Gearbox have officially announced it: Borderlands 2 will be revealed at Gamescom later this month (I’m just about to pester them for an appointment) and released at some point beetween April 2012 and April 2013. Almost no details whatsover – this is how the games industry rolls – but there will be “all-new characters, skills, environments, enemies, weapons and equipment, which come together in an ambitiously crafted story. Players will reveal secrets, and escalate mysteries of the Borderlands universe as they adventure across the unexplored new areas of Pandora.”
Oh, and I guess for the record, I’m definitely on a day one perch for this particular item, and I’ll probably start playing it as soon as I get it this time, because I didn’t realize that the game was designed such that you wouldn’t be anywhere near max level by the time you finished your first run through on a character and now the chance that I’ll ever “finish” the first one is pretty well torpedoed, because I don’t got time to play anything twice.
I will definitely be on the 360 this time, though. That experience was pretty much superior in every way.
The PC version was not very well optimised, in my opinion. Also, the UI was kinda awkward - especially the insistence on using the “Return” key for most interactions - and IIRC you couldn’t rebind it.
Primarily? Being able to play with others. Sincerely meaning no offense to GameSpy, but their entire server farm can go blow a goat. My friends and I spent more time trying to configure our routers and systems to play with one another, and it seemed like every patch that came out for the game broke it all over again. We ended up giving up entirely on PC.
Dear Gearbox, make a leveling system that doesn’t makes unfun 1/3 of your game. And integrate better the vehicles in the experience if you are going to bother with them. And put a fov lider, thank you.
Gearbox Software’s co-op lootfest is back with a host of exciting changes to the first game’s addictive formula.
The September issue of Game Informer contains 12 pages of exclusive details and screenshots from Borderlands 2, and outlines the numerous improvements the developer has in store for your return trip to Pandora. Don’t expect just a couple bazillion more guns this time around. Gearbox is introducing new and more diverse environments, smarter and more powerful enemies, and an improved mission system capable of delivering a better story. This and much more will be revealed in the story, as well as our full month of additional online content.
In addition to taking a look at Borderlands 2, the September issue contains an extensive roundup of the games heading to the 3DS this year, plus an in-depth look at how research and development has shaped the creation of some of your favorite era-specific games. We also take a look at the wildly popular I Am 8-Bit art show, and the history of the wildly awful Super Mario Bros. feature film. Plus, find out which holiday game GI readers are most excited about in our revealing survey. The September issue of Game Informer will start arriving in mailboxes in the next few days. In the meantime, check out the full cover below.
Fans can get their first glimpse of the bold evolution of the Role-Playing Shooter at Gamescom and PAX Prime 2011 this month
NEW YORK, Aug 03, 2011 (BUSINESS WIRE) – 2K Games and Gearbox Software announced today that the sequel to the extravasplosive breakout hit, Borderlands™, is currently in development at world-renowned developer Gearbox Software. Coming to the Xbox 360(R) video game and entertainment system from Microsoft, PlayStation(R)3 computer entertainment system and Windows PC during Take-Two’s fiscal year 2013 beginning on April 1, 2012, Borderlands 2 is the epic sequel to the ultimate four-player Role-Playing Shooter loot fest. Combining invention and evolution, Borderlands 2 features all-new characters, skills, environments, enemies, weapons and equipment, which come together in an ambitiously crafted story. Players will reveal secrets, and escalate mysteries of the Borderlands universe as they adventure across the unexplored new areas of Pandora.
2K Games and Gearbox Software are taking this show on the road, and fans and media will be able to get their first look at the game at Gamescom 2011 from August 17 - August 21, and at PAX Prime (Booth #3417) from August 26 - August 28. Eager gamers can learn more about Borderlands 2 right now by picking up the latest issue of Game Informer Magazine, which has the worldwide exclusive cover story on the title. Readers will find many game details inside the issue, including the first reveal of one of the several new character classes being introduced in Borderlands 2.
I have a real love/hate relationship with Borderlands.
I loved the concept, the shooty bits, the guns, the loot drops, the cel-shaded look, and the length of the game.
I hated the low variety of enemies, the clumsy UI, the terrible Gamespy matchmaking, the locked FoV, the unbalanced quest to XP rates, and the crap ending.
The unbalanced quest to XP rates, at least, I think were done on purpose, because it’s one of those games you’re supposed to play more than once with New Game+. That does not, however, excuse the enemy variety, which was pretty woeful (though I can understand - I mean, christ, they had to redo every piece of art for the thing like a year before release).
I can’t speak to the ending. I believe I was headed for the Crystal Caves or whatever the last major zone is after the Crimson Douche or whatever the place behind the big sandcrawler level is called when other stuff that I needed to play released and I got distracted.
I’m going to sacrifice a goat at midnight in hopes that it will cause a departure from the Unreal engine for Borderlands 2. I’m gonna drop a wad of cash on a new rig for Skyrim, Battlefield 3, and others, and if my now-most-awaited title of 2012 launches with the same shitty ported Unreal engine under the hood, I will be most disappointed (though not surprised).
