Borderlands 2 Preview

IncGamers is the latest to offer a preview for Gearbox’s sequel to Borderlands, and as all the other pieces we’ve rounded up so far, this too is based on the hands-off demo that has been shown at GamesCom in Germany. Here’s an excerpt:

The skill tree itself seems to pack robust and extensive depth for a game that’s still very much in the throngs of development. Different skill threads are designated to weapon, physical and passive abilities etc. We didn’t have time to take note of many of the individual skills and their various uses but one stood out above all else in the naming stakes: ‘˜Sexual Tyrannosaurus’, granting the ability to regenerate your health more quickly.

Our demo ended with a frantic shootout against all manner or robots (both ground and air based), foot soldiers and manned mechs. The area, ‘˜Bloodshot Ramparts’, was situated at one end of a working dam and provided a wonderful panoramic view of the area, showing off the impressive draw distance. Apparently, unlike the first game, any area that you see can from such a vantage point can be visited no matter what your character level.

This particular Bloodshot Ramparts mission involved saving Roland (yes, Roland from the original Borderlands) from the mobile, floating jail cell we find him trapped within. As the mini-cell moves deeper into the battlements it’s up to the player to battle through the assembled guards in a bid to keep pace with Roland and his vehicular containment vessel.

Eventually, the cell itself transformed into something resembling the ED-209 ‘˜chicken walker’ from RoboCop. A brief skirmish later and a cut-scene kicks showing us being flung unceremoniously from the heights of the dam. Fade to black during mid-fall. Demo over.