TheBorderlandsfranchise is a lot of things. It is a strong looter shooter with an addictive gameplay loop, the home to one of gaming’s best villainsHandsome Jack, and a co-op game that is guaranteed to provide plenty of laughs alongside the engaging fights. It is also a franchise with some surprisingly deep and interesting lore, something that many casual fans and outsiders may not expect. Part of this reason the lore is not as well known is because players have to seek it out online and keep track of a lot of small details, andBorderlands 4should change that.
Whether it is the history of companies like Jakobs, the backstory of Crazy Earl, or Nyriad’s interesting recordings, players will have a hard time keeping track of all the history that exists within theBorderlandsuniverse. However, this should not be an issue, as the ECHO device is not only a perfect tool to let players listen to recordings, but it could also serve as a way to read documents about in-universe characters and companies. If Gearbox needs inspiration on how to make such a feature work, it need only look at Bungie and what it has accomplished withDestiny 2.
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Destiny-Like Lore Can Flesh Out Borderlands’ World Further
WhileBorderlandsfans can listen to the occasional recording that provides lore aboutcharacters like Krieg, location and weapon manufacturer lore is harder to come by in-game. With each company and planet full of personality, though, Gearbox could easily expand upon them, and not just through ECHO logs or quirky commercials.Borderlands' lack of lore books is a big missed opportunity, as these books have been utilized by Bungie to add a ton of depth toDestiny 2.
While dialogue, quests, and audio logs are all strong forms of storytelling, the lore books ofDestiny 2have added a ton of depth to the Bray family,Eramis, and other key characters. Each lore book will tell a story, whether that be of a key event in a character’s life or a legend passed down for several years. Unlike the originalDestiny’s criticized grimoire cards, which had players going to an app to do their reading, the lore books can be easily viewed inside the game from a dedicated menu.
Having so much ofDestiny 2’s background information accessible in-game is an excellent way to get fans more invested in Bungie’s world, and it is a perfect way for players to kill some time between activities. As players wait to find enough players for a Gambit or Crucible match, they can read an entry from an unlocked lore book. This could be an excellent feature to have inBorderlands 4, as while players wait for their friends to swap gear in Sanctuary, they can dive into a book full of lore on Hyperion orVladof.
Another great thing aboutDestiny 2’s lore books is that they are treated as a reward. As players complete certain quest lines, finish challenges, or find sets of collectibles, they can gather new books that will be tied to the characters and topics of those tasks. This is a great way to let players pick and choose what they are interested in and reward them with info about that part of the story, and could work wonders forBorderlands. For instance, players who loveMr. Torguecan craft a build that only uses Torgue gear to unlock his lore book. Alternatively, players could find a bunch of boom bunnies to get a book all about Tiny Tina.
Special ECHO logs could be tied to lore challenges too, letting players get some insight into how the B Team spent their time betweenBorderlands 3andBorderlands 4. More information on Guardians and the Vaults would be possible, too, having the potential to span several books. Some of the lore books could even contain puzzles for players to solve, like aZer0 or FL4Kbook that provides long-awaited answers about their origins if an ARG is complete. With so many different characters, planets, and corporations existing in the franchise, it would be exciting if Gearbox started givingBorderlandsplayers access to in-depth lore books that dive more into certain topics.
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