Borderlands 4: Is It Time to Ditch the Gun Quantity Crutch?

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Summary

  • Borderlands 4 should focus on quality over quantity in its guns to stay engaging.
  • Implementing weapon customization can offer more depth and player investment.
  • Manufacturer identities in Borderlands 4 should be expanded to feel fresh and innovative.

Hey there, fellow gaming enthusiast! If you’ve spent any time in the wild world of Borderlands, you know the thrill of stumbling upon another one of those randomly generated guns – it’s been a trademark of this epic looter-shooter franchise for years. The endless pursuit of that perfect firearm keeps us exploring every nook and cranny of the Borderlands universe.

But as we look back over the last 15 years, the sheer quantity of guns might not be as fresh and exciting as it once was. Maybe it’s time to shift our focus from quantity to quality in the upcoming installment, Borderlands 4. After all, even a crutch can become a hindrance after a while, and we need to take those first steps on our own.

Absolutely, it’s unlikely that Borderlands 4 would completely eliminate randomized guns since they are a significant aspect of the Borderlands franchise, contributing significantly to its popularity and influence. However, rather than solely relying on gun randomization to maintain player engagement, Borderlands 4 should acknowledge that this method may now seem repetitive and strive to revamp the entire system to cater to contemporary gaming preferences and inject freshness into the series.

Borderlands 4 Can’t Rely on Its Quantity of Guns to Keep Players Invested

Borderlands’ Gun Randomization Has Become a Redundant Crutch for the Series

It’s been verified by Gearbox that Borderlands 4 will feature more weapons than any previous game in the series, with players having access to “billions” of unique firearms. While this figure might seem appealing, it also raises concerns about being too much or unnecessary. Given the direction the series has taken in its recent mainline releases, focusing on the abundance of guns in Borderlands 4 as a primary marketing point seems questionable.

As a dedicated fan, I’ve found myself in a familiar predicament across various Borderlands games – the thrill lies not in every weapon, but rather the exceptional Legendary ones. The rest often feel insignificant and discardable. This reminds me of an issue Destiny 2 tackled effectively not too long ago, where Common rarity weapons and gear were seen as useless clutter, only filling up our inventories without any real use. With better gear always on the horizon, these common items felt like unnecessary baggage.

Destiny 2 addressed this problem head-on by significantly reducing the presence of Common gear, alleviating the tedium that came from dismantling a “white” weapon or armor piece as soon as it was obtained. If Borderlands were to follow suit, I believe it would enhance the overall gameplay experience, making every acquisition feel more meaningful and less disposable.

In the Borderlands series, certain recurring tricks used by manufacturers are starting to feel predictable, suggesting a potential redesign of these mechanisms might be necessary to surprise players.

Borderlands 4 Could Implement Weapon Customization and Expand Manufacturer Identities

As a gamer, I’d love to see Borderlands 4 introduce weapon customization to address repetitiveness in randomly acquired weapons without diminishing the series’ unique charm. Instead of spending endless hours chasing after the perfect weapon roll or making other guns irrelevant upon finding the “best” Legendary gun, I’d enjoy being able to modify and enhance my preferred weapons in Borderlands 4.

For instance, it would be thrilling to fine-tune a Maliwan sniper rifle to cycle between various elemental effects, or upgrade a Jakobs revolver for faster reloads and the addition of a scope. This way, I could invest time and resources into improving my favorite weapons rather than constantly searching for the ideal one.

Moreover, Borderlands 4 might revitalize the manufacturers’ personas by introducing unique features instead of rehashing old weapon attributes. For instance, Tediore guns could have self-rebuilding capabilities after being thrown, and Dahl weapons could boast adaptive scopes that adjust based on an enemy’s proximity to the player. The potential for innovation in this area is vast. The trailers suggest that Borderlands 4 might be set in a different dimension, offering a perfect opportunity to flip manufacturer personas upside down.

In order to eliminate repetitiveness in randomly generated weapons while maintaining one of the key features that defines the series, Borderlands 4 might consider incorporating a weapon customization system.

Fundamentally, Borderlands 4 has a chance to enhance the core aspect that has always set this series apart. Just adding more randomized guns isn’t sufficient to keep players engaged in today’s gaming landscape, where depth and customization provide a richer experience than sheer quantity. By concentrating on weapon customization and possibly expanding the variety of gun manufacturers, Borderlands 4 could make sure that its collection of weapons is not just extensive but also more engaging.

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2025-03-11 01:08