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When a franchise reaches its 4th chapter, it is usually mature – however seriousness hasn’t been a word commonly used for Borderlands, the loud and notoriously rowdy shooter-RPG by Gearbox. This franchise features a pervasive and polarizing helping of distinctly adolescent humor. Yet in the new game, creator Gearbox improved upon the humor: it boasts several returning heroes in its plot, although this time they are more world-weary and less annoyingly manic. Borderlands has at last grown up, to an extent. And long overdue.

More Sophisticated Jokes & Classic Action

Borderlands 4 continues to hurl quips incessantly, and they are often uneven, however thankfully its overall humor is a bit smarter than previously. It keeps the distinctive cel-shaded graphical style and firearm and action-packed combat that audiences have long appreciated. Indeed, it throws an expanded arsenal of guns than any of its previous entries, and through a little effort sorting the best ones, you will find a wealth of true gems to use and face groups of standard foes and challenging boss fights. A solid narrative emerges once past the predictable opening act, eventually guiding you off on some surprising, entertaining and sometimes pleasingly odd diversions.

New Planet & Immersive Plot

The action occur on the planet Kairos, a location new to the franchise, which feels more coherent than previous of Borderlands’ previous locations. The planet’s population are living under the oppressive rule of the dictator this new antagonist, so you must rouse the oppressed locals and recruit them for your uprising, freeing tribes of folk by defeating the Timekeeper’s oppressive subordinates and removing surveillance-and-control devices from their bodies. Further into the game, the greater number of side quests and digressions are available, including challenging vaults full of loot to interactive obstacles.

Playable Characters & Upgraded Movement

Your options include a quartet of heroes – a Siren with summoning powers, a super-soldier, a melee-focused damage-soaker known as a Forge Knight and a tech-wielding Gravitar. Every one boasts combat skills that are crucial when you’re up against it, enabling you the opportunity to call forth deadly ghostly reapers, defense systems, or protective barriers. The usual top-tier gunplay is present and correct, however movement has been significantly enhanced: you gain access to a swing mechanic, a hover-bike and a massive double-jump and glide feature, which are useful amid chaotic battle and while out exploring. They also translate well to the series’ popular multiplayer, which supports four total friends.

Expansive Story & Existing Issues

Borderlands 4 is a large adventure – the main narrative requires 20 to 30 hours to finish, plus an abundance to do once finished. That said, it’s not entirely smooth: at times you must traverse huge distances in its quests, while the quest marker that helps you during travel is annoyingly inconsistent. It also been buggy initially: playing on PC, it has at times crashed on me, despite a huge fix, and early players have reported issues with stuttering and additional performance concerns. Yet Borderlands needed to evolve a bit, which is exactly what it has done, while keeping its essential charm. Its superb action mechanics are reassuringly familiar, and it’s now significantly far from frustrating than it was before.