10 Sci-Fi Video Game Sequels Better Than The Original

The original Borderlands is a well liked open world shooter, heralded for its creative graphical design, fun loot based gameplay, inventive shooting and the potential in Pandora as a setting for future instalments. However, it received major criticisms for its narrative, which lacked depth to many and concluded with an infamously disappointing boss battle. There was clearly major room to improve.

Thankfully, Borderlands 2 improved on every element that needed to be fixed. The gameplay was further refined, with more creative weaponry, diverse enemy design and the amount of customisation on offer being dramatically expanded. Additionally, Borderlands 2 placed distinct focus on characterisation, narrative progression and comedy. Instead of anonymous archetypes, the world is filled with insane, hysterical characters. The sharp writing of dialogue and the excellent plot gave players a reason aside from loot to progress through the world.

However, Borderlands 2's greatest improvement and the reason it is so widely beloved is the villain Handsome Jack, who could easily be entered into conversation as gaming's greatest antagonist. Jack is hilarious, sickening and bitterly tragic, a complicated figure of maniacal confidence who is capable of Pandora's greatest cruelties. He is the force that pushes the sequel into the stratosphere.