Borderlands 4 doesn't feel as innovative as it should and that could be a big problem

Frontiers 4 It's been a long time coming, with the last mainline entry releasing in 2019. It's been almost six years since the last game – a gap that's actually shorter than the seven-year difference between Frontiers 2 and 3 – and fans are curious to know what's next for the beloved FPS series. Fortunately, Gearbox Software has finally shown some Frontiers 4 gameplay at The Game Awards.

Considering that the Borders are some of the best co-op shooters, there are a lot of expectations at stake Frontiers 4. However, that initial trailer didn't inspire confidence and made the latest game in the series look a little underwhelming. There is a fundamental flaw in the current state of Frontiers 4 this needs to be fixed with better marketing in the future.

Borderlands 4 looks a lot like Borderlands 3

Little has changed

Frontiers 4 got off to a pretty good start with its somewhat comforting Game Awards trailer, which featured a mix of cinematic footage and in-game gameplay. It set the stage, established the key players in the main story, and featured short snippets of action-packed gunfights. However, while there is a lot to like about the trailer, especially for those who enjoyed all of the previous ones Borders games, It's hard not to feel like you're just going through the motions.

The trailer, which features four Vault Hunters, lots of multicolored weapons falling from the sky, cheesy pop music cut to the action, indistinguishable gunfights, and biomes that look like they're from anywhere. Borders game, it almost feels like it could be advertising any of the other games in the series. If it weren't for the different character designs, Frontiers 4At this stage it looks more like a DLC pack for the third game.

Visually, Frontiers 4 isn't doing anything new, maintaining the character design philosophy that can be seen throughout the franchise, as well as familiar-looking locations despite being set on another planet. The same can be said of the gameplay, as although there are some new enemies introduced in the trailer, It more or less seems like the players will do what they've been doing since 2009.

Borderlands 4 needs to innovate, not regress

Directions need to be streamlined

Of course, this calls into question the purpose of a sequel and the different expectations players have of it. Many are content to get more or less the same game, albeit with a new story and some minor tweaks to the gameplay. It seems like this is the direction Frontiers 4 is coming in. However, for others, a sequel should show how a franchise has evolved over timenot follow the formula established almost two decades ago.

When a series stagnates and doesn't implement enough new features, it becomes stale. While Frontiers 3 well-reviewed, it often felt a little stale, never extending beyond the basic expectations people had of it, and in some cases, namely the villains and the writing, falling short. Borders I really can't afford to have another familiar feeling experience as its brand doesn't have the same influence as it did during the Xbox 360 era.

The disappointing film tarnished its legacy somewhat and the time gap between releases kept fans waiting perhaps a little longer than they wanted to remain patient. Frontiers 4 It needs to implement important new features and avoid just repeating the same things it has been doing since the beginning, otherwise it could run the risk of being a failure in 2025.

Crucially, few details have been revealed by Gearbox Software, despite the fact that Frontiers 4 it will likely release in 2025. What fans do know is that it will include one of the best features in the series and will continue to balance the RPG and FPS sides of its gameplay cycle. Considering how long fans have been waiting for a Borders sequel and the controversy surrounding the series currently, it seems a shame not to give more information about how different Frontiers 4 will be. Fortunately, there is still hope.

There's still hope for Borderlands 4

It's still early

The feeling that Frontiers 4 looks very similar to Frontiers 3 Fortunately, it's based purely on first impressions provided by the first trailer. Little meaningful gameplay was featured, which, while perhaps a marketing error, at least implies that there could be more to Frontiers 4 than it appears. Gearbox Software could have changed its entire approach to Borders formula and is just waiting for a later opportunity to show it off.

At least it has been confirmed that Frontiers 4 is solving the series' story problems, abandoning much of the humor that has held it back since it went out of fashion with Frontiers 2. This is a significant change that will greatly improve the overall experience, but admittedly, it's also difficult to illustrate in a gameplay-focused trailer. Of course, there are also new characters and a whole new planet for players to explorethat will likely bring about their own changes, even if only on a superficial level.

Unfortunately, while it would be great to believe there is more to Frontiers 4 From what Gearbox is letting on, for the most part, it doesn't seem like the developer is interested in changing the formula. It continues to be presented as a game with four playable characters, with lots of items and lots of enemies to kill. It's easy to see this as the way things should be. However, always seemed like Borders the games could be so much betterand Frontiers 4 it seemed like the perfect opportunity to explore that greatness.

Not every sequence needs to be a Breath of Naturechange in style, but it should offer enough new content to make players feel like they're playing a noticeably improved experience. A sequel should showcase everything the developer learned over the years creating the original, as well as what game design changes and technological advancements can bring to the table. Hopefully, Frontiers 4 does more than just give players the same experience again but with fancier visuals, or else it risks becoming the next Distant scream.

Source: Borders/YouTube

Looter shooter

Action

Adventure

RPG

Systems

Released

2025-00-00

Editor(s)

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