BORDERLANDS
Publisher: 2k Games
Developer: Gearbox Software Game
Platform: PS3/360/PC
Release Date:
* 20 Oct 2009 [NA]
* 23 Oct 2009 [EU]
* 22 Oct 2009 [AU] - Unconfirmed but likely
Introduction: (from the official website)
Borderlands sends up to four co-op players to the harsh frontier planet Pandora in search of a mysterious Alien Vault legend. Featuring a unique First Person Roleplaying Shooter gameplay, you'll customize your character as you explore and battle enemies in frantic FPS combat. Countless challenges, monsters, quests and weapons are waiting for you and your friends in online co-op or split screen at home.
Features:
* 'The RPG and FPS made a baby' Hybrid gameplay
* Vast open-world to explore (and destroy)
* 'Level up' system and tech tree
* Procedurally generated guns, endless variation of guns (we're talking into the thousands!)
* 4 player Co-op, persistent and seamless integration of single & multiplayer games
* Unique cell-shading art direction
* Vehicular gameplay
* Madmax!! (but no Mel Gibson?!?) Good/Bad?
Gameplay Trailer:
Personal Thoughts:
I first heard about this game through an old PSN trailer when it still retained the original art style, it didn't look that interesting at the time so I went no further in my research.
Early this year however, Gearbox showed off a significantly changed Borderlands to the public with graphic akin to 'comic book' ala cell-shading. My interested piqued and I went on to discover that the highly ambitious project is a FPS/RPG Hybrid that is attempting to create a game that was a cross between Diablo and FPS, with all the addictive quality of the former and the mass market appeal & ease of play of the later.
Suddenly I am very interested in the direction this game is heading, and the more I saw of it, the more I'm excited for this game. The key of course is its ability to recreate the absolute fun factor that that is a critical component of any 'collection' game while also not go stale... as well as providing decent net-code and balance gameplay for co-op.
Watch for this game in the coming Holiday, it just may prove to be the most fun game of the year.
