![]() What’s amazing is that he isn’t even close to the best side character in the game. I mean, I literally found him in a mortuary cabinet at one point because he had to downsize from the fridge he was living in before. I’m not exaggerating when I say the conversations and scenarios surrounding this guy are worth the price of admission for this silly side game alone. However, its inclusion in the game leads to some of the most hilarious interactions in the game, as you’ll always end up playing it when you find a Badass Superfan from Tedior popping up in the most random situations and locations. Now, admittedly, even as a side mechanic, Vaultlanders is a pretty weak gameplay feature, as it’s just far too simple and one-dimensional. The mode is a QTE 1v1 battle where you attack, dodge, and counter enemy figures with varying stats until their health bar is gone. Octavio’s social media jailbreak is probably the best of all three, as it provides interesting insight into all the characters we meet.Īlongside their gadgets, each character also engages in miniature figurine fights throughout different pats of the story via a game called Vaultlanders. While these gadgets didn’t really revolutionize the gameplay, they serve their purpose well, providing similar scavenger hunt and puzzle-like mechanics fans came to enjoy in Tales from the Borderlands. Anu has high-tech glass that allows her to scan objects, Octavio can browse people’s social media and hack their devices, and Fran can freeze and knock out enemies using her hoverchair. The writing, in general, is just so nuanced and clever, as it leans so far into the over-the-top personalities of so many of its cast without needing to resort to toilet humor or annoying caricatures like Claptrap.Īlongside their unique personalities, each character also has their own specific gadgets that lead to fun mini-games and situations. The writing and comedic timing of that scene is pure gold, and a perfect encapsulation of New Tales from the Borderlands’ excellent comedic tone. When Anu finally decides to join in on the fun, naturally, she ends up taking things too far and almost ends up getting someone killed. ![]() What results is pure comedic chaos, as these two idiots are simultaneously laughing and screaming in pain while Anu is freaking out the entire time. Naturally, Fran and Octavio’s first thought is that they want to have a quasi-pillow fight… but by shooting each other with bullets instead of tossing pillows around. ![]() There’s a point in the story where the group creates a device that lets them heal almost any wound. She actually proves pretty invaluable to the comedy of many situations, serving as the straight man to the over-the-top antics of both Octavio and Fran. Honestly, though, it doesn’t take long for Anu to come out of her shell and begin to blossom a bit, especially when the trio ends up together following yet another corporate invasion and some chaotic coincidences. Anu definitely was the weakest of the three, as her personality, dialogue, and overall vibe were a bit awkward. Octavio is akin to an even goofier version of Rhys, while Fran is pretty much Pam Poovey from Archer if she was placed in a floating, weaponized wheelchair. Fran is the smartass, badass owner of a Frogert shop that has suffered from some setbacks (sporting a solid -3.5 satisfaction rating).įrom the get-go, I immediately loved Fran and Octavio’s personalities. Octavio, who also happens to be Anu’s adopted brother, is a wannabe entrepreneur that has way more confidence than sense. ![]() To start, there’s our three new protagonists: Anu, Octavio, and Fran.Īnu is a brilliant scientist with a bleeding heart, which causes considerable interior conflict, as she works for the money-hungry military corporation Atlus. New Tales from the Borderlands is somehow even better than the first installment, featuring even more absurd humor, a wider variety of dialogue choices, and a full roster of insane characters, each brimming with their own alluring personalities. I mean, how could Gearbox possibly manage to one-up the comedy and characters fans came to love in the first game? Once again, I was proven wrong. Due to this and the built-up anticipation of almost a decade of waiting, the bar was set high for its sequel, New Tales from the Borderlands. Thankfully, I was dead wrong about the game and was blown away by how phenomenal the writing, performances, and choice system turned out to be.
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