Borderlands Game of the Year
- August 31, 2023
- Gearbox Software
- 36h median play time
Get on Steam"Borderlands Game of the Year" is a Role Playing Shooter that combines frenetic first-person shooting action with accessible RPG character progression. Play as one of four mercenaries, facing the madness of the lawless planet Pandora, and hunt for the legendary alien technology, The Vault. The game features bazillions of guns and a maniacal multiplayer experience with up to four player co-op online. Experience the thrill of rocket-launching shotguns, enemy-torching revolvers, and SMGs that fire lightning rounds. Get ready to face the insanity and lock, load, and play!
PC
Windows
Reviews
- story5,884 mentions
- 28 % positive mentions
- 63 % neutral mentions
- 9 % negative mentions
The story of Borderlands is often described as simplistic and primarily serves as a backdrop for the gameplay, which focuses on loot collection and combat. While some players appreciate the humor and quirky characters, many find the narrative lacking depth, with most quests being repetitive fetch tasks that can detract from the overall experience. Despite its shortcomings in storytelling, the game is praised for its engaging gameplay mechanics and the fun of exploring the world of Pandora, making it a worthwhile experience for fans of the looter-shooter genre.
“The game's story, which revolves around the search for the vault, is filled with unexpected twists, amusing dialogue, and larger-than-life personalities.”
“The story is extremely engrossing, and the characters very relatable in their actions and motivations.”
“The storyline is well-crafted, with a perfect mix of humor, suspense, and drama.”
“The story is practically non-existent, simply, you're a vault hunter...go find the vault, with a load of side missions attached.”
“The story is a bit weak though, if they had added some cut scenes and a bit of more story action would make it perfect.”
“The story is almost nonexistent in and of itself, with nothing to keep you interested until the game has its incredibly unsatisfying conclusion.”
- graphics2,342 mentions
- 42 % positive mentions
- 53 % neutral mentions
- 4 % negative mentions
The graphics of Borderlands are characterized by a distinctive cel-shaded art style that many players find charming and timeless, allowing the game to age better than typical realistic graphics. While some reviews note that the visuals can feel dated, especially compared to newer titles, the unique comic book aesthetic and vibrant colors continue to captivate players. Overall, the graphics contribute significantly to the game's quirky atmosphere, despite some technical limitations and mixed opinions on their appeal.
“The game’s signature cel-shaded visuals and quirky characters create a vibrant and immersive world that stands out even in today’s gaming landscape.”
“Its unique art style and engaging gameplay have aged like fine wine, offering a timeless appeal that continues to captivate gamers.”
“While the game does feel a bit dated, especially in terms of gameplay and mechanics, the art style still looks great even by today's standards.”
“I hesitate to recommend this because I don't like the characters, the writing, or the graphics.”
“The graphics are very dated but the enhanced version fixes that aspect of the game.”
“The game itself is great, but the graphics are horrible and makes the game less enjoyable.”
- gameplay2,264 mentions
- 45 % positive mentions
- 48 % neutral mentions
- 7 % negative mentions
The gameplay of Borderlands is characterized by its addictive looter-shooter mechanics, blending first-person shooting with RPG elements, which many players find engaging and fun. While some reviews note that the gameplay can feel dated and repetitive, especially compared to its sequels, the unique art style, diverse weaponry, and cooperative multiplayer experience contribute to its lasting appeal. Overall, players appreciate the game's humor and the variety of gameplay options, though some express frustration with certain mechanics and the linear nature of quests.
“Its unique art style and engaging gameplay have aged like fine wine, offering a timeless appeal that continues to captivate gamers.”
“With its engrossing gameplay, memorable characters, and an abundance of content, Borderlands Game of the Year offers both a nostalgic trip down memory lane and an opportunity for new players to experience the magic of the original Borderlands.”
“The gameplay is fantastic, challenging even at the higher levels.”
“The gameplay is hilariously repetitive.”
“Absolutely mind-bogglingly boring shoot fest with no rhyme or reason to any of the gameplay.”
