Today, Borderlands: The Handsome Collection arrives on the PlayStation 4 and with it a bevy of good times. The collection features both Borderlands: The Pre-Sequel and Borderlands 2, and both focus around Handsome Jack. What makes each a delight to play is a mixture of good/fun storytelling and the depth of gameplay. Rarely do games get both right, so right out of the gate you have a fantastic reason to eye this collection — and that’s without even a firm explanation.
So, let’s get this review going, folks.
Borderlands 2
My first taste of Borderlands was Borderlands 2 on the PS Vita. Let me just say that it was tough to enjoy the handheld version, as the controls were truly fighting against the game. That is something that most games coming from a big platform to handheld can and usually do experience. This latest go around with Borderlands 2 using a PlayStation 4 controller produced a nicer feel (and it helped that it was on my television). Having the ability to properly treat this like a first-person shooter without squinting helps to appreciate the craft and care that Gearbox Software put into their title.
The controls are easy to use, as they come off as a standard FPS would be on the PS4 controller. The use of the touchpad is appropriate, as you can access the upgrade and management system through this method. Everything about the controls felt tight and right, so I really have no complaints in this department. In comparison to the PS Vita controls, this felt like a dream come true. I literally had one of those, ‘Oh, so this is what the game feels like’ moments. I know the PC purist out there are probably rolling their eyes at that statement, grumbling something about how the keyboard/mouse seems to be a better way to go, but I must ask them to refrain their elitist views to let a console gamer like myself — just for a moment — so that I can enjoy what I consider the finer controls in life.
Moment over. Continue your eye rolling.
The gameplay itself is something to behold. It takes everything you love about FPS titles, throws in a dash of role-playing game elements, mixes in some Skyrim scope to it and then sets it all in a funny, brutal environment to explore. I would imagine this is how Mad Max’s world ended up after escaping the grasp of Tina Turner. In all seriousness, the gameplay is exquisitely and intelligently built. Outside of the main story in Borderlands 2, the game gives you reasons to explore the wastelands of the world. Finding special guns, shields or just generally odd items to use is quite enough to make gamers go off the beaten path, even if that means dying over and over again.
What’s also fascinating about the gameplay is that it is a bit loosey-goosey, even when it’s trying to be linear. Killing bosses doesn’t require a formula to follow. You can try various ways to take down the bad guys. For example, the first official boss in the game is placed in a large landscape of machinery that will shoot fire out of the floor. Putting yourself on the floor is absolute insanity, as onslaught of enemies will have you panicking in all directions, while at the same time avoiding the shooting flames from the floor. Activating the fight before jumping on the floor will put you at an advantage of sorts. I sat by the ammo and health machines outside of this fight and kept firing until I was out of ammo, reloading and continuing until the main bad guy was dead — all without coming face-to-face with this guy or his minions. It’s flexible gameplay finesse like this that makes Borderlands 2 a treat. And that helps out quite a bit, as I didn’t have cooperative play to fall back on.
Speaking of help, again remember that this was my first experience with Borderlands (not a PC guy), I love the fact that the game understands it’s difficult, so it allows you to kill people, potentially die and then come back without having to kill the same people again. The ability to pick up a fight where you left off after you die is something I think most games should institute. I loved this part of Borderlands 2 . Having said that, understand that once you save and quit the game will reset its respawns. Think about where you are before you decide to jump ship for dinner or rethink about picking up kids from soccer practice (kidding).
Visually, the game comes in at 1080p/60fps (I have nothing to measure the 60fps, but my eyes say it is). The cel shading animation probably helps that a bit, as it is probably lighter on the processor/RAM than other animation styles. Honestly speaking, I’m not sure Borderlands in general would work without that animation style. It gives it a rough, yet bright edge to the overall narrative and feel of the series. The PlayStation 4 certainly loves the animation and treats it quite well, at least comparative to the PC side. If you’re looking for details, draw distance and what not, it does those things as well. It’s a pretty game that runs smoothly on a current generation system.
On the audio side, the music is nice, but it’s overshadowed by the acting and script. I’m not sure I’ve enjoyed a game’s dialogue so much. The game features memorable characters, good story structure and endless amounts of funny moments. It’s a treat to listen to unfold, even its background chatter.
Had they only released Borderlands 2 for the PlayStation 4, it would have been worth at least $39.99. It’s a fun game to play on the PS4 and one that I would have gladly dropped dough on, if we hadn’t received it for free.
Borderlands: The Pre-sequel!
I would like to defer to Nick Rinken’s review of Borderlands: The Pre-Sequel on the PC side, mainly for a better explanation of gameplay. I’m still chugging away at the gameplay and I feel like Nick has done a fascinating job with explaining the breakdown of it.
Having said that, the gameplay is pretty much the same as Borderlands 2 in terms of layout and how things feel. The level tree is laid out the exact same way, as is the structure for weapons and reward tokens. It’s essentially, as far as I can tell up to this point, the same gameplay structure as Borderlands 2.
The big difference between both games is the story, though Jack is still the central figure in the game. You start off the game with helping Handsome Jack escape from a crumbling space station (sort of). You end up on an atmosphere-less moon, which puts you in the midst of the action right when you step out and realize there is no oxygen. Jumping from oxygen bubble to oxygen bubble is so much fun and expected in an environment like this. What I love about Gearbox and 2K Australia is how they took into account the physics of the environments and what that means to you. Jumping and moving can be a slow chore at times (and you don’t stay in this type of environment the entire time), but it makes sense within the story they built for it. It’s a great way to start the game and it launches from there.
Another difference, and one that might make people happy, is that they upped the difficulty and the need to strategize just a tad. The first boss you encounter will tell you two things (not literally):
A. Gearbox wanted to make sure you had a challenge on your hands, if you’re going solo.
B. Using the cooperative play option might be in your best interest and lead to your best chance at not wanting to throw this game out the window.
Granted, you should be playing co-op in either game because it’s fun, but the need for survival is one of the better reasons to go co-op. Having played Destiny from launch to February, it’s more fun to grind out some elements of a game with a friend anyway. Again, you will save windows and walls in your house (maybe house pets as well).
Visually, Borderlands: The Pre-Sequel is a gorgeous game that comes in at 1080p/60fps (I have nothing to measure the 60fps, but my eyes say it is). It certainly has some more intricately detailed environments to work with, certainly more than what you’ll find in Borderlands 2. You’ll see that from the first time landing on the barren moon, where the draw distance and background imagery is breathtaking. Of course, you won’t have much time to enjoy the view because of the onslaught of enemies, but it’s there.
While I complimented the hell out of Borderlands 2 for its wonderful use of script and superb acting, Borderlands: The Pre-Sequel actually ups the ante. The dialogue with Jack at the get-go will certainly make you laugh and set the tone for the rest of the adventure. Enjoy the script and story, it’s a big treat in this one.
So after reading this trite review, why would you want this game? It has two solid games included that are worth a damn. They’re in a collection for a good reason. One doesn’t outweigh the other in terms of entertainment. They are two great games in one box that are remastered to fit nicely on the PlayStation 4. Also, the current add-on content comes with it. The price of $59.99 isn’t at all unreasonable, unless you own it on the PC, then you probably want to rethink purchasing it again. For those of you who don’t own these titles and want something fun, pretty, challenging and deep (that you can play co-op with friends), then this is probably something you want to put on your list.
Gearbox and 2K Australia certainly put together a great pair of games in one collection. It is, in fact, a ‘handsome’ deal.
C’mon, you knew I was going there sometime this review.