OXCGN – Xbox Gaming News Reviews Views

Exclusive Gameplay footage

by XboxOZ360

©2009 Grant Smythe:

I was somewhat sceptical about Borderlands after it changed direction some months ago.

Though a huge fan of realistic style First Person Shooters, I didn’t like the look or feel of Shadowrun, or other similar ‘sylised’ games, so I was disappointed when I saw the huge change in art direction.

I would rather that the shooter immerse me with realism than try and make it a comic book style of shooter. However, I must say, that after attending a recent Borderlands showing, and having some hands on time with the single player and co-op, I’ll be sticking this game in my Santa Stocking this year.

It’s best if Randy Pitchford and crew walk you through the game in co-op made, discussing the little things no one but he could. So do check out both part 1 and part 2, which gives you around 30 mins of Borderlands gameplay exclusive to OXCGN.

• OXCGN Crosses The Badlands Pt 1

We attended a function held by 2k Games Australia in the underground club called The Phoenix Bar – it’s a Sydney nightclub which is part of the Exchange Hotel on Oxford Street Darlinghurst. Walking down the stairs it was evident that they had spent a great deal of time setting the place up to impress the media who were going to be attending throughout the day and evening.

I’ve been there before for other events, and it felt familiar, but different at the same time. As you’ll see by the footage of Randy Pitchford presenting the game, it’s not a very ‘bright’ place to do unaided footage in, but I managed to get a half decent amount on what you’ll expect to find on the game when it ships on 23rd October.

Not being a huge multiplayer fan, it was the single player I was more interested in than anything else, so it was great to have the 2k reps having two lots of Xbox 360′s set up for both co-op and single player. Around 8 Xbox 360′s were in use but you could have mistaken it to be midnight outside, as the atmosphere certainly was very “dark”.

Working your way into the game is a nice change from many older FPS, as it follows the trend many have taken of late by forgoing the normal tutorial, and replacing it with an actual interactive scenario where you must work out puzzles to acquire goods, weapons and the like in order to move on.

While some will hate the “Cell-Shaded” style, many will love it, and as mentioned, I was not a huge fan of it originally. But it certainly grew on me, fast.

Not everything is outlined as some cell-shaded games are. In Borderland they merge and loose their outline as things get closer, allowing the gamer to distinguish things that are closer from those that are further away, helping you get your bearings a lot easier than most cell-shaded games have done in the past.

The weapons are basic to begin with but as you move along, working your way into the Badlands, you begin to unlock more weapons and add-ons within minutes. The pleasant knowledge that there’s a possible million different weapons available for you to create, and more according to Randy Pitchford, makes one wonder just what you might end up making as the game progresses.

Sometimes it can be a tad difficult working out where you are, but the map and waypoints help. I felt like I was constantly having to switch back and forth to find my way. As I became more accustomed to it I found myself moving around rather quickly after about 20 – 30 mins.

• OXCGN Crosses The Badlands Pt 2

Weapons had a solid feel to them and there is certainly lots of gooey stuff when you hit the villaicns, that’s for sure. Lots of missing heads and limbs when you manage to clock one of the renegades in the head or upper body, or drop a lovely grenade in amongst them.

For those looking for a game that is going to supply a huge amount of replay value, then this game would have to be it. You could wander around all day looking for loot, acquiring weapons and parts to manufacture other creations, or simply follow the storyline and work your way through it reasonably quickly. But don’t expect to get through it even that way too fast.

I’d be surprised if gamers can work their way through the single player in less than 10 hours, more like 15- 20 actually.

Well, that’s how long it could take me … but then again, I’m a snail when it comes to such things.

Lilith is one of the characters you get to both meet and play in the game; a quick little feline who is someone you simply do not want to mess with. She’s your ally in the game, and will help you out wherever possible once she is unlocked. We even had a real live Lilith on hand to help show just how nice your in-game character can be . . . 11/10 for the get up, it certainly looked great.

The storyline allows you to expand into other areas, while still following it through in logical succession. I never felt rushed or pushed to complete what I was playing, although there are times you do have a time limit in which to get things done.

And yes, that infamous Suicide Box Art was there in full swing. I don’t think Borderlands would be the same now without that iconic piece of artwork. It has certainly attracted the attention of many of the game followers.

While I really only scratched the surface of the game, and it’ll take a lot more hard work to move my way through it, it will be a game that will be something that I keep as a game for replay value, that is for sure.

I’m not one to buy games and then trade them in or sell them off. So I try and chose wisely, or as best I can.

We will have a much deeper and darker full review soon, with full online and co-op details, so do stay tuned for that.

My only real concern is if it will it gain the public attention it deserves, seeing that it is being released on the very same day that another HUGE 1st Party Xbox game is being released, which shall remain nameless at this time, but we all know which one I’m talking about.

It’s not a good move to ship it on a date like that in my eyes, as a huge % of gamers will pick the other game over this game – it’s a shame, as they will be doing themselves a disservice if they do. If the game was released even 5-7 days later, 2k games could do better in the shop than I fear they will do, at least at first.

So stay tuned and make sure you keep a look out for OXCGN’s Borderlands Review in the not too distant future. But in the mean time, enjoy the images and the vid.

My thanks to Snez from 2K games who got me in to the event in the very last moment; thanks for that, it was certainly most appreciated indeed.

• Borderland Dev Walkthrough

©2009 Grant Smythe:

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