What Is Borderlands?
Borderlands is a single and multiplayer first-person shooter set in a sci-fi western-wasteland setting about completing missions for outlaws in order to find a rumored catacomb of riches. Countless enemies will be fought along the way, each dropping precious loot to equip and use.
Gameplay focuses on accepting and completing missions by traveling from one location to another on foot or in car, defeating enemies in fire-fights or hand-to-hand combat along the way.
Borderlands is a single and multiplayer first-person shooter set in a sci-fi western-wasteland
Foes drop an assortment of offensive and defensive items once defeated that can be picked-up, equipped, sold, or swapped with other players.
These items provide perks that increase the player’s overall strength.
Gathering “loot” dropped from enemies and found in chests is what Borderlands does best.
Why Borderlands Is A Bucket List Game
There are 3 main factors that make Borderlands a game everyone should play in their lifetime.
An addictive fight-loot-gather gameplay, robust customization choices, and an interesting game world that is ridiculously fun for solo and multiplayer sessions make Borderlands a blast.
1) What Makes Borderlands Special (Gameplay Explained)
Borderlands repeatable gameplay of shooting enemies and gathering items is what makes the game fun and special. This easy-to-understand and simple-to-execute gameplay loop provides instantaneous joy via intense fire fights and new gear every moment of gameplay.
Battling enemies is as simple as aiming and firing your weapon of choice.
And doing so never gets dull due to the wide range of enemy variety provided during the length of the campaign; gameplay stays fresh from the opening cinematic to the end credits.
Early enemies may stay in place or snipe at you from a distance while mid and late game enemies will actively charge you with hatchet in hand or seek cover.
Other mutated foes appear to keep things interesting such as the circling buzzard creatures of the skies or dog-like monsters that roam the game’s wastelands.
Lastly, enemies also increase in level which makes for a challenging ride no matter where you are in the story.
The enemy variety kept me interested for dozens of hours as I never knew what kind of evil creep loomed in the next area.
Easy-to-understand and simple-to-execute gameplay loop provides instantaneous joy
Borderlands ludicrous amounts of items and fire arms gained by defeating enemies and looting chests is also what makes this fun game so special. The game includes over 16 million fire arms from 7 different classes including shotguns, rocket launchers, pistols, sniper rifles, revolvers, and more.
The bonkers amount of ranged weaponry included across a variety of styles provides fresh gameplay moments every second. If a long-range scope isn’t working, simply change to a much stronger short-range weapon.
And fire arms can be swapped at any moment meaning you’re never stuck to using just one.
I really enjoyed being able to switch one weapon with another in the heat of battle as I figured out what would work best against a new foe or boss encounter. This added extra strategy and depth to an already fun combat system.
The game is also loaded with a ridiculous number of defensive modifications and shields that increase the defensive (and offensive) capabilities of each character class. These items can also be found in chests or when enemies are beaten.
Simply put, the sheer amount of items gained throughout Borderlands makes it always feel like your birthday.
Presents and gifts in the form of new weapons and items provide ever-changing gameplay moments that are truly addicting.
2) Borderlands Includes Robust Character Customization Options
Borderlands includes character customization options that allows players to choose one of 4 classes at the start of the game, each with its own strengths, weaknesses, and skills. Each class’s outfit colors can be changed to your liking and head gear can be equipped to make a character unique.
Additionally, players have the option to choose which skill they learn and in whatever order they decide when their character gains enough experience points and levels up.
Each level grants a new skill point that can be allocated to a skill tree (a branching selection of skills unique to each character class). Each skill point used unlocks a new skill or upgrades a previously unlocked skill.
Players have the option to choose which skill they learn and in whatever order they decide
I simply love the freedom of Borderlands skill progression character customization. Being able to choose what new ability to unlock makes the game different for every player and for every playthrough.
You can focus on unlocking offensive or defensive skills or perhaps a mixture of both, for example.
Personally, I focused on acquiring defensive skills for my character at the start of my first playthrough when I was getting accustomed to the controls and game mechanics. I pivoted to exclusively unlocking offensive skills that increased damage output, accuracy, and firing rate by the end boss.
This resulted in my character being a balanced soldier versus leaning too heavily to one side or the other.
I plan on primarily unlocking offensive skills for my character in subsequent playthroughs of the game, now that I have confidence and experience with Borderlands game world.
3) Borderland’s Unique Game World Is Silly And Fun To Traverse
Borderlands unique wasteland world is filled with silly characters and one-of-a-kind foes that keep game sessions interesting. Oddball outlaws provide random tasks for players to complete in the form of missions while masked Psycho’s attack, shouting hilarious quips.
I always enjoyed playing with my friends online and voice chatting with them only to hear one of my buddies repeat a humorous line from a character we just encountered.
