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More of the Same Ain't Bad


On 10/20/2014 at 02:07 AM by KnightDriver

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                gourd

This was my first day with Borderlands: The Presequel. I played almost ten hours and was almost to level 11 playing as Claptrap "the fragtrap". The game feels exactly like Borderlands 2 but with new characters with their own unique specials, laser weapons, hover bikes, a new story and location - the moon - and probably some more stuff I haven't come across yet.

                             csbp

                                 Cheesesteak and fried mushrooms again this week.

What is the same as in Borderlands 2 are the graphics, the way the weapons and vehicles handle, the loot boxes of every sort scattered everywhere, the vending machines, and the zany humor.

Some differences are the four unique characters and their specials. My friend Mark was playing Nisha "The Lawbringer", but I didn't get a really good look at what his special did. I was playing as Claptrap and his special, called VaultHunter.exe, uses a random selection of effects. Sometimes a mini-claptrap appeared and aided me with heavy weapons, other times it made me hop around continuously. I could still direct myself and execute a slam move, and so I bounded around like a murderous bunny rabbit. Other times the special would make me dual-wield whatever weapon I was using and shoot them continuously like the Gunzerker character's special in B2, increasing in speed as the special began to run out. I think there were some other skills that were being applied too, but the screen shows you the selection so quickly that it was hard to follow until it manifested on the field or in my character. Claptrap is pretty fun to play so far. He really plays exactly like a regular character except for his unique special moves.

            want

         The game tried to convince me not to choose Claptrap, but I would not be persuaded.

Another difference are laser weapons. I did the quest to get the first one pretty early on. It looks like an assault rifle that shoots multiple rounds of laser light at pretty good distance. They're also infused with elemental effects. I was using one with fire and it did a great job against humans in space suits. It was my go-to ranged weapon until enemies got in close.

Another differnce are the addition of hover bikes. I saw one, but I haven't been able to ride one yet.

Yet another one is the location and mechanics of being on the moon. You constantly move from oxygenated indoor areas to airless outdoor areas all being in low gravity. You feel mostly the same as in Earth gravity until you jump and then you can get a little more distance. You can also do a slam move once your up there by hitting "B" on Xbox 360. It's not explained how you can do this, but whatever, it's a video game. There is an air meter that can run out if you don't pickup an air canister or get to an air bubble, but this was not a problem for me. I mean, I'm a robot, yes, but Claptrap says he has a psychosomatic need for air, so you have the meter anyway. I guess you start losing health once out of air, but I never ran out, so I don't really know. The outside areas also have jump pads to help you soar a little farther over chasms or to higher parts of a building. Some bosses I had to fight used the jump pads a lot.

                bps

                        Enemies will try and jump on your head just like Mario to a goomba.

Finally the story is wholly new; although, it's very close to the events of Borderlands 2 with returning non-player characters and the playable characters from B2 having a presence just like B2 did with the characters of B1. The main story is of Handsome's Jacks rise to power and it looks like it will be a long one because after ten hours of gameplay, I haven't seen Jack gain anything of the powers he had in B2 yet. I noticed the season pass is $30 which suggests at least three DLCs to come, making this probably of equal content to the massive B2.

I'm really excited to see how this story progresses. The shlooter (thank you Playstation Blogcast for that term) gameplay is just as fun as in B2 and the weapons and skill trees just as deep and engrossing. I played all day today, and I didn't want to stop. I'm already forseeing my difficulty sleeping because I want to get right up and get right back in there tomorrow. You could say Borderlands: The Pre-Sequel is just more of the same of Borderlands 2, but more of the same awesome is still awesome.


 

Comments

xDarthKiLLx

10/20/2014 at 02:17 AM

TPS looks like a good time.  Do you need to finish B2 to have a handle on the story?  Also, CLAPTRAP!!!  I'd love to play as that box o' bolts.  

That cheesesteak and mushroom combo look delectable.  Making me hungry!

KnightDriver

10/20/2014 at 02:55 AM

The main story, no, but it's fun to see all the references to the previous games made kinda along side the main story.

Matt Snee Staff Writer

10/20/2014 at 02:27 AM

you're killing me with those cheese steaks, man!!!!  

I'm glad you're having fun with this.  Ten hours in and plenty left sounds nice.  I've never gotten into these, but Im kind of burned out on shooters since I overdosed on them around 2008, 2009.  

KnightDriver

10/20/2014 at 02:58 AM

Might be my last for a while since I'm starting to make more of my own stuff. Tomorrow is hot dogs and beans.

I know what you mean. Shooters have a sort of relentless intensity. I'm constantly trying to rest my eyes or shift focus so I don't stare so much and get fatigued.

