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Giant Bomb Review

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Borderlands Review

4
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This cyborg-infested add-on brings a strong conclusion to the world of Borderlands.


These guys have been perverted by all types of motherboards, gears, and wires. 
These guys have been perverted by all types of motherboards, gears, and wires. 
Borderlands' fourth downloadable add-on gives players the one thing the game has been missing all along--a proper sense of closure. Claptrap's New Robot Revolution adds new zones and a new main quest line that pits you against enemies new and old as you attempt to stop the friendly little robots from rising up and taking over the planet of Pandora. It's an appropriate amount of content for the money, and if you're at all interested in continuing to play Borderlands, you should certainly pick it up.

The New Robot Revolution takes you to Tartarus Station, a new hub-type zone where Hyperion representatives are attempting to stop the Claptrap--which they created--from taking over the entire planet. Since you and your treasure hunting posse are the most effective killing machines in town, you're quickly contracted to deal with the threat.

That threat has led to the robot forces infecting a lot of the standard enemies you'd normally find in the game, which translates to a lot of standard enemies with vacuum tubes sticking out of their heads. So you'll still fight skags, spider-ants, bandits, and even a few bosses, like a Trapped-up version of General Knoxx. You'll actually fight this new Knoxx twice, which is perhaps a bit much. The downside to all of this is that most of the enemies are new in name and appearance only, so the standard combat tactics of running backwards while shooting as much as possible still apply. You will fight actual claptraps, though, which can get a little tricky. The "Divine Wind" variants just sort of roll up beside you and explode, which gives you something new to worry about. There's also that boss fight at the end, which is appropriately dramatic and one of the cooler things to appear in any part of Borderlands.

 Oh, and there's also a train full of robo-bandits to deal with.
 Oh, and there's also a train full of robo-bandits to deal with.
The developers have also made the game's quests feel like they matter a bit more than they have in the past by adding more speech. When you take on quests, the characters you're interacting with give you a bit of a monologue about what they're asking you to do and why. If you're the "run to map dot and kill stuff" sort of guy, you can just take off, but it makes the other characters in the world feel like they matter a bit more, which is cool.

The catch is that it all feels a little short and it was released ahead of an upcoming patch that will increase the level cap by eight and rebalance the old content to account for players that may be as high as level 69. Playing through this DLC before the release of the patch made the whole thing feel a little hollow, knowing that I'd probably have to replay large sections of it to gain levels once it's out there. The patch is due to be released ahead of a Game of the Year edition of Borderlands, which is due out on 10/12, so if you're planning on playing this new DLC, I'd recommend you wait until that patch is available so you'll get more than a couple of bonus skill points.

But if you're absolutely fiending for more Borderlands, it's not entirely empty without that character progression. The new quests and areas, combined with a "best of" lineup of characters from the other DLCs and other parts from the main game make for a good, exciting mini-adventure. If you're at all interested by the idea of returning to Borderlands, Claptrap's New Robot Revolution is absolutely solid.
Jeff Gerstmann on Google+

39 Comments

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ThePhantomnaut

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Edited By ThePhantomnaut

I wish I had Borderlands... :(

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Vinny_Says

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Edited By Vinny_Says

was expecting a 3

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FritzDude

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Edited By FritzDude

Sweet.

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goodwood

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Edited By goodwood

I have not played any of the borderlands DLC I think its time to get some.

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ImmortalSaiyan

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Edited By ImmortalSaiyan
@ThePhantomnaut said:
"I wish I had Borderlands... :( "

I have it but barely played it. Wow, I feel so wasteful all of a sudden.
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natetodamax

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Edited By natetodamax

Good to see it getting a nice score. I might just pick it up once the patch comes out.

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skadbob

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Edited By skadbob

I guess I'll wait until the patch comes out.

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jelekeloy

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Edited By jelekeloy

I love review reviews.

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peacebrother

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Edited By peacebrother

The level-cap patch ISN'T out in time for the DLC? That is insane!

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DaBuddaDa

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Edited By DaBuddaDa

Enslaved, Castlevania, NBA Jam, NBA 2K11, Def Jam Rapstar, new Final Fantasy, Wii Party, and Lionheart: Kings' Crusade all come out this week and we get a review of the 4th DLC of a year old game? Bleh.

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A_Dog

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Edited By A_Dog

Can't wait for the GOTY edition. 

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MisterDunlap

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Edited By MisterDunlap

Sweet.

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cooljammer00

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Edited By cooljammer00

Maybe I'll pick up Borderlands, finally.

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darkjester74

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Edited By darkjester74

Played it for an hour or so, really enjoying it.  My guy is 58 (59 now actually) so I am still getting something out of it, pre-patch.  :-)

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wolf_blitzer85

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Edited By wolf_blitzer85

Wait so if I have General Knoxx DLC and buy this I still won't be able to hit the 69 level cap? I thought the patch was just for those that didn't buy Knoxx, or is the new level cap increase completely separate from Claptrap Revolution?
 
Some clarification would be nice because I really want to play some more Borderlands, but not if I am going to miss out on some sweet new levels.

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FunExplosions

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Edited By FunExplosions

Front page link is messed up guys. It links to the Borderlands overview page, not Claptrap's New Robot Revolution.

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Bloodgraiv3

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Edited By Bloodgraiv3

Looks solid, im going to pick it up when i get the chance. 
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KillEm_Dafoe

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Edited By KillEm_Dafoe

Looks like Jeff enjoyed it slightly more than I did, but I mostly agree with this review. I had plenty of fun with it, and the final boss fight is undoubtedly the best in the entire game.

