Borderlands: The Pre-Sequel Reviews
'Borderlands: The Pre-Sequel' offers just enough content to move out of expansion territory and into full release, but barely. For those who can't get enough Borderlands and relish the opportunity to experience some new characters and abilities, this will tide you over for a few dozen hours. For everyone else, it's not exactly a must-play title.
Borderlands: The Pre-Sequel is a good game which will certainly deliver a lot of entertainment to those who have loved the franchise from the first installment, and the collaboration between 2K Australia and Gearbox could continue to deliver content for the franchise in the coming years.
Borderlands: The Pre-Sequel makes up for some major issues with pacing and level design by simply being a ridiculously fun cooperative romp. A few more months of development could have turned a good game into a great one, but there's still some great bouncy butt-slammin' action to get stuck into here.
If Borderlands 2 was an example of the series coasting under its own momentum, the Pre-Sequel is something of a master class in how to refine the series into a step forward. The underlying game isn't that different and it's filled with the same humor that you've come to expect, but the change of setting and the polishing of the gameplay have done wonders. The game seems more reliant on a central plot than the series is normally known for, and through it, you learn how Jack became such a horrible person. If you're like me and thought the Pre-Sequel is just another game in the series, then Claptrap's class isn't the only "Mistake." For being the third game in a franchise and with a name that implies it to be more of the same, Borderlands: The Pre-Sequel is a surprisingly fresh experience.
Before you start, you have to make a tacit agreement with Borderlands: The Pre-Sequel: This is one of those times where you'll gaze into the abyss, and the abyss will gaze into you.
The appeal lies in the game's simplicity as much as it lies in its alluring wackiness, crazy characters and superb atmosphere. What I often enjoy in Borderlands games is the narrative, which tends to mock itself in so many deliciously unique ways. With entertaining story-driven missions and will all the available content, I think it's safe to say that Borderlands: The Pre-Sequel is a pretty safe buy. The next addition to the series, however, definitely needs to move things forward. Yep, we would be very sad if the franchise would just end here.
Borderlands: The Pre-Sequel offers more of the same with some alterations, and that may be enough for fans of Borderlands 2. But if you only have a passing interest, wait until the price is reduced to a more reasonable level.
Fortunately, Pre-Sequel is largely more of the same with a few new extras. With the return of the True Vault Hunter Mode from previous games, the first thing you'll want to do after sitting (or skipping) through the credits will be to do it all over again - the biggest sign I can give you that Pre-Sequel is more than just a cut-and-paste copy of past games.
If the new additions in The Pre-Sequel! don't ultimately matter, then this is essentially an add-on to Borderlands 2, spread out over desolation. "The Blue Danube" never actually plays, but if it did, it would no longer signify marvel, only déjà vu, the nagging feeling that you've done this before, and it was better the first time.
More of the same? Probably but Borderlands: The Pre-Sequel is still a rollicking good time of murder, loot and moon-hopping.
It's hard to follow-up on what Gearbox Software has created over the last two iterations and what The Pre-Sequel brings is nothing short of a letdown. While 2K Australia were able to replicate certain parts of what made the Borderlands series fun, the frequent bugs, dull script, short campaign and repetitive world design will leave fans disappointed.
Tons of loot. Tons of action. It's mostly the same Borderlands you've played before, which based on your point of view, can be a good thing or a bad thing
Loot-a-licious
Borderlands: The Pre-Sequel is basically Borderlands 2 in space--a fun little stopgap game for fans to play while Gearbox works on Borderlands 3.
In many ways, the pre-sequel feels like a pleasant place-holder.
Ultimately, Borderlands: The Pre-Sequel stands as a last hurrah for Gearbox's RPG shooter in the form that we currently know it. With improvements that feel more incremental than innovative, 2K Australia have stepped up and provided a solid and long-lasting if technically safe entry in the Borderlands series and yet, it's one which stands out almost singularly on the merit of it's breathlessly entertaining cast and rowdy narrative.
Borderlands: The Pre-Sequel is a great addition to the series but it does feels more like a very big DLC game because it doesn’t bring in anything substantially new. Where it does pay off however is the humour in the writing and the story arc for the main antagonist – it is amazingly fleshed out to where you see this interesting character transition throughout the course of the game. But in the end there’s loads of content packed in and you’ll have a lot of fun smashing your way through the missions while we all wait for the next act in the Borderlands series to make an appearance.
Borderlands: The Pre-Sequel refreshes gameplay through some new mechanics and a whole new story, including a cast of familiar characters and brand new characters, while diving into the events that lead up to Borderlands 2. Fans of the series can look forward to plenty of new content and locations to explore, all while acquiring plenty of guns and equipment throughout, including a new weapon type and new equipment type. The game can feel focused on multiplayer at times, however the game is still a fun and enjoyable experience regardless, and will definitely give people the best bang for their buck, especially those who wish to know more about the Borderlands universe.
A trip to the moon offers some decent new ideas, but also is clearly a stop-gap release.
Worth playing for Borderlands fans and newbies alike.