Borderlands: The Handsome Collection has been a topic of interest for gamers worldwide, especially those who are fans of the action-packed, first-person shooter genre with a twist of role-playing elements. The collection, which includes Borderlands 2 and Borderlands: The Pre-Sequel, along with all their respective DLCs (Downloadable Content), promises a comprehensive gaming experience. But the question remains, is Borderlands: The Handsome Collection a full game, or does it lack the depth and content that players crave? In this article, we will delve into the details of what The Handsome Collection offers, its gameplay, the value it provides, and ultimately, whether it stands as a complete gaming experience.
Introduction to Borderlands: The Handsome Collection
Borderlands: The Handsome Collection is a compilation of two critically acclaimed games in the Borderlands series: Borderlands 2 and Borderlands: The Pre-Sequel. Developed by Gearbox Software and published by 2K Games, this collection was initially released for PlayStation 4 and Xbox One in 2015, later making its way to Windows in 2019. The primary appeal of The Handsome Collection is that it bundles not just the base games, but also all the downloadable content (DLC) that was released for both titles, providing players with a vast, uninterrupted gaming experience.
Gameplay Overview
At its core, Borderlands: The Handsome Collection is about exploration, combat, and character customization. Players can choose from a variety of characters, each with unique abilities and playstyles, and embark on quests across the Pandora and Elpis environments. The games are known for their cooperative gameplay, allowing friends to team up and tackle the challenges together, which significantly enhances the gaming experience.
The collection includes:
– Borderlands 2, the sequel to the original Borderlands, which introduces new characters, enemies, and gameplay mechanics.
– Borderlands: The Pre-Sequel, a game that takes place between the events of the first two Borderlands games, offering a new storyline and the ability to play as characters from the first game.
Content and DLCs
One of the most significant selling points of The Handsome Collection is its comprehensive inclusion of DLCs for both games. This means players get access to additional storylines, characters, game modes, and challenges without needing to purchase them separately. The DLCs expand the game’s universe, providing more backstory, new areas to explore, and increased replayability.
For Borderlands 2, notable DLCs include Mr. Torgue’s Campaign of Carnage, Sir Hammerlock’s Big Game Hunt, Tiny Tina’s Assault on Dragon Keep, and Commander Lilith & the Fight for Sanctuary, among others. Each of these DLCs adds unique quests, characters, and sometimes even new gameplay mechanics.
For Borderlands: The Pre-Sequel, DLCs like Claptastic Voyage and Ultimate Vault Hunter Upgrade Pack offer similar expansions to the game, including new story content and ways to enhance gameplay.
Evaluating the Collection as a Full Game
To determine if Borderlands: The Handsome Collection is a full game, we need to consider several factors, including its content, gameplay depth, replay value, and overall player satisfaction.
Content Depth
With the inclusion of two full games and all their DLCs, The Handsome Collection offers an immense amount of content. Players can easily spend hundreds of hours exploring the worlds, completing quests, and engaging in combat. The variety in characters, weapons, and playstyles further adds to the depth, allowing players to experiment with different approaches to the game.
Gameplay and Replay Value
The gameplay in Borderlands 2 and The Pre-Sequel is engaging, with a mix of exploration, combat, and character progression that keeps players interested. The cooperative mode is particularly noteworthy, as it allows for a dynamic and social experience that can significantly extend the game’s replay value. The random generation of weapons and loot also means that no two playthroughs are exactly the same, providing a high replay value.
Player Satisfaction
Player satisfaction can be subjective, depending on individual preferences for gameplay, genre, and content. However, The Handsome Collection has received widespread acclaim for its value, content, and the fun it offers. The inclusion of all DLCs eliminates the frustration of dealing with fragmented content, allowing players to enjoy a complete experience without additional purchases.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Borderlands: The Handsome Collection is indeed a full game, offering a comprehensive and engaging gaming experience. With its rich content, deep gameplay mechanics, high replay value, and the satisfaction of playing through a well-crafted narrative with friends, it stands as a complete package. The collection’s value lies not just in the quantity of its content, but also in the quality and depth it provides, making it a must-play for fans of the series and the genre alike.
