Multi-Platform Game Review: Borderlands
So... what happens when you take the "hair-on-fire, guns-blazing" gamestyle of Doom, mix it with "treasure chest" concept of dungeon crawlers, add just a sprinkle of Mad Max "gone wrong," and wrap it up with a simple (yet effective) customization/leveling system, courtesy of the RPG genre? The facemelting "First Person Roleplaying Shooter" known simply as Borderlands is born.
Borderlands was an absolutely ground-breaking game when it made it's first appearance in the world of video games, and in all honesty, it still is. Let's face it... with it's high-octane gameplay style that pits the player in the middle of an apocalyptic, cannibal-ridden paradise; the world of Pandora delivers much, much more than anyone could have anticipated. At first glance, it looks pretty much like any other FPS out there (minus the graphics, but we'll get there soon enough). There's the seemingly mundane "run and gun" playstyle with the casual "smash and open" mechanic of various containers that are strewn about the terrain. However, once one is simply able to get past the cover and first few pages of our proverbial book, Borderlands becomes so much more.
The world of Borderlands is so immersive, in every way, that it becomes almost a chore to try and become disenchanted with it. Sure... the very beginning of the game can be somewhat draggy and like any "RPG" (I use this term quite loosely) it's bound to have it's lulls. That is just to be expected. Borderlands compensates for these very minute "flaws" by offering a treasure system that titillates the player to drive deeper and deeper into the darkest and farthest reaches of Pandora. Item drops and troves of weapons with seemingly limitless abilities are not the only thing that is sure to retain the attention of the gamer, but also the long list of baddies that are just waiting for their, and I quote, "Pound of Flesh." From cannibals, to enormous bug-like creatures, to some seriously messed up "dogs," (and the list goes on) there is always a fresh challenger, or challengers, ready to sink their teeth (or weapon of choice) right into you.
Tons of weapons? Check. Bodies upon bodies to slaughter? Double-check. So what else can Borderlands offer? How about a leveling system that is unique on it's own, but also implemented to enhance the FPS aspect of the game. Each of the four playable character-classes come equipped with a set of skill trees that compliment various playstyles. These skill trees include abilities like damage amplification, treasure-finding, defense amplification, and so much more. The player is able to unlock these abilities upon leveling up; each level granting a skill point. Needless to say, this is a fresh take on the FPS genre as it gives the player a sense of freedom and customization that makes that particular character powerful, but in their very own way. Like the leveling up system adds a sort of "flare" to combat mechanics, the exploration aspect of Borderlands is kicked up a notch as well. The player is able to traverse forwards, backwards, and side-to-side through all of the areas previously traversed. This means that the player can go find that "newly" found secret location or find a potentially mortal enemy and slaughter them for that "phat lewt" that they have been craving.
With gameplay covered, it's time to focus on the other aspects of the game that make this an absolute must-have for any gamer. First, there's the graphics. The cell-shading concept adapted by Borderlands adds a whole new look and feel to the FPS genre. It enhances the overall environment and not to mention, it is quite easy to identify interactive objects versus environmental effects. That said, there should be some caution taken when playing Borderlands for copious amounts of time, as the visual effects of cell-shading can make one feel "dizzy" or "woozy" at times. So just use some caution when it comes to this. It does happen!
Graphics are a key component to a game for various reasons, but now it's time to discuss the absolute biggest factor (in my own opinion) when it comes to ANY video game. That's replay value; and Borderlands passes that test with flying colors. Not only are there four playable characters, but there is also so much DLC for this game that it will become harder and harder to simply become "bored" with the game.
Overall, Borderlands is a title that delivers it all from gameplay, to graphics, to replay value and so much more. It's almost certain to keep you entertained for hours, days, weeks, and months without even batting an eye.
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