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Classroom Facts
Borderlands is a first-person shooter set in a sci-fi universe, and as such doesn’t include too many classroom facts. A map shows players where various waypoints are, and a number of charts detail various player and character statistics.
Math is also a significant part of the game; while it is a shooter, damage dealt is based on RPG-style statistics, complete with numbers indicating the amount of damage dealt popping up above enemies’ heads. Weapons have a wide range of stats, and players are always collecting money to make various purchases.
Creativity & Imagination
By the Player:
Players have a pretty huge amount of creative freedom in Borderlands. Each of the four character classes has its own unique strengths and its own unique skill tree. Each skill tree includes a number of varied abilities and skills; some increase damage dealt by certain weapons, and others give players bonuses when they defeat enemies. Each of the four classes also has a totally unique special ability; the hunter class can send a pet bird to attack foes, while the soldier class can plant a shield and turret to provide support. Players decide both on their class and on the specific skill progression of their character, ensuring that no two characters will be alike.
This is doubly true when the incredible number of weapons and pieces of equipment in the game are taken into account. Players collect guns of many different types, and as using a certain type increases a character's proficiency with that type - players that use shotguns will eventually be able to deal more and more damage with shotguns, for example - it becomes beneficial for players to choose one or two types to focus on.
Other pieces of equipment, too, including health-regenerating shields and character-altering class mods, become important over time in defining a character's strengths and weaknesses. By the end of the game, players working together are likely to have specific roles in relation to each other, and any two players are likely to end up with incredibly varied characters.
By the Developer:
Borderlands has a distinct visual style. It uses cel-shading throughout, and both its characters and environment are filled with colorful, humorous detail. The game's soundtrack also stands out, particularly the songs at the title screen and during the game's final credits.
The game is also creative mechanically; an interesting combination of first-person shooter and RPG, it stresses quick reflexes and the need for cover while offering the excitement and grind of loot collecting. The game is structurally surprisingly RPG-like, with players starting out by completing some basic fetch quests and exploring the area outside of the first town.
The shooting aspect of the game, though, is anything but an afterthought; especially when facing tough foes, the game plays almost as tightly as many modern first-person shooters. This combination of skill-based mechanics with strategic character building and item collection make the game a unique experience.
Business Skills
Business skills are a fairly important aspect of the game. From start to finish, players collect money to purchase new upgrades, weapons, shields and more. As players get into the game, good equipment quickly becomes very expensive. Because shops constantly recycle items, it is often a matter of luck whether or not good items are available. While this can leave players with dry spells, it also ensures that there is almost always a chance that a weapon or item that is better than what the player has will be available. Players need to choose their purchases carefully from the beginning of the game to the very end.
People Skills
While Borderlands can be played alone, the experience becomes exponentially more interesting when a team is involved. Up to four players can play through the entire campaign together, teaming up in battle, covering each other and fighting over loot. This is really the way the game is meant to be played, and because the game is built around RPG-style progression and pacing, it offers a much more intimate environment than a competitive first-person shooter does.
Each of the four character types has vastly different strengths and abilities, and these are built to work together. One class is particularly good at providing cover, while another is equipped with skills that encouraging attacking from a distance. This encourages players to experiment with different combinations, but teamwork is always the focus of the game.
Because the game world is so open, players need to communicate when heading to various goals or battles. While fighting over dropped items is always prevalent, players will also benefit from trading weapons and items frequently, as many items will be more useful to certain players.
There is also an arena players can go into to battle against one another, though it is a pretty small part of the game and isn’t really emphasized.
Problem Solving
Problem solving in Borderlands revolves around its gunfights. Players travel across its wide-open world to various checkpoints based on current missions. Usually players will have to fight through a group of enemies in order to get to whatever boss or item they’re looking for. Players are able to take cover, use grenades, and activate special abilities in battle, and players are challenged to use all of the abilities at their disposal to survive.
The game also has an RPG side, where players are in charge of constantly enhancing their characters, both from collecting experience to level up and picking up the huge number of weapons and items dropped by enemies. As points are put into skill trees and proficiencies are developed with certain weapon types, certain strengths and weaknesses appear, and players will need to decide the best ways to build on these effectively.
An occasional twist helps spice things up; a handful of boss battles, arena-style marathon battles, scavenger-hunt missions and a few other surprises. While these are definitely in the minority of the game’s missions, they do help add some variety to the standard tasks that have players simply shoot through enemies from point A to point B.
Simulation
Borderlands is not a simulation game.
Popularity
Borderlands has been fairly well-received. Most reviews praised the game’s addictive loot-collecting element, the game’s fusion of RPG and first-person shooter and especially the game’s smooth co-op play. Criticisms include a somewhat repetitive structure and low difficulty. Some reviewers also criticized the game’s shooting mechanics as being clumsier than those found in other, more straightforward first-person shooters.
Controls & Options
Borderlands included extensive audio, visual and control options. There are no difficulty levels, but players that complete the game are invited to begin a new game, carrying all of their stats and items over, against considerably more powerful opponents.
Tips
Borderlands received an M from the ESRB with descriptors for Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Mature Humor and Strong Language. |