Borderlands

About

Borderlands is a cooperative multiplayer first-person shooter video game franchise created by 2K Games and Gearbox Interactive. In the game, players assumes the role of a Vault Hunter, a bounty hunter that is searching for a treasure trove that has been hidden on the planet Pandora and will grant those who find it unlimited wealth and power.
Much of the gameplay consists of traditional first person shooter elements while also featuring vehicular combat, a loot generation system, character leveling system and multiplayer game modes.

History

Borderlands was first revealed in the September 2007 issue of Game Informer magazine. The reveal trailer was first shown in the 2007 Spike Video Game Awards, showing a realistic, darker tone than seen in it's future iteration. In October 20th, 2009, the game was released. On September 18th, 2012, the sequel Borderlands 2 was released, which featured new and updated classes to choose from. And interquel set between the two, Borderlands: The Pre-Sequel was released on October 14th, 2014. On March 28th, 2019, the fourth installment in the series, Borderlands 3, was announced.

In November 2014, video game developer Telltale Games released the first in an episodic graphic adventure comedy game series titled Tales from the Borderlands.

Gameplay

The player controls their character from a first-person perspective, combining a large selection of weapons to use against a variety of enemies. Players can also join with other players for a co-op game in a 'drop-in, drop-out' style. The player can also choose from 4 classes (6 in Borderlands 2) that use various different skill sets, unique class trees, action skills and weapon proficiencies. Borderlands weapons are generated using a procedural algorithm which combines various parts to create an enormously large number of possible variations, making each weapon the player discovers unique.

Online Presence

Several Borderlands-related subreddits have been created, including /r/Borderlands,^[1] /r/Borderlands2^[2] and /r/BL2Modding.^[3] As of May 2015, the Borderlands Facebook^[5] page has over 1.9 million likes, the @Borderlands^[6] Twitter feed has over 317,000 followers and the Borderlands Wiki^[4] has generated upwards of 4,000 pages. Gearbox Software hosts an official forum^[7] for all it's games, including Borderlands.

Cosplay

Cosplayers frequently dress as characters from Borderlands, often using makeup to mimic the game's unique cel shading animation style (shown below).

Related Memes

Claptrap/CL4P-TP

CL4P-TP, or as he's commonly known, Claptrap, is a general purpose robot programmed by the fictional in-game corporation Hyperion. Throughout the trilogy, Claptrap consistantly retains his role as a main character by assisting the Vault Hunters. In the first game, players can find broken Claptraps to fix in exchange for items such as grenade and gun mods, with the one who the player meets at the beginning of the game staying with them throughout. In the second game, he is the last CL4P-TP unit alive on Pandora due to the game's villain Handsome Jack wiping out all the other remaining Claptraps besides the one who accompanies the Vault Hunters. The Pre-Sequel! gives the player the ability to use Claptrap as a playable character for the first time in the Borderlands franchise.

Claptrap has become notable in the Borderlands fandom for his obnoxious attitude and personality, and his presence throughout the three games in the franchise.

Handsome Jack

Hansome Jack is the main antagonist of Borderlands 2. He is the CEO of Hyperion corporation, who plans to take over Pandora and "civilize" it by killing every inhabitant, all who he pervieves as bandits. He has become one of the most popular characters of the franchise due to his arrogant personality and his casual, joking attitude about the actorities he commits. Borderlands: the Pre-Sequel has him act as the employer of player characters, telling the story of his descent into tyranny.

Tiny Tina

Tiny Tina is mentally unstable 13-year old explosive expert from Borderlands 2. Although having a relatively minor role in the main game, she has become very popular due to her quirky personality. She has a larger role in two add-on campaigns, Mr. Torgue's Campaign of Carnage and Tiny Tina's Assault on Dragon Keep

Mr. Torgue

Mr. Torgue High-Five Flexington is the founder of Torgue corporation and main character in Borderlands 2 add-on campaign Mr. Torgue's Campaign of Carnage, hosting the titular tournament to open a vault. He is very popular among the fans due to his constant shouting of sentences, love of explosions and overall boastful personality. He also appears in Assault on Dragon Keep and headhunter pack The Horrible Hunger of the Ravenous Wattle Gobbler.

Search Interest

External References