Borderlands: Game of the Year Edition

Borderlands: Game of the Year Edition holds up as a fun loot shooter, but the improvements made in the remaster are minimal.

Between Borderlands: Game Of The Year Edition and the updates to the Handsome Collection, Borderlands is back in a big way, and that's to say nothing of the main attraction coming in September. Unlike more recent entries in this space, Borderlands doesn't hinge on fragile in-game economies or being stingy with loot. Instead, it's a game that just wants to have fun – silly, brash, play-it-with-friends kind of fun. Welcome back old friend, you have been missed.

I remember how, back in the day, in some unnamed discussions, hardcore RPG fans debated whether Diablo could be considered a representative of their beloved genre. With Borderlands, I found myself pondering a similar question. Is it more of an FPS or an RPG? It borrows character development and equipment mechanics from the RPG genre, but the other elements have been stripped down to the bare bones. Take, for example, the absence of any dialogue. From an FPS, on the other hand, I’d expect more dynamism and a drive to push forward. Constant gear swapping, quick respawns, and minimal plot aren’t exactly what I expect from a modern FPS. In both respects, the game is halfway there. Fortunately, Borderlands is a fun game, and the plot twist at the end genuinely amused me.

Over a decade later, Borderlands still offers righteous good times. The fact that you can now play it portably is just awesome so clear some space on your SD card and get ready to shoot some Midget Psychos in the head.

It’s undeniable that later games were better in almost every way that matters. For anyone who’s already played the hell out of them though, Borderlands: Remastered is there. It might take a while to get its hook in you, but if you give it a chance there’s some fun to be had here.

After you decide your character, you will go thru a short intro, and before you know it, you will be in Fyrestone, and that is when the game opens up to you. My suggestion is to try and not do only story missions.

Borderlands: Game of the Year Edition is everything we love and hate about Borderlands republished for 2019. It looks the same and plays the same, the only real difference is addition of a few quality of life improvements. Is it good enough for you?

It’s not often games get a second shot at a Game of the Year Edition, but Borderlands 1 makes the most of it. If you’re getting swept up in the Borderlands 3 hype and have somehow never played the original, there’s never been a better time or opportunity to start.

Borderlands: Game of the Year Enhanced reminds us of the magic and creativity of last generation's loot shooter.

Another chance to play the looter-shooter that started it all