Borderlands (1, 2, 3, The Pre-Sequel, TftB)

[Solid Snek]

In BL1 ending's small defense, the game kind didnt "end", more like told you that the adventure goes on through the DLCs, which it actually did. The DLCs of 1 are actualyl pretty impactful to the lore, The Armory of General Knoxx concluded with the Crimson Lancers being crushed by the Vault Hunters (setting up them becoming the Crimson Raiders in BL2) and Athena would wander off into an unknown fate until TPS happened. And Claptrap, who started the claptrap revolution in its own DLC, became Fragtrap in TPS who returned to being regular non-stairs climbing Claptrap in BL2. The Moxxie Dome one introduced Moxxie who would become a staple in the series. The only "inconsequential" one was the Dr Ned Zombie Island, which you could say it simply had no hanging ties and characters to return or its non canon as its possibly a story Markus told to kids.

They advanced the "bare bones" lore the game had, which BL2 and TPS ran with it. There is something to be admired in there, even if the vanilla ending just "ends"...at least gaining more context in BL2 with the Hyperion satelite (HJ was there since the beginning...)



The characters are alright by me, none of them were unlikable or anything. I just wished that they had more impact as they kind of disappear during cutscenes as the game cant make up its mind if we are watching it from their POV or from a cinematic angle. They kind of try both and they constantly contradict the other.

Sure, sure, there was all the DLC, and of course the OG Vault Hunters have played major roles in all subsequent main titles, too. But I mean specifically the big tentacle monster thing, and how - at the time - it was completely pointless. You spend all that time looking for a Vault, only to have it mean nothing in the end. That was annoying back in the day, sure, but it was a uniquely crappy ending, the kind of crappy ending that you could point to in any discussion about crappy endings. Retconning the tentacle vault to have more significance than it did, while it certainly makes the ending a little less crap, also robs it of precisely that which makes it special.

And I should say that I didn't really HATE any of the new Vault Hunters in BL3, I just didn't find any of them worth playing as for any extended period of time - save for Septiceye, and even he took me longer to settle on than usual. Which is odd, because 1, 2, and tPS all had lots of characters I clicked with right away - Lilith and Mordecai in 1, Gaige, Zero, and Salvadore in 2, and Claptrap, Nisha, Wilhelm, and Aurelia in tPS. When i picked up BL3, I thought I was going to click with FL4K and Moze right off the bat, but it didn't happen.

No, the only character I hated in BL3 was, ironically enough, Lilith. Everyone else I disliked, I was either just mildly disappointed with (The Twins), indifferent towards (Ellie, most of the Hunters), or bitterly ambivalent about (Tanis, one of my favorite NPCs, who began veering into Lilith territory).

Same goes with the characters I liked, really. It was great to see Tina, Mordi, and Brick back, but they were criminally underutilized. I didn't hate them, just hated the fact you didn't get to do much with them. Claptrap was OK; not his best work, maybe a little better than BL1, but nothing to write home about. Gaige I love, and I think a Lovecraft Hammerlock DLC could have been brilliant, but again - somebody thought it was a cute idea to turn her into a wedding planner. Maya I liked, but... yeah. And Ava was cool as shit, but now the only thing I have to look forward to now is her horrible, sadistic murder at some point in BL4. Nobody likes her, players or journos, so I think Gearbox killing her off is inevitable.


And the cutscene thing? I don't like cutscenes in Borderlands, even when they're done competently (they are not done competently in BL3). I think cutscenes rob Borderlands of precisely what makes Borderlands work "as a story" - the fact that it DOESN'T like to break up the action with cutscenes. You get plenty of fluff and story, but in 2 and tPS especially, the story is delivered in the background, mostly as radio voiceovers while you're still running around doing fun stuff. It doesn't take control away from you and say "sit down and shut up, player, it is IMPORTANT STORY TIME now p.s. gamez can b art". And the few times they do break into cutscenes, they always made sure it was for GOOD REASON - like, for example, the ending to Assault on Dragon Keep, which was a legitimately sublime moment; sad and beautiful, a dagger of emotion piercing the heretofore jovial adventure at precisely the right instant, turning what would have been one of the funniest and most creative bits of DLC in gaming history, into the funniest, and most creative, AND ALSO most touching bits of DLC in gaming history.

