Borderlands – Similar to Fallout 3?

It is no doubt that Fallout 3 is one of the best role-playing games since its release, but are some games trying to copy? With Borderlands coming out in a few days, we've spent a lot of time with the game and before we publish our review this week, we would like to point out some similarities between Borderlands and Fallout 3. Yes, Borderlands is similar to Fallout 3, but only in some ways.

[DRUDOG]

"since the release of since". Jeez some people need to review the drivel they write.

Anyhow, on topic, it's no wonder this game and others (Rage, maybe?) copy or will copy Fallout 3 to some degree. Fallout 3 was epic and I don't blame any dev for "borrowing" a few of Bethesda's ideas.

Looking forward to Borderlands, hope it's up to my own personal hype. Not sure if it's day one, but week one is definitely a possibility. Just too many damned games coming out and too many sitting here itching to be played (UC2, Demon's Souls, etc.).

[StanLee]

Borderlands is nothing like Fallout 3 and has been in development as long as Fallout 3 has. Fallout 3 emphasizes choice while Borderlands' focus is on combat and loot. The only similarities are the wasteland setting.

[Godmars290]

That's all some need.

Between this, Fallout 3, Rage and all of the other post apocalyptic games coming, I'll might bother with Rage but that's it.

[thedarkvault]

@StanLee
I think you mean FO3 'tries to emphasize' choice. Yes there are choices but less than a handful actually mean anything and the consequences of picking either path are fairly similar.
Don't get me wrong, I bought FO3 on launch day and bought all DLC's. while being an awesome game, it still doesn't feel like the choice is a big deal in it, even if that's what the devs were going for.
So with that FO3 for me became atmosphere(which I have no problem with other games using same atmosphere), story/history, and combat. And combat, while clunky in comparison to current FPS's still had it's own long lasting charm with VATS and gore and all sorts of different weapons.
I'm going to get Borderlands because I liked FO3 so much, but I just decided the other day(compared to FO3 which I was following for months before release).
With what the reviewers from this site and others have hinted at(without breaking the NDA) this looks like a sleeper hit and will devour hours of game time.
Bazillions of guns, who wouldn't like it.

[mastiffchild]

Borderlands, looks to me at least, more of a shooter/TPG whereas FO3 was more RPG/Shooter. While I felt the game was Okay-it still failed to live up to my high expectationas of it having been a massive fan of the original Fallout games AND Bethesda's work on TES. Maybe I expected too much of it but, for me, the combat was plain broken-the shooting was awfully dodgy even with a good weapon and VATS seemed far more arbitrary than the numbers it gave you suggested and along with a less thrilling story arc than previous Fallouts, less atmosphere as well, imo, it left me really let down.

I don't think Fallout3 is a poor game, far from it, but I also don't see what the big fuss is about it either and both Borderlands and Rage will possibly be a better bet for me after FO3 nad lowered my shooter/RPG expectations a little. Borderlands is still pretty much a mystery to me as far as story goes and I wonder just how much depth it'll have as most of what I've seen looks like a cel shaded FPS with EX points instead of so much gore! They've really gone to town on the shooting mechanics from what I've read but I don't know if the millions of guns is matched by the story, side missions and levelling up in other areas just yet. It looks a lot faster paced than FO3 as much as anything plus being set on an alien world rather than an alterrnate history DC also sets it apart from FO3-and Rage looks to have a far more rounded action approach to it's gameplay with more RPG elements based around the vehicles from what I've read.

So I don't see these ganmes as that samey but rather serving crowds with slightly different tastes. FO3 tried, bravely too btw, to really merge FPS and RPG equally while Borderlands leans a lot more towards the FPS side of things and Rage is different again with an emphasis on differing kinds of action from shooting to driving dynamics over, apparently, a much bigger map area.

The western devs have always liked to meld and twist and merge their genres and this just happens to be a time where the FPS and western RPG game types are being explored-we should be pleased that whatever our preference there'll be one to suit in the rush to exploit this genre mixing potential, shouldn't we?

Being honest, above all else they all actually look very different and use wildly divergant colour palettes and artstyles to do it even while showing "wastelands". Whatever, I was burned with FO3 not being the game for me last time, even if a great many loved it, so even if you love that game I'd advise renting or playing someone else's copy of Borderlands or Rage before committing to a purchase as if you're mainly an RPG man you might find both the upcoming games a little less deep and more action based than either you're used to or to what FO3 delivered.

