John Watson ’12

Staff Writer

“The role playing game and the first person shooter had a baby,” says Gearbox, the creator of its baby, “Borderlands.”

What Gearbox has done is create a game that has hundreds of thousands of random guns: more weapons then every other game on the market combined, more than a Texas gun show.

“Borderlands” is a Role Playing Shooter (RPS) that takes place on a desert planet named Pandora where everything wants to eat you. The planet is overrun with hostile raiders and massive pointy-teethed beasts. From the fire launching and acid spewing monsters, “Borderlands” has a lot of diversity in what creature gets to kill you this time. You are going to die a lot.

Your goal is to find a lost alien “vault.” Not to be mistaken with the “Fallout 3” kind, this is a treasure vault, of epic proportions—or so I’m told; I’ve yet to find it.

One of the biggest selling points “Borderlands” developed was the four player Co-op Mode, one of the first, in my mind, and also the best in any RPG so far.

The game allows you to hop from your world to your friend’s world in a matter of seconds. It even has a system that strengthens your enemies with every added ally. The chaotic and massive battles that this cause is a huge amount of fun, and gives the game a lot of replay value.

The games duel function, which is launched when two players punch each other, gives you the ability to fight and test out your new gun anywhere. Winning even gives you some very nice bragging rights over your friend.

“Borderlands” has only four playable characters, though each one is unique and can be upgraded in many ways.

The four characters are Mordecai, the angry Russian sniper; Roland, the serious shooter; Lilith, this game’s resident ninja; and Brick, who is part man, part bull shark, and part elephant.

The game play is awesome, for the whole game is based on your skill and ability to get consecutive head shots. There is no hidden system to determine critical hits; it’s all about hitting critical areas.

“Borderlands” also showcases crazy and artsy graphics, giving everything an abstract gray look, except for the occasional bright and vibrant color that pulls your eye to random, cool parts of the backdrop.

This is a great game, weather playing single or Co-op with friends, intensely fighting. Witnessing beautiful scenery gives you an enjoyable walk adventure on this desert planet—oh, yeah, full of guns.

“Bordelands” is rated M avaible for X-Box 360,  PS 3-59.99 and PC-49.99