Borderlands

Overview

Borderlands is a sci-fi fantasy open-world first-person role-playing shooter developed by Gearbox Software and published by 2K Games for the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 on October 20, 2009, with a PC release on October 26, 2009 and a Mac release on December 3, 2010.

One of the earliest examples of a sub-genre of role-playing shooters known as "looter shooters", Borderlands puts up to four players co-operatively as "Vault Hunters" in the hostile far-future scavanger world of Pandora as they complete missions, scavenge various procedurally-generated weapons and gear, and level up their character-based skills and abilities. The game features a comic-book cel-shaded art style, as well as several comedic elements (which would be expanded on in its sequels).

The game's story, set sometime in the distant future, involves the wasteland planet of Pandora, which drew in multiple mega-corporations due to rumors of "Vaults": vast, decrepit ruins filled with advanced alien technology. This rumor drew in four mercenary "Vault Hunters" to the planet who, following instructions from a mysterious psychic being known as the "Guardian Angel", must search for pieces to a "Vault Key" while contending with the planet's hostile wildlife, various gangs of bandits, and the Crimson Lance: a private military force also searching for the Vault Key.

The game received four downloadable expansion packs, each of which features a new mini-campaign in new locales while expanding certain gameplay mechanics (including additional item storage and higher level caps). The game was later updated on October 12, 2010 to Borderlands Game of the Year Edition (or simply Borderlands Game of the Year), which was then sold bundled with the DLC expansions. The game later received multiple sequels and spin-offs, as well as a 2024 live-action film.

On April 3, 2019, the game received an enhanced re-release for the Xbox One, PlayStation 4, and PC (the latter of which is a free download to those who own the original game). Co-developed by Blind Squirrel Games and known as either Borderlands Game of the Year Edition (consoles) or Borderlands Game of the Year Enhanced (PC), this version features several improvements from the game's sequels and updated graphical fidelity. The Enhanced version was later released on the Nintendo Switch on May 29, 2020.

Gameplay

Similar to the then-released Fallout 3, Borderlands combines the gun-based gameplay of first-person shooters with elements from action RPGs, such as the Diablo series. These include an experience system (where player characters gain experience and level up their stats), skill trees, procedurally-generated loot, a quest system (with side quests), and a fast travel system.

Character and Weapon Progression

As players defeat enemies and complete quests, they gain XP and can level up to gain new abilities and skills, begin acquiring more powerful loot, and can begin combating tougher enemies. The base game was originally capped at level 50, although this was later increased to 61.

In addition, each player character has weapon skills that advance through usage of specific weapon types (such as sniper rifles or submachine guns). These give bonuses to the stats of their corresponding weapon type, including reload speed, stability, damage, rate-of-fire, and accuracy.

Gear & Loot

All of the loot in the game are procedurally-generated, including weapons, grenade mods, regenerative shields, artifacts, and class mods. These are tied to the player character's current level and can be bought or sold at vending machines as throughout the game. Some loot are unique, as they are given by defeating certain bosses or completing certain quests.

Like most RPGs for the time, loot is color-coded based on rarity, with more rare loot being more efficient at their given level and having new perks. The grading system is as follows: Common (white), Uncommon (green), Rare (blue), Epic (purple), and Legendary (multiple shades of orange). Legendary grades are unique in that they are versions of other rarities (yellow for Uncommon, orange for Rare, and dark orange for Epic) with unique weapon-specific perks. The General Knoxx DLC adds a sixth rarity, known as Pearlescent (cyan).

Quests

The game contains 160 quests. These are composed of 30 quests in the mainline story and 130 side quests. Most quests will be taken from NPCs and bounty boards in the games various towns and settlements. In addition to quests, the game includes repeatable scenarios complete with bosses that may be farmed for loot and experience.

Once the main storyline quests are complete, there is an option to New Game + the game with another playthrough, resulting in tougher enemies and a reset of all quests to higher level, awarding more experience points (though character progression and weapons remain).