I'm sure they'll all find a loving audience among the shooter and RPG fanbases, mind. It's all good for us gamers as choice is becoming incredible these days.

[ABizzel1]

I hope this game is good. I just couldn't get into Fallout so I'm going to rent it and hope Borderlands will work out for me.

[NotSoSilentBob]

I've been thinking that someone will eventually make a Kenya West Meme saying something along the lines of

"Yo Borderlands, I'm gonna let you finish but Fallout 3 had the best Post apocalyptic settings."

[Keith Olbermann]

awesome post. I got bored with fallout 3 because of its pacing and generally glum presentation. Borderlands seems a little more action and fun which I appreciate.

[New-Breed]

I can definitely see some similarities between the two since both are FPS RPGS. I gotta say I expect much more from Borderlands than Fallout 3 though. Don't get me wrong Fallout 3 was a great game, but it was a little more RPG than FPS, whereas Borderlands looks to be a little more FPS than RPG. Anyways, I'm psyched for the game. Nice post

[rdgneoz3]

Borderlands in a FPS with RPG elements. Fallout 3 was an RPG with FPS elements. Picking up Borderlands when it comes out, should be a fun game. Love the co-op style of it.

[BO WALEED]

yeah I guess their trying to copy fallout 3.. but thats AWESOME when someone copy a game and it become better!!
like what happened with Medal of honor and Call of duty.. Activtion coped MOF but they killed it with COD.
yeah im playing borderlands now, I am enjoying it more than Fallout3

[Tdmd]

Ah... what? Did it came out already?! I wasn't aware of that! oO

[BubbleSniper]

elminate fail by cutting the fat

cut the fkin 360 outta the equation and we got win

[BO WALEED]

its here in Kuwait stores now .. I don't know if its released in your country..
anyway.. its coming everywhere by 2moro!

[WarPonyDestroyer]

BL does nothing for me.

Besides the awesome art work, the game play is is a stale and boring ai shoot em up.

[rdgneoz3]

The trailers / videos (not live videos of people playing) only showed the starting area, not the whole damn game. They did mention there will be other settings than just the starting area. And the ai for the enemies will get harder as you go, so it won't be a run and gun game. They'll use smart tactics later in the game and flank you.

[WarPonyDestroyer]

Actually I've seen hours of game play on justin.tv All the XBOX pirates have already burn the game and are playing it all week. Stand by my opinion. It just a standard shooter. Sniper robitic ai from a distance. I'll pass.

[Saaking]

I'm sure borderlands will be an awesome game. i loved Fallout 3 and this game also looks great. No need to compare.

[DelbertGrady]

"Borderlands can be compared to Fallout 3 in some ways, but let me say this, Borderlands is the improved Fallout 3."

Oh my! =) This is a must have for me. I hope it's more streamlined than Fallout 3 when it comes to levelling up etc. I spent more time in the menues than in the game when playing Fallout 3. It got boring fast. Move 3 steps - fire gun - go to menu - repair gun - repair armor - repeat.

[Feral Gamer]

Wow, if that's how you played Fallout 3, you must not be much of a gamer.

[DelbertGrady]

I was exaggerating and generalising. What I meant is that I think the problem with Bethesdas latest games are that they want to put everything into their games at once but don't know how to design for it in a smart way. Like Bioware does.

The levelling system in Fallout 3 is as broken as in Oblivion. If you don't play the game the way you are 'meant' to you end up with an unbalanced character and have to restart from scratch. Poor game design imo.

[Feral Gamer]

To each their own :) I love Fallout 3 and the GOTY edition is arriving Monday (PS3)

[Sigh]

loving its co op, especially its split screen co op, something we havnt seen much lately in most games. Hopefully I can pick this up with Demon souls and Uncharted 2 by the end of this year.

[Tex117]

If Demon's souls strikes a chord with you, it will be your favorite of those games.

Pure Greatness.

[troncoparati]

There are similarities, So what? Games like NFS Shift, Forza 3 ang Gran Turismo 5 can coexist and are basically the same game. This isn't Highlander where "There can be only one!".

[Bigpappy]

A lot like Fallout but with some changes and add-ins. Can't go wrong with that combo. I loved fallout and I like Gearbox. My hopes are high for this game. I will get it ASAP.

[NecrumSlavery]

I honestly don't dig the cellshading, but it's a co-op able FPSRPG right? It looks to have a lot of potential.

[Figboy]

ah well. maybe next year Borderlands, it's not like there's a ton of awesome games releasing next year that'd keep me from - oh..wait...