BORDERLANDS 2 VR
Has Gearbox hit the Handsome Jackpot?
Taking a game that’s over six years old (and ultimately intended as a fourplayer co-op experience) and turning it into a single-player PS VR adventure might sound like an odd decision, like serving up a stale BLT without the B. In virtual reality. Anyway, the idea of being immersed in an FPS in this way is an appealing one; and clearly harder to implement than you might think… Although there have been some necessary tweaks and additions, this is mostly the same Borderlands 2 we awarded 9/10 when it released on PS3 back in 2012. A quick look at the score on this page will confirm that things aren’t quite that straightforward, though, and not only because this is now a solo experience.
This is a story-heavy FPS with dozens of hours of gameplay, something that already gifts it flashing neon trousers in the VR arena. It has a strong sense of humour, and the jokes work as well today as they did back then. The core gameplay hook is a borderline-obsessive loot mechanic. Defeated enemies drop items, but most of your pickups will come from ransacking countless crates and containers like the heroic kleptomaniac you are. Most interesting of all, the game contains a crazy amount of procedurally generated weapon types, often incorporating elemental damage. There’s a “squee!” moment whenever you stumble upon a particularly powerful gun.
GUN FISHING
With the game transferred to PS VR, we need to consider the fundamentals. To Gearbox’s credit, there’s lots to tinker with in the menu regarding comfort settings, although finding a good balance between smooth controls, decent field of view, and VR comfort is tricky. This is a non-VR peg that doesn’t quite fit the VR hole.
You can play with a DualShock, which is the best option for ease of movement. The game makes you aim with your head however, which A) contributes significantly to the risk of motion sickness given all the movement necessary during combat, and B) makes opening containers – most of which are at or below waist level – awkward. Dual PS Move controllers work better. Mastering movement with this control scheme takes longer, but the payoff is more enjoyable shootouts and a smoother experience overall. Teleportation is always an option, but not a great one, especially in the middle of combat. The PS Aim controller would offer the best of both control schemes… but isn’t supported. D’oh!
The addition of a “BAMF Time” ability, which temporarily slows down the action, feels like an apology for the slight awkwardness that even the best control setup offers. Certainly, you’ll probably use it more to get your bearings than for any tactical reasons. Persevere, and this is great fun, but not as much fun as the original.
“THIS IS A NON-VR PEG THAT DOESN’T QUITE FIT THE VIRTUAL REALITY HOLE.”