I sincerely apologize for missing this, but Borderlands 2 has seen its worldwide PSVita release this week (it was already available in the States since May 13th) and the first reviews for the portable port have been circulating for a few days, and offer an unfortunately fairly bleak picture for the handheld version of the title. We start our usual round-up with IGN‘s take, 5.4/10.
Surely, there will be people who are so hungry to play Borderlands 2 on-the-go, that they’ll be willing to put up with the Vita version’s issues, but that doesn’t mean they aren’t there. Borderlands 2 is a great game, full stop. But very little of what’s made it a blast to play over the last couple of years hasn’t been poisoned by this version’s technical issues. Its compromised visuals rob it of much of its bombastic charm, while its erratic performance and unreliable touch controls keep the gameplay from shining like it has in the past.
GameInformer, 7/10.
The Vita is a great home for many games, but this is not one of them. As a standalone product, this version of Borderlands 2 has little value, living in the shadows of its superior iterations. It gives dedicated vault hunters even more ways to spend time on Pandora but if you love the core gameplay that much, its implementation on Vita is bound to disappoint you.
The Escapist, 2.5/5.
Borderlands 2 is a great game that has has its kneecaps broken in the switch from high end gaming machine to portable system. A golf clap is deserved for the attempt, but while Borderlands 2 is still a solid laugh on the Vita, that doesn’t take away from the fact that literally every other way to play it is immeasurably better.
GamesRadar, 2/5.
It’s certainly impressive that a game with the scope of Borderlands 2 can run on Sony’s handheld device at all. The visuals, while lower in quality compared to the console or PC versions of the game, are adequately detailed, and there’s a great game here under the surface. Unfortunately the Vita doesn’t keep up with the fast-paced gunplay, making this port difficult to recommend.
USGamer, 2/5.
Borderlands 2 for the Vita is a case study in how a great game can get lost in a really bad port. There’s just no getting around this version’s raft of technical issues, nor the fact that the Vita doesn’t have enough buttons to make it really work. Given more time, Iron Galaxy might have made it work. But as it is, even hardcore fans of the series should stay far away.
PlayStation Universe, 6.5/10.
The mission scheme that flows with the narrative of Borderlands 2 works perfectly in a portable environment, so the concept behind a game like this on the PS Vita is justifiable. Really, Borderlands 2 is not a definitive version nor is it an equal version to its console counterpart. It looks and plays like it should, but it doesn’t hold up in its current portable state when compared. Perhaps translating PS3 games isn’t what the PS Vita needs, but this proves that the concept works well enough in portable form, and a dedicated version specifically designed for the hardware would blow this outing out of the water. Still, for what it’s worth, this is a passable build of Borderlands 2 on the PS Vita, even though it doesn’t give itself enough credit.
Gaming Trend, 70/100.
Borderlands 2 feels like a great achievement for the Vita in that most of the core experience has transition to the handheld device intact, but it still feels like an incomplete, poor-man’s version of Borderlands 2. If you’re itching to return to Pandora, then this will give you another way to play, but you’ll need to play it on a console to get the full experience.
PlayStation LifeStyle, 9.5/10.
If you own a Vita and haven’t had the opportunity to jump into Borderlands 2 yet, there is no better time than now. If you already own Borderlands 2, you will find that you are honestly paying for the portability, as the game is virtually identical in every way that matters. The ability to cross-save your character data shows just how confident they are in the reinvigoration of the console version in a portable space. Some very minor issues may hold it back if you really want to get nitpicky, but they are only issues when compared directly with its PS3 counterpart. As amazingly as this game was done, not only is Borderlands 2 an excellent portable version of the console game, I would argue that it is simply one of the best games on the Vita to date.
Gaming Age, A.
Beyond that, though? I’ve got nothing. As I said, Iron Galaxy did an incredible job of cramming a huge game onto the Vita, and they did without having to make any major sacrifices. Borderlands 2 is instantly one of the best games the Vita has to offer, and a sign that maybe, just maybe, those initial promises of it being a portable console in your pocket weren’t that far from reality.