Silly characters and one-of-a-kind foes keep game sessions interesting
Our multiplayer sessions remained a blast filled with Borderlands quotes and memes.
All thanks to how interesting and unique the game world is presented. These flourishes give personality to a deserted world set in the vast outlands of a planet called Pandora.
Borderlands is truly a bucket list game you need to play in your life. It’s a fantastic game to play by yourself and it’s just as fun playing with friends.
- Compelling first-person shooter
- Eye-pleasing comic book visuals
- Challenging boss fights and encounters
- Addictive shoot and loot gameplay
- Great variety in weapons, skill choices, and enemy types
- Very High Replay Value
- Release: PlayStation 3, Xbox 360 | 2009
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What System Is Borderlands On? Where Can You Play Borderlands?
Borderlands 1 is available on Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 3 and 4, Xbox 360 and Xbox One, Windows, and Mac OS. Additionally, Borderlands 1 can also be played on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series S and X consoles through backwards compatibility.
Where You Can Play Borderlands
- Mac OS X
- Nintendo Switch
- PlayStation 3
- PlayStation 4
- Windows
- Xbox 360
- Xbox One
Borderlands includes an online multiplayer mode that allows up to 4 people to play the entire campaign and extra downloadable quests together.
This online multiplayer component is included in most if not all releases of the game.
Borderlands 1 can be played online in the PlayStation, Xbox, and PC releases. Even the Nintendo Switch version of Borderlands can be played online with friends from beginning to end.
Can You Play Borderlands On PC?
Borderlands can be played on PC (personal computers) by using the Steam video game app. A Windows PC version is also available. The first Borderlands game, however, is not available on the Epic Games Store. Epic Game Store users do have access to the rest of the Borderland series of games.
Borderlands can be played on PC (personal computers) by using Steam
As a whole, Borderlands Steam PC requirements are on the low end due to it being an older game.
The game requires a computer system with Windows XP/Vista or newer operating system, a 2.4 Ghz processor, 2 GB RAM suggested, 256 MB video RAM, and 8 GB of free drive space.
Borderlands PC Requirements
- Windows XP/Vista OS (or newer)
- 2.4 Ghz processor
- 1 GB RAM (2 GB suggested for Vista and up)
- 256 MB video RAM
- 8 GB of free drive space
Most Windows computers from 2015 and onward can run Borderlands thanks to the game’s low-end PC requirements.
I personally ran Borderlands on a PC built in 2012 and was able to play the game with middle to high settings without a problem.
Of course, just about all modern computers will run this classic very easily.
Can You Play Borderlands 1 On PlayStation 4 (PS4)?
Borderlands 1 is available to purchase and play on PlayStation 4. There are 2 ways to play Borderlands on PlayStation 4. Borderlands: Game of the Year Edition and Borderlands Legendary Collection both include the first game so there is no need to buy both.
Borderlands: Game of the Year Edition includes the original game with all downloadable content along with remastered character models, weapons, and textures to make the game look better than ever.
Borderlands Legendary Collection is a compilation of 3 Borderlands games that includes Borderlands: Game of the Year Edition. Borderlands 2 and The Pre-Sequel are also included in this pack.
Borderlands 1 is available to purchase and play on PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5
No matter which game you decide to get, Borderlands 1 plays well on PlayStation 4.
Borderlands 1 can also be played on PlayStation 5 consoles through backwards compatibility.
This means that your PlayStation 4 version of Borderlands: Game of the Year Edition or Borderlands Legendary Collection will work on the PlayStation 5 whether it’s a physical or digital copy of the game.
You can start playing the game now on your PlayStation 4 and keep your progress when you decide to upgrade to a PlayStation 5.
Is Borderlands 1 Open World? What Genre Is It?
Borderlands 1 is an open-world shooter for up to 4 players that focuses on defeating foes and gathering loot while completing missions to further the story campaign. The game provides a sprawling open-world that can be explored in any direction and any time on foot, by vehicle, or via fast travel.
The world of Pandora in which Borderlands is set is widely accessible at the very start of the game, with new areas opening up as progress is made to the game’s story.
Players can easily skip doing the game’s campaign missions and mindlessly wonder about, finding new locations and mini-bosses while obtaining new gear.
Additionally, the game not only provides a giant open-world map to explore but many large independent zones that can be explored with freedom as well.
Borderlands 1 is an open-world shooter for up to 4 players
I’ve spent just as much time wondering the wastelands, defeating droves of enemies for experience points and loot for the fun of it as I did focusing on the story missions.
You can easily spend hundreds of hours doing whatever you please in Borderlands.
Borderlands 1 does include a linear story with progress that is unlocked as a sequence of missions are completed.
