Sequel to 2012’s Borderlands 2,  Borderland 3 came as the fourth entry in the main Borderlands series. The video game was first released in September 2019, and much to its fans’ delight, it came back bigger and better. While some Borderlands livers were expecting to see some evolution or fundamental changes, it was evident that Gearbox Software, the game’s developer, stuck to a tried and tested formula.

The instalment came back after almost a decade of gamers waiting, bigger, better, and of course, bloodier. New characters were added, new weapons were offered, and more violence which many would term the meat of the matter with the Borderlands series. 

Storyline

As with the other instalments of this video game series, Borderlands 3 is set on Pandora, a planet rumoured to be brimming with alien Vaults filled with power, treasure, and cutting-edge technology light years ahead of whatever is present. This instalment picks up seven years from where its predecessor left off, after Handsome Jack, the president of the Hyperion Corporation, passed away.

With Jack dead, there was a power vacuum in the Hyperion Corporation, a faction leading in manufacturing weapons and robotics active on Pandora. Twin cultists Troy and Tyreen Calypso seize power for themselves and create a new faction, Children of the Vault. Under the leadership of the Calypso twins, the Children of the Vault start bandit operations, attacking and gaining possessions of other Vaults.

Income The Crimson Raiders, a rebel band of adventurers, fighters, and ex-soldiers, seeking to put an end to the horror the Calypso twins are causing. The leader of The Crimson Raiders, now Lilith, contracts new Vault hunters to stop the Calypsos and their quest to conquer every Vault out there.

These four new Vault hunters, Amara, Moze, Zane, and FL4K, are also joined by previously playable Vault Hunters Claptrap, Zer0, Maya, Brick, and Mordecai, who now appear as NPCs. Other returning characters who were already NPCs in the previous instalments include gun salesman Marcus Kincaid, entrepreneur Miss Mad Moxxi and her daughter, mechanic Ellie, cyborg hunter Sir Alistair Hammerlock and his sister, Aurelia, explosives expert Tiny Tina, archaeologist Patricia Tannis, weapons maker Mr Torgue, and Rhys Strongfork.

Nature of Missions in Borderlands 3

Generally, the Vault hunters’ missions revolve around intercepting the Children of the Vault and their assaults on the various vaults across the galaxy. Your very first mission entails your team of hunters travelling to recover a lost Vault map that the Children have recently stolen. After finding the map, you head to Promethea, a city planet upon which the first-ever discovered Vault sits. 

While leaving Promethea, the team is attacked by the Calypso’s, leading to a near-fatal attack on Lilith that causes her to lose her powers to Tyreen. Once again, the twins steal the map and leave Promethea to continue their assault on other Vaults, especially the most powerful Vault called The Great Vault. The following missions have the hunters racing after the Calypsos as they raid smaller Vaults on their way to the Great Vault.

The hunters later discover that the Great Vault contains a near-undefeatable interdimensional monster, The Destroyer, that can destroy the entire universe. Pressed even further to stop the Calypsos from releasing the Great Destroyer, the race against time continues. Borderlands 3 is undoubtedly triple the action, triple the suspense, and triple the gore! An irresistible buffet for a true fan of the series.

Kinds of Weapons available in Borderlands 3

As is consistent with predecessors, Borderlands 3 has your character completing missions to gain experience, in-game monetary prizes, and in-game reward items. The characters are also given skill points as they gain levels in the game. While it is evident that the developers did not attempt to veer too much from the already-set fundamental format of the Borderlands series, they did go ahead to buff up the armouries and weapon selection with some very impressive items.

For example, Borderlands 2 featured some weapons with something called the “slag elemental.” This feature allows you to cover your enemy for a brief period, rendering them vulnerable and unable to retaliate while you attack. Borderlands 3, on the other hand, has no slag, but it has something even better called “radiation.” Radiation allows you to incapacitate your enemies like slag, but instead of having a temporary effect, it causes them detrimental radiation damage and can spread to other enemies.

There are more guns and bullets to choose from, including tracking bullets to track down your enemies. You are also given an extensive array of specialized grenades, grenade modifiers, class modifiers, and shield kits. Some shields can absorb damage which can then be redirected into healing functions.

Besides the new characters and the new weapons that come with Borderlands 3, you also get a new set of skills never seen before in the Borderlands universe. Some of these skills include new combat manoeuvres and abilities, such as crouch-sliding and wall-mounting; the latter can be used to climb up over short heights. Also, rather than having a base in a town on Pandora, the team finds itself reporting back to Sanctuary III, a starship that is now the main base of operations in Borderlands 3.

Major Strengths of Borderlands 3

The first thing to appreciate about Borderlands 3 is how well it stayed true to form. The game is fast-paced but takes its time and allows you to enjoy it as much as you can. With nearly 35 hours of gaming time, I did not get bored tearing into the streets, guns blazing, tearing through enemies, and stealing loot for myself as well.

The gore was just as the series praises itself for, and the graphics and gameplay were a great improvement on its predecessors and what they had to offer.

Flaws Spotted in Borderlands 3

Borderlands 3 tried its hardest to bring a fresh view and spin on the universe upon which it is based. However, with its creators intent on playing it safe, there wasn’t much to see differently. The game had the same feel as those before it, making it feel a little repetitive for anyone looking for a continuation and not just a good game to play.

Although stacked with new places, characters, and enemies, the main story was not particularly groundbreaking. Cutscenes were as interactive as could be, and at some point, I started to wonder if my character actually got any form of interactions whatsoever. While the game focussed on upping its gameplay, the story writing, Chatty characters, and overly written dialogue were unimpressive, to say the least.

Final Verdict

In all, Borderlands 3 is a great game to play. Despite the empty feeling that the writing poses, the action and adventure quickly and easily make up. I absolutely loved the new characters introduced but was confused as to why they made returning characters a little more than vegetable figures incapable of really doing much. The gameplay, graphics, weapons, and action were all excellently executed.