Seeing as how this has its own standalone entry on Backloggd, I want to talk about both the DLC itself and this re-release.
For those unaware, this "One-Shot" is a re-packaging of the 2013 DLC for Borderlands 2, basically for marketing the upcoming successor Tiny Tina's Wonderlands, It not only adds a Platinum trophy (if you're into that), but also some extra unlockables and cosmetics. I only explain this because of how leveling has been tweaked in this version. Obviously the original DLC release required Borderlands 2 to play, and it pulled your experienced character from the campaign itself, making things already leveled out. In this re-release, your character begins at Level 1 and you gain experience pretty quickly, so keep that in mind. I ended my playthrough at around Level 16.
Anyways, this DLC is really good. The idea is that it throws the gunplay and combat of Borderlands into a fantasy setting, but more specifically, a literal Dungeons & Dragons campaign. This brilliance shines through the writing, as we see Tiny Tina controlling the campaign as the dungeon master, alongside the other supporting cast who are constantly shifting variables within the environment. For example, a mission objective would prompt the player with something completely ridiculous, then background dialogue will lead into changing said objective. There's even a sidequest that involves fetching crumpets, in which the supporting cast in the background attempts to feed Tiny Tina some salad. I won't get into spoilers (because it goes pretty deep into certain events that occur in Borderlands 2), but this plays out way more like a parody of RPGs than the main series. It's hilarious, poking fun to other games like Dark Souls and Elder Scrolls among others.
Short, but sweet campaign with sidequests that favor quality over quantity. I adored this content and its characters, and now I'm really excited to see how Tiny Tina's Wonderlands improves upon this creative formula.
For those unaware, this "One-Shot" is a re-packaging of the 2013 DLC for Borderlands 2, basically for marketing the upcoming successor Tiny Tina's Wonderlands, It not only adds a Platinum trophy (if you're into that), but also some extra unlockables and cosmetics. I only explain this because of how leveling has been tweaked in this version. Obviously the original DLC release required Borderlands 2 to play, and it pulled your experienced character from the campaign itself, making things already leveled out. In this re-release, your character begins at Level 1 and you gain experience pretty quickly, so keep that in mind. I ended my playthrough at around Level 16.
Anyways, this DLC is really good. The idea is that it throws the gunplay and combat of Borderlands into a fantasy setting, but more specifically, a literal Dungeons & Dragons campaign. This brilliance shines through the writing, as we see Tiny Tina controlling the campaign as the dungeon master, alongside the other supporting cast who are constantly shifting variables within the environment. For example, a mission objective would prompt the player with something completely ridiculous, then background dialogue will lead into changing said objective. There's even a sidequest that involves fetching crumpets, in which the supporting cast in the background attempts to feed Tiny Tina some salad. I won't get into spoilers (because it goes pretty deep into certain events that occur in Borderlands 2), but this plays out way more like a parody of RPGs than the main series. It's hilarious, poking fun to other games like Dark Souls and Elder Scrolls among others.
Short, but sweet campaign with sidequests that favor quality over quantity. I adored this content and its characters, and now I'm really excited to see how Tiny Tina's Wonderlands improves upon this creative formula.
This is a fine DLC, in a way exactly what you would expect, from BL2 DLC and a nice short campaign to enjoy before jumping into tiny tina.
However what surprised me is that at the end, the writing gets believably emotional, I dont know if this is actually good, or if I am just happy that there is even the slightest emotional core to a BL game....
but i did like it!
However what surprised me is that at the end, the writing gets believably emotional, I dont know if this is actually good, or if I am just happy that there is even the slightest emotional core to a BL game....
but i did like it!
The Borderlands games have always been very weird for me. They can have some of the funniest bits out there but the gameplay hasn’t ever really grabbed me and I think I've finally realized why.
The gunplay has been something that I’ve never really gotten used to or been a fan of. A large majority of the guns in these games have this purposefully chaotic, dogshit ungodly recoil and camera sway while ADSing. As someone who plays shooters by constantly going for headsets and meticulously using ADS as much as possible for the most accuracy, these games don't allow me to do any of that. The devs instead opted to make the shooter experience identical to that of trying to wrangle an out-of-control water hose. There is no enjoyment to be found in the gunplay for me. It just feels like it's chaotic just for the sole purpose of being chaotic. Like it feels like they made it uncontrollable as a joke. You have to just mindlessly hip fire with 80% of the guns because ADS is unusable. I feel like when I'm playing these games I'm putting in the minimum amount of effort possible because the game doesn't want me to actually aim. Except the game DOES want you to aim because so many of these fucking guns shoot projectiles that have a travel time, so unless you want to hit only 10% of the rounds in your mag you have to try to ADS so you have a shot at actually hitting anything. But then ADSing is dogshit so it's a real lose-lose situation. ADSing in these games is almost entirely useless. The only guns that can make any use of it are some of the gun manufacturers and snipers. But even then, trying to ADS with a gun that isn't a sniper has an extremely high chance of being one of the unusable ones. The rest of the arsenal is just hip fire and hope your bullets manage to hit something. I don't think the gunplay is good.
