you foul naysayer (no, honestly you are welcome to critique the game. it is your duty to get good games) as it actually tries to strive in the RPG component as it shows damage points and monster names of screen.

It is set on a desolate alternate planet (not post-apocalyptic) and is totally not like Fallout 3 (I can see where it is coming from but really man? Why you gotta point out the flaws in my groupie fanboyism?) .

Set up as a loot whoring game and by the way the 87 bazillion guns proclaimed in the trailer is a hyperbole but not by as much as you would think. The game has a built in weapon generation thingy and by some old screenshots of a debug screen contains at least 3,500,000 different weapons. Now some are claiming that it is over 6,000,000. Also they are actually unique as a developer commented on how he found a shotgun revolver while he was playing.

A shotgun with 6 bullet chambers! Wow, you say, new goozex user who likes this game too much, but doesn't that seem rather silly? I mean with the cell shaded graphics, this looks... childish. Yes I say, it has a unique artstyle that will not appeal to some people (Gears of War kiddies). The style they are going for is a dark comedic setting. The cover art is a man miming suicide as one example (http://xbox360.ign.com/articles/101/1014129p1.html). I personally find that a refreshing break from the grey, brown, and black pallets of most recent shooters. I aslo hope that this will keep out the FPS kiddies who insist as using the word gay as synonymous with bad. Basically, the style really does fit the game.

The game has 4 player online co-op and refreshingly 2 player local co-op, though unfortunately never shall the two meet. You can play with your buddy while sitting on the couch next to him (awesome) but can't also play with two more players from online (slightly less awesome). You choose between 4 different characters that are all more or less stereotypes, the brute, the sniper, the buffer, and the fast characters. This is disappointing, yes, but it doesn't look as if it has been pulled off too badly.

Maps have random monster nests and bandit camps strewn across its maps that are generated randomly each time you play. This is slightly decreased from the originally constantly regenerating landscape, but is cited removen because the developers got lost while playing their own game.

Anyway, there is a lot to say about this game and it is very hard to summarize quickly what it is. Also unfortunately, this type of game doesn't appeal to most people and it's launch date is regrettable (sandwhiched in between ODST and Modern Warfare 2) so it's not going to be one of the best sellers, but I pity you if you think that the quality of a game can be measured by its sales. Anyway, you guys should at the least check the game out and if you think it's a good idea, then you should drop the cash for it. When it comes out I'll be happy to play with you guys.

Filed under: ps3, Playstation, Sony, RPG, Xbox 360, Xbox, shooter, fps, borderlands

Posts 269

link93 replied on 08-17-2009 10:53 PM

This Looks pretty great to me. Your right i've never heard of this before, it seems pretty cool. You can expect me to be watching this game from now on.

Posts 1,461

IrishFan replied on 08-17-2009 11:42 PM

I have had this game paid off for 6 months now,i am really looking foward to it. Just hope this game dont get pushed back like a lot of the other games i can't wait to play.

Posts 13,685

Kenny007 replied on 08-18-2009 9:06 AM

I've been pretty pumped about this game since I saw it in PC Gamer. I believe they quoted it as having 'over 500,000' weapons, though it may very well have increased since then. I presume many of these 'weapons' are nothing more than a shotgun that takes a different slug than another, or one with one additional chamber, etc, minor differences, but it still sounds awesome. Here's hoping ammo isn't going to be a problem!

I'm hoping to get my buddies to buy this for some 3-4 player Co-op, but I'll have to wait for it to get a bit closer to release before pushing that envelope.

Posts 16,333

cheeznrice replied on 08-18-2009 9:09 AM

Kenny007:
some 3-4 player Co-op

Does the co-op follow the SP campaign?

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Posts 13,685

Kenny007 replied on 08-18-2009 9:11 AM

cheeznrice:

Kenny007:
some 3-4 player Co-op

Does the co-op follow the SP campaign?

I hope so. I keep thinking of it as a Diablo with guns.

Posts 16,333

cheeznrice replied on 08-18-2009 9:15 AM

Kenny007:
I hope so.

I was disappointed to hear that MWF2 will not be like that and for that I can't justify purchasing it. I figure it'll be a long wait on Goozex too.

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Posts 1,386

Bobster823 replied on 08-18-2009 9:38 AM

Never even heard about this game before I read your post. Went right to the Wkipedia page to read about it, and am quite impressed.

Kenny007:

Here's hoping ammo isn't going to be a problem!

Straight from Wiki:

"Roland is a soldier class and the only class that doesn't have to worry about ammo as a special backpack produces an infinite supply"

If you use that character it looks like ammo won't be a problem.

Cat in the walllll

Posts 13,685

Kenny007 replied on 08-18-2009 10:11 AM

I'm more concerned about finding a shotgun that uses....acid rounds or something...but being in a sea of fire based rounds or some such. With SO MANY variations of similar guns, IDK how it'll play out.

Then again, with that backpack quote, at least one guy wont seemingly care...

Posts 4,250

Hexpane replied on 08-18-2009 10:55 AM

Game looks cool, although I wish it were more RPG and less FPS...

Posts 571

superman8921111 replied on 08-18-2009 11:01 AM

Hexpane:

Game looks cool, although I wish it were more RPG and less FPS...

with 1 million guns to choose from, and different SKILL TREES for the characters, how can you say it's not more rpg than fps?

Posts 387

teira replied on 08-18-2009 11:07 AM

500,000 guns? 1 million guns?

guys.

it's 87 BAZILLION. (check the trailer)

Posts 4,250

Hexpane replied on 08-18-2009 11:42 AM

Yes there are RPG elements, but it's combat is pure FPS. Microsoft tried to promote Fable 1 as the greatest RPG of all time, but that game was more of an action hack and slash w/ some RPG elements like zelda.

There is no doubt the graphics, settings look cool and the idea of a "Mad Max" open world game sounds awesome.

BUt after getting let down by Fable big time, I'm just managing expectations for myself.

For instance, here is Joystiq's take after playing it

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"Shoot first. Ask questions later." Essentially, that's what sums up the Borderlands experience.

Borderlands touts itself as a revolutionary combination of the FPS and RPG genres. However, our time with the first hour of the game reaffirms that it's a shooter first, RPG second. In many ways, that's a good thing. One simply has to think back to last year's big first-person RPG, Fallout 3, to recall how poor the shooter elements of that game were. Aiming and movement felt clunky, and forced players to use the game's VATS targeting system. Borderlands, reassuringly, gets the basics of first-person movement right.

It shouldn't be surprising that Gearbox, whose previous works include Half-Life expansion packs and the Brothers in Arms series, would be able to competently craft a shooter. FPS vets will be able to jump into Borderlands with no problem -- running, gunning, grenade-ing with ease.

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Kenny007 replied on 08-18-2009 11:56 AM

While I wouldn't mind them being 50/50...that's usually not possible. When statistic muddy up your shots solely because of numbers, or vice versa; excellent point and click supercedes your stats...it becomes a waste.

Personally, that little review you quoted makes me a bit more anxious to get the game. I really liked FO3, but I agree that the shooter portion felt a bit clunky (console controller gripes aside).

I do hope the RPG facet takes a passenger seat to FPS rather than a back seat or trunk approach though...

Posts 4,250

Hexpane replied on 08-18-2009 12:37 PM