Borderlands 4 Review: The Loot is Great, but the Soul Feels Missing
The Weight of Expectations Gearbox faced numerous challenges in the making of Borderlands 4. Given the polarizing opinions surrounding Borderlands 3, it is apparent that Borderlands 4 has adopted a more cautious approach. The first several hours of gameplay showcase the new world with refined gunplay, new loot, and expanded gameplay mechanics. Regardless, players may be under the impression that the content was toned down. Certainly, the fun is present, with the shooting, the weapons, and the game-play mechanics remaining unchanged. The delight in opening the chests and watching the loot explode is present, but with the amount of content available, it is strangely lacking the soul that has characterized the series in the past. If Borderlands 3 was too loud, too eager to please, too desperate to prove itself edgy and relevant, then Borderlands 4 swings so far in the opposite direction that it risks losing what made the franchise special in the first place....