BORDERLANDS 2 - now in technicolor

[Ira Aduro]

BORDERLANDS 2
Release date: September 18th

Ok, first this game is being released on my birthday so I must get it.

Borderlands 1 was a point of contention for gamers. In general people really liked it but for some there were issues that were too glaring to forgive. I think the most frustrating problem was those pesky NAT errors in multiplayer, making it impossible to play with friends. Gameplay-wise, the guns didn't live up the promise of infinite and crazy weapons, and the leveling system made playing pick up games with friends all but impossible. However, as a whole I really really enjoyed the game and am looking forward to the second coming.

Some key notes about Borderlands 2
It will use steamworks
It is a lot more colorful
NPCs seem to interact more with the world and the player
Guns seem to adhere more to the promises of Borderlands 1 with early reports being very positive
Split screen coop
Some other stuff from wikipedia:

New features include a more expansive and customizable weapons system, reworked four-seat drift-able vehicles and vehicle physics elements, and dynamic quest systems. For example, taking too much time to save a friend in a quest may result in their death and the failure of the quest, which will affect the story as the player progresses. Technically, the game world will be all connected, rather than loadable levels for each region, allowing accurate viewing of the entire world from a given point rather than the first game's premade "Skybox".
In addition, the AI system has been reworked for the game. Non-enemies will populate the game world more often and will travel around different locations depending on the time. Enemy AI will encourage teamwork, such as flanking, as well as taking cover when wounded, though lower level enemies like Psychos will still embrace the mentality of, "Wow that's a gun! I want my face in front of it," according to Gearbox VP Steve Gibson. Shooting enemies will stun or cripple them depending on where they are shot. For a change, enemies will be intelligent enough to climb and traverse difficult terrain to pursue the player. Enemies will also be able to interact with each other. For example, certain enemies can heal their teammates, boost their shields for defense, or use them as shields to protect themselves.

RockPaperShotgun just posted a hands on which you can read here:
http://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2012...-2-preview-pc/

So yeah, I'm stoked. Hope this is everything Borderlands 1 should have been plus a bucket of kittens.

[Maktaka]

How could you not link Gearbox's hilariously fantastic PC gamers love letter?

[Patman42x]

surprised there hasn't been a thread for this game yet. also:

dat trailer.

[Saunders]

That might be the best appeal to PC gamers I've ever seen anywhere, ever.

[Logic_Bomb]

Can't wait - really excited for this one. I picked up the original on sale well after release and was really reluctant for the longest time as it just looked like some brainless, cheap, cartoony gunjizz fest I'd get bored of within a week. I was blown away with how fun it was though and loved the atmosphere and humour on top of the action. Plus playing as Soldier class was like being a FPS Techmarine from DowII - who could resist that?! The RPS preview hyped me up even more as I like the sound of a little more character/RPG elements.

[Afoxi]

Had me at VSync, FOV slider, and no port forwarding.

[Jopax]

I have been having fun with the first game lately, too much fun

It does have it's flaws but it manages to pull of that crazy fun shooter thingamajig that has kind of been absent with all the realistic shooter nonsense.

So yeah, bring it on Gearbox!

[Ira Aduro]

Umm wow Maktaka, that love letter was awesome/awkward/saved to my HD.

[Ammon Ra]

I still hate gearbox for using dubstep in their trailer.

I will be getting this though. I hope to everything sacred that the actual game will not have any dubstep, anywhere.

[Mr Carrot]

They make a massive joke about the dubstep though.

WUB WUB WUB

super looking forward to this though, I missed out on Borderlands when it first came out and was forced to solo through it a few months ago (which was fun if just for the claptrap banter) can't wait to co-op the sequel

[Patman42x]

I really hope they've taken care of the insanely short enemy respawn times. having to fight through all enemies of one dungeon again because you wanted to sell a few things midway through is not amusing.

as for the dubstep. don't understand the hate. actually quite a decent song and the way they made the trailer around it fits perfectly.

[Goobers]

Well it ain't 'No Heaven' but at least the rest of the game looks nice.

[Rivy]

They got rid of my beloved phasewalk !
But the new siren looks awesome anyways :3

[Weavern]

So SHINY/Colourful!

Shame you cant play as any of the old characters but it appears they will be quest givers. Wonder if the new hunter will be as fun as mord, then again he seems far more melee focused.

[Mokino]

So Gearbox has just released one of my favourite game trailers ever.

[Maktaka]

Perhaps it's just me, but I find these trailers to be a good 20% cooler by virtue of the singing Claptrap used in them. It's just a matter of finding the place with the best pre-order discount for the free character, at least once it's available for preorder at greater variety of trustworthy places than Amazon anyway (who has a 10% discount, but I'm hoping for better).

[Saberdark]

I agree, that trailer is hilariously awesome. I have to say I'm rather fond of Gearbox's brand of sillyness.

Who is getting this on PC? I got the last on on Xbox and it was pretty lonely running through it by myself the first time.

[DeafMute]

Ill pick this up depending on the price being alright. Im not paying £40 for it for PC.

[Trizzdog]

I don't know if I've overlooked this information, but will it still have atrocious grind and no "sidekicking" with coop friend play? Those 2 things prevented me from fully enjoying Borderlands 1.

