Borderlands 3 — Alessandro Fillari, Editor
As I mentioned in GameSpot’s recurring series Now Playing, the fun that’s in the Borderlands series can be something of an acquired taste. Though Borderlands 3 often feels like it should have come out about three years ago, it still possesses some stellar shooting mechanics and a vibrant aesthetic. With over 100 hours in the game’s looter-shooter loop, I can say that it offers some of the most bizarre, and dumb fun I’ve had in an FPS in a long time. Though there’s a lot of complexity in customizing your vault hunter with new skills and weapons, what really makes the game so satisfying is tearing through legions of bandits and other mobs with your ludicrously overpowered guns–and that enjoyment is magnified when you’re teaming up with friends.
I mostly play Borderlands 3 solo, but every once in a while, I like to team up with friends. What’s great about Borderlands 3 is the amount of chaos you can create with friends when working together effectively. Some of my favorite moments during my time in co-op were when my version of Zane and my friend’s Fl4k unleash our unique skills while unloading on enemies with legendary weapons like the Cutsman and Dictator. We tend to play on Mayhem 3, which keeps it challenging, but not so overwhelming, and it’s always satisfying seeing high-level enemies melt when our attacks land.
While the story and character arcs of the Borderlands series have often focused on low-brow humor that feels incredibly dated, I tend to tune that out in favor of the action, which it always excels at. I’m still finding a lot of fun in Borderlands 3, especially when playing with friends. Currently, I’m working on leveling up my fourth character, Fl4k, and it’s really surprising to see how much the game can change when playing as a different vault hunter. With a lot more new updates and DLC coming this year, I can see myself even more time with the game, and I’m not too bothered by that prospect. | Twitter: @afillari