Borderlands: The Pre-Sequel! is Definitely More Borderlands - Preview
by Jake Weston , posted on 14 June 2014 / 4,132 Views
We’ve seen many video game prequels in the last few years, quickly made, sometimes cheaply produced, and usually worked on by the publisher’s “B-team” while the next step forward in whichever hypothetical series we’re talking about is being developed. On one hand, it’s kind of refreshing that 2K Australia is addressing this head-on with their naming of Borderlands: The Pre-Sequel!, taking over the franchise from Gearbox Software as they work on whatever it is they’re currently working on. On the other hand, while the meta nature of the title certainly fits nicely with the series’ trademark humor, it doesn’t mask the feeling that this entry is indeed more of the same from 2012’s Borderlands 2, though if you’re a hardcore fan of the franchise, that’s certainly not a bad thing.
True to its namesake, The Pre-Sequel! takes place between Borderlands and Borderlands 2 (I guess Borderlands: The Interquel! wasn’t a zaaaaany enough title), focusing on Borderlands 2 antagonist Handsome Jack’s rise to power. Rather than playing as Vault Hunters like in previous games, The Pre-Sequel! instead focuses on Handsome Jack’s four henchmen, doing his dirty work for him on Pandora's moon.
The location brings the first major change from Borderlands 2, as the moon’s lack of oxygen means characters must wear oxygen masks and tanks, with oxygen supplies slowly depleting as players traverse across the moon’s landscapes. That said, the moon’s lower gravity allows players to jump to great heights, adding a much needed verticality that I always felt was missing from previous games. Should players want an extra boost, they can jettison oxygen from their air tanks, effectively giving them a double jump at the cost of oxygen supply.
I’m not sure how constantly dwindling oxygen supply will play out in the long term for the game - oxygen refill stations seemed plentiful - but I’m worried that this new mechanic detracts from Borderlands’ core gunplay. Mechanically, it’s pretty much unchanged, with the series’ penchant for many, many, many guns (a “bazilliondier” more guns than previous games, according to trailers, but I am skeptical) remaining intact. I was intrigued by the new ice weapons, which allow you to freeze enemies and smash them to bits, as well as the stomp move that allows you to slam into the ground from up high, damaging surrounding enemies.
As its title implies, Borderlands: The Pre-Sequel! definitely looks to be bringing new stuff to the table, but I’m not sure if it's quite enough to be considered, well, a sequel, but from what I played of my demo I genuinely had fun. The game seemed polished, and I very much appreciated the increased vertical mobility. If Borderlands: The Pre-Sequel! also delivers an upward increase in quality, then I will definitely be psyched to play it when it releases October 14th for PS3, Xbox 360, and PC.
