I’m diving into the chaos that is Borderlands 4, and wow, it’s something else. Imagine taking a haircut—sharp on one side, wild on the other. That’s what Borderlands feels like now, with all the lootin’ and shootin’, but also, I don’t know, something’s missing. Like when a song you love gets remixed, and it’s cool, but not the same.
So picture this: Kairos, a wild new planet. Vault hunters and gun manufacturers haven’t even set foot here until—bam!—a moon crashes in. It’s like smashing up old and new toys to see what sticks. You get a mix of past and present characters, and it’s all set against a backdrop that’s, well, different. But it’s still Borderlands, right?
Now, hold on, lemme tell ya what really caught me. The landscape! It’s vast, green, and beautiful. No more loading screens which is, honestly, like moving from dial-up to Wi-Fi. You jump off cliffs into water or find a secret boss at a random drilling site. Stumbling across magic, or something like it. Feels Destiny-esque, and I mean that in a good way if you’re wondering.
But, (big but incoming) when you toss worlds into ‘open’ mode, you get those stretches of nada. Gearbox tries, throwing in collectibles and random events. I stumbled into one spaceship with loot, yet so many drives felt like those pointless road trips as a kid. You know? “Are we there yet?” vibes, strong.
Oh, the gunplay? Solid gold. Feels like caramel melting in your mouth. You pick up weird sniper rifles or shotguns that walk around dealing damage like a homicidal Roomba. The shift to a part-based system instead of brand-loyal guns? It mixes things up, but I miss the old personalities of, like, a Jakobs weapon. Is it better? Maybe. Or maybe I just hate change. Who knows.
And the tone. Oh boy, the tone. Borderlands was weird and wild, remembering SpongeBoss BulletPants? Yeah, they’ve stepped back from that edge, and a bit too far. I mean, it needed to happen, but now it’s flirting with normalcy. Like, who asked for a mature Borderlands? Nobody I know.
There’s this guy, Rush—big heart, bigger muscles. Wants you to take out a boss named Horrace. He’s fine, but kinda bland? Whereas running into Claptrap at a lake, that’s where the funny’s at. Fetching his stuff, like a Psycho mask, felt more like classic Borderlands humor. Why is the side stuff funnier than the main? No clue.
Driving around feels great, thank goodness. Can you imagine if that sucked too? But then there’s these basic bounty missions like “go kill a dog named Romeo.” Seriously? Where’s the spark?
The vaults, almost forgot—pivotal Borderlands stuff. They’re big baddies and loot treasure troves, except now? You defeat ’em, get two chests… one green gun. Kinda like expecting cake and getting a rice cake instead.
I guess the thing is, this new Borderlands is stirring the pot—good stuff simmering, but the flavor’s changed. It’s not bad. Just, hmm, a lot to take in. If you’re clinging to the old ways, brace yourself. This ride’s different, and it’s tearing down what came before. Might break your heart a little without even joking about it.
So, you seasoned Vault Hunters, play it with an open mind. Think of it as a new adventure, kinda like starting fresh. You’ll have fun, promise. Just, keep your expectations loose, like an old pair of jeans.
