Summary
Borderlands 3has some of the best gameplay in the series, with thetightest gunplay Gearbox has developed by far. But for all the advancements in its map design, character skills, and loot system, the game received a huge amount of fan backlash on launch for taking a major step back from previous entries in the franchise in its writing.
While the originalBorderlandshad its fair share of dry, satirical humor, it was still primarily meant as a shooting experience first and foremost, with the plot taking more or less of a backseat to the fun of exploration and gunplay. When the second game came out, the series really leaned into not just having a more present story, but actually focusing much more on the humor, to the point where irreverent, snarky writing became a hallmark of the franchise overall.Borderlands 3saw a huge step back in this department and whenBorderlands 4inevitably drops, the writing needs a major improvement by taking cues from the most successful games in the franchise.
Borderlands 4 Needs to Balance Character Writing With Its Jokes
It’s not a particularly bold take to claim thatBorderlands 3’s writing was a step down from Telltale’sTales from the Borderlandsand even Gearbox’s ownBorderlands 2. And although the former’s storytelling is expected in such a narrative-focused title, it still sets a high bar for stories set in that universe.Rhys, the protagonist inTales from the Borderlands, even makes a cameo appearance inBorderlands 3, and fans of the series instantly criticized how much of a caricature he felt like in comparison to his debut appearance.
Tales from the Borderlandsmanaged to maintain the series' witty tonewhile also finding time for some serious character moments. While this is a lot easier to do in one of Telltale’s games where the only focus is on the story, it’s something the main series should aspire to as well. EvenBorderlands 2had some time for thoughtful character moments in the midst of the gameplay.
WhenRoland is killed by Handsome Jack, the game slows down for a few minutes, letting players take on a side quest letting the NPCs around Sanctuary hear the news. Each character responds differently to his passing, but they all take a small break from snappy jokes and their comical personalities to process the loss, and it becomes doubly true when Tiny Tina gets an entire DLC dedicated to her grieving process. It makes the characters feel more three-dimensional, and not just mannequins there to distribute side-quests and reference stale internet memes.
Borderlands 4 Needs to Avoid Borderlands 3’s Villain Problem
It’s widely accepted in theBorderlandsfan community that theCalypso twins were a step down from Handsome Jack. And while Jack was always going to be a high bar to clear, the gimmicky, dated nature of the streaming influencer villains had a lot of fans rolling their eyes. Weak villains are more excusable when they’re in the background. ForBorderlands 4, Gearbox either needs to commit to surpassing its work with Handsome Jack, or accept that the villain doesn’t need to constantly be in the player’s ear.
Maya’s Death In Borderlands 3 vs Scooter’s Death in Tales from the Borderlands
Maya’s death was a flashpoint for fans when it comes toBorderlands 3’s writing. Having a fan-favorite character die like she did was controversial, and only accentuated by how it was handled immediately after. There was a lack of appropriate fanfare; a paltry funeral, that was mostly used as a character-building moment for Ava, a new siren character fans have had a hard time accepting. None of Maya’s Vault Hunting friends (save Zer0) attend her funeral, and Krieg is barely even aware of her death. While this is somewhatfixed in the Krieg DLC, it should have been in the base game.
Tales from the Borderlandshad a much better approach to a beloved character’s death. Scooter had been with the series since Borderlands, got a heroic sendoff, sacrificing himself so that Sasha and Fiona could escape. Despite Scooter primarily being a comic relief character, the moment was played 100% straight, with no comedic undertones. Scooter went out a hero, and while they weren’t there to witness it, the remainder of the Crimson Raiders respect him as such moving forward.
