A fair review, though again I don't much care for scores.
*In general, BD2 is just much better, and a damn sight more fun than most any shooter I've played in the last four years (though EYE wasn't too terrible, it also was amateur to a 'T').
Going on a point by point review (some comparisons made):
*In general, BD2 is just much better, and a damn sight more fun than most any shooter I've played in the last four years (though EYE wasn't too terrible, it also was amateur to a 'T').
Going on a point by point review (some comparisons made):
+BD1, bullet velocities were low. BD2, they're MUCH higher.
There's no more lunacy like bandits ducking a sniper shot aimed right at them, or having to use Cannon Ballistic logic to aim at flying targets
(In BD1, I'm not only firing subsonic rounds, but they're slow enough that a person can cognitively hear and REACT to a shot that's aimed right at them?)
There's no more lunacy like bandits ducking a sniper shot aimed right at them, or having to use Cannon Ballistic logic to aim at flying targets
(In BD1, I'm not only firing subsonic rounds, but they're slow enough that a person can cognitively hear and REACT to a shot that's aimed right at them?)
+Weapon manufacturers and role are much less redundant than before. The only major redundancy being Bandit and Vladof, with the latter generally being far superior to the former.
However, the gun design is far more distinct, and I can tell almost immediately who made what weapon, and what its general role is at a glance...usually. Sniper Rifles and Combat Rifles sometimes look too similar, as do certain models of shotgun.
However, the gun design is far more distinct, and I can tell almost immediately who made what weapon, and what its general role is at a glance...usually. Sniper Rifles and Combat Rifles sometimes look too similar, as do certain models of shotgun.
+SMGs are no longer the god-weapons, but I think Gearbox went a tad bit too far in nerfing them. Between the many flavors of combat rifle, shotguns and machine pistol, I had no real use for them.
-Revolvers were brutally nerfed. Repeaters were improved in general, and each weapon class is now manufacturer-specific (Jakobs makes Revolvers. Vladof and Bandit make machine pistols. Maliwan and Hyperion make repeaters, etc).
I kind of miss my Masher Revolver and gunslinger style, but it's a price I'm willing to pay.
I kind of miss my Masher Revolver and gunslinger style, but it's a price I'm willing to pay.
+Rocket Launchers are no longer 'joke' weapons. This is tactical ordinance amigo.
=Ammo is more scarce for most classes (except Gunzerker, since his action ability regens ammo), which makes bullet-power and elemental power far more important than magazine size.
The Storage Deck Upgrades cost Eridium now, which makes it a pain in the ass without grind or luck.
Overall, I see certain weapon types being more fun/useful as a result of this (Snipers especially), while others being worse (Pistols, SMGs, certain flavors of rifles)
This becomes less of a problem as time goes on, but it is something of a killjoy.
The Storage Deck Upgrades cost Eridium now, which makes it a pain in the ass without grind or luck.
Overall, I see certain weapon types being more fun/useful as a result of this (Snipers especially), while others being worse (Pistols, SMGs, certain flavors of rifles)
This becomes less of a problem as time goes on, but it is something of a killjoy.
+Elemental damage is far better balanced. No more Maliwan-is-God situations. However, Elemental Weapons are also by no means useless (unlike the nerfing with SMGs)
The new Slag Element is also FANTASTIC; doubly so for multiplayer. Even a rudimentary slag weapon will provide a tremendous boost to your overall damage.
The new Slag Element is also FANTASTIC; doubly so for multiplayer. Even a rudimentary slag weapon will provide a tremendous boost to your overall damage.
+Variety in enemy units is much better, forcing you to consider your approach a bit differently between gunfights. How they behave, what their abilities are...all better diversified.
Borderlands 2 is indisputably improved in terms of both map design and aesthetics. The diversity in climate and color is remarkably refreshing; especially compared to being trapped on the set of Mad Max for 20 hours in BL1.
Borderlands 2 is a more difficult game.
Where I could cruise through most of Borderlands 1 on a few choice weapons, Borderlands 2 is more difficult for a variety of reasons.
I) The AI is much better. INFINITELY better.
II) The enemy stats ramp up more quickly
III) A greater variety of enemies in combat situations require more planning
IV) Enemy reinforcements tend to arrive more frequently, and more quickly. Usually via escalation.
And my problem with this is that the game was almost certainly balanced around 2 Co-op. Going with more players makes the game much, much easier, going solo can become downright BRUTAL in places.
Contributing to this is the issue of loot. While Borderlands 1 was bias towards Blues, Purples and Oranges for effectiveness, it wasn't shy about handing them out either.
Borderlands 2: Whites and Greens reign. Relative to Borderlands 1, Whites and Greens are much better, and you can easily make due with nothing but Whites and Greens for your first playthrough.