Now, though, it feels like the writers are swinging in the opposite direction - away from games-as-games, and towards games-as-scripted-movies. Now they're really keen on making me drop my controller so I can listen to their stupid story.

Tales from the Borderlands is gentrifying my campy space-apocalypse gunporn.

 

[StraightShooter2]

Does anyone know of a mod for Borderlands 2 which makes the gameplay harder - such as making all enemies respawn when you die up until the most recent checkpoint?

 

[The handsome tard]

No, the only character I hated in BL3 was, ironically enough, Lilith. Everyone else I disliked, I was either just mildly disappointed with (The Twins), indifferent towards (Ellie, most of the Hunters), or bitterly ambivalent about (Tanis, one of my favorite NPCs, who began veering into Lilith territory).

Its interesting you bring that up because, and that was sort of a theory of mine that they could be setting up was that...Lillith could becoming evil ala Handsome Jack. Let me explain.

B2 had a few moments that, while still a good person overall, Lillith had a few touches into her dark side. The plot hinted she was developting an Eridium addiction...even tho that plotpoint is kind of dropped after Sanctuary takes off into the air but still, what if she was just learning to hide it better? The game dealt with Mordecai's booze addiction more than Lillith's implied eridium addiction...and both of them lost someone dear to them, Speaking about that, Roland's death really weighted down on her and you can tell she blames everyone and herself for it. At the end of TPS, despite Athena making it clear multiple times that she regrets working for Jack and that she didnt approve of most of his actions, Lillith still blamed her for all that happened (with Brick even saying that being so merciless "aint her") but the interesting thing is just how Athena isnt surprised by it...as if she could see some of Jack in Lillith, going straight for murder with no other consideration or trial.

So there was a possibility that all that siren power, eridium addiction, guilt over Roland's death...Lillith could be easily fall from grace and become the next villain Handsome Jack styled. Hell, Brick, in the FIght for Sanctuary DLC, called Lillith out for going straight into executing Athena and that she is becoming colder without Roland around...

 

[Ruin]

Its interesting you bring that up because, and that was sort of a theory of mine that they could be setting up was that...Lillith could becoming evil ala Handsome Jack. Let me explain.

B2 had a few moments that, while still a good person overall, Lillith had a few touches into her dark side. The plot hinted she was developting an Eridium addiction...even tho that plotpoint is kind of dropped after Sanctuary takes off into the air but still, what if she was just learning to hide it better? The game dealt with Mordecai's booze addiction more than Lillith's implied eridium addiction...and both of them lost someone dear to them, Speaking about that, Roland's death really weighted down on her and you can tell she blames everyone and herself for it. At the end of TPS, despite Athena making it clear multiple times that she regrets working for Jack and that she didnt approve of most of his actions, Lillith still blamed her for all that happened (with Brick even saying that being so merciless "aint her") but the interesting thing is just how Athena isnt surprised by it...as if she could see some of Jack in Lillith, going straight for murder with no other consideration or trial.

So there was a possibility that all that siren power, eridium addiction, guilt over Roland's death...Lillith could be easily fall from grace and become the next villain Handsome Jack styled. Hell, Brick, in the FIght for Sanctuary DLC, called Lillith out for going straight into executing Athena and that she is becoming colder without Roland around...

Also before she joins up with your crew in BL2 she's a serial killer that makes sculptures out of the burned and mutilated remains of her victims. Yes her victims were bandits but to go from that to the neutered cowardly mess she was in BL3?

Just bruh what even is writing?

 

[The handsome tard]

Also before she joins up with your crew in BL2 she's a serial killer that makes sculptures out of the burned and mutilated remains of her victims. Yes her victims were bandits but to go from that to the neutered cowardly mess she was in BL3?