Co-op

Borderlands features four-player co-op online and two-player local co-op in the console versions. The co-op allows for a persistent character to hop from one co-op game to another while keeping all the equipment and experience earned in a previous game. Progress in quests and the storyline, however, is confined to the game world of the player hosting the game. Difficulty scales based on the number of player characters participating. Play with more players and more enemies will spawn in the world. Money and experience rewarded for kills are divided evenly amongst players. Loot and ammo, however, belongs to whoever gets there first.

The game also includes player versus player combat. In co-op, players can also challenge each other to a duel. One player melees another, and if they melee back a dome will form around them and they can battle it out. In addition, arenas can be found around the world where players can fight each other.

Some players have figured out how to hack the loot system in borderlands, as some players may find while online. The best example of this is the Omega Rose shield. It makes the player nearly invincible with a high shield rating well above what any other shield will provide. It is not in the game, players have hacked the loot system to make the shield. With the release of the very difficult add-on of the Armory of General Knoxx, this shield has been showing up more as with even a high level and top of the line shield, death can come very quickly.

Traversing the Landscape

Designated spawn points throughout the world allow players to summon a vehicle, otherwise known as "Catch-A-Ride!". Players will be able to customize various vehicles with one of two different weapons (rocket launcher or machine gun) and paint jobs. This is one of two preferred traveling methods the other being the now familiar fast travel system that allows for instant teleporting between locations once they have been unlocked. Players will gain access to vehicles relatively early in the game with the fast travel system opening up later.

Challenges

In addition to achievements and trophies, Borderlands has an in-game challenge system. The challenges are structured like achievements or trophies; however, they are separate from those systems and reward characters with experience upon completion.

Death

Borderlands utilizes the down but not out concept. When health reaches zero, players will be immobilized and slowly "bleed out" as the screen loses contrast; however, weapons can still be fired. Teammates have the ability to revive fallen allies. If players achieve a kill in this wounded state, a "second wind" will be awarded, this will instantly revive the character with full shields. However, if a character cannot be revived, they will spawn at the nearest New-U station for a fee. The fee is a percentage of the player's total cash on hand. The percentage for respawning at a New-U station is between 10% and 14.3% averaging at 14.29%. Players can never go into negative money, so if a player has no money the fee is waived.

Character Classes

Each of the four character classes have their own unique Action Skill ability and their own unique upgradable Skills (split into three skill trees each). As these classes are personified, they cannot be changed mid-game.

Roland, the Soldier

Formerly with the elite private military group known as the Crimson Lance, Roland represents the game's supportive "Soldier" class.

His unlockable Action Skill allows him to deploy the Scorpio Turret: an automated turret that continuously shoots at all enemies in front of it while projecting an energy shield cover for allies to rally behind. His skill trees include:

• Infantry - Focuses on his offensive capabilities, such as those that increase his weapon damage. It can also grant powerful guided missiles to his Scorpio Turret.

• Support - Focuses on his defensive capabilities, including his shield regeneration. It can also allow the Scorpio Turret to resupply allies through ammo regeneration and/or supply packs.

• Medic - Focuses on regenerating health for both himself and his allies, whether it be killing enemies, shooting teammates, or standing near his Scorpio Turret. It can also allow the Scorpio Turret to gain a chance to revive fallen allies.

Mordecai, the Hunter

A wandering marksman, Mordecai represents the game's long-ranged "Hunter" class.

His unlockable Action Skill allows him to deploy his trusty companion Bloodwing: an avian pet that dive bombs an enemy for a powerful strike. His skill trees include:

• Sniper - Focuses on his efficiency with Sniper Rifles, with some benefits to all weaponry. It can also allow his weapons to have a chance to pierce enemy shields.

• Rogue - Focuses on his capabilities with Bloodwing, allowing it to daze enemies, increase loot, and target multiple enemies.

• Gunslinger - Focuses on his efficiency with Pistols, with some benefits to all weaponry.

Lilith, the Siren

One of a rare group of humans with unbelievable supernatural power, Lilith represents the game's crowd-control "Siren" class.

Her unlockable Action Skill allows her to Phasewalk through reality, allowing her to turn invisible and move fast while emitting a damaging blast at both its beginning and end. Her skill trees include:

• Controller - Focuses on her ability to crowd control enemies, primarily by dazing them through damage.

