Year Review - Borderlands Game Of The

Procedurally generated guns are now standard, but in 2009, Borderlands ’ “bazillions of guns” was a revolution. The remaster preserves that addictive loop: kill, open chest, compare stats, repeat. The satisfying thwack of a high-damage revolver or the chaotic spray of an Eridian alien weapon still triggers a dopamine hit.

The original game expected you to drive across vast, empty deserts repeatedly. The remaster adds a mini-map but not fast-travel between all zones. You will spend 20% of your playtime just holding the accelerator on the Runner buggy. borderlands game of the year review

Unlike Borderlands 2 or 3 , enemies lack distinct weak-point mechanics. Late-game fights boil down to: unload an entire SMG clip into a brute’s face, run backward, reload, repeat. Elemental effects (fire, shock, corrosive) matter less than raw damage. If you play solo, prepare for frustration. Procedurally generated guns are now standard, but in

Let’s be honest: Mad Moxxi’s Underdome is a slog. It offers no XP, no story, and requires 5-round arena waves that take 2-3 hours per arena . The only reason to play is for two skill points and a trophy. It’s not fun; it’s a test of endurance. How It Compares to Borderlands 2 & 3 | Feature | Borderlands GOTY (Remaster) | Borderlands 2 | Borderlands 3 | | :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- | | Story | Simple, twisty, fresh | Deep, hilarious, tragic | Overlong, annoying villains | | Gunplay | Stiff, slow | Improved, great feel | Fluid, best in series | | Endgame | Limited (one raid boss) | Excellent (multiple raids, OP levels) | Solid (Mayhem, Takedowns) | | QoL Features | Basic | Good | Excellent (mantling, sliding) | | Humor | Dark, dry | Meme-heavy, brilliant | Hit-or-miss, dated | The original game expected you to drive across

The remaster polished splitscreen play, making it one of the last great couch co-op shooters. Four friends on a single screen, screaming over loot drops—that experience is priceless and rare today. The Bad & The Ugly: Where Time Has Not Been Kind 1. The Inventory is a Chore The original inventory system was designed for controllers and low-resolution screens. The remaster barely touches it. Managing 42+ weapons, grenades, shields, and class mods is a slow, scroll-heavy nightmare. There’s no search, no proper sorting, and comparing two guns requires more clicks than a 2023 game would ever allow.