Borderlands 2 is a computer game in the first-person shooter genre with RPG elements. It is a sequel to the once-popular game Borderlands, which had both outstanding merits and frustrating shortcomings. The developer of Borderlands 2 is the renowned studio Gearbox Software, and the global publisher is 2K Games, while in Russia it is published by '1C-SoftClub'.
Compared to the first installment of the game, Borderlands 2 features a strong narrative on all fronts. The events unfold on the same planet Pandora, which has plunged into chaos after the colonizers realized that Pandora possesses no valuable resources. The entire world is divided among various gangs and factions striving to survive in harsh conditions amidst ruin and desolation. Five years have passed since players met the heroes from the first part of Borderlands. A rather cunning individual by the name of Handsome Jack has gained control over the weapon manufacturing company Hyperion and has become a monopolist in this sphere. Having achieved significant success in the arms industry, he establishes his own base on the nearest moon to Pandora and entertains himself with improvised gladiatorial fights. Among the involuntary gladiators are the new heroes in the Borderlands series – Salvador, Maya, Axton, and Zero. Realizing that the fighters begin to pose a threat, Handsome Jack tosses them into the desert hoping they will perish, but that does not happen.
Unlike the first part of Borderlands, the new game introduces very interesting and well-thought-out quests that do not limit themselves to the mechanics of ‘find, kill, collect, deliver’. For example, in one mission, players need to reach a dam and activate a beacon. At first glance, everything seems mundane, but once the beacon is switched on, enormous desert worms come crawling in, clearly attracted by the signals from the device. After a skirmish, one of the arthropods attempts to escape from the outraged people but accidentally ends up in a city full of notorious thugs. Shouts, screams, gunfire, curtain. And there are many such extraordinary quests in Borderlands 2.
The game world has become much more alive and dynamic. Various NPCs, many of whom were seen in the first game, no longer stand in one place but rather go about their business – walking, fixing things, talking to each other. Enemies no longer fall lifelessly like wooden logs; they can be wounded and even lose some limbs. The surrounding landscape is no longer a useless vacant decoration; hidden weapons, various bonuses, and even new exciting quests can be found in remote corners of the map.
The project not only retained the atmosphere of the first game but also multiplied it several times. The signature cartoon style remained in the game, but the abilities of the character classes have been changed and reworked. For instance, the small and stocky Salvador possesses such strength that he can wield a rocket launcher and a machine gun in each hand. The walking battle turret is named Gunzerker. By the way, there is significantly more weaponry in the game, despite the fact that the first game already boasted thousands of diverse firearms.