[Mokino]

The only new feature I've read about is the ability to reset quests so you can redo them with friends.

[[Vertigo]]

I can't say I was too thrilled about the first Borderlands. Combat felt like shooting numbers at numbers. Also 1 billion guns doesn't mean those guns are going to be useful.

And another thing!

I am sick and tired of imperviously static buildings and crates. When will they stop shipping the hardest metal known to man to war zones just so I get to take cover behind them? Borderlands came out around the time of BC2 which you had the ability to wreck the shit out of buildings. Will Borderlands 2 support that feature?

Hardest metal known to man

[Maktaka]

Regarding the gunplay, mayhap you will find worthwhile info in the new RPS preview then:

In terms of combat, it does feel like a meatier shooter than before, a more tangible sense of click,pop,dead rather than graphics on top of numbers. With a much wider variety of enemies and more of a focus on particular weapon types (acid, fire and the like) for particular opponents, I found myself almost forgetting to worry about getting a better gun or hardier shield because I was that much more focused on the death-dealing business at hand.

[Rivy]

I'm pretty excited about this, too bad they changed mah (op) phasewalking !
I'm not entirely comfortable with the DLC extra character (not because lolmoney, but because it doesn't make much sense to start the game from scratch a month after it's out because you want to play the mechromancer).

[Gorb]

I have a variety of Borderlands characters in varying states of completion, all started at different dates to each other.

That's the appeal of an RPG, Alex - to me, at least

[[Vertigo]]

That review makes the game seem promising, Maktaka.

[Ammon Ra]

I am sick and tired of imperviously static buildings and crates. When will they stop shipping the hardest metal known to man to war zones just so I get to take cover behind them? Borderlands came out around the time of BC2 which you had the ability to wreck the shit out of buildings. Will Borderlands 2 support that feature?

except that the destroyed building, its debris, is made from the hardest metal known to man. :3

[[Vertigo]]

Baby steps, Ammon!

[Ra owa]

Do want. Now. Great trailer, also

[Ammon Ra]

the new trailer is leagues ahead of the wubwub teaser-trailer.

i don't mind indestructible wooden crates & Company, so long as the game clearly makes one of two options: a) the style and design of the game allows for indestructible objects without destroying suspension of disbelief too much (TF2) b) makes projectiles penetrate objects based on their materials (counter-strike)

[Ammon Ra]

Steam borderlands pre-purchase are up. 10% discount to owners of borderlands 1

Also including 4packs.

http://store.steampowered.com/app/49520/

so...where are the 4packs cheapest?

[0rph3u5]

I'll buy it via Steam at some point on the weekend... but first I'll see if I can activate my old BL gang for it; the discount on the individual copies from a 4 pack stands at about -33% right now

EDIT: since we are posting numbers:
Price for a 4 pack in € is 149,99 (with the -10% its 134,99)

[Integrity]

$179.99 for a 4pack in 'Merica.

EDIT: Also, no discount for me for some reason?

[Nurizeko]

This looks okay, I'll give them my money.

[Weavern]

Seems just a weeee bit early to be forking over cash for a preorder when there might be dueling preorder bonus' and or better deals in the near future.

[cagecrawler]

£89.99 (£80.99 with -10%) in the UK for the 4 pack.

[Maktaka]

It looks like Greenman Gaming has it cheapest (they always do on preorders): http://www.greenmangaming.com/s/us/e...derlands-2-na/

[rowan sjet]

So looks like UK is cheapest on Steam. £90 pre-order = $142(vs$180 price) = €115(vs€150 price).

[Inskipp]

My friends convinced me to chime in on the 4-pack, so looks like I'll be able to play this as well

[Ammon Ra]

Amazon.co.uk pre order is just under £25 (€32), so unless we get some English 4-pack deals going, I will use amazon as a backup.

[rowan sjet]

I'd be willing to buy the UK 4-Pack, it just won't come with the 10% discount from owning Borderlands 1 (because I bought that off amazon )

[Gorb]

a) the 10% discount has ended

b) you could've registered your Borderlands CD key on Steam

[rowan sjet]

Eh, live and learn

[Ammon Ra]

Welp, off to amazon then.

i find it mildly disgusting that importing physical games from the UK in Sterling pounds is cheaper --up to 40% including postage costs-- than buying games via digital distribution on steam in the €uro currency.

[Gorb]

Makes up for the time when Euro prices on Steam were converted to GBP 1:1, Ammon

[Pocktio]

http://uk.ign.com/videos/2012/08/13/...get-me-trailer

Ok. That's a lot of guns...

[Ira Aduro]

Nvidia is running a deal where if you buy a GTX 660Ti or higher you get a copy of Borderlands 2. Tempting.

[Maktaka]

Ahahaha this is fantastic.

Why no, I'm not going to tell you what's on the other side of that link other than to say it's official Borderlands content by Gearbox.

Spoiler

Okay fine, it's a 16-bit demake of the original Borderlands you can play in your browser. As long as you get lucky enough to have the page load for you anyway. Prepare to F5 a lot for the time being.

[LoneWolf666]

Are you kidding me? That game is actually plenty fun!

[Afoxi]

[Ira Aduro]

I want to hug their marketing team.