Borderlands 3 and I don’t seem particularly compatible; not on paper, anyway. We don’t have a whole lot in common. The eleventy gazillion gun options in its predecessor? That overwhelmed me more than it intrigued. The in-your-face hyper-meta edgelord humour? Nah, I’m good, ta.
I’d ventured to Pandora before, but they were little more than fleeting visits, really. Though a fervent FPS fan, Pandora’s beige world of anarchy and excess just didn’t click for me. So, as I stepped back into Pandora for Borderlands 3 I was open-minded if a tad hesitant. It’s always daunting, stepping into a well-heeled universe, especially one this loved. Would I understand the plot? Will there be too many in-jokes?
Borderlands 3 reviewDeveloper: 2KPublisher: GearboxPlatform played: PS4 ProAvailability: Out now on PS4, Xbox One and PC
It turns out my fears were unfounded, and it’s to Gearbox’s credit that while I’m waiting for the novelty of this sequel’s balls-to-the-wall mayhem to wear off, it still hasn’t.
There’s too much of everything here, though; too many guns, too much loot, too many bandits, too much driving, banter, talking, and too many irksome, irritating villains. This sequel wears these excesses proudly, like a Day-Glo badge of honour tattooed in shades of shocking pink. No, it’s not a particularly cerebral experience, but nor is it trying to be; while stuffed with gore and violence and frankly infantile humour, Borderlands 3 is a solid shooter with a meaty 30-ish hour campaign, plentiful – if repetitive – busywork, and a colourful cast of hard-to-forget characters.
90 Minutes of Borderlands 3 Co-Op Gameplay – Borderlands 3 Flak Co-Op Gameplay Watch on YouTube
That said, it deviates little from the blueprint that grew the franchise such a devoted fandom, and it’s entirely up to you to decide if that’s a good thing or a bad one. Whilst your skills and weaponry evolve as you progress, the mechanics of the game – shoot, loot, manage your inventory; shoot, loot, manage your inventory – essentially remain the same whether you’re ten minutes or ten hours into the campaign. It’s a hypnotic loop and one that’s deliciously satisfying given the game’s stunning presentation, fantastic soundtrack, and rock-solid gunplay.