Game Revolution, 4/5.
While Borderlands 2 for Vita is a neutered version of the original console title, with the toughest costs coming to the multiplayer and technical execution, it’s still one of the best games for the handheld system. The Day One patch has done much to improve the numerous, almost infamous bugs, to the point that the game is recommendable and actually impressive considering how massive the console title is with all the included DLC. That it comes close to the real thing is a feat in itself.
Digital Chumps, 7/10.
Borderlands 2 might have its issues on the PlayStation Vita, but underneath those issues lies the same game you know and love. If you can get used to the controls and visual dip, then you might just find a solid title waiting for you.
Hardcore Gamer, 3/5.
Borderlands 2 on PS Vita is probably the most polarizing game I’ve ever played. On one hand, the mission structure is perfect for a handheld, controls are responsive (aside from the touchpad) and it looks good despite the handheld’s limitations. On the other hand, the amount of bugs and problems that come with it indicate that it just wasn’t ready for release and could have used some extra time in development. Borderlands 2 is serious fun, but has serious problems.
BGR, scoreless.
There was so much promise in this portable release, enough to bundle it with every new model of the PS Vita, but the port just doesn’t hold up. Any issues that God of War Collection on the PS Vita might have pale in comparison to the failed translation that is Borderlands 2. If you can somehow make the controls work for you and adjust to the lag, you might be able to salvage something positive out of what could have been one of the best reasons to pick up a PS Vita yet. As it stands, Borderlands 2 just doesn’t work.
Kotaku‘s article is more of an impressions piece, and calls it “the worst version of a good game”.
I really like the Vita, but the more I use it, the less interested I am in this sort of “It’s a console game in your hand!” kind of thing. I already have Borderlands 2 installed on my PC, and if I want to start a whole new game, I’ll do it there. My Vita’s memory card is small enough as it is; I’d rather make room for other games.
Borderlands 2 on Vita is the worst version of a good game. And I really mean that the core game is still good, funny, fun. No matter how clunky the controls and watered down the visuals, it’s still Borderlands 2 in a lot of respects. But without the smooth bounce of the console/PC version, and without those versions’ four-player co-op, the Vita version sacrifices too much. Despite the fact that I was playing it for work, it left me routinely questioning why I was spending time on it when I could just play the game on PC. In this case, portability’s not enough.
NY Daily News, 3/5.
Despite these flaws, there are reasons to want Borderlands 2 on the Vita, especially for series newcomers. The game plays solidly, and, as a shooter, it’s overloaded with replay value. 2K’s delivered a massive line of DLC for Borderlands 2, and it’s all included in this game. That means a plethora of sidequests and two DLC character classes. You can easily play all the content for 100 hours.
The gunplay, meanwhile, is also solid, as long as you can put up with those control issues. And there’s nothing quite like the Borderlands story, a unique tale that’s rife with humor and sarcasm and provides a solid backdrop for all that shooting.
Oh, and you can take this version on the go, easily putting it in your back pocket and pulling it out whenever you want to jump into the universe.
And that still counts for something.
GameZone, 7.5/10.
Even with some of its unfortunate tradeoffs, this is largely the full Borderlands 2 experience. Even I have a hard time wrapping my head around just how they managed to squeeze the entirety of Borderlands 2 on the Vita. The question is, how much does framerate matter to you in exchange for portability? If the answer is not much, then Borderlands 2 is a no brainer.
Arcade Sushi, 7.5/10.
Yes, the novelty exists, but it feels like such a watered down, restrained version of Borderlands that it will just get you itching to play it on console or PC.
Just Push Start, 6.5/10.
Giving Borderlands 2 the port treatment is a big ambition for Sony to show off what the PS Vita can do. It works most of the time but be prepared to face problems when playing it though it’s still playable, you just need to give the game a lot of patience and consideration. Get past it and you will certainly enjoy Borderlands 2 on the PS Vita.
