Borderlands Game of the Year Enhanced

[h1]Space Junk[/h1] I have complicated feelings on Borderlands. I've played 1 and 2 in the past as a teenager, so there's a bit of nostalgia. That being said i never really thought about replaying the games until recently. Looking for a no thrills fps to play, i decided to pick it back up, starting with the PC version of Borderlands 1 (i'd previously played it on PS3). I was a little hesitant to return to be honest, in part because of how linked Borderlands is to the studio that has headed its development from the start - Gearbox. I'm not gonna turn this review into a rant about Randy Pitchford, but even in the infamously sleazy business of video games he is probably one of the most sleaziest people around. I was also worried that the comedy would be nothing but unfunny cringe. But i figured it might prove to be a cute little distraction nonetheless. Honestly for what it is, Borderlands is pretty solid. It's not hard to see why it caught on. It has a distinctive visual style that very few games have managed to approach in terms of quality and uniqueness (Id Software's RAGE is arguably a better looking game but its not as fun). As a shooter it does a good job at balancing mobility with slower stop-and-pop ironsights combat. Of course the real star of the show is the Diablo style loot Skinner Box, which actually works quite well though i wouldn't consider it as much of a draw for me. Honestly, these sorts of looting systems work better in FPSes then they do in Diablo-esque action RPGs if only because of the skill required to not only stay mobile but also track the enemies on the field. That being said, Borderlands is not the most polished of games. It can get kinda aimless - not helped by the very loose and nonexistent narrative. Granted, it also means that it doesn't suffer from the problems that plagued the later games - annoying dialogue. The biggest problem however is probably the fact that combat is VERY bullet sponge-y, especially at the end of the main campaign. So while i would say the combat is enjoyable i wouldn't call it great. granted i don't know if there is an FPS-RPG hybrid with really good fps combat so make that what you will. In conclusion, Borderlands is probably the best 7 out of 10 game ever made. A solid foundation to build on top of. Its the perfect starting point for a decade+ old bloated cash cow.