Another thing that I think is really lacking from these games is the ability to upgrade guns. 95% of the guns you pick up off the floor are bad. Whether it's because of the stats or the gimmick, most of the guns you pick up in the game are not good. So to compensate I feel as though you should be able to upgrade guns that you do like and be able to take them further into the game so you don't have to swap it out with something shitty once you outgrow it. Especially since throughout this entire DLC, I was just getting stacks and stacks of cash with literally nothing to use it on. Anything worth actually buying costs Eridium so you just end up collecting 10's of thousands of dollars throughout the game with nothing to spend it on except if you're in desperate need of ammo. But since there are literally thousands of crates scattered every 5 feet in this game you don't even really need to buy ammo. Also, ammo is dirt fucking cheap so having money serves no purpose in this game.
The classes are fine. I wish the character for each class was a bit more visually appealing or enticing. They are all pretty bland to me. The only thing I find offensive about the characters in the Borderland franchise is that you continuously unlock these "skins" for your character during your playthrough but it's nothing more than a palette swap or an arrangement of ugly heads to wear. They really need to step up their character customization in these games.
I know earlier I praised the series for having some of the funniest bits in gaming but this DLC does not age particularly well in that department. There are a LOT of dated internet/gamer memes here and none of them are funny. All of the best bits either come from Handsome Jack or enemies that you're fighting. A lot of the other stuff has just been cringey or dated meta-humor.
The Borderlands games are fine. I realize a lot of people love these games and I don’t think they are bad games. The gunplay however is pretty bad. I think Borderlands is just one of those games that I turn my brain off and play with some buddies but it isn't much more than that. I don't think I would ever take the initiative to play these games on my own because I don't think I could bear it. But it will work as something to keep my monkey brain engaged while shooting the shit.
The gunplay has been something that I’ve never really gotten used to or been a fan of. A large majority of the guns in these games have this purposefully chaotic, dogshit ungodly recoil and camera sway while ADSing. As someone who plays shooters by constantly going for headsets and meticulously using ADS as much as possible for the most accuracy, these games don't allow me to do any of that. The devs instead opted to make the shooter experience identical to that of trying to wrangle an out-of-control water hose. There is no enjoyment to be found in the gunplay for me. It just feels like it's chaotic just for the sole purpose of being chaotic. Like it feels like they made it uncontrollable as a joke. You have to just mindlessly hip fire with 80% of the guns because ADS is unusable. I feel like when I'm playing these games I'm putting in the minimum amount of effort possible because the game doesn't want me to actually aim. Except the game DOES want you to aim because so many of these fucking guns shoot projectiles that have a travel time, so unless you want to hit only 10% of the rounds in your mag you have to try to ADS so you have a shot at actually hitting anything. But then ADSing is dogshit so it's a real lose-lose situation. ADSing in these games is almost entirely useless. The only guns that can make any use of it are some of the gun manufacturers and snipers. But even then, trying to ADS with a gun that isn't a sniper has an extremely high chance of being one of the unusable ones. The rest of the arsenal is just hip fire and hope your bullets manage to hit something. I don't think the gunplay is good.
Another thing that I think is really lacking from these games is the ability to upgrade guns. 95% of the guns you pick up off the floor are bad. Whether it's because of the stats or the gimmick, most of the guns you pick up in the game are not good. So to compensate I feel as though you should be able to upgrade guns that you do like and be able to take them further into the game so you don't have to swap it out with something shitty once you outgrow it. Especially since throughout this entire DLC, I was just getting stacks and stacks of cash with literally nothing to use it on. Anything worth actually buying costs Eridium so you just end up collecting 10's of thousands of dollars throughout the game with nothing to spend it on except if you're in desperate need of ammo. But since there are literally thousands of crates scattered every 5 feet in this game you don't even really need to buy ammo. Also, ammo is dirt fucking cheap so having money serves no purpose in this game.
The classes are fine. I wish the character for each class was a bit more visually appealing or enticing. They are all pretty bland to me. The only thing I find offensive about the characters in the Borderland franchise is that you continuously unlock these "skins" for your character during your playthrough but it's nothing more than a palette swap or an arrangement of ugly heads to wear. They really need to step up their character customization in these games.
I know earlier I praised the series for having some of the funniest bits in gaming but this DLC does not age particularly well in that department. There are a LOT of dated internet/gamer memes here and none of them are funny. All of the best bits either come from Handsome Jack or enemies that you're fighting. A lot of the other stuff has just been cringey or dated meta-humor.
The Borderlands games are fine. I realize a lot of people love these games and I don’t think they are bad games. The gunplay however is pretty bad. I think Borderlands is just one of those games that I turn my brain off and play with some buddies but it isn't much more than that. I don't think I would ever take the initiative to play these games on my own because I don't think I could bear it. But it will work as something to keep my monkey brain engaged while shooting the shit.
No matter where you look at it this is a strange cash grab. Gearbox repackaged Assault of Dragon Keep as a standalone to promote Tiny Tina’s Wonderlands. The changes here are minimal. Of most note is the new Seraph currency and how everything is scaled so you level twice as fast.
Besides that, it’s the exact same experience, at the very least this is the best dlc from Borderlands 2. The environments are fun and varied and only enhanced by Tina’s narration. I played the whole thing in co-op and it’s still a pretty good time however short it may be
Besides that, it’s the exact same experience, at the very least this is the best dlc from Borderlands 2. The environments are fun and varied and only enhanced by Tina’s narration. I played the whole thing in co-op and it’s still a pretty good time however short it may be