For those considering purchasing The Handsome Collection, it’s essential to note that it represents a significant investment in gameplay hours and entertainment value. Whether you’re a veteran of the Borderlands series or a newcomer looking to dive into the world of Pandora and beyond, Borderlands: The Handsome Collection is an excellent choice, providing everything needed for an immersive and enjoyable gaming experience.
Given the nature of the collection and its appeal, here are some key points to consider:
- The Handsome Collection includes Borderlands 2 and Borderlands: The Pre-Sequel, along with all their DLCs, providing a vast and uninterrupted gaming experience.
- The gameplay is characterized by its blend of first-person shooter action, role-playing elements, and cooperative play, offering a unique and engaging experience.
Overall, Borderlands: The Handsome Collection is a testament to the power of comprehensive game design and the value of bundling content in a way that enhances player experience. It’s not just a collection of games; it’s an immersive world waiting to be explored, fought for, and enjoyed with friends.
What is Borderlands: The Handsome Collection?
Borderlands: The Handsome Collection is a compilation of two action role-playing first-person shooter games: Borderlands 2 and Borderlands: The Pre-Sequel. The collection was released in 2015 for PlayStation 4 and Xbox One, and later for Microsoft Windows. It includes all the downloadable content (DLC) for both games, making it a comprehensive package for fans of the series. The Handsome Collection is known for its improved graphics, new character customizations, and the ability to transfer save data from the previous generation consoles.
The collection offers a unique blend of dark humor, engaging characters, and intense gameplay, making it a must-play for fans of the genre. With the inclusion of all DLCs, players can experience the complete story and gameplay of both Borderlands 2 and Borderlands: The Pre-Sequel. The Handsome Collection also features a new character, the Handsome Jack Doppelganger pack, which allows players to play as a doppelganger of the main antagonist, Handsome Jack. Overall, Borderlands: The Handsome Collection is an excellent value for players who want to experience the full Borderlands 2 and Borderlands: The Pre-Sequel experience with all the additional content.
Is Borderlands: The Handsome Collection a full game?
Borderlands: The Handsome Collection is indeed a full game, as it includes the complete versions of Borderlands 2 and Borderlands: The Pre-Sequel, along with all the DLCs. The collection offers a massive amount of content, with hundreds of hours of gameplay, making it an excellent value for players. The games included in the collection have their own unique stories, characters, and gameplay mechanics, providing a rich and immersive experience for players. With the improved graphics and new character customizations, The Handsome Collection is a great way for new players to experience the Borderlands series, and for veteran players to replay the games with new content.
The full game status of Borderlands: The Handsome Collection is further reinforced by the fact that it includes all the DLCs, which were previously available as separate purchases. This means that players can experience the complete story and gameplay of both Borderlands 2 and Borderlands: The Pre-Sequel without having to purchase additional content. The collection also features a new user interface, making it easier for players to navigate and access the various game modes, characters, and DLCs. Overall, Borderlands: The Handsome Collection is a comprehensive package that offers a full gaming experience, making it an excellent choice for fans of the series and new players alike.
What is included in Borderlands: The Handsome Collection?
Borderlands: The Handsome Collection includes the full versions of Borderlands 2 and Borderlands: The Pre-Sequel, along with all the downloadable content (DLC) for both games. The collection features a total of two games, with hundreds of hours of gameplay, making it an excellent value for players. The DLCs included in the collection are: Captain Scarlett and Her Pirate’s Booty, Mr. Torgue’s Campaign of Carnage, Sir Hammerlock’s Big Game Hunt, Tiny Tina’s Assault on Dragon Keep, and Commander Lilith & the Fight for Sanctuary for Borderlands 2; and Claptastic Voyage and Ultimate Vault Hunter Upgrade Pack: The Holodome Onslaught for Borderlands: The Pre-Sequel.
The collection also includes new character customizations, improved graphics, and the ability to transfer save data from previous generation consoles. Players can experience the complete story and gameplay of both Borderlands 2 and Borderlands: The Pre-Sequel, with all the additional content, making it a great way for new players to experience the Borderlands series, and for veteran players to replay the games with new content. The Handsome Collection is available on PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and Microsoft Windows, making it accessible to a wide range of players. With its comprehensive package and excellent value, Borderlands: The Handsome Collection is a must-play for fans of the genre.