“The gameplay itself could get sometimes repetitive and even intense because even with really good weapons and headshots it took a lot to kill the enemy and if there was more of them, well, then it was not pleasant.”
- humor1,948 mentions
- 98 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 1 % negative mentions
The humor in Borderlands is a defining feature, characterized by a mix of dark, crude, and often absurd comedy that resonates with players, particularly in its quirky dialogue and memorable characters like Claptrap. While some find the humor dated or hit-or-miss, many appreciate its irreverent tone and the way it complements the game's chaotic action and loot-driven gameplay. Overall, the humor adds a unique charm that enhances the experience, making it a standout in the looter-shooter genre.
“Whether you're teaming up with the wise-cracking robot claptrap or facing off against the psycho bandit leader, handsome jack, you'll never be short on memorable moments or hilarious dialogue.”
“The humorous banter, pop culture references, and irreverent tone create a captivating atmosphere that sets the Borderlands series apart.”
“The game features a distinctive cel-shaded art style, a wide array of weapons, and cooperative multiplayer gameplay, blending humor and action in a unique way.”
“The humor ranges from cringey to chuckle-inducing.”
“It's a boring, cringey, forced-joke, tedious, unfunny chore.”
“The entire game is loaded with cringe-inducingly unfunny 'humor.' Battles take too long since enemies are all bullet sponges.”
- grinding548 mentions
- 1 % positive mentions
- 3 % neutral mentions
- 96 % negative mentions
The grinding aspect of the game has received mixed reviews, with many players finding it tedious and repetitive, especially in the context of side quests and DLC content. While some enjoy the loot farming and leveling mechanics, others feel that the grinding can detract from the overall experience, particularly in solo play. Overall, the game is best enjoyed with friends to alleviate the monotony of grinding tasks.
“Very well done, humor, guns, and a fantastic campaign that isn't too grindy.”
“(Apart from the pre-sequel, probably still okay but I didn't enjoy any of the characters) the humor in these games is absolutely fantastic, basically infinite guns, amazing story, missions that don't get repetitive very easily (some will, mostly side missions) not very grindy, loads of content, great end game (Borderlands 2).”
“One of the best games ever made... still holds up 15 years later... no wokeness, no soy... fun game... not very grindy and long enough to not be bored with.”
“The down side to the DLC is it extends game time with very grindy tasks which is annoying, more specifically Claptrap's collections and Moxxi's dome.”
“If you're going for 100% completion, you'll need to get through the worst the game has to offer, including 8 hours of fighting waves of the same enemy types over and over again, grinding Claptraps for rare item drops and some multiplayer-only content.”
“The bottom line is that Borderlands makes the whole process of finding better guns and becoming stronger a tedious pain in the ass.”
- replayability510 mentions
- 51 % positive mentions
- 45 % neutral mentions
- 4 % negative mentions
The game boasts exceptional replayability, primarily due to its four unique characters, each with distinct skill trees and playstyles, allowing players to explore various strategies. The combination of a vast array of weapons, engaging co-op gameplay, and numerous DLCs further enhances its longevity, making it a favorite for both solo and multiplayer experiences. Many players report logging hundreds of hours, highlighting the game's addictive nature and the endless loot opportunities it offers.
“This thriving community adds an extra layer of replayability and customization, making the game feel fresh and exciting even years after its initial release.”
“With four unique characters to choose from, each with their own skill tree and customization options, the game offers endless replayability for players looking to try different strategies and playstyles.”
“The game's combination of first-person shooter and RPG elements makes for a unique and exciting experience, and the replayability is off the charts.”
“The replay value suffers significantly from this as it feels like everything takes a back seat to the main story, which actually lets you fight things with good loot and take a chance at a chest or two.”
“This makes for an extremely repetitive and boring game, with almost no replayability.”
“Once beaten, there is not much replayability so I can't recommend it.”
