I like it. Good to see that game companies are taking chances with their art direction.

The "realistic" style that has dominated both FPSs and RPGs for the last few years is ugly and does not improve gameplay in any significant way. Just look at the first screenshot: it's washed-out and unattractive, communicates little useful information, and could be from any one of a hundred failed FPS shooters released in the last few years. The other screenshots, however, are attractive and coherent, better communicate information such as the positioning of enemies, and provide the game with a distinctive look that sets it out from all other games.

Any game company that tries a distinctive direction in art is, unfortunately, going to be beset by trolls who complain about "bad" or "unrealistic" graphics. They are best ignored - the same complaints have been levied at any number of very successful games, not just Borderlands, but also Team Fortress, Battlefield Heroes, Diablo 3, Torchlight, League of Legends, etc., etc. If "realistic" graphics were what all gamers wanted, somebody forgot to tell the eleven-million-odd World of Warcraft gamers. But the trolls are confident that they know best, and keep pushing game companies in a direction that leaves every FPS looking like a third-rate Modern Warfare-knockoff, and every RPG looking like yet another dull Asian grinder. Again, they are best ignored.

Somebody at Riot could write a book about this - if there is a more entitled group of gamers than League of Legends players, I am not aware of it. As per the old common wisdom in business, sometimes you are better off firing your worst customers. One of the best things to happen to League of Legends was the Tribunal, and the wholesale banning of forum trolls - it's made the game so much better (still far from perfect, but better). Bioware should take note, and either ignore the trolls or kick them out of their games and off their forums.