What Is Borderlands 2?
Borderlands 2 is a single and multiplayer first-person shooter released September 18, 2012. The game is a direct sequel and follow-up to the events that transpired in the first Borderlands game.
Furthermore, Borderlands 2 takes place in a sci-fi western-wasteland about completing missions and getting revenge on a deceptive evil mastermind.
What Is Borderlands 2 Core Gameplay?
Borderlands 2 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 2 focuses on completing quests, fighting enemies, and gaining loot
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 why Borderlands 2 is so much fun.
Why Borderlands 2 Is Worth Playing
Borderlands 2 is a bucket list game everyone should play in their lifetime due to its fun gameplay. It includes a diverse array of firearms and epic enemy encounters, along with varied environments from beginning to end.
The game also includes a compelling story that is great for both new and returning players of the series
1) Picking The Right Firearm In Borderlands 2 Matters
In total, Borderlands 2 has over 17 million weapons to choose from and selecting the correct weapon for the occasion actually matters. Each battle is different and requires a certain firearm to handle and each firearm has unique attributes that set it apart from others while altering the gameplay experience.
choosing the correct weapon for the occasion actually matters
Borderlands 2 includes 6 main weapon types that tweak gameplay to your liking.
Shotguns deal massive amounts of damage but have low accuracy and are great for short range while sniper rifles excel at steady shots from a distance and so forth.
Furthermore, each weapon is randomized and has a chance of including a variety of perks.
Some perks provide weapons with elemental damage modifiers while others add critical hit damage boosts or extra scope zooming.
Some specific guns are simply unique by nature.
Take for example guns manufactured by the in-game company Tediore. These weapons don’t reload like normal weapons. Instead, Tediore firearms are thrown like grenades and explode when a clip of ammo is used.
Borderlands 2 never feels dull due to its range of weapons
On top of manufacturer-specific weapons like this, each firearm has unique traits from total ammo capacity and firing rate to accuracy and magazine size.
All of this is to say that nearly every single gun in Borderlands 2 feels unique and helps keep the gameplay fresh for the entire length of the campaign story mode.
Personally, I felt encouraged to try different firearms during my playthrough and I did!
I began my playthrough by using pistols and grenades for comfort. This setup being my usual starting point for first person games.
By mid game, I moved onto using explosive rocket launchers from close to mid range, and then finally settled on a suite of critical boosting sniper rifles with elemental properties by the late game.
I also used a mixture of these weapons, depending on if a boss battle or fire fight demanded it.
All in all, Borderlands 2 never feels dull due to it’s range of weapons. It’s quite enjoyable trying each firearm and seeing what works in every situation.
2) Borderlands 2 Has Fun Enemy Fights
Borderlands 2 has awesome enemy encounters from beginning to end. Each fight is adrenaline inducing, allowing the player to choose brute force run-and-gun or strategy-based methodical tactics to survive. And each battle includes varied enemy types and terrain that make winning the fight a test of decision making and skill.
Borderlands have awesome enemy encounters from beginning to end
Battles in Borderlands 2 include waves of enemies firing at you from all directions, psychos who get close only to explode, and boss fights with massive creatures.
No joke: some bosses take up the entire screen or are as large as a towering mountain.
Finding the best way to deal with each enemy and battle is where the fun lives.
- What weapon is the best?
- Is direct confrontation the smart move?
- Or is taking cover and using stealth better?
- Crud, did that crazy dude just explode?!?
Often, the answer to surviving the fun firefights in Borderlands 2 is a combination of approaches.
A single fight might require strategic positioning one moment and then run-and-gun brute forcing the next.
The decision to how you play, however, is always up to you no matter what seems like the “correct” way to take on enemies.
Borderlands 2 always allows you to decide what to do.
Fighting enemies makes up a large portion of fun in Borderlands 2
In my play group, I’m more of a strategic methodical soldier that likes to take fights slow.
Eliminating enemies one by one is key for my personal survival. This is why I grew to love the sniper rifle from afar.
On the other hand, my two friends are brute force warriors that run into battles, defeat foes, and utilize the game’s near death mechanic that allows you to gain a “second life” as long as you keep defeating baddies.
I thought my friends were insane for charging into complex areas littered with enemies, but they managed to survive with both skill and tenacity.
And I simply admire them for their approach to enemy encounters.
Fighting enemies makes up a large portion of fun in Borderlands 2, so make the most out of each battle by utilizing the weapons and strategies you like the most.
3) Story And Environments Keeps Borderlands 2 Interesting
A compelling story and varied environments keeps Borderland’s 2 gameplay engaging from the first hour to the four hundredth hour. The narrative provides players with missions that takes place in snow covered planes, desert outposts, fiery volcanoes, along with many other environments that holds interest.
A compelling story and varied environments keeps gameplay engaging
The story: A deceptive gun manufacturer CEO is taking credit for saving the world and is trying to kill the player but fails to do so.
The task at hand: try to defeat the handsome maniac before he can finish you.
