Revolutionizing Borderlands 4: Why It Should Embrace BL2's Legacy over BL3

Highlights

Aesthetics are important in gaming, and Borderlands 2's visually stunning landscape made it a memorable and successful installment.

Fans are eager for Borderlands 4 to maintain the engaging visual style of Borderlands 2, instead of reverting to the unadorned desert aesthetic found in Borderlands 1 and 3. The diversified and distinct landscapes showcased in Borderlands 2 played a significant role in its triumph, creating a stark contrast with the monotonous backdrop of Borderlands 3, which ultimately diminished its allure.

In addition to engaging gameplay and a captivating storyline, aesthetics play a key role in the appeal of a game, leaving a lasting impression on gamers. Among the installments of the Borderlands series, Borderlands 2 stood out as visually stunning, taking players on an exciting and enjoyable journey across the vibrant landscape of Pandora. From snow-capped glaciers to tundras and fiery volcanic mountains, this iconic backdrop became synonymous with adventure as players sought to stop the notorious Handsome Jack. Fans had hoped for a continuation of the colorful scenery in Borderlands 3, but Gearbox Software opted to return to the barren desert wastelands reminiscent of Borderlands 1. With the groundbreaking visuals of Bethesda's new release, Starfield, garnering awe from gamers, the pressure is on for Gearbox to deliver a visually striking experience in Borderlands 4. Amidst rumors of its development, fans are hopeful that Borderlands 4's Pandora will resemble the aesthetic of Borderlands 2 rather than following the path of Borderlands 3. The Borderlands franchise has always valued input from its player base, conducting surveys to gather feedback on desired features for sequels. The DLCs of Borderlands 1 also served as experimental platforms to gauge player preferences, influencing the development of new game content. As a result, the visually detailed world of Borderlands 2 was created, leading to tangible disappointment when the decision was made to revert to the plain desert style from Borderlands 1.

A Change of Scenery Could Shake Up Borderlands 4's Visuals

Borderlands 2 enhanced the art style introduced in the previous game, utilizing vibrant colors, iconic landmarks, and diverse biomes to elevate the game's replay value. As players embarked on their mission to restore Pandora from Jack and the Hyperion forces, the visually stunning scenery offered more than just aesthetic pleasure. It provided engaging challenges that kept players alert and engaged throughout their exploration. One such example is the Caustic Caverns, where players had to navigate treacherous acid pools and caves teeming with dangerous creatures, amplifying the inherent danger that the Borderlands series prides itself on.

Moreover, the Blight region presented players with fascinating locations. The Arid Nexus-Badlands, an improved iteration of the first game's Arid Badlands, featured Eridium pipelines and a thrilling mini-boss battle against Saturn. On the other hand, the Eridium Blight showcased menacing lava pools and the constant presence of volcanic ash. The Highlands stood out as well, boasting captivating sights like the Shining Horizons lake and the charming Overlook hilltop town. These unique encounters made gameplay in Borderlands 2 truly memorable, as confirmed by the game's rave reviews. The distinct missions and lore associated with each region made Borderlands 3 pale in comparison, failing to capture the same level of excitement and intrigue.

Contrastingly, the majority of Pandora in Borderlands 3 consisted of similar desert terrain, with only the Splinterlands and Carnivora offering some vehicular combat elements. However, even these regions lacked significant variation, remaining predominantly sandy and rocky. Despite the introduction of several new planets in Borderlands 3 and its DLCs, Pandora failed to evoke the same sense of inspiration as it did in Borderlands 2. The latter's Pandora revealed a wealth of lore, delving deeper into the history and culture and unveiling more ancient vaults belonging to the Eridians, an alien race.

Given that the desert landscape has now been featured in two mainline Borderlands games, it is logical to reintroduce a diverse range of environments in the next installment of the franchise, Borderlands 4. Reports have surfaced of players becoming fatigued by the repetitive rocky vistas, making it imperative for Gearbox to revisit the iconic locations from Borderlands 2. While the series moves towards new directions and introduces additional planets to explore, it is crucial for Gearbox to pay homage to the original planet that captured players' hearts.

Borderlands 4 is rumored to be in development.