However, the game also includes numerous side quests that can be found and completed in whatever order you like.
Some may say Borderlands 1 is not an open-world game according to a strict modern-skewing definition of the genre, but it does provide immense amount of freedom to travel and explore to your liking.
Borderlands 1 is not open-world in the same sense of The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild or The Witcher 3, yet it allows the player enough free-roaming fun across sprawling open environments to keep the average gamer happy.
How Long Does It Take To Beat Borderlands?
On average, Borderlands 1 takes between 20 and 35 hours to beat. The time it takes to complete the game varies and depends on how much time is spent finishing optional side quests and extra content, gathering loot, and leveling up.
- Average play time: 20-35+ hours
- Completionist play time: 60+ hours
A standard playthrough of Borderlands 1 can take 20 to 35 hours to complete, faster if the game is rushed or longer if one is playing at a leisurely pace.
I beat Borderlands 1 in 25 hours when playing with 2 friends in online multiplayer, including all downloadable extra content packs. We rushed through the game to get a pretty quick completion time.
My friend’s previous knowledge and experience with playing Borderlands 1 helped us beat it fast.
Borderlands 1 takes between 20 and 35 hours to beat
A Borderlands completionist looking to acquire legendary loot, the best weapons, and finish all quests will spend a lot more time playing the game. There are over 16 million weapons to find and 126 missions to complete along with 4 separate classes to play as.
Expect to play 60 to hundred hours on your first playthrough if your are looking to do everything there is to do in Borderlands and way more so if you plan on switching between all 4 character classes.
Borderlands 1 also includes a second playthrough that allows you to start from the beginning with all of your gear from the first playthrough. Enemies are higher level which provides extra challenge and more play time for those dedicated to play.
Is Borderlands 1 Worth Playing Solo?
In its entirety, Borderlands 1 is enjoyable and worth playing single-player. The game’s fight-loot-gather gameplay alone makes solo play a fun experience.
The game also provides tough boss fights and difficult bouts against waves of enemies that provides satisfying challenge from start to finish.
I played the game both single player and multiplayer, finding immense fun doing both.
Single player proved challenging in a good way and forced me to learn how to tackle enemies, come up with strategies during fire fights, and understand each foes unique traits (like Skagzilla’s weak point being its mouth).
I also had to become better at aiming because I had no one else to rely on.
In its entirety, Borderlands 1 is enjoyable and worth playing single-player
Gameplay felt rewarding in my solo playthrough due to these factors. Nothing can replace the feeling of going all 5 waves in the Mad Moxxi’s Underdome Riot arena by yourself or making it to the end boss in the campaign without assistance.
Multiplayer, on the other hand, felt more like a roller coaster ride full of shenanigans.
I didn’t really have to worry much about my aim or my health because I always had a teammate to provide backup, revive me, or assist me in some way.
Sessions with my friends felt rewarding simply because of the social aspect involved and the enjoyable challenge that came from tackling stronger fights when we were under leveled.
Simply put, playing Borderlands 1 in single player mode is a viable way to play the open-world shooter that will provide dozens (if not hundreds) of fun-filled hours. You do not have to play the game multiplayer as the entire game can be accessed and enjoyed by yourself.
Is Borderlands 1 Too Easy?
Borderlands 1 is not too easy and provides a challenge throughout the length of the campaign for all skill levels. Even experienced players will find themselves defeated by groups of enemies and needing to re-spawn as the story progresses and foes increase in level and difficulty.
There is one reason why players might think Borderlands 1 is too easy. Becoming over leveled and stronger than enemy levels. Being a higher level than an enemy provides huge increases to damage output and defensive stats.
Therefore, being consistently at a higher level than enemies throughout the game will make Borderlands 1 seem quite easy.
Borderlands 1 is not too easy and provides a challenge throughout the length of the campaign for all skill levels
Through personal experience, my entire playthrough with two of my friends who played Borderlands 1 many times proved challenging. Even with experienced players in my group, we all perished multiple times.
Our characters were normally equal or lower to our enemies, ensuring challenging sessions every time we played.
I suggest skipping side quests and extra content missions as well as grinding for experience points in order to avoid gaining extra levels if you feel Borderlands is too easy. This will help ensure you are rarely if ever stronger than your enemies.
Being under leveled will also prevent you from having access to stronger abilities from your skill trees along with the ability to equip high level requirement weapons.
Your first playthrough of Borderlands 1 will be much tougher if you follow these guidelines if that is what you want.
If Borderlands 1 is still too easy for you, view your first playthrough as a “training mission” of sorts to help you understand the game’s mechanics.
Beat the game and then tackle the game’s 2nd playthrough for a more challenging experience.
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