Summary
Borderlands 4is getting closer and closer to arriving, though its release date is still currently unknown. Every moment that passes, however, is one moment closer to yet another reveal, with the most recent gameplaytrailer forBorderlands 4showcasing the game’s sizable world, as well as many of the locations players will be able to discover within it.
Perhaps in tandem withBorderlands 4’s supposedly massive world on the planet Kairos, many of the areas featured in the latest gameplay trailer look rather large and open. While it can be assumed that players will spend plenty of time exploringBorderlands 4’s seamless world, their time spent in the planet’s more concentrated zones needs to maintain that classicBorderlandsfeel the series is known for. On the other hand, there may still be a way these apparently larger areas can still work while maintaining their size.
Borderlands 4 Needs to Optimize Its Large Areas
Borderlands 4 Should Maintain Its Close-Quarters Chaos
It goes without saying thatBorderlands 4should arguably do whatever it takes to maintain the close-quarters chaos the franchise is known for. Throughout theBorderlandsseries, players have navigated areas that are intentionally designed to produce fast-paced, chaotic combat where they constantly engage with enemies and the environment. However, ifBorderlands 4introduces significantly larger areas in its world, it could potentially make the overall experience feelless likeBorderlandsand more like a typical FPS, depending on how those spaces are utilized.
Larger areas inBorderlands 4would naturally spread enemies out, leading to less time spent in battle and more time walking between objectives. At the end of the day, that could be enough to disrupt the rhythm of the series' hallmark chaotic flow. Furthermore, larger areas would also likely increase the need for long-range weapons, thereby diminishing the viability of close-rangeweapons inBorderlands 4like shotguns and SMGs. SinceBorderlandshas almost always been about player freedom when it comes to weapon choice,Borderlands 4’s supposedly more spread-out spaces could deprive players of that freedom.
Larger spaces would also make co-op inBorderlands 4a bit more challenging, as it would potentially make it that much harder for players to stick together.
How Borderlands 4 Could Make Larger Areas Work
Even with the potential roadblocks created by largerareas inBorderlands 4, the game could still make those spaces work if it utilizes them well. In essence,Borderlands 4can’t simply rely on the aesthetics of each area to be enough to keep players invested. Instead, the game will need to ensure each of these areas is the size that it is for a more meaningful reason — one that would enhance exploration and add to the game’s reward factor.
Exploration has always been a big part of theBorderlandsseries, but ifBorderlands 4prioritizes larger gameplay spaces, it should offer players more than mere weapons if they go off the beaten path. By including additional secrets, optional objectives, and lore, perhaps players might have more incentive to exploreBorderalnds 4’s larger locations than they would if they knew all that was waiting for them was another hundred weapons to sell.Borderlands 4could also make use of larger areas by pitting players against much larger bosses, who also take advantage of the space provided to them.
Even with the potential roadblocks created by larger areas inBorderlands 4, the game could still make those spaces work if it utilizes them well.
Fortunately,Borderlands 4is introducing new traversal features, like a Grappling Hook and the ability to summon a vehicle from anywhere, so even if its more concentrated areas are larger, at least players won’t have to worry too much about travel time. On that same note, however,Borderlands 4simply can’t afford to waste space.Borderlands 4has an opportunity here to try something different by maintaining the close-quarters chaos the series is known for while also providing players with a more meaningful space to explore.