• Elemental - Focuses on inflicting multiple types of elemental damage, including shock damage while phasewalking, corrosive damage in melee, and fire damage on kills.

• Assassin - Focuses on inflicting more direct damage, including a significant damage increase in melee while phasewalking.

Brick, the Berserker

A brute with a massive physique, Brick represents the game's tanky "Berserker" class.

His unlockable Action Skill allows him to go Berserk, holstering his weapon and gaining massive damage resistance and health regeneration as he uses his fists to pummel enemies. His skill trees include:

• Brawler - Focuses on his efficiency with both melee attacks and his Berserk state.

• Tank - Focuses on his survivability, including his maximum health and shield strength. It can also allow him to gain a damage and shield regeneration bonus once his shields are broken.

• Blaster - Focuses on his efficiency with explosive damage, particularly with Rocket Launchers.

Locations

There are six main areas in the game, those being:

• Arid Badlands
• Dahl Headlands
• New Haven
• Rust Commons West
• Rust Commons East
• Salt Flats

However, a lot of other smaller areas can be accessed via the main ones.

The following is a list of all the sectors in alphabetical list of all sub-sectors that can be found in Borderlands, and where they can be accessed from.

Story

In the distant future, several colonization ships head to Pandora, a planet on the edge of the galaxy, "smaller than the moon but bigger than Manhattan". The colonists are drawn there in search of a better life as well as vast mineral resources said to be on the planet, free for anyone's taking, much like a futuristic gold rush. The colonists soon find that Pandora is a desert wasteland, and there is nothing for them there, aside from the rumors of vast, decrepit alien ruins. These ruins are a beacon of hope for the remaining colonists, emerging in the form of a mysterious Vault that is said to contain vast stores of alien technology that - if found - would make the discoverers rich and powerful beyond human imagination. The only problem is that the first people to unearth the Vault were all killed before they could claim their prize - their discovery evidenced only by a scattered radio transmission, proclaiming the Vault's majesty... but not its location.

Those that can, leave. The remaining population devolves into chaos and lawlessness much akin to a Mad Max style world. While some of the settlers seek the alien technology, most are simply struggling to survive. Now, seven earth years after the first landfall on Pandora, the planet's slow orbit brings a transition from "winter" to "spring", and many horrifying creatures emerge from hibernation, making the planet even more hostile. The game begins as a group of four mysterious offworlders, represented by the four character classes, arrive on Pandora to seek their fortunes as Treasure Hunters seeking the Vault.

DLC Expansions

The game includes four expansions, originally released as paid downloadable content and later included in certain editions of the game. Each expansion adds a new environment to explore while adding new challenges and gear to earn, with some also adding unlockable storage slot upgrades.

The Zombie Island of Dr. Ned

Originally released on November 24, 2009, The Zombie Island of Dr. Ned is a horror-themed campaign where the Vault Hunters travel to the spooky remote island of Jakobs Cove as they prevent its inhabitants from falling victim to zombies and other abominations created by Dr. Ned (who is totally not Dr. Zed in disguise).

This expansion features a new explorable region (Jakobs Cove), with several new missions and enemies.

Mad Moxxi's Underdome Riot

Originally released on December 29, 2009, Mad Moxxi's Underdome Riot allows the Vault Hunters to participate in a special tournament hosted by the voluptuous Mad Moxxi in her Underdome.

While it does not feature a campaign with a full explorable region, this expansion features a unique horde-style game mode where players battle against waves of enemies in one of three coliseums while being subject to special rule modifiers (or "Moxxi's Maxims"), such as buffed enemies, affected gravity, and preferences to certain types of weapons. Players do not gain experience, weapon proficiency, money, or loot by killing enemies in this mode, although they can gain rewards from completing five-wave rounds.

The DLC also includes a bank to store items, as well as two skill points as a quest reward.

The Secret Armory of General Knoxx

Originally released on February 23, 2010, The Secret Armory of General Knoxx is an epilogue campaign in which the Vault Hunters travel through the Parched Fathoms, a dried-up lakebed under control by the Crimson Lance, in order to raid the armory of its leader: General Knoxx.

