Borderlands 3 Review (PC)

very good
key review info
  • Game: Borderlands 3
  • Platform: PC
  • Show system requirements
  • Gamepad support: Yes  
  • Reviewed on:
Borderlands 3 cover

There's no better way to celebrate Borderlands' 10th anniversary than to release a brand new game. Ten years after Gearbox launched the first Borderlands game not much has changed for the series that defined the shooter-looter (shlooter) genre.

Although it's unfair to judge a game by its predecessors, Borderlands 3 is mainly aimed at fans of the series, so it makes sense to highlight all the gameplay features that set it apart from the other installments in the series if there are any.

From the get-go, Borderlands 3 promises a bigger world with multiple planets to visit, more guns and jokes than ever, as well as a lengthy campaign. However, despite the many improvements added, Borderlands 3 follows the same recipe that made the series popular in the last 10 years.

Simply put, if you liked any of the previous titles, you'll love Borderlands 3. It's quite clear that Gearbox didn't want to risk anything and adjusted the dated formula with some updates to gameplay and UI, but just about everything else feels the same.

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This time around a quartet of new characters are available for players to choose from: Amara, a Siren who summons ethereal fists, Moze, a young Gunner who rides the mecha Iron Bear, Zane, an Operative with a variety of gadgets, and FL4K, a robot Beastmaster who summons creatures to aid in fights.

They offer very different playstyles, but what really sets Borderlands 3 apart from the other two games is how the skill tree has been implemented. Unlike previous Borderlands games where each character has just one unique skill, Borderlands 3 allows players to unlock three unique skills, though one only (two for Zane players) can be equipped at a time. Even so, the update to the skill tree allows for more varied character builds.

The plot is centered around stopping a duo of villains, the Calypso Twins (Troy and Tyreen), from raiding the alien Vaults spread across the galaxy. They appear quite often throughout the game, but they never quite reveal their motives until the very end. I didn't expect any deep characterization and Gearbox “delivered,” so think of the Calypso Twins as regular, power-hungry villains.

The lengthy campaign takes players to different planets and landscapes, but if you've played any of the previous games, you'll recognize most of the enemies you'll encounter. Several new faces appear in the second half of the game, so don't expect anything new in the first 10 hours or so. However, regular monsters are cannon fodder compared to some of the bosses in Borderlands 3. Unfortunately, Gearbox hasn't been consistent when it comes to balancing the new bosses, so you'll find that some are too easy to kill, while others are a real pain because of the mechanics.

As you progress the story, enemies become bullet sponges, something that could have been avoided if Gearbox didn't want to artificially extend the campaign. The same goes for some of the bosses, as many times I found myself without bullets for both of my slotted weapons.

Where Borderlands 3 really shines is the simple, yet almost perfect combat, and guns variety. Yes, there's an overwhelming quantity of guns available in Borderlands 3, but the interesting ones only drop towards the end of the game. You'll find that some weapons are better suited for certain character builds, although you can use any weapon that drops in the game.

For some reason, even though Borderlands 3 is deemed a shlooter, I found myself changing weapons every ten levels or so. It's a pity that the drop chance for the really good guns is so low until the closer to end game.

Just like the predecessors, Borderlands 3 is great when it's played cooperatively with up to four friends. Once the Cooperation mode is enabled, the instanced loot and level scaling are switched on. Also, the game allows players to trade weapons even after they're used since they won't be bind when picked up.

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Borderlands 3 is a meaty game and if you want to complete the main story and a good chunk of the side missions, you'll have to reserve around 35 hours. But for some, the end of the campaign is the beginning of the game thanks to the Mayhem Mode, which increases the difficulty and adds random effects to some enemies for greater rewards. Once you unlock the end game content, you'll start earning Guardian Ranks that offer even more bonuses to various stats.


The Good

  • Humorous world
  • Over-the-top voice acting
  • End game content
  • New skill tree encourages different playstyles with multiple character builds
  • More guns than ever
  • Offers a great multiplayer experience

The Bad

  • Generic story
  • Balancing issues with some bosses

Conclusion

There's no doubt that Borderlands 3 is the best Borderlands game, so for fans of the series, this is a no brainer. Props to Gearbox for bringing the franchise up to date with the modern mechanics and visuals, but I would have liked to see some innovations as well.

With all the updates implemented, I still believe the Borderlands franchise needs a reboot to survive. Is Borderlands 3 the game that will make the transition to a new formula? I really hope so since I don't see what other improvements could be added to further refine the recipe.

The extremely stupid humor, top-notch combat and wide range of weaponry make Borderlands 3 one of the best shooters of all-time. Although it's an old formula, Borderlands 3 offers one of the best shlooter experiences you can get.

story 7
gameplay 9
concept 7
graphics 8
audio 8
multiplayer 9
final rating 8
Editor's review
very good
 
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Borderlands 3 screenshots (36 Images)

Borderlands 3 cover
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