Borderlands 2

[Ashasx]

Originally Posted by Mike F

Having never played the first game, is this a Mass Effect type shooter-RPG, or more of a shooter first with RPG elements?

That's an odd comparison. I don't really consider ME to be much of a RPG anymore.

In any case, while I wish there were some better talents, this game certainly has more RPG (character development) aspects than ME.

[Mike F]

At the risk of derailing the thread, what is missing from Mass Effect to remove it from the category or RPGs? This might help me understand why you feel Borderlands has more RPG elements.

[Ashasx]

Both games are definitely more action than RPG.

To me, many of the RPG elements in ME felt simplified. Certainly it gives you more of a choice in the storyline, but I feel again that much of that is an illusion.

When it comes to the actual gameplay, ME reminds me more of Gears of War. I just don't feel that sense of variety that I get from BL.

The loot system is a major reason, I think. Always upgrading, developing. It's not quite at this level in ME.

Still though, both games are not close to the level of something like New Vegas.

[kyuusei]

ME1 felt most like an RPG to me. There were more skills/attributes to dump your points into, you had weapons, upgrades and mod etc. whereas all of that got extremely streamlined in ME2. They tried to bring some of it back in ME3 but it wasn't anywhere near as extensive.

The classes of Mass Effect had more variety/felt more different from each other in ME3. They felt more or less the same to me in ME1 though.

Mass Effect has story, Borderlands has loot. Even though they're both shooter/RPGs, I can't bring myself to compare them...

[Ashasx]

Yes they are difficult to compare and both have strengths and weaknesses in terms of RPG elements. Both are action first, RPG second.

To me, if we're asking which is more true to those roots, I really feel BL is much truer definition of RPG, mostly because of the loot system, as I said.

Both games leave a lot to be desired in this area. I feel that Borderlands could have had better action elements in the talent tree, and I was sure we'd have been able to customize our guns in this one, but I guess not.

[kirant]

Originally Posted by kyuusei

ME1 felt most like an RPG to me. There were more skills/attributes to dump your points into, you had weapons, upgrades and mod etc. whereas all of that got extremely streamlined in ME2. They tried to bring some of it back in ME3 but it wasn't anywhere near as extensive.

The classes of Mass Effect had more variety/felt more different from each other in ME3. They felt more or less the same to me in ME1 though.

Mass Effect has story, Borderlands has loot. Even though they're both shooter/RPGs, I can't bring myself to compare them...

About the only way you can compare the two is on an RPG planning to action scale...as in, how much deciding on your traits you get to do relative to how much hacking, slashing, and shooting you have. Mass Effect is heavily about the space opera that is unfolding (well, in 1 at least. I put down 2 because of other games, and never bought 3) - you almost feel overwhelmed by the amount that's happening and how humanity as a whole seems to be nothing but a bit player, let alone how minuscule you can be The focus of Borderlands is about the fun, poking fun at how pointless its story is multiple times. Who doesn't love finding 4 friends to gun stuff down for a night?

For the RPG-action scale I mentioned earlier, I think Borderlands is probably close to Mass Effect 1's level. You have traits and you'll probably spend a little time deciding how to divvy up them, but there's not intense planning and skilled play can counteract poor placement of bonuses and vise versa.

[dsavillian]

Originally Posted by Mike F

Having never played the first game, is this a Mass Effect type shooter-RPG, or more of a shooter first with RPG elements?

Shooter first with RPG elements

Diablo with guns is the best way to describe it. Just with more of a story and really funny

edit: whoops, responded without reading the 2nd page. Looks like the discussion is well underway

[Mike F]

Originally Posted by kirant

About the only way you can compare the two is on an RPG planning to action scale...as in, how much deciding on your traits you get to do relative to how much hacking, slashing, and shooting you have. Mass Effect is heavily about the space opera that is unfolding (well, in 1 at least. I put down 2 because of other games, and never bought 3) - you almost feel overwhelmed by the amount that's happening and how humanity as a whole seems to be nothing but a bit player, let alone how minuscule you can be The focus of Borderlands is about the fun, poking fun at how pointless its story is multiple times. Who doesn't love finding 4 friends to gun stuff down for a night?

For the RPG-action scale I mentioned earlier, I think Borderlands is probably close to Mass Effect 1's level. You have traits and you'll probably spend a little time deciding how to divvy up them, but there's not intense planning and skilled play can counteract poor placement of bonuses and vise versa.