Can I play Borderlands: The Handsome Collection on my old console?
Borderlands: The Handsome Collection is available on PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and Microsoft Windows, but it is not compatible with previous generation consoles such as PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360. However, players who own the previous generation versions of Borderlands 2 and Borderlands: The Pre-Sequel can transfer their save data to the new consoles, allowing them to continue playing where they left off. This feature is a great bonus for players who have invested hundreds of hours into the games and want to experience the improved graphics and new content on the new consoles.
The ability to transfer save data is a convenient feature that allows players to pick up where they left off, without having to start from scratch. Players can transfer their save data from the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 versions of Borderlands 2 and Borderlands: The Pre-Sequel to the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One versions, respectively. This feature is available for a limited time, so players should transfer their save data as soon as possible to take advantage of the improved graphics and new content in The Handsome Collection. Overall, while Borderlands: The Handsome Collection is not compatible with previous generation consoles, the ability to transfer save data makes it easy for players to upgrade to the new consoles and continue playing.
How long does it take to complete Borderlands: The Handsome Collection?
The completion time for Borderlands: The Handsome Collection varies depending on the player’s skill level and playstyle. However, with hundreds of hours of gameplay, the collection offers a massive amount of content that can keep players engaged for a long time. Completing the main story of Borderlands 2 and Borderlands: The Pre-Sequel can take around 50-60 hours, but completing all the side quests, DLCs, and achieving 100% completion can take upwards of 200-300 hours. The collection also features a new game plus mode, which allows players to replay the game with increased difficulty and new challenges.
The replay value of Borderlands: The Handsome Collection is high, thanks to the random loot system, which generates unique weapons and items each time the player completes a mission or defeats an enemy. This means that players can experience the game multiple times, with different outcomes and challenges each time. Additionally, the collection features a co-op mode, which allows players to play with friends and experience the game in a different way. With its massive amount of content, random loot system, and co-op mode, Borderlands: The Handsome Collection offers a high replay value, making it an excellent choice for players who want to experience a game with a lot of depth and complexity.
Is Borderlands: The Handsome Collection worth the price?
Borderlands: The Handsome Collection is an excellent value for players, considering the amount of content and gameplay it offers. The collection includes two full games, with hundreds of hours of gameplay, making it a great deal for players who want to experience the Borderlands series. The improved graphics, new character customizations, and ability to transfer save data from previous generation consoles are also great bonuses. With its comprehensive package and excellent value, Borderlands: The Handsome Collection is a must-play for fans of the genre, and a great introduction to the series for new players.
The price of Borderlands: The Handsome Collection is reasonable, considering the amount of content and gameplay it offers. The collection is available at a lower price point than buying the individual games and DLCs separately, making it a great value for players. Additionally, the collection is often discounted during sales, making it an even more attractive option for players. Overall, Borderlands: The Handsome Collection is worth the price, thanks to its comprehensive package, excellent value, and high replay value. Players who are looking for a game with a lot of depth and complexity will find that The Handsome Collection is an excellent choice.
Can I play Borderlands: The Handsome Collection with my friends?
Yes, Borderlands: The Handsome Collection features a co-op mode, which allows players to play with friends online. The co-op mode is available for both Borderlands 2 and Borderlands: The Pre-Sequel, and allows players to team up with up to four players to complete missions and take down enemies. The co-op mode is a great way to experience the game with friends, and adds a new level of complexity and challenge to the gameplay. Players can work together to complete objectives, share loot, and take down tough enemies, making the co-op mode a fun and rewarding experience.
The co-op mode in Borderlands: The Handsome Collection is easy to use, and allows players to join or create online sessions with friends. Players can also use the game’s matchmaking feature to find other players to team up with, making it easy to find a co-op partner. The co-op mode is available on all platforms, including PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and Microsoft Windows, making it easy for players to team up with friends across different platforms. Overall, the co-op mode in Borderlands: The Handsome Collection is a great feature that adds a new level of fun and complexity to the gameplay, and is a must-try for players who want to experience the game with friends.