Just bruh what even is writing?

Lillith went from an arrogant show off in B1 to a reasonably arrogant but well intended bad ass in B2 to a coward mess who barely does anything, gets blamed for shit she wasnt responsible for and has "heroic" sacrifice at the end. Shit truly peaked on 2 and hasnt come close since.

Im just disappointed that they didnt take the "Lillith is becoming evil" route. Felt like there could come some good drama from that. Maybe she wants to protect the galaxy "so badly" and to avoid monsters like Handsome Jack from ever happening again that she wants to go for a scorched earth policy and wipe out most of the companies in the Borderlands universe and plunge the galaxy into "cleansing and freeing" anarchy through her Cult of The "Dark" Firehawk (sort of a dark phoenix situation)

Fuck, that sounds so much better than BL3

 

[anti SJW]

First official image of Kate Blanchett as Lilith from the movie.

I hope it doesn't suck.

 

[The handsome tard]

View attachment 2221294

First official image of Kate Blanchett as Lilith from the movie.

I hope it doesn't suck.

It probably will. I just wonder what "plot" the movie will have since the game barely had one besides the search for the vault and there being bandits and Crimson Lancers in the way.

The only scene I would legit watch from this movie is a possible post credit scene with Handsome Jack being setup, maybe an omnious voice that Angel suddenly responds to.

Angel: They opened the vault.
???: And did a pretty damn good job at it, Im impressed, seems like we werent wrong afterall.
Angel: If you aww, dont mind me asking, we are just going to let them be now, right? We dont gotta take any action against them.
???: Well, Angel...They are still bandits at the end of the day, arent they? Meh, we are leaving them alone for now until we are done withour plans. But if they get in the way, tough shit for them kiddos.
Angel: As you wish, Jack...
???: Soon these bandits will know order and prosperity. Brought on of course by me...

Tho lets face it, they will probably mess Handsome Jack up and make him into some sort of avatar for rich white supremacy...and no actor can invoke the insane charismatic and complex hate/love attitude of H.J brought by his writing and amazing voice work.

Edit: I looked at the cast and it seems they are bringing some characters from B2 into it, not a bad move in my opinion but Hammerlock is getting black washed because of course he is. At least you can setup some B2 characters to bring them back to the sequel so the new cast wont be quite so sudden compared to how it was in the actual game.

Christ, Im so ready for this suck ass...

 

[Snekposter]

Out of all of the characters to blackwash... Hammerlock? SIR Hammerlock? The epitome of Victorian England's patrimonial attitude towards everyone not them? A shameless trophy hunter who is on Pandora to hunt and catalogue the galaxy's most dangerous game animals, and in that order?

 

[Some Lurker Too]

...Y'mean this Hammerlock?

Bet they'll blackwash Roland too, the madmen.

Eh, I'll give the movie a watch, I just hope it's at least a fun shitfest. I'm a simple man, give me a good Jack and I'm happy.

 

[The handsome tard]

Out of all of the characters to blackwash... Hammerlock? SIR Hammerlock? The epitome of Victorian England's patrimonial attitude towards everyone not them? A shameless trophy hunter who is on Pandora to hunt and catalogue the galaxy's most dangerous game animals, and in that order?

Hammerlock is legit one of the few good examples of gay characters in gaming. Why? You cant even tell he is gay until an optional side quest. Its obvious his homosexuality didnt define him and given how he was physically and emotionally abused by his sister, can you really blame him for not exactly enjoying women? He is helpful, funny and polite to the player, unlike someone like Jenny Springs in TPS who waves her homosexuality like its a replacement for personality.

That is until Borderlands 3 happen and they make Hammerlock's homesexuality way more obvious and his marriage a whole focus point of a DLC. Because of course.

...Y'mean this Hammerlock?
View attachment 2224042
Bet they'll blackwash Roland too, the madmen.

