I’m diving into Borderlands 4 like someone who found a brand new candy bar at the back of the pantry. It’s this whole, weird mix of familiar and not-so. Like, it’s still got that looty-shooty thing going, but, man, there’s this vibe that the soul got tossed out with the empty pizza boxes. Imagine the series wearing a crisp new shirt but missing that old comfortable vibe you loved.
This time, you’re landing on Kairos, a planet that’s basically untouched by the usual chaos merchants of the past games. Things kick off with a cosmic collision (just a moon, no biggie), mashing the new with the old. Characters you’ve maybe sort of missed are back, bundled up with fresh faces and gear. Feels like walking into a party where half the people are strangers but recognize your favorite song.
First impression? Borderlands 4’s open world is vast and crazy beautiful. No more awkward loading screens—hooray for that! I was poking around this green area when I totally stumbled upon a mini-boss or something. Random. Kinda felt like how Destiny ropes you in, a bit addicting that way.
Of course, open worlds have this annoying habit of being… well, empty sometimes. While there are random little events popping up, I floated into just one spaceship for loot—got lucky, I guess? I’d rather be pelted with these surprises more often.
The combat? Still packing a punch, thank goodness. Guns are bonkers, and now they’re all customizable with different parts. It’s like mixing up soup with way too many flavors. I’m kind of missing that distinct personality each brand had before, though. Remember when you knew what to expect from a Jakobs or a Torgue? Yeah, that. It’s like swapping a Ferrari engine for something else and wondering if it still feels the same.
Weirdly, they’ve toned down the humor too. Gone are the days of wildly absurd quests filled with cringe and laughter. I found Claptrap a whole lot funnier by a lake than some of the main quests. It’s like, c’mon, give me more of those wild jokes!
Still, some of the new aspects are rock-solid. Like this boss fight that had me swinging around and aiming at glowing weak spots—it felt like the good ol’ days but with a cheeky twist.
Much as I’m trying to vibe with all these changes, I’m a bit torn. Part of me is rooting for this bold new direction, applauding their guts. But the nostalgic part? The one that just craves that old Borderlands chaos… well, it’s left a little blue. Here’s hoping more than just two hours with this beast of a game might bring some clarity. If you’re gearing up to dive in and reminisce about yesteryears, maybe also brace for some surprises that don’t come with a punchline.
