Borderlands Game Of The Year Review

One cannot discuss Borderlands without addressing its most striking feature: the art style. During development, Gearbox Software made a pivotal last-minute pivot from realistic military aesthetics to a distinct, "concept art" cel-shaded style. This decision remains the game's greatest anti-aging serum.

The original game expected you to drive across vast, empty deserts repeatedly. The remaster adds a mini-map but not fast-travel between all zones. You will spend 20% of your playtime just holding the accelerator on the Runner buggy. borderlands game of the year review

Unlike its much louder, more story-driven sequels, Borderlands 1 takes a "less is more" approach. You arrive on Pandora as one of four mercenaries—Lilith, Roland, Mordecai, or Brick—each with their own unique action skill, looking for a mythical alien treasure known as The Vault. One cannot discuss Borderlands without addressing its most

Procedurally generated guns are now standard, but in 2009, Borderlands ’ “bazillions of guns” was a revolution. The remaster preserves that addictive loop: kill, open chest, compare stats, repeat. The satisfying thwack of a high-damage revolver or the chaotic spray of an Eridian alien weapon still triggers a dopamine hit. The original game expected you to drive across

The original’s notorious compass is replaced with a Borderlands 2 -style mini-map, making navigation vastly better.

The weapon system remains the highlight, with vast arrays of guns featuring different rarities, elemental properties, and manufacturer-specific behaviors (e.g., Tediore’s fast reload vs. Jakobs’ high damage). The game encourages trying out all four characters, as their distinct skill trees make them feel vastly different in combat.