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Borderlands

EMAIL PRINT ps3

8.7 User Score:

Generally favorable reviews

Based on 43 critic reviews
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Game Info

Publisher: 2K Games

Developer: Gearbox Software

Genre(s): First-Person Shooter, Action, Role-Playing Game

Players: 4

ESRB Rating: M (Mature)

Release Date: October 20, 2009

Summary

As the first title in an all-new sci-fi action franchise, Borderlands combines the best elements of Gearbox Software's first-person action titles with player customization and vehicular combat. Borderlands features a unique content generation system allowing for near-endless variety in missions, environments, enemies, weapons, item drops and character customization. Borderlands is a cooperative experience, allowing for multiple players to share the same game experience simultaneously online. Players can freely join or leave each other’s games at anytime, or choose to play in the full single-player mode. Borderlands features life-like character animations, impressive real-time physics, and customizable vehicles. More details to follow. [2K Games/Gearbox Software]

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What The Critics Said

All critic scores are converted to a 100-point scale. If a critic does not indicate a score, we assign a score based on the general impression given by the text of the review. Learn more...

ImpulseGamer

I timed it and it takes about a minute and a half of load time when you move from one area to the next. Like I said before though this is a stretch because each area is so large that you don’t mind because you spend so much time in the area it is worth it.

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WonderwallWeb

Borderlands is a excellent title, which is a must have for fans of both FPS and RPG games.

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Game Informer

Co-op is a blast, the variety of weaponry lends an addictive quality to the game that's rarely seen, and it maintains a distinct sense of humor and personality. It's a long-lasting experience that manages to stay fresh throughout, and the ability to easily jump into a friend's game at any time only lengthens the appeal of an already stellar title.

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Game Revolution

Even with its technical drawbacks, Borderlands is a shooter for people who want something a little more engaging. It will remind you of every FPS you’ve enjoyed over the last few years, stealing bits of brilliance here and there to make its own enthralling experience.

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ZTGameDomain

This game has single-handedly stolen my soul since it arrived at my doorstep and I find myself needing to level up once a night, much like my wife and her World of Warcraft addiction.

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Playstation Official Magazine Australia

Borderlands starts out great and only gets better from there. If you’re up for an epic, awesome and subversive good time, get your arse to Pandora and explore the Borderlands. [Dec 2009, p.72]

Cheat Code Central

A deep and engaging, RPG-shooter hybrid that needs to be played to be fully appreciated.

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IGN AU

With the right blend of attitude, solid gameplay and an unapologetic focus on making a really entertaining co-op experience, Borderlands isn't just an alternative to Valve's co-op zombie-blaster this holiday season, it's really the alternative.

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IGN

It's something action role-playing game fans looking for an experience more up-close and brutal than genre entries of the third-person variety should have a blast with, and one of the more memorable products of 2009.

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3DJuegos

Borderlands is a pretty brilliant example of the power of genre mixtures. RPG, Shooter, Sandbox… all of them are quite simple but assembling them creates a brilliant and addictive videogame.

Gaming Target

In most ways, Borderlands is a first-person shooter that's really designed towards RPG fans, specifically the Diablo-styled hack & slash games.

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Console Monster

With all the single-player blockbuster first person shooters on the market and even more to come, if you are looking to break away from all the loneliness and socialise with a friend or few in vast desert landscapes, Borderlands could be just for you.

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Vandal Online

Original, visually attractive and unique, Borderlands won't leave anyone indifferent and will be a treasure for those who enjoy its innovative style.

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GameTrailers

Borderlands is a bit of a grind-fest, but that's part of the fun, as you take on tougher enemies and hunt for bigger and badder gear. The co-op play is integrated seamlessly, and there's a huge world to explore with friends or on your own.

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PSM3 Magazine UK

Pleasingly deep RPG/FPS hybrid with a few niggling flaws. [Dec 2009, p.86]

Worth Playing

The handful of statistical attributes add more of an investment behind every bullet, and when coupled with compelling co-op, Borderlands' seamless take on the FPS/RPG hybrid is sure to keep more than a few wasteland warriors fighting for survival through Pandora's many days and nights.

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Strategy Informer

For fans of loot hunting and a cooperative multiplayer experience, Borderlands will unquestionably steal their soul. Their days will be wrapped around figuring out how to put more time into Borderlands and trying to find out who they can ultimately trust as a teammate.

