1. Dry, Humorless Script
I haven’t found myself laughing atBorderlands 3like I did with the previous games in the series. Humor is a quintessential part ofBorderlands, and the newest addition lacks it completely. The game makes an attempt at comedy that only appeals to teenagers, not veteran players.
The previous games contain a lot of dark humor and allusions to pop culture.Borderlands 3does a complete 360 in this aspect. It turns more mature humor into something I’d find funny if I was in middle school.
In one mission, the lack of humor becomes obvious. You’re tasked with rescuing Balex (an AI stuck in a teddy bear) from his crazy AI ex-girlfriend, GENIVIV. Not only does this mission involve “horny” Jabbers that make the most annoying noises possible, but it also involves GENIVIV constantly calling Balex a “cutie idiot.”
You’re telling me that the writers couldn’t come up with an insult better than “cutie idiot?” It goes to show that the writing is poor, and the humor is extremely flat.
2. Bugs and a Laggy Menu
Despite Gearbox spending years onBorderlands 3, it’s still riddled with bugs. So far, I’ve encountered a bug on Xbox One that causes a character’s icon to disappear from the right corner of the screen when they’re talking. This makes it impossible to know who’s speaking.
Another bug prevents me from seeing my friend’s character while playing online. Instead, I’ll only see a floating weapon. Otherplayers have been reporting bugsas well.
The menu system is also a source of huge frustration, as it takes forever to load. If you’re trying to equip a weapon in a pinch, forget about it. In the time it takes to open your menu, go to your inventory, and actually swap in the weapon, you’ll likely be killed by a group of Militants.
3. Overwhelming Colors
Borderlands 3doesn’t look like aBorderlandsgame. The environments and colors are entirely different.
Instead of the iconic shades of browns, reds, and yellows present in otherBorderlandsgames,Borderlands 3has a futuristic vibe that makes it seem like it’s trying to be something that it’s not. It comes off as a science-fiction game, while the previous games are much more rugged.
The colors become overwhelming in some instances. Flashy shades of neon blue, pink, and green can quickly give you a headache.
It becomes especially apparent when battling enemies—the colors produced by elemental effects and certain guns do a number on your eyes.
Not to mention that some weapons come with a distracting, neon-colored shield that gets right in your line of sight.
4. It Looks Like Every Other Game
Have you noticed thatBorderlands 3looks a little familiar? Like I just mentioned,Borderlands3is trying to fit itself into a mold.
Borderlands 3keeps the same sketch-like art style, but the way each character holds their weapons, along with background colors mimic other games. It’s a sign of a lack of originality—it’s as if Gearbox no longer wants to take the same risks it took before.
5. Claptrap’s New Voice
If you haven’t noticed already, Claptrap has a brand new voice. Claptrap’s original voice actor, David Eddings, washarassed by Gearbox’s CEO, and got fired in 2017.
Jim Foronda has since taken over as Claptrap. The change is obvious to fans who have played throughBorderlands1andBorderlands2countless times. Claptrap’s voice sounds significantly lower than in previous versions, and takes a bit of charm out of his character.
6. Hateable Villains
Villians can and should be likable. Otherwise, watching them gets tiresome and just plain annoying. Take Handsome Jack, for example, the antagonist in the first twoBorderlandsgames.
Although he’s undeniably a villain, he’s still entertaining. Sure, he does some pretty awful things, but he has a sick sense of humor that makes him somewhat likable (and funny).
InBorderlands 3, the villains are so obviously Millenial that it hurts. The Calypso Twins, Tyreen and Troy, gain their power from the videos and livestreams that they post online. As a result, they have a huge following.
The Calypso Twins deserve a better backstory—showing them as they film videos for their followers is cringeworthy. It feels like a forced attempt to “relate” to young people.
Hoping for a Better Borderlands 4
Borderlands 3just doesn’t feel like aBorderlandsgame. Gearbox has successfully destroyed the game’s humor, the shining gem of the entire franchise. I’ll hope for a betterBorderlands 4—but we’ll probably never get it.
I’m not surprised thatBorderlands 3isn’t as great as it used to be. WithAAA games going down the tubes, I could only expectBorderlandsto do the same.