However, Blue, Purple and Orange are RIDICULOUSLY rare in comparison. Outside of a Quest Reward, I have seen ONE Orange in over 30 hours of gameplay, and maybe 6 total non-Grenade Purples.
While this is better balanced than before, it also means that if there are any unique weapons at the highest rarities, you probably won't get to play with them without sinking a HUGE amount of time into the game. I have the pre-order bonus, which includes starting with an Eridian Relic that boosts my Rare Find chance and I still find mostly junk.
On that note, I must have missed E-Tech, having found exactly ONE E-Tech weapon outside of a quest.
Where I could cruise through most of Borderlands 1 on a few choice weapons, Borderlands 2 is more difficult for a variety of reasons.
I) The AI is much better. INFINITELY better.
II) The enemy stats ramp up more quickly
III) A greater variety of enemies in combat situations require more planning
IV) Enemy reinforcements tend to arrive more frequently, and more quickly. Usually via escalation.
And my problem with this is that the game was almost certainly balanced around 2 Co-op. Going with more players makes the game much, much easier, going solo can become downright BRUTAL in places.
Contributing to this is the issue of loot. While Borderlands 1 was bias towards Blues, Purples and Oranges for effectiveness, it wasn't shy about handing them out either.
Borderlands 2: Whites and Greens reign. Relative to Borderlands 1, Whites and Greens are much better, and you can easily make due with nothing but Whites and Greens for your first playthrough.
However, Blue, Purple and Orange are RIDICULOUSLY rare in comparison. Outside of a Quest Reward, I have seen ONE Orange in over 30 hours of gameplay, and maybe 6 total non-Grenade Purples.
While this is better balanced than before, it also means that if there are any unique weapons at the highest rarities, you probably won't get to play with them without sinking a HUGE amount of time into the game. I have the pre-order bonus, which includes starting with an Eridian Relic that boosts my Rare Find chance and I still find mostly junk.
On that note, I must have missed E-Tech, having found exactly ONE E-Tech weapon outside of a quest.
-Scooter
Fuck that guy. He's not really funny anymore, just annoying.
He does have one or two good memorable quotes, but the rest of the time he's just an obnoxious creepy cockstain.
-Claptrap
He's...less overtly abrasive than in BL1 and has better jokes overall, plus some moments of catharsis. However, he's also fantastically annoying in other points of the game. Honestly, if he just up and died early on, I would not have minded.
Unfortunately, the talkative little shit is with you the whole damn game.
+Sir Hammerlock
This man is awesome. Period. ("Bonerfart")
+Roland
Much less annoying and abrasive than before. He actually acts like a leader of men.
+Lilith
Remarkably likeable despite being more than a tad disturbed. I like her attitude if nothing else and she never got on my tits.
+Mordecai
Can't really talk about him without spoiling things, but overall he's pretty cool.
+Brick
Good man, kind of friendly in a "Chaotic Good" sort of way. I like him.
-+Handsome Jack
I'm kind of torn here. On one hand, he is ridiculous Comic Relief for most of the game. On the other hand, when he isn't acting as comic relief, he is an utterly irredeemable monster.
Others: Tiny Tina and Ellie are amusing if nothing else (Tina in particular is ten kinds of fucked up). Moxxi, Marcus and Zed are still there, and that's about the best way to describe them...they're just kind of there.
Earl is back, but he's the Eridium Black Market, and does absolutely nothing else.
Fuck that guy. He's not really funny anymore, just annoying.
He does have one or two good memorable quotes, but the rest of the time he's just an obnoxious creepy cockstain.
-Claptrap
He's...less overtly abrasive than in BL1 and has better jokes overall, plus some moments of catharsis. However, he's also fantastically annoying in other points of the game. Honestly, if he just up and died early on, I would not have minded.
Unfortunately, the talkative little shit is with you the whole damn game.
+Sir Hammerlock
This man is awesome. Period. ("Bonerfart")
+Roland
Much less annoying and abrasive than before. He actually acts like a leader of men.
+Lilith
Remarkably likeable despite being more than a tad disturbed. I like her attitude if nothing else and she never got on my tits.
+Mordecai
Can't really talk about him without spoiling things, but overall he's pretty cool.
+Brick
Good man, kind of friendly in a "Chaotic Good" sort of way. I like him.
-+Handsome Jack
I'm kind of torn here. On one hand, he is ridiculous Comic Relief for most of the game. On the other hand, when he isn't acting as comic relief, he is an utterly irredeemable monster.
Others: Tiny Tina and Ellie are amusing if nothing else (Tina in particular is ten kinds of fucked up). Moxxi, Marcus and Zed are still there, and that's about the best way to describe them...they're just kind of there.
Earl is back, but he's the Eridium Black Market, and does absolutely nothing else.