That's kinda deliberate. They're trying to give a feeling of being alone

My own initial impression of this game is that it more or less was designed to be played as a multi-player game.

I haven't played through far enough yet, but already I've been noticing an extreme lack of NPC characters to interact with beyond people that give you missions, and guys that are shooting at you.

So yes, that does make the world feel a little empty and lifeless. Whether that's by design or not is a little irrelevant if it makes the game world boring to play in.

Since the natural tendency is to compare it with Fallout 3, I'd have to say Fallout did a much better job of setting up the story and context of your adventure, aided largely by interaction with a lot of NPC characters.

The funny thing about Fallout 3 was that I found myself wonder on numerous occasions how the game would have been with multi-player co-op and even as an MMORPG. I suppose you'd have something more like Badlands.

But they give you two chatterbox companions...

Why do you think the guy wants to shoot himself on the boxart?

That's what I was thinking about too.

I'm not saying Fallout 3 is some gold standard or that Borderlands should do everything Fallout 3 does, it shouldn't, but Fallout 3 takes place in a post-apopcolytpic world and it doesn't feel so dull.

Just think about a place like Megaton, the world may be dead but that town still feels alive.

Now think about Firestone, population 24.  There are about 10 tombostones, two or three closed off buildings, and a Dr.  That leaves another 10-ish characters they could have actually giving that town life.

Wow more depressing than Fallout 3? Me and my brother were thinking about getting Borderlands, but if it's just nothing but desert like Fallout 3 I'll save my money.

You'd probably have a lot of fun playing it together. Even has splitscreen mode.

With Borderlands, the more people playing, the better the enemies and of course, the better the loot. It really does favor multiplayer mode over single.

No, the world doesn't feel more alive. It has that MMORPG feel all through the game.

I mean, you do get to meet some more interesting characters later... but it's not much.

I mean, there is a city with people in them... but the people are just window dressing... it generally relies on the same thing MMORPGs rely on for life.  Other people.

New Haven is pretty bustling.

However, like everyone else said, it *is* designed for multi-player. Get a friend and play some co-op.

my personal favorite game of the year