14 DAY TRIAL // What we know:
Borderlands was a surprising hit in 2009 and Gearbox is hoping to deliver another impressive and addictive game this year with a sequel that takes players back to Pandora and refines all the significant gameplay mechanics.
For starters, the four character classes we know from the original are gone, replaced by a whole new mix, two of which are known at the moment.
Gearbox has repeatedly said that their main aim is to create an entirely new dynamic, with roles that are harder to master but at the same time offer more variety in terms of potential builds.
The game will also change the nature of the missions, going for a more structured approach where the story is at least somewhat important and there will be more chances to learn about the game world and the various characters.
Gearbox also promises reworked weapon progressions systems and better mechanics for four player vehicles, alongside small improvements to the systems that already worked well, like the cooperative play.
Randy Pitchfork also confirmed that the main villain will have a moon based base from which it can assault the player anywhere on Pandora at any time.
Why it matters:
If Diablo III can show how addictive loot based gameplay is for role playing gamers, Borderlands did the same for those who love the shooter genre and more of the same might not be a bad idea.
Pandora lacked a particularly deep backstory but it managed to be a charming location that oozes style through every pore.
It remains to be seen whether a sequel that covers the same space can deliver enough in the way of “new” characters and locations to keep long term fans interested while keeping the mythology and the mechanics simple enough to attract new gaming blood.
Also, much of the game’s potential success hinges on how they use the ubiquitous claptrap robots.
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