Borderlands

Playtime: 48 Hours

This is a fantastic game. While most of the future installments in this series improve on it, this game is far from disappointing! There's so much to love about it— the story, the gameplay, the characters, and, in my opinion, the standout feature: the world itself. Pandora, the setting of the game, is a harsh and barren place, teeming with deadly wildlife and hostile people. For much of the game, it feels like you're in the middle of the Wild West, and I absolutely love that atmosphere. It's a gritty, unpredictable world, and it adds so much to the experience.

That said, my biggest complaint about this game is that Borderlands 2 set such a high bar as a sequel that playing this one afterward feels a little lacking in comparison. While it’s still an excellent game in its own right, it’s hard not to feel that it doesn’t quite live up to the momentum set by its predecessor. There are a few other minor issues I didn’t enjoy— like an achievement that takes over 6 hours to earn, some unnecessary collectibles tied to DLC achievements, and the final boss reveal, which honestly, didn’t quite hit the mark for me.

Despite these flaws, the sheer fun of the gameplay makes it easy to overlook these drawbacks. The action, humor, and overall experience are all incredibly engaging. If you're a fan of the series or just looking for a fun, chaotic shooter, this game is definitely worth playing. Give it a shot! The gameplay is addictive and entertaining, and it’ll keep you coming back for more.