The plot is simple but done well with great voice actors, specifically the evil CEO himself.
The game is packed with goofy characters and dialogue but with serious repercussions. Death, destruction, power, and fame tempt all in the world of Borderlands 2.
And the story goes places that I won’t spoil, but prepare to be surprised at moments and shocked at others (perhaps even more so if you’ve played the prior game).
Additionally, the story drives players to varied locations that are fun to explore.
The snow lands to the sprawling city of Sanctuary and underground tunnels that make up most of the game are detailed environments with both horizontal and vertical areas to explore.
New Borderlands players will enjoy the views of each new area while returning players will be happy to see the series expand beyond predominately desert like levels.
Overall, Borderlands 2 combination of story and environment provides players with engaging moments that start at the opening cut-scene to the last boss fight and long after the credits are over.
Borderlands 2 Is A Bucket List Game
The variety of weapons, fun enemy encounters, and story-environment combo all make Borderlands 2 a game worth playing solo or with friend in your lifetime.
- fun loot-and-shoot gameplay
- wide selection of firearms
- fun humor and great voice acting
- varied environments
- single player, online, and cooperative modes provided
If you’re interested in checking out Borderlands 2, view the current listing of Borderland games on Amazon by clicking here.
What System Is Borderlands 2 On? Can You Play Borderlands 2 Online?
Borderlands 2 is available on Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 3 and 4, Xbox 360 and Xbox One, Steam, Epic Games Store, Windows PC, and Mac OS.
The game can also be played on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series S and X consoles through backwards compatibility.
Where You Can Play Borderlands 2
- Mac OS X
- Nintendo Switch
- PlayStation 3
- PlayStation 4
- Windows
- Steam PC
- Epic Games Store
- Xbox 360
- Xbox One
Furthermore, Borderlands 2 includes online multiplayer that allows up to 4 people to play the entire campaign and extra downloadable quests together.
This online multiplayer component can be played in most if not all releases of the game.
Borderlands 2 can be played online in the PlayStation, Xbox, and PC releases.
Even the Nintendo Switch version of Borderlands 2 can be played online with friends from beginning to end.
My friends and I played through the entire game on Nintendo Switch and had a lot of fun doing so.
Can You Play Borderlands 2 On PC?
Borderlands 2 can be played on PC (personal computers) by using the Steam or Epic Game Store apps on the Windows operating system. The game requires an operating system with Windows XP SP3 or later, a 2.4 Ghz Dual Core processor, 2 GB RAM, 256 MB video RAM, and 13 GB of available storage space.
Borderlands can be played on PC (personal computers) by using Steam
As a whole, Borderlands 2 PC requirements are on the low end due to it being an older game.
Borderlands 2 PC Requirements
- Windows XP SP3 or later
- 2.4 Ghz Dual Core processor
- 2 GB RAM
- 256 MB video RAM (512 MB suggested)
- 13 GB of free drive space
Most Windows computers from 2015 and onward can run Borderlands 2 thanks to the game’s relatively low-end PC requirements compared to modern games.
Personally, I played Borderlands 2 on a PC I built around 2012.
I was able to play the game with middle to high settings without a problem.
You shouldn’t have a problem either as long as your computer is relatively new.
How Long Does It Take To Beat Borderlands 2?
In total, Borderlands 2 main story mode takes 30 hours to beat on average. Completing all side quests and extra content will require additional playtime resulting in 50 to 100 plus hours in the world of Borderlands 2.
Borderlands 2 main story mode takes 30 hours to beat on average
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: 30-35+ hours
- Completionist play time: 50-100+ hours
A standard playthrough of Borderlands 2 can take 30 to 35 hours to complete, faster if the game is rushed or longer if one is playing at a leisurely pace.
I beat Borderlands 2 in 30 hours when playing with two friends in online multiplayer, including all downloadable extra content packs.
We rushed through the game to get a pretty quick completion time.
My friends’ previous knowledge and experience with playing Borderlands 2 helped us complete the story mode and extra content in quick order.
Do You Have To Play Borderlands 1 To Play Borderlands 2?
You do not have to play Borderlands 1 in order to play Borderlands 2. The story of Borderlands 2 is self contained and explained during the course of the campaign mode. However, playing the first game is essential to understanding more about the characters and events mentioned in the sequel.
You do not have to play Borderlands 1 in order to play Borderlands 2
As someone that played both games one after each other, I can say that it is beneficial having played the first game before the second, but it is not necessary.
The second game does a fantastic job explaining characters, events, and places from the first game.
In fact, I believe the second game does a better job of developing story elements from the first game.
Of course, players with an understanding of the events of Borderlands 1 will get a lot more out of epic moments and situations that occur during the story mode that involves elements from the first game.
I suggest playing the games in order of their release, starting with the first Borderlands game, if you’re looking to get the most out of the series.
Otherwise, Borderlands 2 is a great game to start with as it adds a host of improvements over the first entry of the series.
VIEW BORDERLAND 2’S PRICE
