Shooter + RPG = Fan Service
Everything about this game is tight, and it has the most solid offering as a game I have seen in a while. Gearbox not only met my high expectations of Borderlands, but ultimately succeeded them.
On the plus side:
1. it is a more solid game compared to Hellgate.
2. It carries most of the strengths of Fallout 3 and includes splitscreen multiplayer and singlescreen online.
3. Also, as far as Diablo is concerned, Borderlands sticks with the fine line of eliminating necessary exposition while maintaining a healthy surplus of new gear to satiate the need for accessorization (with unique guns to differentiate between online partners).
4. Borderlands is the most well balanced game I have ever played. Not only is it almost a perfectly balanced game, I personally found myself using very few of the same guns over both play throughs (playthrough 1 and 2 with a Hunter).
5. The upgrade system is also awesome in that you don't have the silly and unrealistic boots/armor/gloves/helmet/etc combos that are typical with RPG games, instead the system is not only semi-logical, but is also an interesting twist to an already worn-out inventory system I would gladly see end.
6. Having 4 options of characters with 3 separate skill trees, will probably keep me in the game until the DLC comes out, and hopefully in the future Gearbox will find a way to push the character level without sacrificing the game's balance.
On the down side: **consider the following as minor points unless otherwise stated**
1. The game has minor bugs, I personally didn't experience any, except the match making system not allowing me to see games level 50 characters made (which was already patched).
2. The ability to easily respect skill points makes the end game seem a little less of an accomplishment when co-op playing or pVp.
3. The loot system makes me feel forced to play solo until I am no longer needing very many new guns. I personally don't like taking stuff that other people might want. I also don't want to feel like "the lame wheel" in the game, when I am not on equal footing when firepower is concerned.
4. Early level 2-player co-op can get downright nasty and nearly unplayable, but around level 20 it seems to get on better footing where balance is concerned, mainly because of available skill points.
Borderlands is not only my favorite game on the 360 this far period, but it easily blows most of my favorite past games out of the water (PC, ps2, etc.) if only for how well put together it is.
I have dropped at least 50 hours into the game, and I am going to be playing this well past the holidays and into the new year. I smiled a lot while playing the game, because of the level of quality that is rarely seen in the industry. Gearbox's support of the product has also been something of a complete and pleasant surprise.