This expansion features a new explorable region (T-Bone Junction), with several new missions, enemies, and vehicles. It also introduces the "Pearlescent" gear rarity and raises the level cap from 50 to 61. In addition, the DLC introduces the series' first "raid boss", the giant Crab Worm Crawmerax the Invincible, which is an optional underleveled boss battle that requires skill, tactics, allies and patience to overcome.

Claptrap's New Robot Revolution

Originally released on September 28, 2010 and developed by Darkside Game Studios, Claptrap's New Robot Revolution is a comedic epilogue campaign in which the Vault Hunters are tasked by the Hyperion Corporation to quash a rebellion of homicidal Claptraps led by the Interplanetary Ninja Assassin Claptrap.

This expansion features a new explorable region (Tartarus Station), with several new missions and enemies (including a variety of Claptraps and assimilated "claptrapped" versions of other enemies). It also adds eight additional skill points for players to use.

Pop Culture References

• The special weapon Lady Finger that can be obtained by the Nine-Toes mission or by a drop from Moe refers to the collection of unfinished stories titled The Canterbury Tales by Geoffrey Chaucer. The character Madam Eglantine wears a ring with the same inscription that is noted in the Lady Finger's weapon effects text box. The inscription, being "Amor vincit omnia" (Love conquers all), was a phrase penned by the Roman poet Virgil.
• Crazy Earl (who surprisingly is voiced by Randy Pitchford) is said to be a "turtle hermit" and is supposedly in the possession of Tannis' underwear. Both of these refer to Master Roshi, from the Dragonball series, who occasionally wore a turtle shell and collected women's underwear.
• Chuck Durden's name is comprised of one fictional character from the book and movie Fight Club, Tyler Durden, and the author of the book, Chuck Palahniuk.
• The challenge How Much for Just the Planet? directly refers to the Star Trek novel of the same name, written by John Ford.
• The spiderant Helob, encountered in the mission A Bug Problem, bears a name similar to the giant spider Shelob from the Lord of the Rings book The Two Towers written by J.R.R. Tolkien. Another reference to the series can be seen in the mission Purple Juice!, where the player must restore pumps that share the same names as the four hobbits Brandybuck, Took, Gamgee, and Underhill.
• The common Psychos occasionally says "Now it's time for my pound of flesh!", referring to the payment imposed on Antonio by the wicked character Shylock for defaulting on his loan in the play by William Shakespeare, The Merchant of Venice.
• T.K. Baha's name is Ahab backwards, referring to Captain Ahab of the novel Moby Dick, by Herman Melville. Ahab's adversary, a giant whale, parallels T.K.'s enemy Scar, who he had tried to defeat numerous times.
• The mission "I've Got A Sinking Feeling..." features boats named Righteous Man, Furious Anger, and Great Vengeance. These names refer to the famous scene of the film Pulp Fiction in which Samuel L. Jackson's character recites the Bible passage Ezekiel 25:17.
• In The Zombie Island of Dr. Ned, there's a direct reference to Scooby-Doo during a mission where recordings have to be picked up from some wanderers. The Misery Machine (Mystery Machine), Skaggy (Scooby), and Harry (Shaggy) all make cameos during this mission.

System requirements

PC

• Operating System: Windows XP/Vista
• Processor: 2.4 Ghz or equivalent processor
• RAM Memory: 1GB (2GB recommended with Vista)
• Graphics Card: 256mb video ram or better (GeForce 7 series/ Radeon HD3000 series or higher)
• Hard Drive: 8 GB or more free space
• Sound Card: any Windows compatible sound card

Mac

• Operating System: Mac OS X 10.6.4
• Processor: 1.4 Ghz or equivalent processor
• RAM Memory: 1GB
• Graphics Card: 128mb video ram or better ( ATI X1xxx series, NVIDIA 7xxx series and Intel GMA series not supported:)
• Hard Drive: 10 GB or more free space

Console

Borderlands requires 3.3GB of space to install on an Xbox 360 HDD. Borderlands: Game of the Year edition requires about 2.4GB of space to install on an PS3 HDD.