Battleborn

Twenty five characters, nice Pixar movie looks, and the mix of MOBA and first person shooter genres makes the first big Hero Shooter one of the most original games we've seen in years. Only the lack of more multiplayer modes and maps keeps Battleborn away from being one of the best games we've seen this first half of year.

Battleborn constantly pops with a charmingly garish visual style, a small army of exotic characters, and disorderly combat with just enough strategic edge to keep it from being sloppy. While some may find the clashing colors and overall derangement to be a little too busy, I personally felt right at home with its special blend of stupidity and style.

The new game from Gearbox is amazing. Lots of content, huge replayability and tons of unique characters at your disposal. The main event of the competitive multiplayer is Incursion, a MOBA FPS wannabe which works very well. Awesome bosses in every chapter. Its main problems are a extremely difficult one player campaign and the requirement of having more partners to play online.

Some minor balancing issues aside, Battleborn is a pretty good title: the gameplay is solid and fun, the roster of characters is rich and guarantees a lot of variety in combat, and the multiplayer modes will keep you entertained. The real problem, here, is the lack of a true, genuine personality that would allow it to rise above its competitors.

If you've ever wondered what the fuss of MOBAs are, or wanted a little more shooter in your battle arena, Battleborn is perfect for you. It is so different from the competitive shooters on the market at the minute. Once you get through the initial trail and error, you won't look back at all.

It's not perfect - characters get stuck on terrain, there's only a few multiplayer maps and you can't change characters in the middle of a match - but neither are we. Colorful characters, enjoyable gameplay with quite a bit of depth and Humor with a capital H make Battleborn a shooter that is certainly worth your attention.

The multiplayer is absolutely funny. Is plenty of characters. But the story mode and some of the heroes doesn't have the charisma that you could expect. Great ideas, but not so well developed.

All in all, I’d say Battleborn is a very well made game. The gameplay is fun and actually well thought out, and the characters all bring something different to the table. The story mode can be hit or miss, but the competitive side of things is really where the game shines in its strategy and game play.

Even though it's not the best in its genre, Battleborn is a game that can keep you entertained for a long while. It has a lot of potential, but it probably depends on how well the community receives it.

Gearbox's new game is weighed down by a lack of starting content and its campaign feels repetitive, although the different gameplay mechanics when using all of the 25 characters available, good matchmaking and the stability when you put it all together make an all-round game. It leaves you thinking that there are very few maps, although the competitive modes are really addictive and enjoyable once you understand the rules. Playing always online can be a negative for some, but when you manage to put together a committed team who want to wreak havoc, you can have a great time.

If Borderlands and the MOBA genre could have a baby, I imagine it would look something like Battleborn. Gearbox Software’s signature style shines here, even if the humor falls flat most of the time.

Battleborn is definitely a title I can get behind with its unique first person shooter approach, awesome cast of characters, gobs of weapons and power ups, and a hilarious framework to tie it all together. The game will take some getting used to and will force a few seasoned vets to step outside their comfort zone to enjoy the genus wonders that lie within. The hefty price tag may come with some initial sticker shock, especially after first firing it up, but those feeling will soon fade as you dedicate some time to Gearbox’s latest work by mowing down hordes of enemies and laughing hysterically in the process.

An interesting but shallow experience due to its lack of maps and game modes. The characters are the best part of Battleborn, but it's not enough to sustain the game.

For a first attempt at an ever-saturating genre, Battleborn feels like it has carved its niche in a large crowd that is vying for supremacy. While the genre is dominated by League of Legends and DOTA, Battleborn has successfully broken through with its own take on the genre, added lots of fun characters, and a wonderfully bright colour palette.

Battleborn is like a one-man band—there’s a whole lot going on, but the final product suffers due to spread resources. While lack of maps and missions may be resolved with DLC, the launch product comes off a bit shallow.

Battleborn is by no means a perfect game. Underneath its flaws however, there is a satisfying and fun character-driven shooter to be found.