Borderlands 4’s Vex Looks Cool and All, But I’d Have Preferred a Very Different Siren

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In Borderlands 4, you’ll find an abundance of memorable characters to interact with. The army lineup is impressive and dependable, featuring Roland, Axton, and Moze. The series also boasts a variety of notable psychos, snipers, assassins, mechanics, hunters, bartenders, artists, scientists, storytellers, Bunkers and Badasses players, and colossal muscular Vault Hunters who prefer punching over shooting-there’s truly something for everyone. However, the most iconic characters might just be the Sirens. Appearing in every main game (except for Borderlands: The Pre-Sequel), Sirens bring a touch of magic to the world of Gearbox’s franchise. In this installment, players will have the opportunity to control Vex, though I was expecting something a bit more extraordinary with her.

The character Vex from Borderlands 4 offers unique skills, such as summoning AI allies similar to FL4K in Borderlands 3. However, compared to other Siren characters like Lilith, Maya, and Angel, who often embody a “cool goth girl” persona, Vex’s character feels less distinct. Historically, Sirens have had this particular vibe, which is consistent with Vex as well. With Borderlands 4, there was an opportunity to create a more unconventional Siren for longtime fans, but that chance wasn’t fully utilized. I’m hoping that future Borderlands releases might explore a different direction for the character of Vex.

As a devoted fan, I find myself pondering the origin of Vex’s Siren powers – a mystery yet to be fully unraveled. Could it be that Commandant Steele is the source? After all, we’ve never witnessed her personally employing these abilities, leaving room for this intriguing theory.

Vex is Neat, But a Bright and Cheerful Siren Would Have Been a Welcome Change of Pace

I want to make it clear that I have no problems with Vex, but I’ve chosen to play as Rafa initially and then Amon in a second playthrough, which means I won’t be using her for a while. However, I really enjoy her abilities and don’t have any issues with her character design. That being said, I was hoping for something a bit more daring from the new game’s Siren since Amara seemed like an initial step towards exploring bolder concepts in this role. To me, Vex seems to embody the typical Siren archetype-she’s the calm and easygoing one within the group. Characters like Lilith and Maya often fit that description, particularly when we see Maya in Borderlands 3 after mentoring Ava. While every game in the Borderlands series should have a Siren, it would have been nice to see a character who challenges the stereotypical Siren image.

Amara’s vigilante efforts helped set her apart from previous characters, but she seemed to lack a distinct personality compared to Vex. Vex, however, seems to have more of a personality – even if it leans towards the safe side. For the next Siren character, I would like to see someone who defies expectations of what a typical Siren should be. A potential direction could involve replacing the cool girl persona with a bubbly, cheerful one. This Siren could maintain an upbeat dialogue throughout the game’s brutal world, providing plenty of comedic moments – especially when contrasted against powerful abilities like Tyreen Calypso’s Phaseleech. The reveal of this delightful character’s dark powers would align perfectly with Borderlands’ signature humor, and there would be numerous opportunities for light-hearted interactions.

In a hypothetical scenario, Gearbox needs to ensure that the Siren character doesn’t become too repetitive or annoying, as characters like Overwatch’s Mei who exhibit cheerfulness paired with timidity can sometimes grate on players. However, introducing a significant shift in style for the Siren could yield several advantages:

1. Offer a fresh and unique take on character dynamics within the game.
2. Enhance player engagement by providing a new and captivating character to interact with.
3. Broaden the emotional spectrum of characters, enriching the overall gaming experience.
4. Encourage diversity in character design and development, fostering innovation among developers.

  • Cosmetics would feel significiantly different from anything offered for Borderlands’ Sirens in the past, as there could be a greater focus placed on “pretty” outfit pieces like flowers, dresses, and so on.
  • If Borderlands starts embracing conversations between multiple Vault Hunters like Call of Duty Zombies, hearing the psychotic or serious characters that make up the rest of the cast being confused about or unsettled by the peppy Siren in their crew could be fun.
  • This hypothetical Borderlands Siren could have some unique interactions with Sirens like Lilith and Vex, as previously playable Vault Hunters usually return as NPCs in subsequent games. Specifically, it’d be very interesting to see how they react to a Siren with such a different look and attitude.

Borderlands 4’s Vex Can Still Forge Her Own Path

In a different interpretation, though Borderlands 4’s Vex might not be the unique Siren I had hoped for, given her resemblance to the series’ most renowned Sirens, Gearbox can still set her apart in various ways. For instance, Vex may not have undergone a lifetime of training with monks like Maya did to harness her powers. This could be illustrated through some awkward animations to portray her lack of experience. Additionally, her dialogues could reveal her struggling with being overwhelmed and hiding deep-seated fear, as transitioning from a salesperson to a Vault Hunter is undeniably a significant leap. Despite her similarities, there are opportunities to make Vex stand out distinctly, and possibly in the future, I might find myself appreciating a more daring Siren design.

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2025-08-17 23:09