Eh, I'll give the movie a watch, I just hope it's at least a fun shitfest. I'm a simple man, give me a good Jack and I'm happy.

Meh, he has an indian tan type of skin tone to be fair. There is a difference.

I obviously wouldnt mind if they at least got his character right but this being a movie adapting a game, my expectations are really fucking low. And it doesnt help that they will probably milk his homesexuality for all that is worth, as if Hammerlock isnt a character dripping with personality beyond that character trait.

 

[Some Lurker Too]

Hammerlock is legit one of the few good examples of gay characters in gaming. Why? You cant even tell he is gay until an optional side quest. Its obvious his homosexuality didnt define him and given how he was physically and emotionally abused by his sister, can you really blame him for not exactly enjoying women? He is helpful, funny and polite to the player, unlike someone like Jenny Springs in TPS who waves her homosexuality like its a replacement for personality.

That is until Borderlands 3 happen and they make Hammerlock's homesexuality way more obvious and his marriage a whole focus point of a DLC. Because of course.



Meh, he has an indian tan type of skin tone to be fair. There is a difference.
View attachment 2224911

I obviously wouldnt mind if they at least got his character right but this being a movie adapting a game, my expectations are really fucking low. And it doesnt help that they will probably milk his homesexuality for all that is worth, as if Hammerlock isnt a character dripping with personality beyond that character trait.

Mmm, I'll give ya that, especially looking at Aurelia again. His skintone and facial features could still easily be found in a black guy, so on my end there's not a huge issue with casting a black guy to play him, but I'm also someone who could see a hispanic/latino or asian guy playing Jack just as well as a tan white guy could, so I'm not too anal about race s'long as they get the overall look and especially the voice/vocal mannerisms right - or at least in the general vicinity of the OGs.

I still think that Guns, Love, and Tentacles (and the Hammerlock/Jakobs pair in general) wouldn't'a been seen as pandering nearly as badly if it'd come out pre-Current Year. It's not like they shoved him with someone he had no common ground with, made them a picture-perfect, no-conflict-ever pair who can do no wrong and made 'em only talk about how so very gay they are - they were written as a regular couple. They fought, they made up, they shared interests - they had a good dynamic, imo, which is way more than most gay rep we get nowadays.

*shrug* Maybe I've just got low standards because the rest of what we get is shallow, bland, emotionless bullshit dumbed down for the brats that pitch a fit every time a gay character or ship isn't a goddamn saint. They let those two be people first, even if their relationship was a plot point and a half, and that's what matters to me wrt gay rep. I'm tired of gays just being hollow rainbow mannequins used to shill merch, I want people.

SPRINGS that was her fucking name she was obnoxious. I was trying to remember who they tossed Athena with. Hammy/Jakobs is a huge improvement from Athena/Springs, that's the perfect example of the shit we usually get - Janey Springs had 0 depth or individuality iirc, she was just a token loud lesbian thrown into Athena's lap because lesbians in particular sell.

 

[The handsome tard]

Mmm, I'll give ya that, especially looking at Aurelia again. His skintone and facial features could still easily be found in a black guy, so on my end there's not a huge issue with casting a black guy to play him, but I'm also someone who could see a hispanic/latino or asian guy playing Jack just as well as a tan white guy could, so I'm not too anal about race s'long as they get the overall look and especially the voice/vocal mannerisms right - or at least in the general vicinity of the OGs.

I still think that Guns, Love, and Tentacles (and the Hammerlock/Jakobs pair in general) wouldn't'a been seen as pandering nearly as badly if it'd come out pre-Current Year. It's not like they shoved him with someone he had no common ground with, made them a picture-perfect, no-conflict-ever pair who can do no wrong and made 'em only talk about how so very gay they are - they were written as a regular couple. They fought, they made up, they shared interests - they had a good dynamic, imo, which is way more than most gay rep we get nowadays.

