Borderlands from Gearbox

[Joyrex-J9]

I'm sure I read you could get better loot in a group, because you're facing stronger enemies, and more of them. Like Phantasy Star Online.

Ahhh OK

Right then, I'm out.

[Podge]

Is there some sort of matchmaking for co-op or is it invite only? Cos I know there'll be next to no-one else playing this on my friends list.

[The Sarge]

Playr reviewed this earlier, gave it a 8 out of 10.

They didn't really say anything note worthy, just that it was a good title.

[The Sarge]

Is it true that you can only have one save for this, and that's an autosave? Seems a bit strange considering it's primarily an RPG with levelling up.

Not sure, but here's what a dev had to say about the save system.

It saves anywhere, and it auto saves your character state at every checkpoint and when you quit. What it doesn't do is save every enemy/item in the world. It works just like Diablo, except we have more frequent waypoints. Quit, when you join again, you'll be at the nearest checkpoint and the enemies will be around, which is good because they are all worth XP and have cash and gear. And if you are second guessing a decision about skill points, you can fully respec your character at any save station in the world at any time.

[The Sarge]

Apologies for the triple post, but I thought some of you might find the following info interesting.

It's from GAF. (from a chap called Artadius who interviewed a developer from the game)

So I just had a chat with a couple of GBX devs.. here's how the level 'scaling' works.

In New Game, there is NO level scaling, its just like Diablo II Normal difficulty in that all mobs have set levels and statistics.

You finish New Game with X level. Upon starting New Game+ the ENTIRE world will scale from your current X level up through 50 but it becomes static at that point.

So, couple of examples to show this:

New Game, mobs outside of Fyrestone around levels 1-4. You finish game at level 30. Before starting New Game+, you return to Fyrestone and mobs are still level 1-4.

New Game+, mobs outside of Fyrestone around levels 29-34. You finish NG+ at level 50. Before starting another new game (no clue if you can start multiple NG+'s) you return to Fyrestone and mobs are still levels 29-34.

So the only 'scaling' that occurs is at the start of NG+ and simply to scale the world depending on your starting level of NG+ through level 50.

It really seems like the best of both worlds (Diablo II's completely static system and complete scaling as other games like Oblivion). Apologies to others (Vercingetorix) who were possibly trying to explain this to me and I just didn't understand what you were trying to say. Scaling to me meant like Oblivion and I might not have been able to understand a different way of doing it.

And a site called PlaystationUniversity (never heard of them before) have just a review up.

Conclusion

Borderlands only true downfall has to be the fact that it’s stuck releasing between Uncharted 2 and Modern Warfare 2. If this was releasing in an off-month like June or July, it would receive praise and Game of the Year notions in terms of quality of play; however, due to its release schedule, it may get mixed in the grey of other GOTY-worthy candidates. It also doesn’t help that Borderlands is geared more towards the hardcore gamer opposed to the casual player. Those enjoying the aspects of grindings those levels out in co-op or solo mode will enjoy Borderlands for everything it is…those who don’t, should probably rent it first. As for me, I’m a hardcore gamer and feel Borderlands is worth every penny and then some – especially once Zombie Island is released. Bring on the pain!

http://www.playstationuniversity.com/borderlands-review-956/

[Mr. Gerbik]

This only appeared on my radar a couple of weeks ago, but I can't wait to start playing it this week Looks somewhat like Fallout 3 on steroids I think, which might just be the thing for me.

It's nothing like Fallout 3 though, it's Diablo in a setting that slightly resembles the setting of Fallout 3.

I'd like to hold off for a possible price drop, but isn't everyone going to stop playing it as soon as Modern Warfare 2 and Left 4 Dead 2 are released? Surely anyone into co-op online shooters is going to plump for one or both of those?

This is not an online shooter though, it's Diablo with a shooter-interface. If you like shooters, but don't like Diablo-type loot-collect'em up rpg's, you won't like this.

[McSpeed]

It's nothing like Fallout 3 though, it's Diablo in a setting that slightly resembles the setting of Fallout 3.

That's kind of what I meant. I like the fact that it's fast paced, action packed and indeed the resemblance with Fallout's setting.

What's the music like by the way?

[moosegrinder]

Dude this game has "wait until it's £20" written all over it

Maybe so, but I paid full whack for Hellgate: London. Never EVER underestimate the drawing power of minutely incremental loot whoring.

He was won over by the ready made co-op team, and the fact that we're letting him be the girl.

Unfortunately, this is woefully true

[Cerberus]

So, it's Hellgate

Corleth has convinced me. Now I just have to find £40 for it

or just buy from zavvi £29.95 as posted in bargin folder

[Wickedkitten]

More games need bloody second wind. I'm absolutely loving this.

[Rudderless]

More games need bloody second wind. I'm absolutely loving this.

That's a brilliant feature. If you're clever, you can also be really tactical about it - i.e. making sure one of your enemies in a tricky encounter remains alive but only just, so you can shoot him and get second wind.

