Heya folks!
Boy oh boy, what a couple of weeks. Months, really. I just want to say how proud I am of the majority of this amazing forum we call THE Giant Bomb dot com. Moderating these discussions with the gang has been nothing short of exhausting, but thankfully, you've made this bearable.
That said, though, Rorie and us moderators, we're human. I know, I know, at times we seem like RoboCops, laying down the law unstoppably, unfeeling, and incapable of human emotion, but underneath our impeccable beautiful/handsome/hamburgerish exteriors, we're skin and bone, and we need a break. So therefore, we're declaring this Sunshine and Smiles Week, wherein we try to focus on the positive and promote a sense of, I don't know, huggability and what have you. We're going to be happy, damn it, and we're dragging you with us!
I also want to encourage everyone to get psyched for this weekend's Extra Life charity events, easily some of the best stuff the gaming community as a whole does each year. Every single one of the individuals putting on a show deserves a round of applause, some Tootsie Rolls, and a used REO Speedwagon CD, at the very least. So check out what's going on, pop in your favorite eight track this weekend, and enjoy some good times - for the kids!
So Hey, I Broke My PS4 - But That's A-OK! Sunshine and Smiles!
In what seems like a lifetime ago, I wrote about buying a PS4 and my early thoughts on it. Well, about a week after that blog, I started getting that nasty little disk eject error. In the middle of the night, my PS4 tried to regurgitate my copy of Watch Dogs, and even when I pulled the disk, it kept making the disk eject beeping noise at random intervals. After going through the recommended (and utterly useless) steps to try to fix the problem on my own, I ended up contacting Sony and sending it in. Unfortunately, it's still out for repairs.
But you know what? The timing couldn't have been better.
Because REASONS! OK, Actually, Because of Borderlands
Kids, I'm kind of a Borderlands-oholic. I sunk probably close to fifty or so hours into the first game, easily a hundred or so into the second, and I've already beat Borderlands - The Pre Sequel.
Naturally, I played as Wilhelm first, because turrets. I'm not sure that kind of narrow thinking is the way to approach the Pre Sequel, because the character classes are at their very best when you're not trying to shoehorn them into the classes of the prior games. Sure, Wilhelm can play a bit like Roland or Axton, but when you decide to go off the rails a bit and focus in on some goofier aspects of his skill trees, he really comes into his own.
That said though, the characters do still fall into that classic skill tree-based game trap of needing very specific skill trees in certain situations. Take the end bosses - I won't spoil who they are here, but they're practically impossible if you're simply following the Wolf skill tree. You've got no cover, no safe haven, so you practically need to be a damage dealing, quick healing, kiss-stealing, wheeling, dealing son of a gun.
The whole game is a bit like that - it's really good, goofy, and a lot of fun, but there are some little niggling problems left over from other Borderlands games that rear their ugly little heads, along with a couple of new minor ones. The biggest problem is simply that the spine of the game doesn't receive any sort of a big update. This is still very much Borderlands - with the exception of the new lasers, cryo weapons, and O2 kits, the equipment is exactly the same. The menus are exactly the same. The badass rank mathematics have not seen an update, meaning most who play through the game with four characters will cap out somewhere around 12-15% bonuses. That's super disappointing, particularly in a game that's otherwise so much better than it should be.
That said, though, The Pre Sequel does a remarkable job at reusing its graphical assets. Throwing this game on the moon allows them to use new color palettes and some clever reskinning of old characters and objects. They really ran with the ball on this one, and while some of the indoor environments tend to lack flavor, the outdoor environments feel fun and inventive. Take note, Destiny - this is a moon I want to explore.
I'd also like to note just how much fun it was to hear the Australian accents that so permeated the game. I've grown used to American, Japanese, British, and Eastern European accents in games, so the Australian flavor definitely was a breath of fresh air. And truth be told, as much as I like guys like Nolan North, hearing some new blood get introduced into the mix is welcome. Hopefully this opens the doors to other games deciding to rethink using the same ol' same ol', while still giving the vets a chance to collect a paycheck.
Also, for those bemoaning the O2 stuff, trust me, it's not an issue. You're given so many chances to refill your oxygen that it feels like it's just an unnecessary system meant to at best introduce some new equipment. At its worst, it's a very minor annoyance and completely unnecessary to the gameplay. Eh. Just don't let it be the reason you're missing out on this game.
So yeah, despite a few rough edges, The Pre Sequel really delighted me. I'm playing through as Claptrap right now. It's loads of fun, and it couldn't have come at a better time.
So High Five, Duders!
Let's keep it friendly, jovial, cheerful, happy, silly, and wonderful out there this next week, folks. And then let's do it for the next month. And then the next year. And let's strive, every day, not to approach each other with shouts and curses, but with open ears and a smile. Because this is a great hobby, and we need to strive to make it even greater. So let's do this. Sunshine and smiles, folks.
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