Borderlands the Pre-Sequel: blast from the past, emphasis on the blast

Borderlands the Pre-Sequel feels like an expansion of its predecessors though it feels weird calling them that since this game technically comes first in the timeline. The developers don’t try to reinvent the wheel here; you’ll find the deep customization, cartoonish art style and zany abilities returning in force. Sadly that goes for some of the series’ weaknesses but overall you’ll find plenty of laughter and of course, plenty of loot. There are multiple ways to get your hands on Borderlands the Pre-Sequel: STEAM for PC, PS3 and Xbox 360

The story this time revolves around Jack and his fall from grace, his transition from hero into a truly unique villain. The downward spiral at times features Jack as the “misunderstood villain” but the expertly crafted writing and dialogue keeps it from feeling recycled. Jack’s narcissistic attitude is back 100% and its hilarious, fitting right in with the premise you’d expect from a borderlands game.

Back along with Jack is the crazy, at times literally high flying combat with bullets zooming in all directions. The only issue with the combat is that there will be times you wish for more of it. For a game that self-identifies as a first person shooter, there needs to be less Zelda-esque trekking and wandering and more shooting. The times where you’ll have to wander from point A to point B are a little boring. It’s not a new problem for the franchise so if you have some distant memories of doing this prior to this game, they may bubble up to the surface.

That aside, Borderlands the Pre-Sequel comes into its own fairly quickly. Wilhelm, Athena and Claptrap come prepared for battle in varying ways with the latter’s abilities changing depending on the combat situation. The looting system is quite generous and you won’t find a plethora of grinding to bog you down so you can customize your character. There are numerous drops that you’ll be able to get your hands on in Borderlands the Pre-Sequel. Review some of the wikis or walk-throughs for specific details to upgrade your character easier.

Overall you’ll get more of the same with the newest iteration of Borderlands and that’s not a bad thing. It’s a shame some of the more obvious issues weren’t fixed for this go-around but you’ll find that it delivers on the things you bought the game for: ridiculous skill trees, unorthodox battling and plenty of shooting. The story offers some new depth for Jack and the series and keeps you laughing throughout. Knuckle up and buckle up, you’re in for a wild ride here.