Why I Can’t Quit Playing Borderlands 2

Borderlands 2 is one of those games I just can’t seem to let go. We (my husband and I) are on our fourth or fifth playthrough of the full game, and playing through the DLC for a third time at least. I’ve actually lost track of how many times we’ve restarted the game at this point. Anytime my husband asks what game we should play, the first thing that pops into my head is “BORDERLANDS” and I make the sad, wide-eyed Puss-in-Boots face, alá Shrek, to guilt him into it. (Shrek reference? You’re welcome.) It is replayable to a fault, with multiple characters, kooky adventures, and silly challenges to keep me interested.

Why is Borderlands so much better than other couch co-op games?

Well, it is easy to learn. As a child, my video game exposure amounted to some PC Math Blaster Mystery and Mixed-Up Mother Goose, both fairly educational and not at all about murdering in the apocalypse (though I suppose math, brain-stealing, and fairytales, in general, are rather upsetting). So my experience with platformers, shooters, and general gaming was rather limited pre-Borderlands. I played a little Prince of Persia on the PS2, but let’s be real, I didn’t finish the game.

A full game experience like Borderlands 2 could easily have been overwhelming, with skill trees and weapon upgrades and character skins and everything else it throws at you, but it isn’t. The game is challenging, but not punishing, and while your character can die, it is a minor setback (poignant, no?). Players are encouraged to take risks and try different approaches to certain enemies and scenarios. Playing with two players allows a more strategic attempt at battle, and eases the burden of the common multiple-enemy fights.

What About Female Character Options?

Borderlands 2 has only one playable female character to begin with, with DLC adding another, but she’s all bad-ass. I always opt for the female character in games, and sometimes it can feel like a punishment to do so. Not here — the Siren Maya is a fantastic follow-up to the Siren character Lilith in the previous Borderlands game, and her skill tree and abilities are just my style. Do I want to be fast? Be stealthy? Be a cataclysmic cyclone of merciless death? Please and thank you. They are also easy to understand, which, as an industry-classified “casual” gamer, I appreciate.

Game Upgrades and Overall Story?

Borderlands 2 is known for its weapon upgrades and story, and rightfully so. The plot and characters are engaging, the world building and storytelling is superb without being heavy-handed, and while often offensive in the best way, none of it is taken too seriously. For me, plot and story is key to keeping my interest. I will play the worst indie game through to the end if the story is intriguing. Even knowing the full story and endings doesn’t keep me from wanting to play, as there’s always more to explore (HELLO DLCCCCCCC!!!).

Side Quests? Yes, Please!

Borderlands 2 has plenty of side quests, and challenges that give your character badass points (technical term) to increase your shields, health, critical damage, etc., as you shoot more enemies with grenade launchers, find the hidden Vault symbols on Pandora, and just generally kill all things with all of the weapon things.

Another reason Borderlands 2 is one of my top all-time games is that while it may annoy the ever-loving eridium out of my husband that it’s all I ever want to play, we can play for hours and have a good time. We can choose complimentary character builds, swap cool relics and skins we find, but also take off in different directions on the map to explore, with the game not rubber-banding one of us back to the other (I’m looking at you, Halo).

Is It Better Than Borderlands?

We share any ammo pickups, which the previous Borderlands game didn’t do, so we don’t have to worry that one of us is hoarding all the precious rocket launcher ammo and not sharing. Money and eridium pickups are also shared, so the game encourages cooperative play, rather than semi-competitive play, which I especially appreciate, as I’m a much better player than my poor husband and I don’t want him to feel left out. While that was mostly a lie, it’s true I don’t want him to feel left out, left behind, or any other left.

In conclusion, my emotional attachment to Borderlands 2, and really, the entire franchise, is on-going and BORDERING (get it?) on obsessive. I am patiently waiting for the next installment, and absolutely not crying myself to sleep with the news that at the earliest, Borderlands 3 may arrive Fall 2019. I can only hope they won’t continue to torture fans like a little CL4P-TP unit!

If I have to wait, then so be it. I have a few more characters in Borderlands 2 I’ve yet to play as, and like Hogwarts, it’ll always be there for me.

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