Borderlands in an upcoming first-person Real Time Strategy/Role Playing Game hybrid that is planned for release later this month.
Its unique next-gen-cell-shaded visuals and quirky take on the post apocalyptic open-world genre has made it one of the most anticipated games of 2009, and today at rAge, we found out why.
MyGaming managed to get some hands-on time with the game as well an exclusive one-on-one play-through of the demo guided by a 2K Games representative.
Immediate impressions
The most immediately noticeable feature of Borderlands is its unique visuals. Instead of persuing a gritty attempt at realism, Gearbox Studios decided that Borderlands would be better served with a more light hearted, almost cartoony look that 2K Games describes as next-generation-cell-shading. All the textures are hand drawn, and the character facial animations are superb.
The tone laid out by the unusual visuals is carried over to the general gameplay and narrative of Borderlands. One gets the sense that it does not take itself too seriously, but at the same time, you can tell that many hours were spent making sure Borderlands is a lot of fun.
There are four different characters that gamers can play as, all with different abilities which they can improve through leveling. This process is similar to most RPGs. Players obtain experience points (XP) from killing enemies and completing quests. By accumulating XP players can increase their level at various intervals, allowing them to improve their abilities and use better weapons.
While the game adheres to this traditional RPG component, it is also a very solid shooter. The combination is one which Fallout 3 fans will recognize, although the look and feel of Borderlands is lighter, faster and far more immediately accessible.
Multiplayer
One of the most interesting and unique features of Borderlands is the manner in which multiplayer is to be implemented.
The single player component plays out as a regular open-world RPG, with players being free to wander around, completing side quests as well as following a more focused story-driven campaign. However, an interesting co-operative element will allow players to jump into each other’s games and them complete difficult quests, or even play through the entire game co-operatively.
When a player joins another game they will do so using their current character. When they rejoin their own campaign they will maintain money and XP earned when playing in their friend’s campaign. This character continuity is reminiscent of MMOs such as World of Warcraft, and continues through to the players vs. player multiplayer. This means that when participating in multiplayer death matches for example, players will use their characters and all experience, cash and weapons earned will be carried through to the single player campaign.
Conclusion
Borderlands is looking like a very enjoyable game, with a number of interesting gameplay innovations which will ensure that it stands out from the hordes of FPS and RPG clones that are released on a regular basis.
It is stylish, bold and innovative, but above all, it looks like a lot of fun. Be sure to get your own hands-on time with Borderlands at rAge this weekend.
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