A fun game that fuses two genres and throws in Diablo-style looting, cel-shaded graphics, and a quirky sense of humor...
Borderlands is a first-person shooter/role-playing game hybrid that features cel-shaded graphics, a Diablo-inspired loot system, 4 player co-op, and a refreshing sense of humor. You play as one of four mercenaries who has come to Pandora in search of a fabled hidden cache of wealth, alien technology, and more known simply as 'the vault'. Prior to the start of the game, several mega-corporations settled the harsh planet in hopes of finding the vault but have since abandoned their search. One of these corporations, Dahl, has recently left Pandora after suffering numerous deaths and misfortune. Only Dahl's head researcher Patricia Tannis still remains, absolutely convinced that the vault is real.
The game begins as the vault hunter steps off a bus and arrives in the peaceful makeshift town of Fyrestone, where their search takes an unexpected start with the introduction of a mysterious 'guardian angel'...
Graphics
The visuals are well done. The cel-shaded art style is unique and refreshing. Character models are nice, and the environments are vibrant and detailed. Animations are smooth and the textures look good, though they do pop-in occasionally. The day/night cycles really show off the beauty of Pandora.
Sound
The audio is solid. The background music fits well with the setting, and gets uptempo at the right time. There are great sound effects in the game, from the growls of skags to the roar of elementally charged bullets. The voice acting is particularly well done, even if there isn't nearly enough of it for an RPG.
Gameplay
The gunplay is satisfying and the role-playing elements are reasonably deep. Hit detection is solid, guns are varied and unique, and the driving sequences feel legitimate opposed to lazily thrown in. Enemy AI is disappointing, and the quickly respawning enemies can make the combat feel repetitive.
Replay Value
There is no player choice nor anything different about the missions from one playthrough to the next but with four unique classes, the experience of coop vs solo play, a ton of side quests and challenges, and a new game plus mode to boot, there is plenty of reason to justify playing through Borderlands all over again.
Positives
The cel-shaded graphics definitely stand out. Environments are detailed, colorful, and the day/night cycles are a nice touch. The voice acting is well done (though there's not enough of it), the sound effects are crisp, and the music jives with the setting.
Shooting mechanics are solid, the RPG elements are reasonably deep, and unlike many other games that have tried to emulate the fun, rewarding experience of Diablo's innovative loot system, Borderlands manages to succeed in this regard.
The game is roughly 25 hours long including all side quests, and the difference between playing alone and with others is like night and day. New game plus adds replay value to game, as does the fact that there are four different classes to try out. Each one is unique and fills an important role in a team yet still manages to be quite capable on their own.
The controls are tight and responsive. Even the driving sequences are well done despite vehicle sections being lackluster in many shooter games. The autosave feature is nicely integrated, the menus are streamlined and easy to navigate, and the game is an absolute blast to play with friends.
Negatives
While its understandable that a Diablo-esque game would have timed enemy respawns for hostile areas, Borderlands often has you moving through those same areas time and again, killing the same enemies repeatedly for increasingly less experience. Its a minor complaint given the nature of the gameplay, but it can be an annoyance...especially in solo play.
This is a game clearly designed for co-op and as such, solo play feels somewhat slow-paced. There are also some areas/missions that are unbalanced when playing alone, making the difficulty unintentionally spike at certain points.
The story is definitely not one of the game's strong points. In particular, the ending leaves a lot to be desired. Gearbox could have done more to flesh out the plot and actually develop the primary NPCs a bit. As it is, they are little more than quest givers with very little dialogue beyond minor characters and generic enemies.
Enemy AI is predictable and relatively easy to outmaneuver. They either charge headlong at you, or hide behind cover and try to win a battle of attrition. It adds up to make the combat pretty easy if you're facing adversaries of comparable level.
Final Score 8.6
Borderlands is a very unique game. Nothing about it is innovative, but everything it offers is solid and all of its elements have never been put into a single package before. Cross a first-person shooter with an RPG, give it unique cel-shaded graphics, Diablo-esque looting, and 4 player co-op and you end up with a fantastic gaming experience that will appeal to fans of shooters, RPGs, and those seeking a game with a deep and rewarding multiplayer component.