Best of 2012: #8 - Borderlands 2

Borderlands 2 for PC, Xbox 360, and PS3 is #8 in our Best of 2012.

5

Amongst the sea of numbered big game sequels to come out in 2012, Borderlands 2 distinguished itself by avoiding even a whiff of disappointment. Easy though it may be to laugh at its own claims of being more badass than its predecessor--to the point of creating an in-game reward system built on "badass points"--it's that very mantra which guided it to success. Borderlands 2 improved on every element that made the original click. The end result was a game that felt like getting back together with a well-known friend, one with whom the relationship had matured over the last couple of years.

While it appears to be a shooter, Borderlands 2 cements the series' place as an action role playing game that just happens to use a first person perspective. Quests, characters, and exploration all play their part, but Borderlands 2 seals the deal with an almost evilly addictive loot system. The guns, oh the guns. They come in every imaginable combination of type, projectile, and elemental damage and better yet look the part with moving pieces, all manner of sights, and just crazy detailing in general.

And Borderlands 2 just gets better the more you play it. True Vault Hunter mode is a delight. Enemies don't just get tougher, they use the same tactics as players, employing elemental attacks and taking considerably better advantage of the potential cover provided by the environment. It's times like these that a partner comes in handy and as has been said countless times since its release, Borderlands 2 shines all the brighter played co-op with friends.

For all these reasons Borderlands 2's spot in the best games of the year list could not be denied. The badassery rhetoric that drew a little snicker before the game came out has completely transformed into a smile-inducing "Hell Yeah!" that would make Mr. Torgue proud.


The Shacknews Best of 2012 Awards were determined by ballot voting across the entire Shacknews staff. Garnett, Jeff, John, Ozzie, and Tyler voted for Borderlands 2, earning it 185 points and the 8th place position on our list. The Shacknews Community chose the game as the 4th Overall Best Game of 2012. Stay tuned all week as we reveal all our winners.

From The Chatty
  • reply
    January 22, 2013 12:00 PM

    Garnett Lee posted a new article, Best of 2012: #8 - Borderlands 2.

    Borderlands 2 for PC, Xbox 360, and PS3 is #8 in our Best of 2012.

    • reply
      January 22, 2013 12:19 PM

      BL2 is really temping but with all the DLC that's been announced I'm trying to hold off for a GOTY edition.

      • reply
        January 22, 2013 1:07 PM

        Im quite enjoying the new hammerlock DLC lots of new enemey types and guys that level up, things that go boom, and some of the levels are fucking huge

        • reply
          January 22, 2013 4:03 PM

          All the more reason I want to wait, if the DLC was poop I'd go now but I have enough to play anyways

    • reply
      January 22, 2013 1:05 PM

      Will it activate in Steam?

    • reply
      January 22, 2013 1:07 PM

      I bought it for $34 before it even came out!

    • reply
      January 23, 2013 3:22 PM

      ah god darnit I missed the sale?!

Hello, Meet Lola