Borderlands…650,000 weapons and counting!

If anyone out there is looking for a first-person shooter, with a huge open world mixed with some action-RPG and character customization elements need look no further than Borderlands! Being developed by Gearbox software, in conjunction with 2K games, this FPS is sure to have gamers talking come time for its release this October for the Xbox 360, PS3 and the PC! With its unique cel-shaded character animations (similar to Prince of Persia) and highly detailed landscapes, the game is shaping up to have a very realistic yet comic book type feel to it. However, don’t let this artistic graphical style fool you because underneath it all lies an animation technology that is sure to impress even the most hardcore game critics. From what I have seen so far, the fluency of the characters and the integration into the world around them makes this game really a site to see and it blows my mind completely!

Not only has this technology been implemented into the gameplay, but it has also been transferred into the making of the weapons as well. Looking to give players the highest level of diversity in terms of weapon selection and character customization, Borderlands can and will do just that. In a stat that has boggled my mind since hearing it, Borderlands looks to provide some 650,000 different types of guns and other weapons (possibly even more than that) scattered throughout the landscape. So literally, the term ‘pick your poison’ is of pure relevance here!

In fact, I read in an interview on IGN.com with Gearbox co-founder Randy Pitchford, where he said “There are more weapons in Borderlands than in every shooter on both the 360 and PS3 added together. It’s an absurd number of guns to the point where talking about it isn’t really relevant any more. What’s relevant is to realize that you’ll be able to find lots of varied and better weapons and gear as you play to become more and more powerful.”

Now that’s ALOT of firepower to choose from! So, to say that this game is an open world adventure is an understatement! If you have been waiting for a game with a seemingly never-ending amount of weapons and loot to be plundered you will feel right at home in Borderlands.

Aside from that mind-numbing tid-bit, the gameplay in Borderlands is also shaping up to be quite impressive. The alien world of Pandora provides the landscape in which the game takes place, amongst an onslaught of bandits in pursuit of an alien treasure that is said to be hidden away somewhere on the world. An increasing number of mercenaries have over-crowded Pandora in search of the ‘hidden’ vault and this, in turn, has caused wide spread conflict with the new comers and the locals. This ‘treasure’ is said to be some type of alien artifact  that contains an immense type of power and is of extreme value! This is where your character is comes into play, right in the middle of all the chaos surrounding this artifact!

The game is being made with the idea of ‘co-op’ play in the forefront( up to 4 player co-op to be exact), although if you choose to tackle it in single-player mode you will be equally impressed. It will also feature a highly competitive and addictive online multi-player mode to rival even the best of online match-play games! With so much weaponry at your disposal, you and your friends can scour the world killing alien beasts and loot-hungry bandits all the while procurring some of the biggest and baddest guns around!

Players will be able to choose from 4 different character classes including a soldier, tank, hunter or siren. Each class will have 3 skill trees associated with it giving the gamer full reign on how they want their particular character’s attributes to advance. The skill tree advances a players particular skills in a variety of ways from a certain weapon type, to different types of ammunition like electric rounds. Each character class has special abilities that are upgradeable throughout your progression making for stronger and much more potent attacks! Offense is not the only means of punishment as defense can also have its advantages! The use of shields and healing are also options as well. Want to give a teammate a boost of health from a distance? Build a skill tree around healing and you can shoot med-packs at your buddy with a sniper-rifle! Anything is possible here!

Of course, each class possesses both its strengths and weaknesses, but what direction your character choice takes is purely up to you. Want to be a master of the shotgun or be the ultimate shot with a sniper rifle? How about beating down baddies with your bare fists or destroying multiple enemies all at once with a ’special’ ability such as Phase-walking or Berserker? All of this is and more is possible in Borderlands!

In regards to exploration, the world of Pandora will offer plenty of places to do just that. In fact, it encourages it!  There will be countless numbers of hidden areas to explore and the capacity for the amount of loot to be obtained is unpredictable. However, if you plan on venturing off the beaten path, I suggest getting yourself a Runner vehicle, the premier form of transport through the lands of Pandora. They can be equipped with nitro boosters, gun turrets and who knows what else giving you a fast, reliable way to travel, but don’t think that you are the only one to have this luxury! Plenty of other ‘looters’ have these means as well, and will chase you down!

The Storyline regarding the search for the alien treasure or artifact, will be broken down into 3 different Acts (similar to the story progression in Gears of War) providing some 30 or more different missions to accomplish. Also, for those of you whom are looking for the RPG-style element of side-questing, the game has you covered there and then some. Prepare to have your hands full with some 130+ different side-missions to occupy your time on Pandora. So, if your looking to stock on loot or are searching for that rare or unique ‘epic’ weapon, this is where it will be found. Along with a few other surprises to boot!

As for the enemies to be encountered in Borderlands, lets just say that there will be plenty of Bandits, ‘Skags’(hyena-looking creatures), Bloodwings and the occasional ‘Badass’ (yes, that is actually the name of this nasty beast) along with many other alien enemies! And the Bosses….they are sure to be a REALLY BIG pain in the rear!!

All in all, Borderlands is shaping up to be a very impressive FPS/RPG with the potential to really take the gaming market by storm this Fall. I really believe that this game is the Darkhorse of the E3 2009 announcements! If everything drops into place as it seems to be doing, I think that Gearbox could have themselves a real contender for Game of the Year! With so much diversity and an awesome multi-player I can definitly see Borderlands being the next Call of Duty 4! But, only time will tell and now all we can do is wait….but come on any game with over 650,000 different guns has to be great right? I sure hope so!!! In the meantime, check out the trailer from E3!