*shrug* Maybe I've just got low standards because the rest of what we get is shallow, bland, emotionless bullshit dumbed down for the brats that pitch a fit every time a gay character or ship isn't a goddamn saint. They let those two be people first, even if their relationship was a plot point and a half, and that's what matters to me wrt gay rep. I'm tired of gays just being hollow rainbow mannequins used to shill merch, I want people.

SPRINGS that was her fucking name she was obnoxious. I was trying to remember who they tossed Athena with. Hammy/Jakobs is a huge improvement from Athena/Springs, that's the perfect example of the shit we usually get - Janey Springs had 0 depth or individuality iirc, she was just a token loud lesbian thrown into Athena's lap because lesbians in particular sell.

I dont mind gay characters AND couples period. I just prefer when they arent written either as parodies/one-sided nor as perfect because the writer wants to make a political message. Its desingenious and actually harms the LGBTQ community but they dont seem to care for the most part, as long as it appeals to them and no one else (because that surely helps their own image, doesnt it?)

 

[Ruin]

Based on dialogue in BL3 Hammerlock is the bottom in the relationship too. They made the fucking black character the one who gets fucked in the ass by a rich white man.

I don't think they quite thought this through unless it's supposed to be meta commentary about how the black man is fucked by the white man in society but that seems a little too sophisticated for your average Hollywood hack.

 

[StraightShooter2]

That feeling when you buy Borderlands 2 with all of the DLC on Steam for about $70-80, and now a week or so later, it's all on sale for a total of about $15-16 dollars.

Also, does anyone have an opinion that the Commando class in BL2 is overpowered - the upgraded turret with rockets basically destroys entire groups of enemies and bosses by itself (e.x. a single rocket-turret with slag rounds completely depleted Handsome Jack's lifebar - not to mention that deploying it costs no ammo or anything whatsoever).

I was considering replaying the game on the harder difficulties, but if the Commando turret is this OP even on the harder settings, I think I might choose a different character - anyone else have an opinion?

 

[Burning Bridge]

The turret drops in effectiveness very heavily the higher you get in difficulty. All the summons do. Deathtrap murders in lower difficulties but gets instagibbed on Ultimate Vault Hunter. Even full spec double turret is just a form of burst DPS because getting it to stay alive is a huge issue.

 

[StraightShooter2]

The turret drops in effectiveness very heavily the higher you get in difficulty. All the summons do. Deathtrap murders in lower difficulties but gets instagibbed on Ultimate Vault Hunter. Even full spec double turret is just a form of burst DPS because getting it to stay alive is a huge issue.

I just finished the default difficulty and now I have True Vault Hunter mode, but not "Ultimate Vault Hunter mode".

Is there a way to jump straight into Ultimate Vault Hunter?

 

[The handsome tard]

I just finished the default difficulty and now I have True Vault Hunter mode, but not "Ultimate Vault Hunter mode".

Is there a way to jump straight into Ultimate Vault Hunter?

You can just run through the story missions. I personally wouldnt recommend it because suddenly you are gonna be wondering why your weapons arent doing shit to the enemies anymore and you are going into "FIGHT FOR YOUR LIFE" mode over and over against basic bandits.

 

[Tanner Glass]

One thing I never really got about BL3 was what the writers' vision was for the Youtube Twins. It seemed like they were trying to recapture the magic of Handsome Jack... but, for whatever reason, it never really clicked. Some of the elements were there, but either they weren't put together correctly, or they'd be done already so it just made you miss the stuff Handsome Jack did.

I think part of the problem was that the Youtube Twins didn't really seem like a credible threat; they were a good concept for a stage boss, but not the Main Badguy.

The YouTube twins fell short because they were supposed to be like Handsome Jack - but the writers forgot how how their hierarchy works in-universe.

Bandits (and their ilk) are basically in-universe retarted. The bottom of the pile for all things and are mostly cannon fodder during all of the Borderlands games.
Civilians are above them and are typically less retarted, but still are a bit.
Soldiers/Militia are above civilians and typically include NPC characters (Crimson Raiders, Sir Hammerlock, etc)
Vault Hunters are above them and include player characters new and old. They've got their own host of issues. Sirens fall into the Vault Hunter catagory but have their own additional in universe powers.