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GameShark

Packed with so much stuff to see and kill, Borderlands offers plenty of things to aim your spiffy new weapons at, all the while providing one of the best co-op experiences of the year.

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1UP

Call it a first-person Diablo, an evolution of Resistance 2's co-op mode, Monster Hunter for the west, or a party game for FPS gamers. Call it the best example of the transformative power of multiplayer. Whatever you designate it, Borderlands is a decent single-player FPS/RPG that simply becomes great -- when playing with others.

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SpazioGames

Borderlands has been a great game. First of all we have to reward the willingness of developers to propose something different, that we dare to define original. The RPG-FPS hybrid gameplay works perfectly and playing the co-op mode online, the title takes off, ensuring many hours of fun. Combine this with its excellent graphics, in its way kind of unique too, and you'll understand the value of a fresh product, suitable for all those who love to spend their time online.

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XGN

Are you looking for a good game which you can play online as well as offline? And do you like shooters with RPG-elements? Then Borderlands is definitely your game to buy!

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HellBored

Slick visuals and an addictive scavenging approach doesn't save Borderlands from eventually slipping into the realm of almost-great.

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PSFocus

A good game with an unique visual style, unique possibilities and a great atmosphere. The game has got a few annoying bugs, but besides that the game is a great experience in the single- and multiplayer.

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GamingXP

Action-Role-Playing-Shooter…nuff said!

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Playstation Universe

Borderlands is a perfect multiplayer RPG-Shooter that offers loot hounds hours of fun. It has its flaws, though, and its grinding sensibilities probably won't appeal to everyone.

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Cynamite

A nice shooter with an entertaining coop mode, cool weapon combinations but annoying AI.

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Boomtown

In actuality, in spite of these congruities, all of its parts are tailored toward the shooter genre, so it's not an RPG at all really, it's just a multi-layered FPS, which, to be honest, is brilliant.

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Thunderbolt

Borderlands is the bastard child of Mad Max, Halo and Phantasy Star Online; and yes, I’m aware that’s three participants.

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GamerNode

Players will have a great time with the different character builds, weapons, and multiplayer squad configurations, but will also be served lackluster narrative and mission structure that temper the experience.

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Gamestyle

With a few more tweaks Borderlands could’ve been an essential purchase, as it stands though it may be a great game, but outside of that niche of gamers that enjoy the genre, it may find it difficult converting others.

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GameSpy

The accessible nature of Borderlands -- with its relatively non-punitive deaths, constant checkpoints, and convenient fast-travel systems -- makes it a fantastic game for introducing FPS fans to some basic RPG tropes. And, most importantly, the killing and looting never ceases to be fun.

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GameSpot

Fun combat and a steady flow of rewards make this journey a massively enjoyable one, especially with some fellow mercenaries along for the ride.

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Gamer.nl

Borderlands mixes up RPG and shooter and this works well. Don’t expect a Fallout 3 though, because this is an entirely different product. This really feels more like a shooter at most times.

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VideoGamer

Borderlands is unique, it's different, and it's hard to classify. But it's not for everyone. It's not for the stereotypical CoD/Halo crowd. It's not revolutionary, but it is interesting. And, crucially, it's a hell of a lot of fun, but only, long term at least, in co-op.

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GameDaily

Borderlands surprised us. We went into the experience expecting a pulse-pounding shooter with fancy cut scenes and lots of drama (no surprise, since we play more FPS on consoles than RPGs), and instead found a slower-moving and tough (but immensely rewarding) slog through a beautiful fantasy world populated by imaginative monsters and more weapons than we know what to do with.

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InsideGamer.nl

Borderlands gives the lonely gamer a kind of monotonous experience, but it is great when you invite some friends. The story is really thin and the world is kind of lifeless at some points. But tons of weapons, quests and the urge to level to the next stage makes the game entertaining. A solid game for those who like to play together, instead of against each other.

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Giant Bomb

It's also one of those games that's so strong in parts that its shortcomings become almost glaring by comparison. As such, the game's barebones story, lackluster AI, and insufficient player trading options are real disappointments that prevent the game from reaching its full potential. But when you're frantically trying to stay alive while getting swarmed by an angry horde of gigantic spiderants, chances are you won't care much about that other stuff.

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Games Radar (in-house)

Borderlands is a very entertaining shooter and a rather bland RPG. It rewards dedication with new guns and new things to shoot at, which is all kinds of fun for players who enjoy MMO-style progression. But if its charm and depth hadn’t been abandoned so quickly, it may have been absolutely brilliant.