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ch13696

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Edited By ch13696
@DaBuddaDa said:
" Enslaved, Castlevania, NBA Jam, NBA 2K11, Def Jam Rapstar, new Final Fantasy, Wii Party, and Lionheart: Kings' Crusade all come out this week and we get a review of the 4th DLC of a year old game? Bleh. "
What are you talking about? This is good. A continuing effort to support a year old game deserves these reviews.
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aleryn

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Edited By aleryn

Whoa, you guys review the xpacks as well?  HOT DAMN!  Thanks, 'Gerstmann!

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NekuCTR

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Edited By NekuCTR

God Dammit Jeff, Hopefully this will be the end of your rampant obsession with Borderlands, I mean everything is detailed and well written, but 5 reviews for one game...seriously? Well there's always Borderlands 2.

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HellBrendy

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Edited By HellBrendy

I really like the idea of more voiceacting from NPC's. Hope this will transfer to and expand in Borderlands 2, wich really really has to be made.
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Nadafinga

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Edited By Nadafinga
@wolf_blitzer85 said:
" Wait so if I have General Knoxx DLC and buy this I still won't be able to hit the 69 level cap? I thought the patch was just for those that didn't buy Knoxx, or is the new level cap increase completely separate from Claptrap Revolution?  Some clarification would be nice because I really want to play some more Borderlands, but not if I am going to miss out on some sweet new levels. "
The patch is separate from the DLC. The patch goes out to all users, regardless of what DLC they've bought, and adds 8 levels to their level cap. So those who didn't buy the Knoxx DLC will get a bump to level 58, and those who have the DLC will get a bump to 69.
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Ravenousrattler

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Edited By Ravenousrattler

I love me some borderlands, it was my personal GOTY. This dlc was great i just wish the patch could of came out a little sooner but oh well i guess that will stretch my play of borderlands a little farther. Also congratz jeff for playing 4 days.

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bybeach

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Edited By bybeach

Almosr set myself up for being perceptually blind,  a post and a very quick delete seconds later beneath the old Borderlands review. Now to read the proper Claptrap review... 
 
well good news, though I not quite sure what Jeff means by "feels a litle short' Somehow I think he is implying something more than temporal. The way he words it, when the new level cap comes out gives me a little hope it will be soon. I'm not playing the game for the moment, banging my head against the end of Reach, instead. Right and proper, really, I should say I finished the game.
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mig029

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Edited By mig029

Great review, I loved the DLC, wish the achievements weren't glitched though. I can't wait for the 1.5 update

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ParaParaKing

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Edited By ParaParaKing

The most shocking fact about this DLC was the fact it was an outsourced project. That's crazy.

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WickedCestus

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Edited By WickedCestus

I've already bought it, but I'm waiting for the patch in order to play through it.

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Cloudenvy

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Edited By Cloudenvy
@ImmortalSaiyan said:
" @ThePhantomnaut said:
"I wish I had Borderlands... :( "
I have it but barely played it. Wow, I feel so wasteful all of a sudden. "
Same, I bought Borderlands during the Steam summer sale and have hardly touched it.
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iek

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Edited By iek

i've also bought it but i'm waiting for that patch D|

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deactivated-5c7ea8553cb72

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Sounds good. Sort of surprised by the score because of what Ive heard from other reviews, but I will pick this up nevertheless when the patch gets released.

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drstrawberry

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Edited By drstrawberry

I just about bought this and then I realized that i didn't own Borderlands any more
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berva

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Edited By berva

Great!  Been waiting for this review as Jeff is the Borderlands ambassador for the UN.

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SethPhotopoulos

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Edited By SethPhotopoulos

I had not expected a review!

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Espada12

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Edited By Espada12

I'll wait for a GOTY edition with all the DLC !

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Faint

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Edited By Faint

i'm pretty happy with what i've played of the dlc so far. however i stopped once i got from 60 to 61 as i wasn't going to gain anymore xp. their timing for the 'level 69' patch is atrocious and a real draw back from the dlc's otherwise great content. obviously people can't play it without the patch otherwise ill hand in 10 quests and get no xp and make the game unnecessary harder for myself. i wish gearbox had thought this through better. looking forward to when it SHOULD launch in a weeks time so i can finish out my borderlands experience. i will be keeping an eye out for borderlands 2 definitely. one of my most anticipated games for the future.

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strainedeyes

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Edited By strainedeyes
@wolf_blitzer85 said:
" Wait so if I have General Knoxx DLC and buy this I still won't be able to hit the 69 level cap? I thought the patch was just for those that didn't buy Knoxx, or is the new level cap increase completely separate from Claptrap Revolution?  Some clarification would be nice because I really want to play some more Borderlands, but not if I am going to miss out on some sweet new levels. "
 
There is no level cap raise in the DLC. The patch that is coming later will raise the level cap by 8 for everyone (even those who have not bought Knoxx).
 
After the patch, people who bought Knoxx will be able to get to level 69, while people who didn't buy Knoxx will now be able to get to level 58.
 
Like Jeff said, wait to play Revolution until the patch is released.
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jacksonroye

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Edited By jacksonroye

Borderlands got a patch the day Revolution was released.  Was that not the level cap increase? 

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Nadafinga

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Edited By Nadafinga
@jacksonroye said:
" Borderlands got a patch the day Revolution was released.  Was that not the level cap increase?  "
No it was not.