So, there’s a relative underdog coming up in this winter’s wave of videogame blockbuster titles, but queerly enough, it looks the most original of them all (hence granting its blockbuster status). Borderlands is Gearbox’s latest role-playing game, one that will set players on a desolate planet in search of a mysterious underground artifact. But what makes Borderlands seem so special? Check out our pre-release preview to join in the hype:

What is Borderlands?

Borderlands is a four player co-operative first person role-playing shooter for the Xbox 360, PS3 and PC, to be released on October 20^th for the 360 and PS3 and on the 26^th for the PC.

The Story

The game will be set on the fictional planet of Pandora in the near future. Hearing rumors of bountiful mineral resources and other means from which to get rich, colonist ships arrive in Pandora bearing thousands of civilians looking for a quick buck. Unfortunately, Pandora is not all it seems, and it turns out there isn’t much to find on the planet apart from desolate alien ruins. With the richer population departing back to their homes, Pandora descends into anarchy through the neglect of lawless society. Now, seven of our “Earth years” later, winter has struck Pandora, awakening several species of aggressive Pandoran native animals. While the human inhabitants of Pandora struggle on, they find one last gleam of hope: a radio transmission proclaiming the riches and magnificence of a lost alien vault – with no indication of it's location.

The Characters

Being an RPG, Borderlands will sport the traditional class-based character system through which players can customize and fine tune their player to optimize their experience. There will be four character bases to choose from, each with a name, history and special abilities to boot:

Mordecai – The hunter class of Borderlands, Mordecai came to Pandora in search of a man from his past. Upon learning the man, named Yujinny, is dead, Mordecai sets off in search of information on Yujinny’s death. So far it is clear that Mordecai will specialize in sniper-work, as well as slaying enemies via the use of his faithful Bloodwing. Mordecai’s pet, the Bloodwing, a vicious bird, will be able to be used tactically to slay and lure enemies from camps, in order for Mordecai and his companions to gain an advantage in combat.

Lilith – Lilith is essentially the mage class of Borderlands. She is one of six “Sirens” -- humans with extraordinary powers as a result of being touched by alien technology. She can also be considered the assassin of the group, as she boasts her signature ability titled “Phasewalk”, through which she can become invisible to enemies, move faster while sneaking around her enemies, while emitting a large shockwave upon commencing and finishing her Phasewalk. 

Brick – Borderlands’ “tank” class, Brick prefers to use his fists to dispose of his enemies. Brick is extremely proficient in melee combat, and can also become efficient at using explosives. Wearing a necklace which holds the paw of his beloved late dog, Brick’s special ability is a generic but effective one known as “Berserk”. In Berserk mode, Brick drops his weapons and uses his fists to cause immense damage for a small period of time during which he is invulnerable to damage and gains health with each hit.

Roland – Roland is the soldier of Borderlands. Originally part of the private military of a large Pandoran weapons manufacturer, Roland has no regard for law and order, and is driven by a quest for revenge. Roland prefers to use shotguns and assault rifles. He is also the medic of the foursome, being able to help teammates in-need, as well as drop a shield-turret in combat, which can be upgraded to regenerate the team’s health.

Each of these characters will have specific missions entitled only to their own story in Borderlands.

(L-R) Roland, Lilith, Mordecai and Brick

A special mention: Claptrap the talking robot will be a prominent feature in Borderlands. The mechanical companion will serve as a guide throughout the game, and has so far been featured in some humorous short trailers released as part of Borderlands’ advertising campaign.

You can watch the Claptrap web series trailers here:

Claptrap Web Series Ep. 1

Claptrap Web Series Ep. 2

The Gameplay

Borderlands, although not the first role-playing shooter around, will separate the aspects of shooting and role-playing; shots will not be based on chance, as in Fallout 3, and combat will be based on players’ skill levels rather than that of their characters. Borderlands boasts both split-screen and online co-operative multiplayer, with up to four players able to work together in Pandora to complete quests and gain loot. Co-operative play will run in a “drop-in” format, with players able to jump into games whenever they please (as long as their friends are okay with it).  

Borderlands has a most creative mode of spawning weapons and creatures in the in-game world: weapons and native beasts are created completely randomly, resulting in what could be a remarkable experience. Gearbox have claimed there are millions of possibilities where weapons are concerned, whereas there will be nine different creature varieties throughout each campaign, making each play-through unlike the last.

The game will also sport vehicular driving and combat segments for the more road-loving of us out there. There will also be a traditional looting system, where players will be able to gain items from their fallen enemies, although co-operative players will have to gain loot on a first-come, first-serve basis: in short, you’ll be competing for goodies with your friends.

The Visuals

Originally a game that was aiming to deliver unwavering realism, Borderlands went through a dramatic, abrupt change halfway through development when Gearbox decided they would entirely overhaul the game’s visual art design. Featuring hand-drawn textures, Borderlands presents a post-apocalyptic wasteland in a whole new distinctive style, one akin to cel-shaded visuals present in previous titled such as Jet Set Radio Future.

So, What Next?

Borderlands is certainly one of the more intriguing titles coming out in the near future, promising a hefty mix of tried and true material and some innovative new mechanics. If you’re up for a good, old post-apocalyptic shoot-out, Borderlands looks like the way to go. Borderlands ships out on the 20^th of October for the PS3 and Xbox 360 (at $59.99) and on the 26^th for the PC ($49.99). Money-savers: be sure to check out the Borderlands pre-order deal on Valve’s Steam service, which gives pre-ordering customers 10% off the full retail price.

For more info on Borderlands, check out the official Borderlands website.