IGN: Borderlands Review

IGN Writes: "For the uninitiated, this is a loot hunting game like Blizzard's Diablo. The action begins and you're flung out into an open world with a handful of quests and legions of baddies who'll do whatever they can to prevent you from killing their leaders, wiping out an arbitrary number of their compatriots, opening drain valves in their hideouts, snatching up important artifacts and documents, or collecting a large number of shiny objects. There's a tale of a secret vault and advanced technology and a snowy image of a female face that pops onscreen when important things are about to happen, nudging you forward and providing additional narrative context, but this isn't a choice and consequence game with morality systems and labyrinthine quest strings. It's the loot that's the real motivator here."

[Syko]

Can't wait, This game is gonna be great. The Co-Op and the loot will be beyond addicting.

[MGRogue2017]

You can watch IGN's Video Review of this game in HD here:

http://www.youtube.com/watc...

The video was only just uploaded.. so Give the video some time to process & the HD button should appear soon! :D

[StanLee]

Great score. Destructoid gave the game a 8.5.

[pangitkqb]

Honestly, this is the kind of game I have been waiting on for a long time. Open world Sandbox gameplay has taken way to too long to get to consoles. Now that it is here...I am thrilled. I genuinely hope more open world games (here's lookin' at YOU, upcoming Elder Scrolls V!!!)are made with full co-op in mind.

[dreamcast]

Glad to see it getting good scores. This will be the last game I buy for a while.

[Dread]

great score

i might get it after all.

I bet all you sony fans will be getting this for the PC. Or do you only do this when the game is console exlcusive for the 360?

[starcb26]

is co-op local and online or just online

[MrFoobs]

The co-op is 2 player local / 4 player online & system link.

Imo, this game is a 9. :D

[Chimerhazzard]

"I bet all you sony fans will be getting this for the PC. Or do you only do this when the game is console exlcusive for the 360?"

Naah, I get the PC version whenever I can. It's cheaper and has much better graphics and controls than the PS3 / Xbox360 version. Why waste more money on an inferior console version? Only if you don't have a PC good enough to run it :P

[dreamcast]

"I bet all you sony fans will be getting this for the PC. Or do you only do this when the game is console exlcusive for the 360?"

Wow, people have a PS3 and a PC and don't find the need to buy a console just to play games that are already available to them... is that a difficult concept to grasp?

[Sevir04]

I much prefered the old look of this game. it lost its appeal to me when it went cartoony. just like the new prince of persia

[TVippy]

I agree, but in my opinion it worked for Prince pretty well. But not for this game.

[hakeem0996]

I actually love the new look of the game although i was already psych about it before the change .I personally think that photorealism will be the death of gaming .people know a days are more interested in how real a game look than how much fun it is.

Games like KILLZONE 2 and CRYSIS are forgettable and uneventful.

If you want realism get out of your house and interact with people.

[thor]

No we all know that the reason they chose this style of graphics is because they couldn't make it look real, or make it look good with a realistic theme. Graphics add to a game. Killzone 2's graphics are actually heavily stylised. This notion that "gameplay" and "graphics" are completely distinct is wrong. Graphics are what you see ALL THE TIME whilst you play. The graphics define the game. Graphical glitches can ruin the enjoyment, graphical effects can increase immersion and provide new gameplay possibilities (smoke grenades, shadows etc.) Being pretty to look at is a GOOD THING.

[nycredude]

I am very interested in this game. I have one placeholder from the toysrus 3 for 2 deal to use and I am thinking either this or Rachet and Clank. I like FPS and RPG but I also like a good story. It seems this game is really good with coop but just ok by yourself and I don't have many friends into this type of game so I am afraid atm I have to pass. Maybe when it drops in price. Right now Demon's Souls is eating up all my time!

Graphics and art style looks great and different though!

[Natsu X FairyTail]

Sounds good to me. I might rent it.

[alhail99]

Wow
Good score from IGN
well I don't care about the review anyways as I already pre-ordered it few months ago

[willud4skins]

ill pass tho

[FanBoy Advance]

Great score for a Great game. ( Hopefully )

[JonnyBigBoss]

Not bad! I'm impressed.

[tgh machines]

I have to agree 100% with this review. The worst part about the game is the lack of action abilities/skills. Every skill is passive which really sucks. Hopefully they will add some more action skills in the sequel, or even DLC.

[XsteveJ]

The new art was kind of a let down for me, but if the new graphics help the game, then so be it.

Excited about the game. Pickin' up my copy after work tomorrow!

[StarScream4Ever]

The review is just as I thought it would. But I'm not going to buy this game becuz I just do not like the generic looks on the characters or the gameplay. Either I was expecting more or less I do not quite sure.

[chak_]

reads like a 7 but nevermind, still getting it.

[MK_Red]

Batman Arkham Asylum, Halo ODST, Demon's Souls, Uncharted 2, Brutal Legend and now Borderlands. Good time to be a gamer.

[silvacrest]

looks decent

coop looks interesting too

[i3eyond the Circle]

Xbox Live and 4 good friends make this game a 10 for me.

This game is the most enjoyable game I've played all year.