- music446 mentions
- 46 % positive mentions
- 48 % neutral mentions
- 6 % negative mentions
The music in the game receives mixed reviews, with some praising its ability to enhance the atmosphere and immersion, particularly through its thematic fit and standout tracks like "No Rest for the Wicked." However, many players find the soundtrack repetitive and forgettable, often describing it as ambient noise that fails to stand out during gameplay. Overall, while the music contributes positively to the game's vibe, it lacks variety and memorability for a significant portion of the audience.
“Easily one of the best video game soundtracks of all time.”
“The music is amazing, dramatically enriching the atmosphere and making it very easy to lose yourself in this post-apocalyptic dystopian wasteland.”
“The soundtrack fits perfectly with the theme, the gameplay is fun and challenging, the characters aren't too bland.”
“The music in this game is pretty meh.”
“The soundtrack didn’t help tie the action together which resulted in a limited experience.”
“The music is somewhat lacking in novelty, most tracks sound the same but they still do a good job of fitting the world.”
- atmosphere258 mentions
- 55 % positive mentions
- 41 % neutral mentions
- 4 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of Borderlands is widely praised for its unique blend of post-apocalyptic aesthetics, dark humor, and immersive sound design, creating a captivating experience that stands out in the gaming landscape. While some players note a dullness or repetitiveness in certain environments, many appreciate the game's distinctive art style and the engaging atmosphere it fosters, particularly in co-op play. Overall, the atmosphere is considered a defining feature of the game, often preferred over its sequels for its charm and depth.
“The atmosphere in this game is simply unmatched.”
“The soundtrack and atmosphere are beautiful and make me nostalgic whenever I return.”
“The unique graphical style creates real atmosphere and the RPG elements keep you coming back for more even when you have finished the main missions.”
“The atmosphere is dull and gritty, giving it a more mature and serious vibe.”
“My only complaints are a somewhat barren and repetitive atmosphere, and a lack of cinematics and story, both of which have been improved upon in later installments.”
“In some places, there's a kind of depressive atmosphere because nobody is around you, like you are totally alone, no NPCs, etc.”
- stability178 mentions
- 6 % positive mentions
- 1 % neutral mentions
- 93 % negative mentions
The game's stability is frequently criticized, with many users reporting numerous bugs and glitches that can disrupt gameplay, including mission-breaking issues and visual anomalies. While some players find these bugs manageable or even enjoyable, others note that the "Enhanced" version is particularly problematic, suffering from severe stability issues. Overall, while the game remains fun and engaging, its stability issues are a significant drawback that can detract from the experience.
“The best Borderlands game hands down, it is unique, interesting, quirky, and relatively bug-free.”
“It runs great on my Windows 7 64-bit and didn't require any extra steps to install; it worked straight from the box, so to speak.”
“As for differences between this and the console versions, smoother gameplay, better graphics, absolutely no glitches.”
“As for enhanced, while certain changes are welcome, that version is a buggy mess, especially if you play it in coop.”
“The 'Borderlands Game of the Year Enhanced' edition is a buggy mess with audio issues, framerate issues, non-existent enemies popping in and out, and worst of all shooting and aiming will stop working occasionally.”
“Incredibly buggy: NPC speech cutting out randomly, car flipping over randomly, getting stuck in geometry meaning I have to start back from the beginning of whatever area I entered, quest markers not updating sometimes.”
- optimization132 mentions
- 23 % positive mentions
- 47 % neutral mentions
- 30 % negative mentions
The optimization of the game has received mixed reviews, with some players reporting smooth performance even on older systems, while others experience significant issues such as stuttering, low frame rates, and poor controller support. Many users criticize the game for being poorly optimized for PC, particularly in terms of graphical options and performance consistency, especially when compared to its sequels. Overall, while some players enjoy a stable experience, a notable number face frustrating performance problems that detract from the gameplay.
“I have a low-end PC (i5-3570k running at stock, 4GB of system RAM, and a GTX 650 Ti Boost) and this game is so well optimized I play it with everything cranked up at 1080p and it runs at a frame rate lock (62 fps according to Fraps) never budging down a single frame.”
“Optimization wise, this game runs buttery smooth, nothing else to say.”