[moosegrinder]

or just buy from zavvi £29.95 as posted in bargin folder

Or I can actually get it when it comes out as opposed to waiting for Royal Cunting Mail to deliver it.

[Wickedkitten]

That's a brilliant feature. If you're clever, you can also be really tactical about it - i.e. making sure one of your enemies in a tricky encounter remains alive but only just, so you can shoot him and get second wind.

Aye, I actually like the way you can't actually zoom in whilst you are down and basically have to blind fire or bash your way back to life. This is going to be absolutely amazing in 4 player co-op I can already tell.

I love how it scales as well, although reading upwards, maybe scaling is the wrong word to use. More how everything is shared out if you are playing with more than one person that are each different levels.

[Mr. Gerbik]

What's the music like by the way?

I have to admit that I was so engrossed in the game, in all the co-op hilarity and all the the intense stats and loot analysing, I never paid attention to the music...

I woke up today and noticed that I was still thinking about the game, I'm slowly starting to get completely obsessed with it's loot. That's always a good sign. Too Human was way too flawed to be any fun, but Borderlands is extremely polished. As far as I know, this the first truly brilliant loot'em up rpg on consoles, and imho (fuck it, I'm calling it) it's the best loot'em up rpg since Diablo 2. Lots and lots of people are going to hate on this game because it confuses like no other with it's FPS disguise and also because it's shamelessly hardcore. For those who 'get' it and like this sort of game though, they're in for a treat. Waiting for Diablo 3 has just gotten a whole lot easier.

Edit: I also agree with Wickedkitten; 4 player co-op on Live is going to be really brilliant. 2 player co-op splitscreen was already all kinds of amazing. It also has a bit of Four Swords in it, insofar that one minute you're fighting over loot, scrambling to get to that new gun before your friends, and the next you're working together to take down a couple of particularly tough beasts that are way too high a level for you, but you're taking on anyway in the hope for even better loot.

[Wickedkitten]

I keep managing to tune out the fact it is an amazing looking game until some point where I'll just stop running and go 'damn this is a good looking game' I absolutely love the art style.

[Mr. Gerbik]

I keep managing to tune out the fact it is an amazing looking game until some point where I'll just stop running and go 'damn this is a good looking game' I absolutely love the art style.

Yeah it looks absolutely amazing when you see it in super-smooth motion on a decent HDTV. Like you, I was completely oblivious to its good looks and lovely art style until I consciously made an effort to stop and look around for a bit. The fact that the game is so engrossing that you don't even pay any attention to the graphics and the music says it all really.

[Podge]

Gah, I was going to wait a bit on this, but now the word is getting out and people are having fun with it, the temptation to pick it up Friday is growing.

[mechamonkey]

Bastards, you've made me want this again

[Wickedkitten]

You two certainly wouldn't regret getting it.

[Cerberus]

peeps reporting zavvi orders showing up today, will see if mines arrived when i get home

anyone got theres?

[Campfire_Burning]

This is not an online shooter though, it's Diablo with a shooter-interface. If you like shooters, but don't like Diablo-type loot-collect'em up rpg's, you won't like this.

But it's a first person shooter with a large online component! Oh man, this is going to be just like Metroid Prime, isn't it?

[Mr. Gerbik]

But it's a first person shooter with a large online component! Oh man, this is going to be just like Metroid Prime, isn't it?

Play it and you'll understand what I mean I'm just trying to emphasise that it's a Diablo-type loot'em up rpg first and foremost, and if you stubbornly approach it as a first-person shooter you'll be disappointed and start posting in this thread about hit detection and shit like that, saying that it's "not as good as CoD4 omg!". Like I said, for those who 'get' it, it'll be a brilliant experience and the best way to wait for Diablo 3 - I can't imagine any other loot'em up rpg coming close until then tbh. Borderlands is extremely polished, looks fucking beautiful, is horribly addictive, and is amazing fun in co-op. But it's also definitely not for everybody.

[Cyhwuhx]

I only want Hellgate done right. And so far it sounds like this is going to deliver just that.

[The Sarge]

Kotaku Review

Borderlands gets a lot of things right, in particular the balance between being a first-person shooter and being a role-playing game. The shooting mechanics are sound, as are many of the role-playing aspects, save for a few design quirks. Growing and customizing my level 35 Siren was a great deal of fun, when the tedium of all that walking around didn't spoil it. But where Borderlands excels is in offering a functional four-player cooperative loot-hoarding experience, with gorgeous environments to adventure in and smartly crafted items to collect or covet.

The game has a few faults, including its traveling inefficiencies—a weak map combined with plenty of long-range fetch quests—and its mostly forgettable story line, but it's still relatively easy to recommend, provided you can tap into the best portions of Borderlands, its cooperative multiplayer modes.

http://kotaku.com/5384689/borderlands-review-guns-guns-guns

Skill Tree Preview.

