Things Borderlands Does Better Than Other FPS Games

As far as first-person shooter games go, Borderlands really sets itself apart. The franchise has a unique identity and excels in places where other FPS games seem to stumble. Whether you're a fan of the series or not, there are some undeniable aspects that all Borderlands games share that make them an essential part of the FPS genre.

No matter what appeals to you in an FPS game, Borderlands is likely to scratch that itch. This list celebrates the things that Borderlands games do better than almost any FPS game, and while it covers many different aspects of the franchise, there is no shortage of examples that highlight Borderlands' greatness.

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Range Of Character Builds/Classes

Play The Way You Want

Borderlands gives players the ability to play as one of four (sometimes more, depending on the game) vault hunters. Each vault hunter has a unique ability and set of upgradable skills. Players will gain access to new powers as they level up, making them more and more powerful as they play.

This feature of the series is only getting better with each new release. In Borderlands 4, players also get to choose from three different abilities with each vault hunter, each having its own unique skill trees to delve into. This keeps gameplay fresh and exciting, no matter which route you choose to go down. Endless replayability and experiences each time you start a new character make for a great time.

Gun Variation

Nearly Endless Guns

At its core, the Borderlands franchise is all about loot and guns. This is evident in the amount of gun variation each game has. Like the classes and abilities mentioned in the previous entry, the number of guns in each Borderlands game is only increasing with each title released.

In the newest entry, Borderlands 4, the developers touted a staggering 30 billion gun variations! With that number of lootable weapons, you can run through the game a nearly endless number of times without finding the exact same gun twice. It's a bit of an exaggerated number, and the high number of weapon variants mostly comes down to small changes in alt-fire modes or elemental effects, but it's still an impressive number of options in finding the best gun for your character's build.

Loot System

Hunt For Legendaries

In Borderlands, you're constantly hunting for legendary weapons. That's the essence of a looter shooter game, but what makes Borderlands' loot system so appealing is the ability to farm bosses and high-level enemies with ease. The loot system encourages players to endlessly replay boss fights in hopes of getting that shiny golden gun they're hunting for.

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This may sound tedious or repetitive, but it is actually great fun due to the amount of guns and useful loot you'll get along the way. Each time a boss is killed, players can get anywhere from four to 10 guns, so even if you don't get the legendary right away, there's always a reason to keep going. Even if it takes you 20 tries to secure the rarest loot, you'll likely find better weapons the more you farm.

Couch Co-Op

Play With A Friend

Four people playing Borderlands: The Pre-Sequel together.

In modern-day video games, no matter the genre, couch co-op almost feels like a lost art. Franchises that used to have couch co-op at their core are now releasing without splitscreen functionality at all. While this is sad to see, Borderlands has maintained couch co-op throughout every mainline entry in the series.

Borderlands doesn't just include splitscreen as an option, but it handles it well. In a game all about loot and guns, it gives each player an instanced cache of loot with every kill (at least in the newer entries), so players aren't competing for the guns they earn in boss battles. With many different enemies and quests to tackle, it's also tons of fun to have a friend tag along in your journey.

Cel-Shaded Visuals

A Unique Look For An FPS

Cel-shading is nothing new in the video game industry. There are plenty of examples of major franchises embracing this unique visual style, but it's not common to see this art style in a AAA FPS franchise. Borderlands helped to make cel-shading famous and carved out a distinct look for itself along the way. Its visuals are instantly recognizable, and fans have grown to love the unique look that the cel-shading creates.

This visual style also transcends the FPS genre within the Borderlands franchise. While other game series try out new aesthetics when it comes to spin-offs or sequels, Borderlands has stuck with cel-shading throughout the entire run of games, from Tiny Tina's Wonderlands to Tales From The Borderlands.

"Fight For Your Life" Revive System

A Second Chance At Life

Dying in an FPS game can be devastating, potentially setting back hard-earned progress. Some games mitigate this by instituting frequent autosaves, but Borderlands allows players to self-revive through their "Fight For Your Life" system. When players are downed, they have a few additional seconds to continue fighting. If they manage to get a kill during this time, they will be instantly revived and put back in the fight.

This system is useful because teammates can also revive downed allies during this time, but it's most impactful when playing in single-player mode. Lots of games have a teammate revive mechanic, but having the ability to self-revive, even if you're playing solo, can be the difference between winning and losing a major battle.

Replay Value

Endless Possibilities

With all of the points made in this list, it's clear that Borderlands has a massive amount of replayability. With such a wide variety of character/class choices, playing through the games multiple times is almost warranted, so you can experience each vault hunter individually. Because the loot system is so ingrained in the core gameplay loop of the games, replaying the campaign or farming bosses a dozen plus times is always fun and rarely gets repetitive or dull.

This is all capped off by the fact that playing through the game in multiplayer with a friend, or multiple friends, can yield even more experiences. All in all, the Borderlands games are made up of titles you can jump into three or four times without getting bored, and that's an aspect of this franchise that not many other FPS games share.

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