Tiny Tina's Wonderlands: Breaking the Mold of Borderlands Traditions

Highlights

Distinguishing itself from the core Borderlands series, Tiny Tina's Wonderlands presents a whimsical and enchanting adventure that stays true to the essence of the franchise.

The game has a Teen rating and presents a toned-down version of the main series, although it still offers fantastic humor and an enjoyable gameplay experience.

Tiny Tina's Wonderlands brings fantasy elements to the gameplay of Borderlands, replacing grenades with spells, offering a variety of melee weapons, and introducing an overworld map for navigation.

While Tiny Tina's Wonderlands shares similarities with Borderlands, it goes to great lengths to distinguish itself from the main series. The game stands out within the franchise, leaving a lasting impression. It's unlikely that all of the changes introduced in Wonderlands will be adopted by the mainline games, if any at all. Nevertheless, the developers managed to create a fresh and unique experience, even with the familiar Borderlands formula in place.

Tiny Tina's Wonderlands, inspired by the Borderlands series, takes a lighter approach to the already eccentric shooter games. With the lively and comical Tiny Tina as the game's main storyteller, players embark on a fantastical adventure that is a departure from the usual vault hunting. However, the vibrant and larger-than-life nature of the game world, combined with Tina's spontaneous remarks to enhance excitement, ensure that players never forget that they are still in the beloved Borderlands universe.

Tiny Tina's Wonderlands is Less Explicit Than Borderlands

The Borderlands games, with their silly and ridiculous storylines, undoubtedly deserve their M for Mature rating. Skilled players can decapitate enemies, causing their lifeless bodies to collapse, or simply obliterate them with a vehicle. Furthermore, the enemy chatter ranges from bizarre and hilarious to disturbing. Borderlands is no stranger to dark humor, especially when Handsome Jack is involved, resulting in messy punchlines.

In contrast, Tiny Tina's Wonderlands has a T for Teen rating, resulting in toned-down content. The adversaries in Tiny Tina's Wonderlands largely consist of undead hordes and other inhuman creatures. Consequently, players often witness skeletons disintegrating into piles of bones, even when shot in the head. Even the more human-like bandits do not bleed as intensely as their counterparts in Borderlands. Additionally, other aspects have been adjusted, such as the bar serving juice instead of alcohol, and the enemy's smack-talk having a lighter tone.

Tiny Tina's Wonderlands Makes Some Fantasy-Themed Tweaks to Borderlands' Gameplay

Accompanying Tiny Tina's Wonderlands' fantastical setting were several enhancements made to Borderlands' longstanding mechanics. Although firearms remain the primary armaments, the majority now take the form of crossbows, introducing a fresh twist. Notably, grenades have been substituted by spells, which, while maintaining their role as AoE damage dealers, now possess a cooldown instead of finite ammunition. Moreover, each spell boasts distinctive effects, ranging from launching homing bolts to summoning elemental meteors, resulting in exhilarating visuals during combat.

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Tiny Tina's Wonderlands introduces a significant change with its melee weapons. Unlike previous Borderlands games where characters have only one melee option, modified by weapon or perk effects, Wonderlands offers a selection of melee weapons like kamas, claymores, and morningstars. This not only adds an extra inventory slot for players to manage but also allows for further customization of character builds. The inclusion of melee weapons could potentially be one of the most notable additions to the Wonderlands series.

Veteran Borderlands players familiar with the absence of an overworld may find themselves surprised in Tiny Tina's Wonderland. In a nod to classic RPGs, players now navigate between important locations using a world map, deviating from the open world format favored by previous Borderlands titles. Additionally, players can encounter random battles in the grass, similar to encounters in Pokemon, albeit fought in the game's typical first-person shooter style. As a delightful bonus, the overworld avatar resembles the player's Fatemaker transformed into a game piece.

The Playable Character is Tiny Tina's Wonderlands' Biggest Break From Tradition

Tiny Tina's Wonderlands introduces a revolutionary change to the Borderlands formula with its customizable character feature. Unlike other Borderlands games that offer a selection of pre-made Vault Hunters, Wonderlands allows players to build their own character from the ground up. From their appearance and voice to their class and starting stats, players have full control over every aspect of their protagonist. This makes the protagonist in Wonderlands the most customizable one in the entire Borderlands franchise.

In addition to the ability to create a personalized protagonist, Tiny Tina's Wonderlands also introduces the concept of dual-classing. Unlike previous Borderlands games, where players were bound to a single class throughout the entire game, Wonderlands allows players to multi-class their character once they reach a certain point. By picking up a second class, players can benefit from the abilities and bonuses of both classes simultaneously. This flexibility opens up a wide range of possibilities, including stacking offensive buffs or having two pets as the Fatemaker. Multi-classing becomes a powerful tool that enhances the gameplay experience for any player.

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While previous Borderlands games had unforgettable Vault Hunters, the Fatemaker in Tiny Tina's Wonderlands possesses a unique charm of its own. Despite not having a standout design or storyline, the Fatemaker serves as a conduit for player creativity and strategy. This departure from the norm sets Tiny Tina's Wonderlands apart from other Borderlands titles, where the Vault Hunters have always played a vital role in the plot. Thus, the game truly stands out within the franchise.

In spite of missed opportunities, Tiny Tina's Wonderlands' differences ultimately contributed to its strengths. Though the general gameplay remained familiar, the introduction of new mechanics and the alteration of character dynamics allowed Wonderlands to establish its own distinct atmosphere, rather than simply being another Borderlands game. While Borderlands' traditions have been historically successful, Tiny Tina's Wonderlands achieved its own success by breaking some of those established rules.

Tiny Tina's Wonderlands is available now for PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.