Borderlands: The Pre-Sequel Reviews
A well-executed but thoroughly unambitious extension of Borderlands 2. Low-grav jumping adds a new dimension to combat.
Borderlands: The Pre-Sequel successfully builds on the series' many strengths while repeating its pacing mistakes.
Borderlands: The Pre-Sequel is a hilarious, fan-focused continuation of the series' core values. But lacking any truly evolution, it makes for a fun diversion rather than a meaningful new chapter.
Low gravity makes The Pre-Sequel more than a simple rehash of the Borderlands formula
Borderlands: The Pre-Sequel brings you more of the loot and lighthearted humor you love, though it never quite overcomes the gravity of its predecessors.
If you've ever played a Borderlands game, this is mostly more of the same. If not, it's a solid albeit unspectacular shooting and loot-hoarding.
If you've played Borderlands and the sequel, devoured all the available DLC, and still want more, that's exactly what the Pre-Sequel delivers. If you're looking for anything measurably different than your prior experiences with the series, though, The Pre-Sequel won't satisfy. And this lack of ambition only serves to disappoint: there's a fantastic game buried in here, somewhere, if only its caretakers would perform a serious overhaul.
If you're a Borderlands fan who's looking to scratch that itch for loot-based four-player firefights, then this will serve your needs well until the next core installment in the franchise. Otherwise, you're better off waiting for the inevitable Game of the Year package. Borderlands: The Pre-Sequel fails to reach the stars, but at least it maintains orbit.
Despite that glowing praise, I am torn, because I also recognize that it is far from perfect. The environmental art direction gets dull too quickly, the level design is lacking in basic conveniences, and a general sloppiness is present when looking closely. Some of the cool new features like multi-leveled areas and combining weapons could have been enhanced further if the user interface and systems had been updated to play to those strengths. Borderlands: The Pre-Sequel is a solid entry to the series, but I hope that the development team takes some of the failings to heart and delivers excellence in the future.
Much like a Claptrap, parts of Borderlands: The Pre-Sequel try too hard to be liked. The freezing element, although welcome, doesn't add much to the gameplay.
Borderlands: The Pre-Sequel further refines the existing Borderlands formula, but it is far from a notable evolution of the experience. Shooting and looting is as fun as ever and characters feel varied, a definite step forward. However, uninspired mission design and a lacking narrative are all too constant and familiar issues.
Borderlands 2 felt like a huge step on from the original, and it was more colourful, with interesting characters and intense situations. The Pre-Sequel seems to try so, so hard to keep up, but this is not Borderlands 3, and the game – and everyone who plays it – knows that.
It can't be said that Borderlands: The Pre-Sequel, developed by 2K Australia instead of Gearbox Entertainment, is anything but self-aware
Though opinions varied, we all agreed that while this is a good Borderlands game, it lacks the polish and innovation to stand on its own legs. While it probably should've been DLC, it's still more Borderlands fun for anyone starving for more Vault hunting action.
'Borderlands: The Pre-Sequel' offers more story for hardcore fans but plays like a dated clone of the older games, trading polish for gimmicks.
Borderlands: The Pre-Sequel is a funny cartoon shooter that compels you to keep playing and score more guns. Just like the last two. Laser weapons and moon bouncing add a little extra flavor, but if you don't like Borderlands by now, this won't change things.
Fans of Borderlands should really check this out, even if it is against your "better judgment." There's still some fun stuff to be had in this series.
Borderlands: The Pre-Sequel isn't without its issues, but it's still a fun game. Mostly everything about Borderlands 2 is present in The Pre-Sequel with a few changes, some good and some bad. Overall though, with the excellent gameplay, somewhat higher difficulty and challenge, and the excellent dialogue and narrative by characters both old and new, fans of Borderlands 2 will likely get the same amount of enjoyment out of The Pre-Sequel.
While it doesn't reinvent the wheel, Borderlands: The Pre-Sequel is tweaked sufficiently to warrant being its own entity. The oxygen, new classes, and gravity mechanics make gameplay feel fresh, while the story provides enough of a thread to tie things together. Sure, the missions and environments are repetitive and there are some technical hiccups, but The Pre-Sequel is fun to play, and well worth a look for fans of loot and/or shooting.