Difficulty:

Just Right

Time Spent:

20 to 40 Hours

The Bottom Line:

"All it's cracked up to be"

Yes, you read the title correctly: Borderlands 2 is even better than the first one.

Once again, you play one of four characters (a fifth Mechromancer is available for download) and immediately get introduced to the big villain of the game: Handsome Jack. The game then starts, once again, with you receiving an Echo device from Claptrap, the same one from Fyrestone!

The gameplay didn't change much: you still have to shoot just about everything in your path with your chosen weapon(s), of which there are different types: SMG's, pistols, shotguns, and so on.
Your weapons will change constantly, because a lot of enemies drop new ones, the vending machines sometimes sell good guns (but only early in the game, later on they tend to suck) and you get new ones for many solved quests. The same goes for the shields.

Apart from very handy class mods, you also find relics which drastically change your character's behaviour in battle. And believe me: you will battle a LOT! The enemies are everywhere, and they have never been deadlier. There's also many new ones, although you'll recognise the bandits and the skags, for example.

So, with who will you fight the numerous adversaries? With the commando, who, like Roland before, can count on a handy versatile turret? Or do you prefer an assassin who can become invisible and is deadly with a sniper rifle? Perhaps a new Siren with many powers is your choice, and for those who just like to fire tons of bullets: the gunzerker is here for you.

Whichever you choose: the skill tree of your character is still there to take him/her to new levels, and the special powers are great fun once again, although the gunzerker could have been more original.

As you progress through the game, you'll notice that it's bigger. A lot. The maps are huge, and there's many places you can go. Familiar faces like Scooter, Zed and even characters from the previous game will be there, as will new adversaries you need to teach a lesson. And nobody needs a lesson more than Handsome Jack.

This archnemesis is, without a doubt, one of the greatest villains of all time. He even beats Sephiroth, as far as I'm concerned. I can honestly say there's nobody I encountered in a game I wanted dead more than him. Not only is it his loud mouth and rude behaviour, he also plain Evil with a capital "E".

If you like doing side quests, however, it will take a LONG time before you finally get to the end, which is a good thing. With so many quests, constant rewards and new gear, and a fun multiplayer, Borderlands 2 is one of the best shooters on the market. Aside from some minor issues (like overlapping conversations so you can't hear the most important one), I can only recommend this game to just about everyone.

The action is there, the story is even better, the humour is a-plenty, ... You get the idea: Borderlands 2 is a must- have.