Lilith

http://borderlandsthegame.com/skilltree/lilith/

Brick

http://borderlandsthegame.com/skilltree/brick/

Roland

http://borderlandsthegame.com/skilltree/roland/

Mordecai

http://borderlandsthegame.com/skilltree/mordecai/

[The Sarge]

IGN Review

8.8

Gearbox's Borderlands is without a doubt a slick, satisfying hybrid title for those who know what to expect. If you're a shooter fan curious what the world of Pandora is all about, then you should know that this is a product built on a foundation of statistical progression, character customization, and one that holds item acquisition high above interesting quest structure and narrative. At the same time, it plays like a shooter, requiring twitch skills to dominate the droves of enemies that stand in between you and your search for a mysterious vault. With the opportunity for up to four to join together for co-operative play, four character classes, a dizzying array of firearms, around 20 or so hours of content for a single playthrough and the option to restart with stronger enemies and loot, there's plenty of content here. It's a thoroughly enjoyable journey that offers a steady stream of rewards that remains convenient and accessible. It's something action role-playing game fans looking for an experience more up-close and brutal than genre entries of the third-person variety should have a blast with, and one of the more memorable products of 2009.

http://uk.xbox360.ign.com/articles/103/1035922p1.html

Video Review

http://uk.xbox360.ign.com/dor/objects/9572...vdr_101909.html

[The Sarge]

1UP Review

B+

Call it a first-person Diablo, an evolution of Resistance 2's co-op mode, Monster Hunter for the west, or a party game for FPS gamers. Call it the best example of the transformative power of multiplayer. Whatever you designate it, Borderlands is a decent single-player FPS/RPG that simply becomes great -- when playing with others. Besides, sheer midget panic is something that has to be shared with friends.

http://www.1up.com/do/reviewPage?cId=3176535

GiantBomb Review

4 out of 5

The structure of Borderlands makes it feel like an MMO game that doesn't require you to rely on groups of other players to enjoy. Though it's probably better when you're playing online with friends, playing alone is still perfectly fine. It's also one of those games that's so strong in parts that its shortcomings become almost glaring by comparison. As such, the game's barebones story, lackluster AI, and insufficient player trading options are real disappointments that prevent the game from reaching its full potential. But when you're frantically trying to stay alive while getting swarmed by an angry horde of gigantic spiderants, chances are you won't care much about that other stuff. Borderlands strongly succeeds where plenty of other Diablo-inspired games have failed miserably.

http://www.giantbomb.com/borderlands/61-20487/reviews/

D'toid

8.5

With tons of weapons to find, a great co-op system, fantastic art, and a whole bunch of exploding bodies, Borderlands is worth your money. Even when I feel that the game is starting to get repetitive, there's something about it that keeps me playing. Even my plans to jump into the game for five minutes to grab screenshots would suddenly turn into hour long play sessions without me even realizing it, and even having done most of the quests twice, I still want to head back and try again with a new character class. Despite a few imperfections, the game is simply fun -- and at the end of the day, that's what really matters.

http://www.destructoid.com/review-borderlands-152286.phtml

TXB

9

Borderlands isn’t perfect, but it’s one of those games that transcends most of its faults. I’m also glad it got a face lift well enough ahead of the game’s release, so it didn’t just blend into the background. Borderlands is one of the year’s most enjoyable games, and I highly recommend it—even to those who may not like shooters or RPGs, because there’s a lot to like from this interesting hybrid.

http://reviews.teamxbox.com/xbox-360/1787/Borderlands/p1/

[Vin]

Solid reviews.

I've got the score from Jesper Kyd spinning on itunes at the moment and it's pretty damn awesome.

[Cerberus]

got my copy last night and i can report i love this game , all kinds of awesomeness especially for a loot hore

vin totally agree the music is very good

[H_S_H_24]

The 1up review is a complete load of shit. The game is very good even played on your own.

Don't agree with the 'its an RPG first and foremost' comment from Mr. Gerbik either, its very much a skill based FPS first, or at least at the same time as being an RPG. Granted you need to level up and get better weapons to progress and do damage to enemies as you go through the game, but you also have to aim precisely and do other FPS things, if your shots hit or not is not based on stats at all.

[Mr. Gerbik]

I said "it's a loot'em up RPG first and foremost" and I stand by what I said - the game is ALL about collecting 1337 loot, it's what made the Diablo games so addictive and and it's what makes Borderlands so goddamn addictive. I really think this game is at it's best when you enjoy collecting loot and spending ages analysing and tinkering before deciding to sell or keep something or equip it. The pretty graphics (which look much better in motion on a decent HDTV than in screenshots), the polished interface and menu's, and the hilarious and tremendously enjoyable co-op are all just a bonus to me.

Yes, you have to aim to hit someone, and you have to aim well to make 'critical shots' (I play as a sniper: headshot = chance for critical = +150% damage and exploding brains ) but at the end of the day it's all about the loot and the levelling baby