The original looter shooter is back, but can it make a comeback from a slightly disappointing Borderlands 3, and not to mention an embarrassingly bad movie? Read on…
Borderlands 4
When Borderlands 3 came out, it felt like a game made by a developer who was still laughing at a joke they’d told back in 2012. The weapons were plenty, the chaos was louder than ever, but the humour felt tired, the story lacked bite, and let’s not even talk about the movie. Thankfully, Borderlands 4 is here, and it looks like Gearbox finally dusted off the cobwebs and decided to move the franchise forward without losing its identity. Mostly.
A Whole New World
Let’s start with the biggest change: this isn’t Pandora. Borderlands 4 shifts the mayhem to a new planet, and with it comes full-fat open-world exploration. For a series that’s traditionally flirted with open zones but never fully committed, this is a big step. You’re free to wander, veer off the main story, and ignore narrative urgency in favour of looting every abandoned outhouse in sight.
I’ve spent over 35 hours playing it, and still haven’t finished the main quest. Not because the story is boring, but because the world is stuffed with things to do. Side quests are better written, environments are more diverse, and exploration actually feels rewarding.
At its core, this is still a looter shooter, and yes, the guns are still the stars. But weapon handling is tighter, enemy AI is a bit smarter, and guns, while still gloriously ridiculous, feel more thoughtfully crafted. You’ll find yourself switching weapons often, not because the numbers say so, but because the mechanics and perks change how you approach fights.
Combat, too, feels more layered. Enemy types are more diverse, with mini-bosses and new factions keeping you on your toes. Abilities for each class are deeper, with branching trees that let you customise your playstyle.
A Story That Actually Tries
Borderlands 3 tried to be epic, emotional, and funny, and somehow missed all three. Borderlands 4 corrects that course. The story here has actual pacing, better character development, and a villain that isn’t trying to be a meme generator. There’s still plenty of humour, but it’s now a supporting act, not the main show.
The narrative is still far from subtle; this is Borderlands, after all. You actually care about some of the characters. Which, honestly, is progress.
On PC, the game looks fantastic. The cel-shaded art it is known for has been polished with better lighting, richer environments, and smoother animations. Gearbox seems to have struck a good balance between performance and visuals; even mid-range systems can run the game at decent settings. Load times are fast, and I didn’t run into anything game-breaking during my run.
Is It Worth It?
Absolutely. Borderlands 4 is a much-needed refresh for a franchise that risked becoming its own parody (Watch the movie to know what I am talking about). It retains the series’ anarchic spirit, but evolves in meaningful ways. The open-world structure works well, the story is tighter, and the gameplay loop is more addictive than ever. If you’re a fan of FPS action, or just games with lots of guns and not enough common sense, this is easily worth your time. And if you were burned by Borderlands 3, consider this the apology letter you didn’t know you needed.
Borderlands 4
Rating: 4/5
Developer: Gearbox Software
Publisher: 2K
Platform: PC, XBS, PS5
Price: Rs 3999
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