No matter how good a sequel is, it’s always going to be unashamedly compared to the one that came before it (right, second children?). And, since we have no shame, that’s what we’re doing with Borderlands 3!

So, now that the game has come out with more confidence than Ellen DeGeneres, let’s take a look at it and see if it’s more along the lines of The Godfather’s sequels… or Speed’s (Cruise Control? Try Snooze Control).

Awesome New Additions to Borderlands 3

The crew

Uh-oh, a new cast in a sequel usually spells disaster. After all, American Pie Band Camp didn’t reach any of the artistic, visual, or dramatic milestones of American Pie, did it? Cough. But, Borderlands 3 doesn’t fall into that (Clap)trap.

The new team in this game is straight-up awesome. They’re strong, confident, and scrappier than a Jack Russell terrier attacking the mail. Plus, they’re awesomely diverse without it feeling like a blatant plug.

Leader of the pack is a Siren (some things don’t change) called Amara. She’s a take-no-nonsense fighter that will get in people’s faces harder than a grumpy lawyer on the receiving end of a marketing call.   

There’s, of course, the moustachioed tough-guy in the form of Zane, who, to be fair, isn’t all destruction and no brain cells. He’s actually pretty sneaky and is more like a spy with all his gadgets.

There’s another tough woman in the form of Moze, the gunner. She’s the real muscle of the crew… well, her and her Iron Bear, the mech. When things get hairy, she summons the bear to do more damage than a trike-riding toddler in a balancing plate store.

And, coolest of all, there’s FL4K. With more pets than a grandmother who lives on her own, FL4K (or, The Beast Master) uses crazy animals to take down their prey. Did we just say ‘their’? Yep, FL4K is non-binary (because it’s finally sunk in that robots don’t need genders) and uses they/them pronouns.   

The visuals

OK, some time has passed since Borderlands 2 came out, so you’d expect things to advance, visually. But, Borderlands 3 is the equivalent of a ‘Fat Friday’ feast for your eyes. It’s full of gloriously unnatural colours and, well, we can’t think of a more descriptive word than: sugar.

The game stays to its precedent of layering its realism with a comic book feel. But, it just feels brighter and smoother than its predecessor. And, with inter-planetary travel having been brought into this new game, there’s even more to dazzle your eyeballs.  

The weapons

So, Borderlands is primarily a shooter. But, the guns in past versions felt a little underwhelming. They were cool and all, but even the big, scary ones could feel like they had the power of a tired machine idly spitting out stale popcorn. Even that sentence hit harder. But, that’s all in the past now.

Borderlands 3 gives us guns that feel heavier than a metalcore album, and that do loads of damage. Plus, different guns actually feel different. With clever use of vibration, you can really feel the difference between the weapons in your arsenal.

Also, the guns do a whole load of different things, transforming into weapons with different qualities. Yep, the weapons have secondary firing modes – so your pistol might shoot rockets, or your SMG might go all sniper on you. This means you’re never stuck with a one-trick pony, which makes the combat far more fluid and exciting.

A more immersive environment

Speaking of transformative gameplay, Borderlands 3 has a changing, interactive environment that you can use to spice things up. That oil spill on the floor hasn’t just been painted on for its visual appeal. You can light it on fire to inject more chaos into the combat zone. See that water puddle? Why not electrify it?

What’s Still Awesome

Claptrap

Claptrap is like that kid that latches onto you on the first day of school and never lets go… but whom you actually start to care about. So, we’re happy to see Claptrap still a part of the Borderlands franchise, even if he has a new voice.  

Familiar spots

Some say that familiarity breeds contempt. But, those same old spots made us feel all fuzzy inside. And, if you’re like us, you’ll be happy to hit up some guns at Marcus’ Munitions or mix with the riff-raff and maybe hit the slot machines at Moxxi’s Bar.

Verdict

You know how you lose touch with someone and then run into them again years later and are instantly jealous. They’ve been working out, they’re doing well at work, and they somehow got funnier, smarter, and more interesting. Yeah, that’s Borderlands 3.

This game had some big shoes to fill, so it just got bigger feet. It stays true to the franchise while offering enough new features that it’s sure to thrill long-time fans and newcomers alike.

Bring the World of Borderlands into Your World with Merch

Turning off your console or computer and leaving the world of Borderlands can be difficult to do. After all, you two have some serious history, so it’s only natural that you’ll have a bit of separation anxiety.

What’s the best form of therapy? Indulge your endless need for it with the awesome Borderlands merch available at Menkind. We have everything from home decoration pieces to action figures to plush, because even a gun-wielding Psycho can have a soft side. Enjoy!