Borderlands 3 Game Review
3 Step Game Review
About the Game
Released
September 13, 2019
Developer
Gearbox Software
Price
US$ 59.99
(MAY VARY PER LOCATION)
Game Description
The original shooter-looter returns, packing bazillions of guns and an all-new mayhem-fueled adventure! Blast through new worlds and enemies as one of four brand new Vault Hunters – the ultimate treasure-seeking badasses of the Borderlands, each with deep skill trees, abilities and customization. Play solo or join with friends to take on insane enemies, score loads of loot and save your home from the most ruthless cult leaders in the galaxy. (continues…)
Step 1: Playing Conditions
Read below the game basic characteristics. If it is something you see yourself playing, move on to Step 2: Graphics & Sound.
Gameplay Overview
SHOOT, LOOT and MANAGE inventory/character. These are the 3 main things you will do in Borderlands 3, no need to say the shooting is the big one. If you have any resistance to one of these elements, this may not be your game.
The first hours of Borderlands 3 felt like playing Borderlands 2 on a different map. As game progress and “NEW” elements are introduced to the gameplay the feeling fades away a bit. But every “new” element in the game is not new to the FPS genre.
Borderlands franchise carries this expectation and is not fulfilled in its third title. Balance your expectations about that and you will have similar fun you had with Borderlands 1 and 2.
Step 2: Graphics & Sound
Watch 5 to 10 minutes of any video below. If you like what you see and hear, move on to Step 3: Game Evaluation.
Step 3: Game Evaluation
Build your expectations about the game by learning what it offers and how was The Partisan Spy’s experience.
USER INTERFACE
PC and console experiences will be totally different in this variable. The sensation is that the game was designed for consoles and QUICKLY adapted to PC.
UI hardcoded keybindings, controller config that influences keyboard config, and map navigation bugs are evidence of that.
Beyond that, the game needs polishing as for both platforms there are small issues like tooltips size and placements, weapons that disappear, and wrong weapons icons at the inventory. For an AAA title, these are QUESTIONABLE mistakes.
STORY
The game happens around a story told in a way EASY TO UNDERSTAND. Every once in a while, even during gameplay, an NPC pops-out on the screen making a comment or joke related to the story. These “small pills” helps you understand the moment of the story and feel part of it.
Content-wise, there are 2 kinds of SIDE MISSIONS: related or not to the story. The ones related to the main story gives more details about the local main mission events. Not to forget, the collectibles also brings more story details.
COMMUNITY POTENTIAL
Borderlands is a beacon for the genre, possibly the FPS PVE game with the biggest community at this time. Less than a hand full of PVE games are able to attract and keep players attention in such a PERMANENT way and B3 is one of them.
Core game content is huge, the COOP mode with different Vault Hunters brings players together, and DLCs will keep the game “alive”. Also, content generation has gone beyond guides and walk-throughs, as an example, its graphic style being used in different ways by the gaming community.
GAMEPLAY MOOD TRACKER
MOOD ANALYSIS
It was FUN and FRUSTRATING to play B3, the graph illustrates both feelings. The more time spent playing and learning the game brought satisfaction and joy. As you learn, the game pace accelerates which results in more action, more fun.
On the other hand, anything that breaks this rhythm generates frustration. Keybinding issues, game crashes, and mission bugs were continuous events that interfered with the 25 hours of gameplay. The result of my mood tracker is also frustrating because B3 deserved better than a mood average of NORMAL.
GRIND FEELING
As much content and variations that B3 provides (missions, side-missions, collectibles, different characters, vehicles…) shooting is a constant. If you love shooting and killing mobs, the grind feeling will never appear. Obviously that the elements mentioned above makes it more interesting and helps refresh your mind from the basics of shooting.
+30% of the game was completed during the 25 hours of gameplay and it did not reach the end of the main story missions. No grind feeling was experienced.
LOVED THE MOST
To play Borderlands again after 7 years was delightful.
HATED THE MOST
Game not being ready and having to play through bugs and performance issues.
EVALUATION SUMMARY
Unique. A beacon of innovation. A new point of view.
Make us rethink the FPS genre.
That is the biggest FOOTPRINT that Borderlands carry.
And because of that, Borderlands owned the RIGHT to take almost a decade between titles.
And because of that, B3 was so expected.
In this particular aspect, as hard as it may sound, Borderlands 3 is a FACELIFT UPDATE of Borderlands 2. After 7 years of waiting, the fanbase and the FPS community deserved more, deserved the expected NEW POINT OF VIEW. It is not there.
B3 price is not wrong, it’s fair. But if you never played a Borderlands game and want to know the franchise, you will find similar and cheaper fun in Borderlands 2.
Choices & Advice
DON’T BUY IT
IF YOU EXPECT TO FIND SOMETHING NEW TO THE FPS GENRE.
WAIT TO BUY
IF YOU ARE A FAN AND WANT A GAME FREE OF BUGS AND PERFORMANCE ISSUES.
BUY NOW
IF 7 YEARS OF WAITING HAS BEEN ENOUGH FOR YOU.
GAME LIFETIME
GAME CAN GIVE HUNDREDS OF HOURS OF GAMEPLAY, IT JUST DEPENDS HOW DEEP YOU WANT TO GO.
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