By Cody Webb
Co-operative play, made popular in shooters by the original Halo, has been becoming more and more popular in the past few years, resulting in awesome games like Left 4 Dead. Who doesn’t love getting together with friends to blast their way through various locals? Well, my co-op loving friends, Gearbox’s newest release, Borderlands, serves to satisfy the need to work together for gamers who pick up this amazing title. As it is with most games I write about, this one is rated M for violence and blood, along with some nasty language.
First off, don’t pick up Borderlands think that it is a simple first-person shooter. It’s an RPS (role-playing shooter), meaning that it is a first-person shooter with role-playing elements added in. These take the form of health bars and skilltrees you can advance along. Another big role-playing feature is the abundance of loot; this game revolves around the thousands upon thousands of different guns you can find throughout the game. Players will constantly be swapping out their guns for bigger and better ones as they advance, so try not to get attached to any of the awesome artillery you’ll get hold of.
While the role-playing elements are a central part of the game and serve to add a ton of depth to Borderlands, it can irritate a few hair-trigger gamers who prefer to be able to take down an enemy with a few shots. If you are going to venture into Borderlands’ world of Pandora, you should be aware that you will start slow and weak, and it will be a little while before you can take down enemies with ease. For those gamers who are willing to put in a little effort, you’ll be rewarded with one of the best shooter experiences I’ve had all year.
The story starts with four people with their own histories traveling on a bus to Fyrestone, each of them after a legendary treasure that is housed in a place called the “Vault.” On the ride, players get to pick from one of the four characters, each individual having their own specialties and skillsets, along with a special “action skill.” In RPG terms, you’ve got the healer (Soldier), the tank (Berserker), the scout (Hunter) and the mage (Siren). Each character plays differently from the others, so pick which playstyle better suits you. An example: I picked the Hunter, who specializes with sniper rifles and pistols.
From a gameplay perspective, Borderlands is a tight shooter rivaling Halo’s action-oriented gunplay. You even get shields to prolong your life, and will have to take cover to recharge them if they go down. While most of the time you’ll be running and gunning, there is an option for far-away sniping. Potential snipers will want to keep a close-quarters weapon handy, preferably an SMG or a shotgun (or if you’re like me, a revolver), however. Gearbox added in a rather ingenious “bleeding out” system where if you lose all of your health, you drop to your knees and if you can kill an enemy before you black out, you will get a Second Wind. Second Winds fully recharge your shield and give you a little health back, allowing you to limp to cover and heal.
Borderlands can be played solo, but shines when you play it with your friends. The more friends you have playing, up to four, the more fun you’ll be having, provided you don’t get stuck with a looter. Remember, treasure hunters, you’ll stay alive longer if everyone is sporting good equipment. Having friends around also means that they can heal you when you go down, so you don’t have to rely on killing an enemy to get a Second Wind. Another big bonus to the co-op is that if your friend’s level is lower than yours and they’re having trouble on a story mission, you can jump into their world and use your better skills to help them get past whatever obstacle is stopping them. Players share experience and gold equally, meaning you’ll always get something from helping folks out. If you do decide to play this by yourself, however, be prepared for a lot of respawning at boss fights.
So would I recommend Borderlands to everybody who plays Halo and Modern Warfare? I would, yes, but I’d again like to remind you to be careful before jumping in. Try renting it before you buy it, if you’re on the fence. I’ll give Borderlands an A; be sure to check out the Zombie Island of Dr. Ned expansion that’s already out, and the next DLC that’ll be coming out after Christmas! Happy Holidays, everyone!
Cody Webb, a 2008 graduate of Suwannee High School, lives in Live Oak.