Matt Snee Staff Writer

10/20/2014 at 02:59 AM

yeah they do.  I don't have the spirit for that kind of focus so much anymore.  

asrealasitgets

10/20/2014 at 03:10 AM

Yes! It's a great game. I might actually finish this Borderlands for the first time. I really like the soundtrack too. It's one of my favorite things about this game. I'm playing as the dude with a shotgun. He can summon support drones for extra fire. Quite cool. I unlocked the buggies and have enjoyed speeding across the maps rather then running around. The jump pads are really fun!

KnightDriver

10/21/2014 at 02:14 AM

I forgot to mention the music. I like it a lot too. 

Wilhelm. He was my second choice after Claptrap. I'll probably play him next.

Ranger1

10/20/2014 at 08:36 AM

Oh, god those cheesesteaks look divine! Sounds like you had a good weekend.

KnightDriver

10/21/2014 at 02:18 AM

Cheesesteaks are great but I spent too much money on them. Today I got hot dogs and beans from the supermarket for Mark and I and it was less than half the price. I think I'm going to make food from now on.

GeminiMan78

10/20/2014 at 02:42 PM

I just beat it with Nisha Saturday and started a new game with Athena. Your right it keeps enough of what was already good about Borderlands and add some nice additions. The only thing I was disaapointed not to see was Marcos's shooting range.Very handy for testing weapons. But the new grinder is cool, gives you a cool alternative to selling junk gear. Clap will be my next choice with Wilhelm going last. Oh, Nisha's action skill Showdown lets her auto target for a short duration, she also gets a hefty boost to gun damage, fire rate, and reload speed. She is incredible for crown control and still very good against bosses.

KnightDriver

10/21/2014 at 02:45 AM

I'll find out all about Nisha when I start playing co-op with my friend Mark, and he'll find out about my Claptrap's specials which affect teammates as well.

I did run across a training area where that baskekball side mission Boomshakalaka is in Outlands Canyon. I didn't go in though, so I really don't know what's there.

GeminiMan78

10/21/2014 at 09:31 AM

I beleive that is the Shock Drop arena you get for preorder. I have not checked it out yet either. 

KnightDriver

10/22/2014 at 02:04 AM

That's what I was thinking too. Funny it didn't say Shock Drop Arena on the entrance though.

Alex-C25

10/20/2014 at 05:49 PM

All the Borderlands talk reminds me the urge of wanting to play it. Atleast i've got the first game on Steam and since they got rid of problems that couldn't make the game run on many people's systems, I may install it again.

KnightDriver

10/21/2014 at 02:49 AM

You get some perks in Borderlands: The Pre-Sequel for playing the previous games. I forget what they were now, a weapon and something else, but it wasn't major.

Super Step Contributing Writer

10/20/2014 at 07:41 PM

Dammit man, I just went back on my diet and you post cheesesteaks! And fried mushrooms! And ginger beer! 

That's ok, I had fried mac n cheese balls dipped in orange sauce, a jack cheeseburger with garlic parmesan fries and four different mixed drinks while I watched the Notre Dame game at my favorite local bar on Saturday. Too bad they lost to FSU. On the bright side, I've been back on my diet and exercise thing in full swing since ... yesterday. I'm already hungry. Frown

As for Borderlands, this setting is way more appealing to me, so I could see myself getting into this game if I had something to run it on. I mean, it is on Steam, but I have neither the cash flow nor (most likely) the RAM or graphics card to run it. Maybe when I get a console.

KnightDriver

10/21/2014 at 02:54 AM

I've been working on a diet and exercise routine. I think I might be done with cheesesteaks for a while.

Well, B1 and B2 are probably cheap right now and are just as fun. Not sure what they require to run on a PC though.

goaztecs

10/22/2014 at 10:53 AM

Sorry man I had to skim over your blog because I really want to get this game but I'm hoping it will be released on the Vita. Playing it on the Vita doesn't make me dizzy like the consoles versions. Heck I might break down and buy it for the consoles just to get my Borderlands fix. 

KnightDriver

10/23/2014 at 02:26 AM

I understand that. I tried not to talk about the story too much to avoid spoilers, but anything is too much when you really want to play a game. 

NSonic79

10/28/2014 at 12:29 PM

so is it better to play this game first before the whole borderlands series as a whole? I only ask because there is rumor that the first borderlands might be the next free game in MS's games with gold promo for Nov.

KnightDriver

10/29/2014 at 02:49 AM

It goes B1, BtPS, B2. So wait for B1 and play that first. There was a reference my Fragtrap made once to something he did in B1 and I only vaguely understood it because I'd played B1 a while ago. It would be kinda cool to play them all in order.

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