Loving the RPG elements.

But the real multiplayer RPG experience comes when this drops.

http://www.joystiq.com/2009...

Gameplay vid is sick.

[mastiffchild]

Meh. Despite the opening and scaracters looking pretty there's very little else that seems good about the vid to me, and I was hoping for better this time around. The most disappointing thing(even allowing for the expected limited gameplay in a slasher)is the jerky animations which just don't measure up to the excellent backdrops and char models.

Maybe I'm just in the "once bitten, twice shy" camp over this one after feeling really underwhelmed the first time but if they want my dollars/pounds or Euros they're gonna have to do a bit better than that. With a H&S game you have to have smooth transition animations and, for me, they weren't there AND a few extras to spice up the core gameplay and calling one of your combos "bastard" doesn't quite do it!

Hopefully it'll be better when we play it, and I'm still interested but would have liked to see what the 360 version was like and whether there' likely or not to be a strong comnmunity for it on Live as I have my doubts right now-didn't see much in the PC bideo that 360 wouldn't be able to get pretty close to though as although the screens are busy and detailed it still looked jerky-we'll see but I really expected a bit better from this. Might play amazingly though, who knows just yet?

Thought I'd be a little more excited by it, mind, but I'll keep an eye out.

[chak_]

I'm a little worried solo experience will be meh :(

Too bad I don't have 3 good friend to play with, I'll try random dudes though

[i3eyond the Circle]

Good thing is you get to bring your stuff from co op to single player

[XsteveJ]

If you're on Live Chak, hit me up

XsteveJ

I'm gonna need good people to play with too

[Its_The_Truth]

Nice One GearBox finally a game that fullfills my FPS/RPG cravings. They took a chance on combining elements of various games but unlike other games Borderlands pulled it off. gonna love it on my PS3 along with Demon Souls Ninja Gaiden Sigma 2 Ratchet and Clank already loving Uncharted 2. The end of 09' is Crazy with all these amazing titles and early 10' is gonna be massive for PS3. Nows the time to buy a PS3.

[Captain Tuttle]

Nice score. I'm toying with the idea of going to the midnight release at my Gamestop. It's a good sign that they got enough pre-orders to do one.

[themyk]

8.8 nice. only solidifying my want and need for this game.

[Defectiv3_Detectiv3]

Somehow they managed to give ODST a higher score

But really, not that an 8.8 is bad and all, but I thought this was more of an AAA game...they don't really justify the score in their review, it seems like it should be higher.

[PS3Freak]

Enough with the talk about justification of scores below 9.5. Why does everyone insist on complaining about review scores. Just play the games.

[ambientFLIER]

Somehow he managed to not understand how review scores work. Well done.

[ForROME]

Im buying it on PS3 looks great, day one purchase for me

[mastiffchild]

I usually get my multis for the PS3(controller preference and more mates on PSN)but I heard there were issues with the PS version(really bad slowdown in big gunfights)from a mate who's usually pretty hinest and knowledgable-I cannot, however, find anything online syggesting he's been told the truth here so looks like a rent first option for me while I wait for my DS to arrive from the US.

I don't normally find that the differences are worth bothering with these days but has noone else heard bad things of the PS3 version? I hope it's just BS.

[Raoh]

that's a good score.. I've downloaded it already just waiting for it to verify so its safe to go online.

[AliTheBrit19]

Going to rent this game

[divideby0]

who has the time or money for this game.....with UC2, Demon Souls and MW....all of which totally own BL...

[VanHalen]

I love the cell shaded look! Something different for a change. Not sure if im gonna be into the rpg style of it. I dont wanna keep having to mess with so many different skill levels and crap. Thats the only thing that turns me off about it. Isnt it kinda overwhelming when it comes to an rpg? I Think Demons Souls looks awesome, but didnt get it because of this. Is it really all that difficult to get into? I tried Fallout 3 and was a little overwhelmed by all of that. Bioshock on the other hand was just right, i loved that! Any info would be appreciated.

[TooTall19]

Not overwhelming. It sounds like the toughest part of this game is the actual combat. Getting this game ASAP

[Feral Gamer]

I'm picking this up for PS3 tomorrow. I don't have the cash, but I have a credit card ;)

[i like jam]

less than fallout more than bioshock. the game looks fantastic thanks for link to HD review.

[VanHalen]

Cool, thx guys!

[kaveti6616]

I hate scores like this. It's somewhere in the middle of being okay and being awesome. I just don't understand what to think of this game. Some people will think of this as a solid score, but I just don't know. 8.8 is several points down from Fallout 3, and that game depressed me too much after about 20 hours.

[beastbeast187]

I'm sure you can muster the intelligence to look past a number and actually read the review, or can you?

[Caudill]

Nice to see this getting good reviews.

I was picking it up tomorrow regardless but this just makes me want it even more. Looking forward to some co-op action!

[electricshadow]

I wasn't sure if I was going to get this game but for Canadian customers can buy it brand new this week for $39.99 at Futureshop so I'm just going to buy it tomorrow. Looks pretty fun!

[MGRogue2017]

http://www.youtube.com/watc...