“Apart from that, the game is very well optimized and stable, and runs perfectly on my old 2008 computer, so a must-have if you have not tried it yet.”
“Terribly optimized piece of shit, with all the cartoonish graphics you'd think it could run even on a raw potato but no, the frame rate drops below 20 on my PC which it runs smoothly with most of the games that came out after 2015 like Division and Witcher 3, so yeah I blame the game.”
“The optimization is terrible.”
“I bought the game expecting it to run fine since my PC specs are more than enough to handle it, however I keep experiencing random heavy FPS drops and stuttering.”
- character development50 mentions
- 20 % positive mentions
- 68 % neutral mentions
- 12 % negative mentions
Character development in the game is generally viewed as limited, with many reviewers noting a lack of depth in both personal and NPC development, often relegating characters to quest-givers. However, the unique class systems and character designs provide some enjoyment, and the gameplay allows for a fun mix of RPG elements and fast-paced shooting. While some players appreciate the character-specific quirks and humor, others express a desire for more substantial narrative and character growth.
“Character development in this game is brilliant, if not a little overwhelming at first.”
“The character development is fun, and all of the characters really have a uniqueness to them in design and playstyle.”
“Borderlands is a great mix of FPS and RPG, allowing for both fast-paced shooting and character development. There are 4 classes to choose from, each of which plays quite differently from one another, and a bah-jillion weapons.”
“Character development is pretty absent with a few exceptions.”
“The story introduces you to the world of Pandora and the major themes, but there isn't really any character development.”
“Not much in the way of NPC nor personal character development; they're essentially there to hand out quests and rewards, and that's about it...”
- emotional28 mentions
- 86 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 14 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game is polarizing, with some players finding it to evoke feelings of misery and frustration due to its clunky mechanics and lackluster story. Others appreciate the quirky drama and existential themes, though many feel that emotional connections with characters are lacking. Overall, while there are moments that resonate, they often feel forced and overshadowed by gameplay issues.
“The quirky, full-tilt drama that unfolds as you bounce between one crap city and another is an intriguing one, touching on existential themes like the meaning of life and humanizing those on the other side of war.”
“7/10 would cry again.”
“I have no idea what this experience must have been like, but considering spoilers in both of the Borderlands sequels, I have to imagine it was more heart-wrenching the way I did it.”
“It's got a repetitive gameplay, boring story, it's loaded with bugs and glitches.. has some good moments, which are still not enough to save it.”
“This one has many problems, clunky movements, terrible HUD, not friendly or efficient mechanics at all (you have to manually pick up money/health/ammo on the ground and confirm every time you want to buy anything, ammo included), terrible aim system and a very boring story filled with boring characters, quests, and upgrades.”
- monetization22 mentions
- 14 % positive mentions
- 32 % neutral mentions
- 55 % negative mentions
The monetization model of the game is praised for being consumer-friendly, as it includes all content without additional charges for DLCs or microtransactions, which many players find refreshing compared to other titles that rely heavily on such practices. However, there are concerns about intrusive advertising for new games within older titles, which some reviewers view as a negative business tactic. Overall, the absence of microtransactions is a significant positive aspect highlighted by users.
“It's frustrating that there's still some bugs that persist around turning in certain missions, but big bonus points to the fact that this purchase includes everything in the complete game and doesn't nickel and dime you for DLCs or microtransactions.”
“Funny enough, Borderlands is a game from 2009 and has more content and variety than Anthem on day one, which is a game with a triple-A budget published by EA in 2019 fueled by big sales of microtransactions.”
“Should the anticipation lead to disappointment for whatever reason (addition of microtransactions, changes to solid and proven gameplay mechanics, broken toons/glitching/cheats, or the injection of further social engineering cues, etc.), Borderlands 2 still exists...thankfully.”
“Shoves advertising for new games into old games, scum business tactic.”
“If you want a game full of microtransactions and want to be threatened to be sued if you attempt to make any mods for it, a game owned by Take-Two Interactive is perfect for you.”
“To end my review, I would like to state to those of you who hate DLC and say it is just a cash grab.”