This is kind of what I was getting at.

For me, Role Playing Game is about giving you a chance to go through a story, shaping that story and shaping the character you play in the story. So, for a great RPG I want to be able to mold my character through distinct class choices, and the ability to meaningfully tailor a given class depending on the choices I make (skills, traits, powers, perks etc.). I then want the character I choose to shape to progress through an interesting story, with the story being affected through my choices.

To me, loot, crafting, etc. are nice things to round out the experience, but just aren't core.

Based on the above, I thought the ME series did a pretty good job as a trilogy. The character classes weren't entirely distinct, but it did allow me to develop a character through an interesting story, with my choices feeling like they mattered (even though the series ended on a flop in terms of fleshing out the long term effect of those choices).

All in all, though, the shooter-ness of the game was the mechanic for moving you through the story more than the purpose of the game.

[CrunchBite]

Anyone else having issues out leveling the optional missions?

Seems like I'm getting handed lvl 13 missions when I've already completed lvl 16 missions and I'm lvl 18?

[miraisoup]

I have that to, right now I have anywhere from like lv 14-21. Boss I just fought kicked my butt all over the place for a good ten trys and he was level 22. Got him eventually though.

[BlAcKNoVa]

Just put it on tonight for the first time. Like it a lot so far. Playing it with my brother and a friend which makes the experience all that much better.

I'm wondering though, where is all the SMG, sniper and assault rifle drops? We've put about 3 hours into it so far and about 75% of the drops are pistols, 15% shotguns, and the remaining %'s are those cannon/rocket type guns. Haven't seen a single SMG/sniper drop yet.

[Hemi-Cuda]

Originally Posted by BlAcKNoVa

Just put it on tonight for the first time. Like it a lot so far. Playing it with my brother and a friend which makes the experience all that much better.

I'm wondering though, where is all the SMG, sniper and assault rifle drops? We've put about 3 hours into it so far and about 75% of the drops are pistols, 15% shotguns, and the remaining %'s are those cannon/rocket type guns. Haven't seen a single SMG/sniper drop yet.

give it some time, i didn't start seeing good SMG drops until after i had got to Sanctuary

[cDnStealth]

Ya, just wait until you get to Sanctuary. I accidentally used one of my golden keys and got a really nice assault riffle & SMG. Still using the SMG at level 17 but I wish I hadn't opened that chest. Way too loot happy lol.

[kirant]

Originally Posted by BlAcKNoVa

Just put it on tonight for the first time. Like it a lot so far. Playing it with my brother and a friend which makes the experience all that much better.

I'm wondering though, where is all the SMG, sniper and assault rifle drops? We've put about 3 hours into it so far and about 75% of the drops are pistols, 15% shotguns, and the remaining %'s are those cannon/rocket type guns. Haven't seen a single SMG/sniper drop yet.

The assault rifles don't drop well for a while. Some nice daily deals pop up though (I got a nice well balanced Torgue assault rifle that lasted me easily for levels 9-14, and probably more had I not gotten something even better).

[cDnStealth]

The assault riffle I have now is a blue Jacobs that does 145 x 3 damage and fires as fast as I can pull the trigger. The thing is beastly.

[Burninator]

How exactly does the multiplier work? Does it fire 3 bullets that do 145 each or is that combined damage?

[cDnStealth]

It's basically a mini-gun that has 3 rotating barrels and when you fire it shoots 3 bullets that do 145 each. So if you hit with all 3 you're doing a lot of damage but you generally have to be closer to the target because the shots tend to spread.

[miraisoup]

I found a ridiculous sniper, it does 790 damage. It is insane. Shotgun is a double shot thats 140X11 also insane. I love this game so much lol.

[Flames89]

So I picked this up, despite thinking I wouldn't really be into it.
Now I have to suffer with "working" and "being sociable" and "sleeping" while my mind drifts towards what could be around the next corner in this dammed game

[Hemi-Cuda]

i have to say, damn this is a hard game. such a huge difference from the first, way more enemies, larger variety, they dodge and roll, and if they happen to be packing shock or explosive weapons your day could be ruined quite quickly. i like the change though, now we have to start using actual tactics instead of just mindlessly blasting through everything (a siren and assassin make a great combo). i'm having a blast so far