The developer behind the Brothers in Arms series bring us a FPS/RPG or what they call a "RPS" (Role Playing Shooter) by the name of Borderlands. To me it bears a few resemblances to Fallout 3, which was also a FPS/RPG. You have a choice of 4 characters, who each have their own special abilities and gun specializations.
It is your standard RPG with character levels and various quests to complete to advance through the plot of the game, although the plot itself isn't exactly a strong element of the game, so if you wanted a game with a in-depth story, prepare yourself to be disappointed. The basic story outline is that you come to a planet called Pandora (not to be confused with Pandora in James Cameron's Avatar) in search of a legendary vault and its treasures.
The gameplay is like standard FPS games, so if you have played a FPS before, than you should have no trouble here. There are various enemies you encounter, from standard humans to dog-like creatures called skags and mutant midgets, although the robot Claptraps can get annoying after a while (whether this was intentional or not I'm not sure). One element of this game I found to be great is the fast array of weapons available. There are only 7 types of weapons: Combat Rifle (assault rifle), Sniper, Pistol, SMG, Shotgun, Rocket Launcher and Energy Weapon. But within each type there are hundreds, if not thousands of different attributes from increased reload speed to elemental damage (explosive, incendiary, static and corrosive).
There are many quests to complete throughout the game from story missions to simple random missions to complete for money or weapons. You level up fairly quickly, so you don't really need to do all the quests available unless you want to. Each quest has a recommended level and difficulty depending on your characters current level.
There are also vehicles in the game although there is only one type. The handling of the vehicles is generally ok, but it can get frustrating sometimes.
The best feature of this game is by far the co-op. Single player is ok, but just like Left 4 Dead, it is much more enjoyable in co-op. You can have 2 player split-screen on one console or up to 4 players online on xbox live or system link(1 player per console).
How challenging the game is depends on your characters level (obviously). If you are going to do a quest that recommends you should be level 20 when you are level 15, you may have some problems, again consult the difficulty rating for each quest to decide to do it straight away or wait until your are a higher level. However, the difficulty gets ramped up in your second playthrough.
Closing Comment
Borderlands is an enjoyable game if you like either FPS or RPG games, although the RPG elements may not be enough for hardcore RPG fans. The story is lacking in depth, but its the gameplay that drew me to liking this game.
Scores
Graphics:
8.0 Not state of the art, but the cell shading gives it a cartoonish look which adds to the humor.
Sound:
9.0 Great sound effects and music, although the claptrap voice and other voice acting can get a little dry.
Gameplay:
8.5 Plays like a standard FPS but the RPG elements keeps if fresh for longer than a standard FPS.
Replayability:
9.0 It is quite enjoyable and having 4 character classes and the option for a second playthrough should keep you entertained. And also be on the look out for the DLC.
Overall Score: 8.5/10
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