Back in 2009, Gearbox Software introduced gamers to the alien world of Pandora. Playing as one of four ragtag mercenary fortune hunters seeking to uncover the truth behind the mysterious “Vault” found within the bowels of the planet, gamers experienced an impressive display of what a loot-driven First Person shoot should be. Borderlands would have no problem joining the ranks of 2009’s best games, being beaten out only by Sony’s Uncharted 2: Amongst Thieves. With the accolades that followed its release, there was no surprise behind the developer’s announcement of Borderlands 2, which will grace this years’ early holiday release list in September. Despite an already high anticipation for Gearbox Software’s sequel, the developer decided to amp up the excitement even more with a brand new trailer. Showcased within are some of the new environments gamers can expect to traverse and the new enemies that aim to stand in their way during the perilous journey through the feral land of Pandora.
Though much of the original Borderlands took place in a more arid environment with scattered ghost towns, Gearbox Software is looking to add a bit of greenery to Borderlands 2. A more jungle-esque environment takes the center stage of this trailer, accented by effective looks at a slew of new enemies (both human and extraterrestrial) and the abilities of each of the four playable characters. Some of the newer enemies include a dragon-like native, Skag-mounted soldiers, and mech units, whose presence is most likely thanks to the Hyperion outpost on Pandora’s moon.
If you thought the residence of Pandora in the original Borderlands were an odd mix of loons and crazies, than you may not know how to handle those featured in this trailer. From an armored goon with a shield decorated in the corpses of midget psychos to a rather robust woman making gruesome use of a large garbage disposal-like machine, Borderlands 2 is already proving to be a veritable mix of colorful characters that simply accent the zany nature of the series.
Taking place four years after the events of its predecessor, Borderlands 2 will focus on a new team of four playable characters. Each character will be stocked with unique skill sets and attributes that range from dual-wielding to deploying decoys for stealth attacks. While the main protagonists are new to Borderlands fans, their mission includes rescuing some old favorites from the grips of the Hyperion Corporation, controlled by the power hungry Handsome Jack. With all new characters and vicious enemies backed by a tweaked AI, there is little concern as to whether or not Borderlands 2 will match the success of its predecessor.
Gamers will be able to continue their battle on Pandora on September 18th. True fans can dive into the Deluxe Vault Hunter Collector’s Edition, which comes packed with the Gearbox Gold Gun Pack, a Golden Key to the mysterious Sanctuary Loot Chest, the Vault Hunter’s Relic, and a new Mechromancer character class.
