Why Borderlands 4's Next Villain Must Go Solo
Borderlands 4 needs to learn from the mistakes of its predecessor, which featured multiple villains that ultimately detracted from the overall narrative To ensure a stronger story and character development, the game should focus on a single, well-crafted antagonist
Borderlands 3 received a lot of love from fans, but it also faced its fair share of criticism. One area that drew particular negativity was the game's storyline. Fans were disappointed with the treatment of Maya's character, felt that certain moments were rushed, and were sad that some beloved characters did not make an appearance. The Calypso Twins, in particular, were heavily criticized in reviews. Gearbox had a tough act to follow after the success of Handsome Jack, widely considered one of the best video game villains of all time. Despite the risk of introducing a new villain, the developer chose to do so, but the result was not well-received by many players. One reason for this could be the lack of character development, which is a natural drawback of having two villains. Moving forward, it may be wise for Borderlands 4 to focus on a single antagonist.
The Calypso Twins Show Why Borderlands 4 Should Only Have a Single Villain
Handsome Jack worked so well as a villain not only because of his charisma and perfect balance of humor and intimidation, but also because he didn't have to share screen time with other antagonists. While he did have underlings like Wilhelm, players were always in direct conflict with him, allowing Gearbox to fully invest in developing Jack's character. This was shown through his intriguing story with Angel and the amount of attention he received throughout the game. In contrast, The Calypso Twins couldn't quite take the spotlight, with Tyreen turning into a soulless husk after merging with the Destroyer and Troy being killed off before he could overthrow his sister. The game could have been better off with Troy taking over and allowing Gearbox to fully focus on the more popular twin, especially since all signs pointed to his eventual betrayal.
Splitting attention between multiple villains like the Calypso twins and Katagawa Jr. left neither of them with iconic status. Troy was overshadowed by his sister, while Tyreen's impact was lackluster considering her story's conclusion. Handsome Jack's story was fleshed out before his pivotal moment, making his twisted love for Angel a compelling trait. Conversely, the Calypsos' killing of Maya lacked personal significance, leaving fans with little knowledge of them and an annoyance that detracted from their backstory. This issue is not exclusive to Borderlands, as other video games like Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 and superhero movies like The Amazing Spider-Man 2, Iron Man 2, and The Dark Knight Rises have suffered from it. While it is possible to pull off multiple villains, such as in Red Dead Redemption 2 or God of War Ragnarok, it is often better to focus on a single antagonist for a more cohesive story.
In order for Gearbox to reach the same level of excellence as Handsome Jack, it's important for the studio to take note of the negative feedback regarding the Calypso Twins in Borderlands 3. While Tyreen had the potential to be a compelling character on her own, the dynamic between her and Troy ultimately hindered their effectiveness as villains. Moving forward, the franchise would benefit from returning to the single villain format to create a more cohesive and impactful storyline. Borderlands 3 is currently available on multiple platforms including PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X.
