Borderlands 4
After watchingBorderlands 4 ’s most recent laggard , I am positive thatI will enjoy the secret plan a mountain more if it live light on the level and heavy on the activity . I ’ve been a fan of theBorderlandsfranchise from the commencement , and I ’ve play every mainline game , as well asTales from the Borderlands . Despite being a big fan of the serial , its attack at storytelling have never really catch me that much . Borderlands 3 ’s overbearing narrative elements in finicky are part of why I ’ve only played through the game one time .
Warning : The come after article includes spoilers for character death in previous Borderlands games . So far , we ’ve gotten two looks atBorderlands 4 . ThefirstBorderlands 4trailercame during the Game Awards , and a late release datetrailer appeared at State of Play 2025 . ab initio , I was n’t all that stir about the secret plan free-base on the first laggard ’s emphasis on tarradiddle component , but the more recent one did a secure job cue me why I fell in passion with the enfranchisement in the first place . My promise is that the new game does a better job thanBorderlands 3at capturing what makes the games so much playfulness .
Borderlands' Story Has Never Been Its Selling Point
Borderlands’ Appeal Is Its Wacky Tone And Fun Gameplay
This may be an unpopular opinion , but I thinkthe onlyBorderlandsgame that utterly balance its narrative and gameplay elements was the first game . I love a lot of story - heavy games , but I ’m not appear for too many narrative elements in a spoiler - shooter likeBorderlands . I ’m look to find cool weapon system and use them to make enemies detonate into bloody chunks .
marchland 4 got a tone ending date at the State of Play , which some fans think could be a steer towards GTA 6 ’s because of their portion out parent company .
While I may not be a big fan ofBorderlands ’ story , I do love its tone . Its godless sense of humor is perfectly suited to a biz where I spend most of my playtime popping heads with my sniper rifle . The first game mostly bank on its way and environmental storytelling to teach actor about the world of Pandora , and it keep the timber lighthearted and fun more often than not . Unfortunately , every game since has feel the need to make the story magnanimous and more dramatic , to the detail where it has begun to compromise this playful tone .
Stories In The Borderlands Games Happen At The Player
Players Witness Big Events They Have No Impact On
I consider one of my boastful issues with the stories in theBorderlandsfranchise is that they often feel like they are find around me , but that I ’m not very involved in them . A good example of this is when Lilith warps you out from Sanctuary right before it takes off inBorderlands 2 . Sanctuary is being bombard by Handsome Jack ’s satellite , he and the characters fromBorderlands 1are exchange verbal barb , and the hoagy are delivering cool one - liner . However , this is all happening while I ’m just standing on a drop-off , watch over from far forth like a human camera .
TheBorderlandsfranchise leans too heavily on attempt to pore big spectacular moments around the death of the serial ' serious characters .
Probably the worst example of the player find like a non - entity inBorderlands ’ story is Maya ’s end inBorderlands 3.The game ’s main antagonists murder Maya while your fictitious character is in the same elbow room , and the game fundamentally pretends you do n’t exist . The moment would feel a lot more earned if I fight the Calypso Twins first , was somehow disenable , and then Maya was killed . It would make me palpate hangdog and prompt me to need to make up for countenance her cash in one’s chips . or else , I ’m go out questioning why my character even exists in this narrative .
Custom image by Sean Migalla
In general , theBorderlandsfranchise leans too intemperately on trying to center heavy dramatic moments around the death ofthe series ' best characters , like Roland inBorderlands 2or Maya in3 . These moments always feel forced , especially since the franchise ’s respawn mechanic is a canonic part of the biz ’s earth . I ’ve watched Roland pop off 100 of times throughout my manyBorderlands 1playthroughs , so or else of getting teary - eyed when he dies in the sequel ’s storey , I’m question why he did n’t just pop back out of the nearest young - U Station .
Borderlands 4’s Newest Trailer Was Exciting Due To Its Lack Of Story
An Emphasis On Gameplay Reminded Me Why I Love This Franchise
Borderlands 4 ’s original trailerfelt like it belonged to a different enfranchisement . The timbre felt very somber , andas someone who likesBorderlandsleast when it ’s trying to take itself too seriously , I was pretty put off by this . It also featured one of the most ho-hum and generic action movie tropes : two groups of characterless character ( to whom I have no emotional connection ) running at each other in a big empty playing field . It felt so distant from theBorderlands 1trailer ’s absurd promise of “ 87 Bazillion Guns , ” but luckily , the late drone feel a lot more on - brand .
border district 4 looks do to shake things up , but it could absolutely do good from taking a essential automobile mechanic from one of 2024 ’s proficient RPGs .
TheBorderlands 4Release Date Trailer was all gameplay tied together by some slick redaction and hip - hop courtesy of Joey Valence & Brae . Not only did the trailer do a much serious line capture the manner and tone ofBorderlands , butit also remind me why I care the game in the first berth : they ’re a mess of fun . I have complaints aboutBorderlands 2 ’s story , but I ’ve still played the game multiple times because I just really savour the gameplay loop-the-loop . Borderlands 4looks beautiful and seems to have some interesting raw gameplay founding that I ’m eager to essay .
Borderlands 4 Needs To Emphasize Fun Gameplay Instead Of Getting Lost In Its Own Mythology
Borderlands Is Best When It Isn’t Trying To Be Overly Dramatic
Borderlands 4looks like a lot of fun , so I ’m merely hoping that the game can remember that fun is its chief perquisite . Since there are a lot of video games much better suit to tug at my heartstrings , ifBorderlandswants to contend for my attention , it needs to trust on what makes it particular : its gameplay and its alone style . I do n’t want to be sitting on my couch , roll up my eye as the secret plan tries to make me care about FL4 K ’s death view , orwhoever it adjudicate to down fromBorderlands 3to force out an emotional bit .
I ’m really hoping that the inevitable Borderlands 4 DLC wo n’t calculate anything like the lackluster downloadable content from Tiny Tina ’s Wonderland .
I do n’t necessarily detest the concept ofBorderlands 4or any other game in the series including narrative elements . I laughed pretty hard the first time I got to the conclusion ofBorderlands 2and saw Claptrap being denied his requital by a flight of stairs . I have fond feeling towards characters like Tiny Tina and even Lilith , despite her often being closely tied to the serial ’ give out attempts at drama . I can see myself enjoyingBorderlands 4 ’s story , so long as it stays in its lane and does n’t rely on sleazy tricks to try and force striking moments .
