Battleborn Reviews
Battleborn has a strong cast of characters and exciting action, but suffers from a lack of content, frustrating server issues, and some questionable design choices.
And even with a number of problems, it's still a lot of fun to play.
Battleborn isn't a bad game in the sense that it lacks work or effort – the team has clearly put in the hours – it's just that, for me, it's an uninspiring result which can't justify its hefty price tag.
An ambitious team shooter that struggles with its identity and is let down by a weak script and try-hard comedy.
Battleborn is by no means a perfect game. Underneath its flaws however, there is a satisfying and fun character-driven shooter to be found.
It's tough to actually decide where I stand on Battleborn. One the one hand I can see that it's a competently made game with plenty of charm in its varied roster and one fresh gameplay mode that I would happily play again. Yet the single player was a bore in its core gameplay loop, the two multiplayer modes have issues with their map design, and the gating of characters and abilities just feels unnecessary for a MOBA. However, it is still possible to get a kick or two out of Battleborn.
All in all, I'd say Battleborn is a very well made game. The gameplay is fun and actually well thought out, and the characters all bring something different to the table. The story mode can be hit or miss, but the competitive side of things is really where the game shines in its strategy and game play.
All of that makes Battleborn feel light, airy, and inconsequential. It's enjoyable in its best moments and especially in one of its multiplayer modes, but the problem comes with its lack of longevity. It's clearly a game built to be enjoyed in the long-term, like the MOBAs that inspired it, but it doesn't have the legs to run that far. This is a game built to be played repeatedly over the course of months, but I felt tired of it after a week.
Classic Gearbox shooting with an experimental MOBA twist, but it's no Borderlands.
Battleborn mixes the FPS and MOBA genres to produce a game that oozes character and original ideas. Just don't expect to love it straightaway.
In the end, I'm enjoying my time with Battleborn.
The game doesn't shine unless you have real communication among teams, which is tough to find with random players. I can't see myself sticking around to learn all the different Battleborn and embrace what this game is ultimately about without a group of friends to play it with.
Battleborn left me feeling like it was not bad or good, it just is, and that's not a good thing.
Balancing issues, niggling design problems, and a dearth of content keep Gearbox's new sci-fi shooter from being all it can be
Battleborn is like a one-man band—there's a whole lot going on, but the final product suffers due to spread resources. While lack of maps and missions may be resolved with DLC, the launch product comes off a bit shallow.
When considering Battleborn as a full package, there's a lot there to sink your teeth into. It's unique blend of various game modes and various ways to play means you'll have a lot of fun experimenting in Battleborn, especially when it comes to the game's charming and humours characters. Battleborn will provide you with entertainment and a level of uniqueness that has become a rarity in AAA games. Unfortunately, it can't help but be felt that Battleborn falls just short of its potential and is held back by frustrating mission design, overly harsh difficulty and lack of multiplayer content.
In conclusion, Battleborn is a difficult game for me to review. The maps, especially the competitive ones, can feel uninspired, but the art style of the overall presentation is comically beautiful. The writer job is wonderful, as is Gearbox's norm, and the deep roster of 25 playable characters will only get bigger with future DLC.
Battleborn resembles a game designed by a committee, there a so many characteristics of multiple genres that it's difficult to sum up what exactly it wants to be. Aside from its charming presentation and humorous characters, it all feels a little shallow, offering snippets of things we've seen hundreds of times before.
Battleborn is inconsistent but still has an opportunity to shine
With issues peppering its campaign as well as its multiplayer, Battleborn's fusion of first-person shooter and MOBA is far from a complete success. A lengthy list of complaints comes perilously close to overshadowing proceedings, so it's fortunate that its engaging upgrade system and varied roster of characters end up being the true stars keeping you invested in the multiplayer.