[u][b]-Quick Review-[/b][/u]
In short, this is my favorite DLC for Borderlands 2, the developer Gearbox released it as its own standalone game and listed it on steam in 2021, even though the DLC version which is still on steam was released in 2013. Tiny Tina’s Assault on Dragon Keep is one small piece of Borderlands 2, and so it’s not as long to play through as a standalone borderlands game usually would be. Tiny Tina’s Raid is a FPS, looter shooter with a Dungeons and Dragons fantasy twist… The only reason I’d advise getting this version of the game is if you don’t care about anything else in borderlands 2 and want to start Tiny Tina’s DLC immediately.
The MORE INTELLIGENT choice is to go get yourself the full copy of Borderlands 2 (preferably Game of the Year Edition, or something bundled with the DLC), so you can first: Experience the borderlands 2 story before the DLC that way you can experience the story properly. Secondly: after you’re done you can go play other DLC you’re not locked into ONLY this one part of borderlands 2. Thirdly, the price for the DLC and the standalone title are the same, but you can definitely pick up the bundle on sale and that’s just genuinely better value for money.
[u][b]Review Video:[/b][/u]
If you don't like reading, or are curious about watching gameplay check out my video here:
https://youtu.be/7yZPDUbASjY
[u][b]-Detailed breakdown review-[/b][/u]
[b]Story:[/b] The story for Tiny Tina’s Assault on Dragon Keep is a bit interesting, because it’s taking the main cast of Borderlands 2, having them all sit down and play Dungeons and Dragons together. While on the surface this might seem slightly trivial and silly, it’s actually so much better than that because its focus is on Tiny Tina’s coping with the events of Borderlands 2.
It’s just another reason why getting Borderlands 2 with the DLC makes more sense than buying this
“One-shot Adventure”. When you first load up the game you’ll get the normal Borderlands 2 intro video with a slight adjustment to fill in what happened in Borderlands 2. On the one hand – yes, that makes sense you gotta know what happened in BL2… on the other hand, you lose the appreciation of actually playing through those events for yourself.
That being said, with a more narrow view focusing on the “Dungeons and Dragons” adventure campaign Tina is running, you are playing one of the Characters in the game presumably controlled by Mordecai, Brick, and Lilith with Tiny Tina as the Dungeon Master telling the story.
The heroes find themselves on the Unassuming Docks when adventure knocks and the only answer is to help the citizens of Flame Rock Refuge by saving their queen from the Handsome Sorcerer.
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3625474378
[b]Gameplay:[/b] This game is a looter shooter. If you’ve never played one of those before it means you’re going to play through the game looking for new guns with better stats and swapping guns with better guns until you reach max level where the treadmill stops (or you just keep farming bosses and stuff until you get the best possible version of those guns at max level).
Of course, the gameplay is identical to Borderlands 2, but with a few changes, when you level up you get two skill points. Level cap is 35. After you finish the game, you can replay the game on True Vault Hunter Mode …and that’s it, so you play through the campaign twice, then farm the repeatable quests from Murderline’s Circle of Slaughter until you reach level cap.
One perk this version has over the regular borderlands is you have access to all the classes with the game, so you don’t need to buy the Mechromancer and Psycho DLC pack to play as Gaige or Krieg. You also have the Commando, Siren, Gunzerker, and Assassin Classes.
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3635049660
[b]Conclusion:[/b] Tiny Tina’s Assault on Dragon Keep is my favorite DLC for borderlands 2. Do I recommend the experience? Absolutely. Do I recommend the One-shot Adventure? No.
Actually there is a few contingencies I can think of for someone who might prefer this game over playing borderlands 2 and then moving on to the DLC: If you’re in a hurry and wanted to play this before playing Tiny Tina’s Wonderland… but I haven’t played Tiny Tina’s Wonderland yet, so I don’t know if it’s NECESSARY to do so.
The One-shot adventure is short; you’ll play through in a few hours and after that you’ll be stuck playing ONLY this expansion. You’ll miss important stuff in Borderlands 2, this game should be played AFTER Borderlands 2 (and as the DLC for borderlands 2 so you can go play something else when you’re done or farm your favorite gun at max level).
It’s nearly identical to the original DLC, with a few minor changes. I did enjoy my time playing through the game again after all these years, but I never would have bought the One-shot Adventure, but since I picked up a free copy, I’ll take an excuse to replay the game and get some achievements while traveling down memory lane.