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Gamers.at

Borderlands is undoubtedly a unique experience - but one that comes with many flaws like being quite repetitive and somewhat boring, if you are not absolute into looting, grinding and playing Co-op. If you are though: This might be your sole past-time-activity for the coming months.

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PSX Extreme

If you can get past the bland visuals, there is a very deep and solid gameplay experience, overall.

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Gaming Age

The multiplayer aspect gives it a lot of longevity, which is supplemented with New Game+ features as well. Mission variety is decent and enemies are well varied within their types, although the most addictive part of the game's missions will be the underlying RPG elements that allow further customization and adjustments throughout the length of the title.

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GameCritics

Although Borderlands seemed ready to be one of the next big things, the overwhelming focus on grinding and gun-collecting can't carry the entire game, in either co-op or single-player.

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The Onion (A.V. Club)

Finally, a videogame with the balls to depict the generic post-apocalyptic wasteland as it really will be: utterly boring and lifeless.

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What Our Users Said

The average user rating for this game is 8.7 (out of 10) based on 44 User Votes

Note: User votes are NOT included in the Metascore calculation.

johnny s gave it a9:
I've only leveled up to 13 but judging from my limited play, the game is gearbox's gift to gun-totting scavengers everywhere. Whether you prefer the frenetic firefights, the WoW type co-op teamwork, the Diablo like loot grinding or the deep character customization in terms of your weapons attributes, this title has a lot going for it. Chances are you'll forget about the threadbare "story," the sometimes awkward controls especially driving a vehicle, or the annoying ADD loading screens. Once in game, it's more about gun porn than Black was on the PS2, and it delivers. A fun, addictive game that rewards your continued investment in it.

Dale C. gave it a10:
Bland visuals? That reviewer must be playing on it a 1959 Philco. The game is huge fun with plenty of heart-pounding moments (don't get caught in the middle of raging spiderants with a weak gun). Admittedly, it does take a little while to get going, but once it does - and the incredible weapons and loot start pouring in - you won't want to stop.

Michael S gave it a9:
This game is one in a million, not to mention the 87 Bazillions uns theat in habi the game. I think the gun DO NOT get old because the weapon types, Scopes, and AHHH!!!! this game is AWESOME.

Tim L gave it a10:
The game ive been wanting all my life. Unadulterated fun, totally addictive. A blast on single player and truly awesome on multiplayer. Brilliant, brilliant, brilliant.

Andrew L gave it a10:
Wow.. really, the game is just SO MUCH FUN. Some annoying characters aside, and the bit of a slow refresh rate at times, you'll fall in love with it very quickly. You find out very fast that in the open world, the number of guns is absurd, you're always replacing your weapon with ones noticably better, which gives you the feeling like you're constantly improving, which is what you want in an RPG. Also, the fact that damage pops up when you shoot lets you know if the weapon switch was such a great idea. You tend to pick up a LOT of things, it's only confusing in split-screen but even then the game seems to have a system of "finders keepers" where if player 2 uses a sniper, his kills or containers that he opens will provide him with sniper ammo. It's a very fun, crazy game and I can't help but feel that its been robbed with the score of 84, it deserves to be in the 90's for sure, it's got a very memorable single player mode, and the game experience doubles in fun with a person right next to you, to help you get through the harder bits in Co-op. Borderlands comes off as a copy of Fallout 3, and yet it manages to become everything that Fallout 3 wasn't, and I loved Fallout. Strongly suggest you get it, it'll make you popular mainly because of the co-op and replayability of the game (when you finish it, you start again with all your equips and stronger enemies). 10/10 game for sure.

Eric K gave it a9:
As much as I wish to give the game a 10, it would be favoritism. The only legitimate detracting feature of this game are all , would be the interface could use some minor reworking, the handling on vehicles is a bit clunky, and an absence of a real story. These qualms will not, even in the least, deter anyone with a love for any of the following: Loot, shooting, leveling. Do not compare this game to your favorite shooter, or RPG. It is truly a new and unique experience that everyone should try.

Jason C gave it a9:
Gearbox Software pulled it off! For FPS fans this is a new genre for us. If you liked Diablo, or Guild Wars, this is very similar but with 87 Bazilion guns. Countless hours of fun. Way to go Gearbox.

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