Above all of the people in universe are corporations. Mainly weapons manufacturers, they have substantially more resources/power/money/etc than any other group could dream of. They mainly fight each other and all of the other groups are largely beneath their notice. BL2 treats Jack correctly befitting his stature in-universe. He manipulates Vault Hunters and kills ones he can't (or doesn't need) to outright control (including you). He excels at killing, manipulating, and maiming the people that get into his way and you come across this constantly. He feels so above you he taunts you throughout the entire game because he can. He also knows way more about the world, how it works, and it's secrets than you do. He knows more about Sirens then the Siren characters.

The game has humor with Handsome Jack, but the game never treats Handsome Jack as a joke. Handsome Jack is described as ruthless asshole and the game treats him as such.

The YouTube twins are much less powerful. They don't run a corp, don't have secret tech, or even a real loyal following. They just mainly have cannon fodder and not a super great plan. They are a very dry commentary on YouTube/Twitch personalities, but not even done in a clever way. The joke is is literally "LOL YOUTUBE PEOPLE, RIGHT" but they're never presented in a way that matters. They're described as charismatic entertainers but they don't come across as charismatic or entertaining, which would be a cornerstone of "the most popular streamers in universe, capable of making a cult".

 

[derpherp2]

The YouTube twins fell short because they were supposed to be like Handsome Jack - but the writers forgot how how their hierarchy works in-universe.

Bandits (and their ilk) are basically in-universe retarted. The bottom of the pile for all things and are mostly cannon fodder during all of the Borderlands games.
Civilians are above them and are typically less retarted, but still are a bit.
Soldiers/Militia are above civilians and typically include NPC characters (Crimson Raiders, Sir Hammerlock, etc)
Vault Hunters are above them and include player characters new and old. They've got their own host of issues. Sirens fall into the Vault Hunter catagory but have their own additional in universe powers.

Above all of the people in universe are corporations. Mainly weapons manufacturers, they have substantially more resources/power/money/etc than any other group could dream of. They mainly fight each other and all of the other groups are largely beneath their notice. BL2 treats Jack correctly befitting his stature in-universe. He manipulates Vault Hunters and kills ones he can't (or doesn't need) to outright control (including you). He excels at killing, manipulating, and maiming the people that get into his way and you come across this constantly. He feels so above you he taunts you throughout the entire game because he can. He also knows way more about the world, how it works, and it's secrets than you do. He knows more about Sirens then the Siren characters.

The game has humor with Handsome Jack, but the game never treats Handsome Jack as a joke. Handsome Jack is described as ruthless asshole and the game treats him as such.

The YouTube twins are much less powerful. They don't run a corp, don't have secret tech, or even a real loyal following. They just mainly have cannon fodder and not a super great plan. They are a very dry commentary on YouTube/Twitch personalities, but not even done in a clever way. The joke is is literally "LOL YOUTUBE PEOPLE, RIGHT" but they're never presented in a way that matters. They're described as charismatic entertainers but they don't come across as charismatic or entertaining, which would be a cornerstone of "the most popular streamers in universe, capable of making a cult".

To put it simply, they thought a commentary on how much dickishness corporations have in the most comedic way - which heightens the fucked upness of said dickishness, could be feasibly followed up by steve irwin's children. Except retarded, and instead of following their dad's footsteps decided to do minecraft let's plays while using their mentally 12 year old fanbase to.... yell at corporations until they get stuff?

Also generic corpo assasin but oh no Asian CEO Yakuza-triadman, no wait he's gay it's different guys.

I could ignore the cliches if they didn't try putting cutscenes and required unskippable dialogue everywhere, but no.

 

[Cantercoin]

The wonderlands leak was real and they got a bunch of celebrities as the VAs